Plan My Trip! Yellowstone National Park

Hello, I am in need of some knowledgeable Yellowstone National Park people. I would like to fly from Ft. Lauderdale Florida to YNP. I would like to back country camp in the park. I would like to spend just 2-3 days in the park. I have 5-7 days total trip time. I am of age to rent a car if needed.

It would be cool to see Old Faithful. Really, I am just looking to get out into the mountains for a little while and breath some fresh air.

Can anyone come up with an easy itinerary or have one already?

Thank you in advance, it is much appreciated.

Plan My Trip! Yellowstone National Park

First of all have you ever backpacked in the Rocky Mountains? Do you have all the gear needed, including bear proof containers, bear spray, maps, compass etc?

If so, great, if not, then just plan on camping at the National Park campgrounds that are car camping spots. 2-3 days is not enough to see Yellowstone, plan on 7 days in the area split 5 days in Yellowstone, 2 days in Tetons.

When are you planning on visiting? If soon, you will need to get campground reservations.

Check these links... www.nps.gov/yell and www.nps.gov/grte

Day 1 arrive Jackson WY. Camp at Colter Bay CG

Day 2 Tetons again. Colter Bay CG

Day 3 drive to YS. Camp Madison CG

Day 4 Old Faithful area. Madison CG

Day 5 Canyon area. Canyon CG

Day 6 North to Tower and Lamar Valley. Canyon CG

Day 7 Visit Lake area and drive back to Jackson later in the day. Stay Gros Ventre CG or if you can get in Lizard Creek CG (first come first serve) in northern Teton.

Day 8 Home.

Plan My Trip! Yellowstone National Park

Thanks for the input! Yes I am an avid camper/hiker (Hiked the Appalachians and Florida Trails).

When you say arrive at Jackson WY and camp at Colter Bay. How far is this from the airport? How far is Yellowstone from this airport (driving)?

Since you are experience backpacker, you may want to look at some backcountry sites. For Tetons check www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/back.htm and for Yellowstone check on nps.gov/yell/…backcountryhiking.htm

Colter Bay CG is about 45 minutes to an hour from the Jackson airport.

From Colter Bay CG to Old Faithful can take from 1.5 to 3 hours! Just depends on where you want to stop, what wildlife is on the roads etc.

Hiking in Florida and hiking at over a mile high, and more, is demanding and warrants your consideration as to how you approach it. You might want to take a day or so to get acclimated.

I suggest you read the excellent websites provided by CasaAzul and then consider further questions. Both websites provide a lot of information including Plan Your Visit, hiking, interactive maps, etc., that will answer many questions.

I agree that you might want more time to experience YNP and its variety of things to do and to see.

If hiking is the most important part of your trip, (Old Faithful, as you might know, is just one of hundreds of similar sights), then perhaps you should consider focusing on GTNP, though there is good hiking in YNP. YNP is at least as much about its many scenic highlights, and wildlife, as it is about hiking. And this takes days to see and experience.

If you are want another option for high country hiking, not that there aren%26#39;t many, Glacier National Park. Or, read some posts by Deb about hiking along the Beartooth Hwy.

Are you traveling alone? For hiking here, not a good idea.