Help with Yellowstone Trip 08-01 through 08-08

We will be visiting Yellowstone for the first time this year from August 1st through August 8th. Our Itinerary ar as follows.

Two adults with a 14 year old teenager.

Arrival: We will be flying into Bozeman, MT, arriving at 11:30am, August 1st.

Departure: We will be flying out of Bozeman, MT departing at 12:25pm, August 8th.

Lodging Already Booked at Yellowstone:

(08-01 through 08-03) Mammoth Hot Springs - Frontier Cabin

(08-03 through 08-06) Old Faithful Snow Lodge - ADA Room

(08-06 through 08-08) Canyon Lodge - Frontier Cabin

Is this a good plan for lodging or should I call back everyday to try and get better lodging?

We hope to drive down the Beartooth Highway at some point. Do we need to take out a whole day for this?If so, we could forgo the first night at Mammoth and drive directly from the airport down to I-90 and then south to Red Lodge/Beartooth at some point. Do you recommend spending a night at Red Lodge or somewhere along the Beartooth highway?

We would also like to visit the Grand Tetons. To do this, I think it may be best to take one or two nights out of Old Faithful for Grand Tetons or Jackson.

Things we%26#39;d like to do:

1) Scenic rafting or a less thrilling whitewater rafting around Yellowstone or Grand Tetons. From what I%26#39;ve read, I%26#39;m thinking possibly at Gardiner and another at Snake River or kayaking at Jackson like.

2) Horseback Riding at some point during this trip, either at Yellowstone or Grand Tetons. Is this better at YS or GT?

3) Swim/soak in natural springs/pools. Are there resorts around YS/GT for this or public areas for this?

I need to start calling for accomodations for Grand Tetons/Jackson and along Beartooth, but thought it%26#39;d be best to ask for advice first.

Thank you!

Help with Yellowstone Trip 08-01 through 08-08

I think you have made some good choices for lodging and the time for each location. If you should choose to do the Beartooth, you probably would want to do that from Mammoth. I think the best of the Beartooth is from Cooke City to the Rock Creek Overlook, about 95 miles one way from Mammoth. It would take you most of a day to make the round trip as you will want to make lots of stops for photos. If you want more, you could go the rest of the way to Red Lodge for a lunch stop as it only adds about 20 miles more. The route from Mammoth to the Beartooth will take you through the Lamar Valley where the chance for seeing wildlife is better because it is more open country. We saw bison, a wolf and a black bear when we drove through there.

Scenic rafting can be done on the Yellowstone River from Gardiner or on the Snake River from the Jackson area in the Grand Tetons. I%26#39;m not sure where you will find the time for that with the other things there are to do and see in Yellowstone/Grand Teton.

Chico Hot Springs Resort is about 35 miles north of Mammoth. I haven%26#39;t been there but those who have seem to think it is pretty nice.

Make sure you leave Canyon early on the last day. The map says it is only 120 miles but it could be slow going through the park and you may have to wait for animals on the highway.

Help with Yellowstone Trip 08-01 through 08-08

I love Red Lodge and the Beartooth, but to me, it doesn%26#39;t make sense to backtrack from Bozeman to Red Lodge to take the Beartooth in. If you were flying into Billings, yes, but Bozeman, not so sure. If you do decide to do that, stay in Red Lodge-I%26#39;m pretty sure there are no other accomodations until you get to Cooke City and at that point, you%26#39;re basically in YNP. If anything, I think it would make more sense to drop your last night in the park, leave mid-day, drive the Beartooth, spend the night in Red Lodge, and then just have ';faster'; roads to get you to the airport on time for your departure. My final thought on the Beartooth is that while it is spectacular, so is everything else you%26#39;ll see within YNP, so if you don%26#39;t get to it, you will see plenty of other breathtaking sights and vistas.

If you do end up staying in Red Lodge, check out the Chateau Rogue. One of the best places I%26#39;ve ever stayed.

I think that your lodging choices are great. I agree with the previuos poster about skipping the Beartooth. You will have plenty to see and do; especially if you go to GTNP.

Re GTNP: I would recommend spending a night in the noethern part of GTNP (perhaps the Jackson Lake lodge) and skipping Jackson. This is especially true if you decide to kayak on Jackson Lake. Be sure to visit the Jenny Lake area. There is a rafting company in the park next to Dornan%26#39;s (south of Jenny/Jackson lakes and about 15 miles north of Jackson).

The ';Boiling River'; is a great natural hot spring that feeds into the Gardner River. It is located a short distance north of Mammoth towards Gardiner (the parking area is on the Wyoming/ Mnotana border and it is a short hike from there).

Thank you for your responses. I%26#39;m concerned with getting back to the airport in time for our flight at 12:30pm.

I%26#39;ve contacted the park and was able to switch our stays to begin at Canyon for two nights in the lodge and then ending in the cabins at Mammoth for 2 nights. Hopefully, this will provide plenty of time to get back to the airport on August 8th.

We%26#39;ll definitely be visiting the Boiling River or Chico.

Is one night in Grand Tetons enough or is it better to stay there for two nights? I have three nights in Old Faithful lodge booked so I have room to work with depending on the lodging availability in GT.

Are the 1 hour scenic rides on the lake worthwhile?

The number of nights needed for GTNP depends on what or how much of an activity you want to do. The park can easily be seen in a day but if you want to do maltiple hikes or do a hike and water water raft, etc. you should plan on additional time si that you aren%26#39;t worn out.

You won%26#39;t have any problem getting to the airport for your 12:30 flight. The drive from Mammoth to Livingston is about 60 miles, then another 30 miles (freeway driving)to the airport. As you%26#39;ll see when you arrive, the Bozeman airport is small and checking in goes pretty quickly.

I would say that one night in GTNP would be enough, unless you want to do a lot of hiking or take a rafting trip out of Jackson while you%26#39;re there - then you might consider 2 nights. Taking those from OF is a good plan.

If you%26#39;ve never been to YNP, the scenic boat ride on the Lake is fun. It gives you a nice view of that area, along with some history of the Park. If you%26#39;re interested in fishing, one of the guided fishing trips on the Lake might be something you%26#39;d enjoy also.

It sounds like you%26#39;ll have a great trip!!

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