My wife and I will be traveling to Yellowstone Aug 1-4. we are Yellowstone newbies ( I was there as a small child but remember nothing other than the bears. Not sure i even saw Ranger Smith but that dates me, doesn%26#39;t it?) We will be traveling south from Helena and departing South towards home on the high plains. we are booked at the Canyon Frontier cabins for our first two nights and then at the O.F.I. the second two nights. three questions come to mind: 1) any recommended guidebooks for the park? 2) any suggested itenaries for making the most out of our stay? we are fairly active but not experianced hikers having lived our whole lives on the wind swept and quite flat prairie. 3) any important do%26#39;s and don%26#39;t that you want to share with us?
i realize that my broad inquiries are asking a lot but will be thankful for whatever advice we get. we are getting excited already to come to such a wonferful national treasure.
Greetings YNP Destination Experts
I like the book Yellowstone Treasures for great info, routes, wildlife, etc.
Greetings YNP Destination Experts
You might find something useful on our website. Pictures with comments, trip reports, maps and some planning information. There%26#39;s sample itineraries from each location that might be helpful. I figured out how to print them and drop off the menus and buttons.
www.alandsuejohnson.com/yellowstone_home.htm
As CeCe mentioned, the book YELLOWSTONE TREASURES really is a great source of information on all things related to visiting Yellowstone. In addition to that, upon entering the park, you will be given literature with current info, includig a map of the park for easy reference.
The main route through the park is called The Grand Loop. It is over 300 miles, roughly in the shape of a figure 8, and it offers access to MOST of the major areas of the park. The only exceptions are the road out to West Yellowstone, the road to Lamar Valley, which is accessible from the Roosevelt intersection, the east exit road, and the exit to the south gate and down into GTNP. As for an ';itinerary';, your stay at Canyon will have you perfectly placed for exploring the eastern side of the park,including Lamar Valley, and the OF area is a good base for the western side. We never recommend a strict itinerary when visiting Yellowstone. It should be about exploring at your own pace, and enjoying the sights and sounds as they come. With your allotted time, you will have no trouble experiencing the highlights of the park.
Dos and don%26#39;ts.... DO relax and take your time when driving around the park in order to enjoy the experience. DON%26#39;T try to see or do too much in one day. Before attempting any hiking or strenuous activities, DO give yourself time to become used to the altitude. DO follow the park rules regarding wildlife. DO NOT attempt to get too close to ANY wildlife. Despite thier docile, benign appearance, bison are NOT just big loveable wolly dairy cattle!!!
A list like this could go on for pages, but the main point is to just use common sense, and take the time to fully enjoy your experience.
H
Having now invested the necessary time in reading the forum and with a couple of good guide books in hand, i am embarrassed with my original inquiry which was plainly premature as well as being amazingly too broad. i might as well asked if there are bears and geysers in the park. i do want to thank CeCe for the Yellowstone Treasures recomendation which got us going on the right foot. we have poured over it. we also have enjoyed the Lonely Planet book. The two guide books almost compliment each other, imo.
Now, let me try for a more pointed inquiry. after our four days in YNP we may have to head home which will take two more days anyway. that is the current plan. we would like to experiance GTNP while we are there though. the more we read, the more it seems to have a different personality, if you will, from YNP which is something we did not understand initially.
two options come to mind. One is to try to ply one more day away from our jobs. getting this additional day won%26#39;t be easy and we won%26#39;t know if it can happen until way late in the game (possibly the eve of our vacation). if we do so, what our chances at getting lodging in GTNP at the last minute? any suggestions on how we would approach this tough task with little or no lead time?
two, we could drive home by first going through the GTNP. maybe take in a ';quick'; sight or two but it would be only for part of a day and we would need some serious driving time thereafter. would we get much out of this option? thanks cj
by the way, are there really bears and geysers in YNP?
Yes at least spend part of a day driving thru the GT. It is well worth it and then head home.
If you are serious hikers or photographers, you need more time in Grand Tetons, but you will have just spent time in Yellowstone which has awesome (but different) hikes too, plus you will have filled the memory cards on your digital or have a box of rolls of 35mm to develop from your time in Yellowstone. I think Grand Tetons deserve more time than the drive through but I doubt that the mountains are going anywhere soon so you can make another trip just for them. Do take whatever time you have to drive through though since you will be so close.
I always prefer YNP as it is truly an experience and, as noted above, the Tetons will be there for another trip.
For wildlife viewing and photography:
tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60999-c96653/Yellows…
I, too am an advocate of spending as much time as possible in Yellowstone. The Tetons are awesome, and they do have a totally different personality than YNP, but GTNP is also much smaller and more intimate than YNP. As stated, those mountains aren%26#39;t going anyplace anytime soon, we hope! If you can work out that extra day and are unable to find lodging within GTNP, you could probably get something in Jackson for one night as a walk in. Jackson is an excellent base for visiting GTNP. Otherwise a half day drive-through of GTNP could just whet your appetite for a return visit.
OH, and yes .... there are bears and geysers in Yellowstone! ;-)
Enjoy!
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