Trip approaching - confused

Any input about Xanterra tours, night driving, cooking, timeframe would be appreciated: My teenage son and I(female- middle aged) will be arriving by car around the first of July for 12 days in YNP; 5 days reserved at Old Faithful lodge and 8 days reserved at Canyon lodge. I have mobility problems, trouble standing and walking for long periods so I’m looking at the tours. Questions – Which tours would you recommend or liked the best? Is it safe and feasible to drive from area to another area at night, 8pm thru 10pm? (i.e. sightseeing, dinner in one area than back to lodge). Can you drive from one area to another area in a day and sightsee easily? Has anyone cooked using a small microwave and/or campgrill outside their cabin? (since cooking isn’t allowed inside). Have I planned too many days in Canyon area?

Thank you for all your help

Trip approaching - confused

The tours are a nice introduction to YNP.

Since you will have a car, you will find that the Park road system essentially defines the tour as you drive. There are many viewpoints for a park, photography and observation opportunity, so you%26#39;ll have the car to relax in. Many of the geyser basin trails and wood walkways will probably be comfortable for you, fairly level; as you take them, you can decide how far you wish to proceed. Some walkways have benches.

You will find, as here in the PNW, long daylight hours. So, 8 - 10 PM is a great time for sitting or standing at a viewpoint to observe the wildlife emerging in the Lamar and Hayden Valleys. Driving at dusk and dark warrants special caution as the wildlife can be almost invisible, even an animal as large as a bison.

While the park speed limits should always be respected, dusk and night driving warrants even slower driving. Not to worry it to death, just use your eyes and caution.

You can drive many places in a day. However, there will be times you will stop to view the park%26#39;s many features and spend ';much'; time in one place, if watching wildlife, or walking the geyser areas.

You have allowed yourselves plenty of time to drive around the park in a casual manner, so you are in no hurry and can relax. Don%26#39;t worry about ';backtracking';; you will see new sights and wildlife at any moment.

If anything, I%26#39;d say you have too many days at Old Faithful. My advice, try to get lodging at Lake where you are in a different part of the Park, can dine, lodge, sit on the porch and watch the lake, the meadow, perhaps some bison. A quiet place compared to Old Faithful.

Cooler!!! Buy a cheap, large enough for the two of you, cooler for beverages, snacks, food. Why? Because you will not want to leave some sights just because you are hungry, plus the distances involved.

Bring binoculars and cameras; this Inside Page provides advice - For wildlife viewing and photography:

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60999-c96653/Yellows…

If you want a nice break from YNP, drive the Beartooth Hwy., all or part, NE exit from park.

Visit Grand Teton National Park, a very beautiful day trip (or more if you like), just south of YNP.

Two very worthwhile museums to visit:

Cody, WY www.bbhc.org/home/index.cfm…

North of Jackson (en route to/from GTNP)

http://www.wildlifeart.org/

Trip approaching - confused

As was pointed out, a couple of days in the Tetons might be fun too. Its a beautiful park. Here%26#39;s a trip report and pictures from our 2008 visit.

www.alandsuejohnson.com/grand_tetons_2008.htm

It would be a shame to be that close and not see it. You%26#39;ve got time.

If you have these reservations already, you%26#39;re in good shape. I agree that that%26#39;s a lot of time at Old Faithful. You might think about moving two or three of those nights else where, if you can. Lake would be a good choice at the hotel, their cabins or the Lake Lodge.

We also like Roosevelt Lodge. If you can survive without a bathroom in the cabin, its a neat place. The baths are only a short walk away. We like the restaurant, the people and the front porch with the rockers. Here%26#39;s a link to pics from when we were there.

alandsuejohnson.com/yellowstone_2007/rooseve…

Someone will probably offer that you should spend a night in Cody, WY. Buffalo Bill museum and a rodeo. I can%26#39;t provide enough info to help much though.

Be careful at night. You never know what will be standing in the road. We%26#39;re usually tired to be out much after dark.

You might find the Yellowstone info on our website helpful. There%26#39;s some planning, trip reports, pictures with comments, sample itineraries and some maps.

www.alandsuejohnson.com/yellowstone_home.htm

We went out Yellowstone Yearround Adventures one day. We had a nice time. They%26#39;re in Gardiner but I%26#39;m sure could work something out. He%26#39;s got scopes and provides meals. Not cheap though. We learned things we wouldn%26#39;t have otherwise known.

Thanks Voyaging and AKJ.

I wanted to take some tours, even though some are all day trips, because of my mobility problems. Then if my son wanted to see something again or in detail I could drive him to it and he could walk and stand as long as he wanted. He loves taking photos. We already have binoculars and are planning on buying a spotting scope.

Since we have dinner reservations at Grant Village while staying at the Old Faithful area and have booked the 7pm Lake Butte Sunset 2 hour tour at the Lake and have booked the Wagon Cookout in Tower-Roosevelt area while staying in the Canyon area, I didn%26#39;t know if those items should be cancelled due to night driving.

I%26#39;m glad to hear that you can drive to the different areas in YNP and get back to your lodge by night fall.

Have cooler already. Beverages, water, snacks are on grocery list.

Grand Teton Park is on our itinerary after YNP, a day trip, while driving to Jackson, WY then West to home.

I%26#39;ll being looking at the websites mentioned for more information. I need all the help I can get to keep a teenager busy and interested.

Thanks again

How wonderful that you have so much time planned for this trip - you%26#39;ll both have a great time!

I do agree with voyaging that 5 days at OF might be a little too long. However, it may also be a place that%26#39;s easier for you to navigate because of all the boardwalks and rest stops/benches.

If you do decide to decrease your time there, I would suggest either the Western cabins at Lake Lodge (which has a wonderful porch overlooking the lake, complete with rockers) or a room at Lake Hotel. It%26#39;s a lovely area, and there are frequent Ranger talks there in the evenings. With your expressed mobility problems, you might not want to stay at Roosevelt, because of the lack of in-room baths - using the facilities at night could be a little tricky for you.

Good Luck - and come back with any further questions!

Driving at night is ok, but you do need to be careful and always watch for wildlife. Bison do not move very fast! From Grant Lodge to Old Faithful is quite a trip at night and I do not think the food will be worth the worry. Just dine at OF!

I would consider bringing along a lightweight wheelchair to help you move around when you are tired. Plus you can visit places with your son while he takes photos and not have to worry about walking.

I have been told you can use a gas stove/grill at all picnic areas in the park and possibly outside of your cabin in the parking lot.

Perhaps I can risk interpreting CA%26#39;s comment. Bison do move fast, but they appear slow. Their normal pace, once on a slow roll, is like that of a human fast pace, but because of their size, they appear slow. They can actually move quite fast when willing. What CA is saying is that if you meet them on the road, be patient; they have the right of way, can see only ahead, so driving along side can startle them. If they wander along the road, be patient. If they are crossing the road, wait it out and enjoy the view and photography!

If a wheelchair (good idea) is not necessary, consider lightweight camping chairs. We bring them along for our endless wildlife viewing.

Thanks everyone for all the input.

Glad to hear about the Grant Village food. It was going to be a early dinner, 5:45pm, anyway.

I guess I have some deciding to do about night driving, should I drive at 9:45pm from Lake area back to Canyon area and/or should I drive at 8:45pm from Tower-Roosevelt area back to Canyon area or cancel the evening activities. From looking at the maps, each of those drives should take about 1 hour.

Thanks for the suggestions about the camping chairs. We already have some, the ones that fold into pouches and have shoulder straps. My son would be able to carry one for me. I’ll put them on the “pack list”. You can put a lot in a minivan with just 2 people traveling.

While the NPS has done great things for accessibility YNP is the oldest of the national parks. In some ways also the most fragile so there are areas that are either old infrastructure or difficult to work around with disturbing things which are not easy. Two examples we%26#39;ve found are at a couple Yellowstone Falls viewing spots and at Mammoth where multiple stairways and/or sloping paths, even when paved or boardwalk, are difficult to walk on. And impossible for wheelchair. My wife is mostly paralyzed on one side with severe balance problems. She can walk and do stairs (with railings) but slowly. So we mostly use a wheelchair when she can. She was able to get to the Yellowstone Falls viewpoints but not the Mammoth boardwalk to the top of the terraces.

The older visitor centers may require some stairs for restrooms (thinking of one at Mammoth) but all the newer ones are fully ADA compliant. Also, if you do not have a handicap parking placard be sure to get one. Parking at some places can mean a very long walk if you can%26#39;t use a handicap spot. Many of the scenic or wildlife viewing turn outs also have a disabled access spot or two. Most states require only a doctor%26#39;s signature verifying a qualifying condition. OR state info: …oregon.gov/ODOT/…disparking.shtml

Thank you Seqium88 for all the information.

I have Rheumatoid arthritis and I wear braces on some of my joints for support. I also use my son%26#39;s arm and/or railings for support while walking. I walk very slowly and carefully to watch where I%26#39;m going. I take stairs one feet at a time to keep my balance. I rest, bringing camping chairs, when necessary. Sometimes I just don%26#39;t walk places or do

things, when we%26#39;re out. I just let my son walk around instead, keeping in contact with him, and sit and wait.

I checked out the website. I%26#39;ll contract by doctor regarding the disabled person%26#39;s parking permit.

Hi Voyaging,

Thanks for the link to the article with links regarding binoculars.

I%26#39;m looking at a couple of pairs of binoculars available from Sierra Trading Post - both Steiner. Predator waterproof 8x30 for $197.95 and Compact 10x26 for $119.95. Do you have an option on either of these? (We%26#39;re spoiled with the Nike scopes used by Yellowstone Institute!) We%26#39;re looking for lightweight, inexpensive, durable, and of course, very good for wildlife viewing.