MossRoad
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Yellowstone National Park How Many Days?
- Thread starter NY_Yankees_Fan
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Bird
Rest in Peace
We raised a couple of wild critters about like those ourselves, but unfortunately, we didn't get to Yellowstone until they were grown and gone from home.
Steph had never seen a moose and that was something we really wanted to find, but when we asked others, we learned that all the moose sightings were back in the Tetons and nobody was seeing in Yellowstone that day.
Bingo - The moose we saw was between JH and Yellowstone. We did see plenty of bison, several black bears, elk, deer, pronghorns, and a groundhog that lives under the platform at Old Faithful. We were there in June and it sleeted on us while we were waiting on Ol Faithful to spew.
A section of road on the north end of the park was closed when we were there too, so check the website for updates on any road closures.
Get out and hike the trails too - We lucked out and found an area in the west Yellowstone area where the elk shed their antlers along their migratory route - literally hundreds of sheds laying around -
Bingo - The moose we saw was between JH and Yellowstone. We did see plenty of bison, several black bears, elk, deer, pronghorns, and a groundhog that lives under the platform at Old Faithful. We were there in June and it sleeted on us while we were waiting on Ol Faithful to spew.
A section of road on the north end of the park was closed when we were there too, so check the website for updates on any road closures.
Get out and hike the trails too - We lucked out and found an area in the west Yellowstone area where the elk shed their antlers along their migratory route - literally hundreds of sheds laying around -
Bird
Rest in Peace
We did not see any moose in that part of the country, but since we were slowly on our way back south from Alaska where we'd spent the summer and had seen plenty of moose, we really didn't care.
Chuck52
Veteran Member
If you go to Gardner, the Absaroka Inn is a pretty decent place to stay. All the rooms overlook the Yellowstone river. Of course, you also get to see the "beautiful" downtown Gardner area, but the rest of the view is fine. When I asked for restaurant recommendations, they sent me to a little place on the second floor of one of the downtown buildings. Certainly not fancy, but I got a huge chunk of very good prime rib for a remarkably reasonable price.
As mentioned by someone else, Mammoth Springs is nearly dead, and wasn't worth the climb up many stairs to see. Darn shame, since I remember it from the '70's when it was amazing.
Chuck
Just thought of something we considered for a future visit....if you're planning to stay a week or so, you might find a deal on a cabin near the park. We saw some literature on cabins while we were in Gardiner, and having kitchen facilities would make some of them a pretty good deal vs motel rooms and restaurants for every meal. Lots of good regional beers in that area, too. Guess that shows my interests, huh?
As mentioned by someone else, Mammoth Springs is nearly dead, and wasn't worth the climb up many stairs to see. Darn shame, since I remember it from the '70's when it was amazing.
Chuck
Just thought of something we considered for a future visit....if you're planning to stay a week or so, you might find a deal on a cabin near the park. We saw some literature on cabins while we were in Gardiner, and having kitchen facilities would make some of them a pretty good deal vs motel rooms and restaurants for every meal. Lots of good regional beers in that area, too. Guess that shows my interests, huh?
BB_TX
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I agree that 3 days is enough unless you plan on a lot of hiking, fishing, etc. We were short on time and blew thru in one day, entering the south entrance and leaving the east entrance making the west, north, east sides. Only missed the south part of the loop. Saw most everything, but we were moving fast.
Don't know how far in advance you must make reservations in the park, but here is an idea if you can't get one. We arrived mid week in Sept (about 10 yrs ago) thinking we would not need reservations since summer rush was over. Wrong. There was nothing in Yellowstone or Teton available. A hotel clerk in Teton suggested we try a small lodge between Teton and Yellowstone parks. Arrived there about 6 pm and they had 3 rooms available. We (two couples) took 2 of those. As we were leaving the office, there were 3 others lined up behind us and 2 more cars pulling into the parking lot. Whew!! But for the life of me, I can't remember the name of that lodge.
I second the Cody Museum. It was great.
Don't know how far in advance you must make reservations in the park, but here is an idea if you can't get one. We arrived mid week in Sept (about 10 yrs ago) thinking we would not need reservations since summer rush was over. Wrong. There was nothing in Yellowstone or Teton available. A hotel clerk in Teton suggested we try a small lodge between Teton and Yellowstone parks. Arrived there about 6 pm and they had 3 rooms available. We (two couples) took 2 of those. As we were leaving the office, there were 3 others lined up behind us and 2 more cars pulling into the parking lot. Whew!! But for the life of me, I can't remember the name of that lodge.
I second the Cody Museum. It was great.
caver
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Mammoth Hot Spring was still flowing quite well when I was there a few years ago. You have to hike around to the backside to see the water flow.
rox
Veteran Member
When we were younger my husband was a chef at a private country club and could never get away in the summer. i took a couple vacations with the kids and my brother so that the kids wouldn't miss out on having a summer vacation. One year we rented a full sized RV and drove to yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, cody etc. All the places everybody here has written about. One ting I did which i will share with yu in the hopes that nobosy else does such a dumb thing.
After visiting the park all day then making diner I decided I better get some laundry done so I walked with my washbasket to the laundromat inside the park. we were camped inside of yellowstone. there were flyers all over our camp area to be careful about bison as they had attacked like 3 people in this camp area. So as I'm walking with my laundry basket I'm reading sign after sign really looking around for bison and make it to the laundry area no problem. Course doing laundry takes time so by the time I was done it was pitch black out and i was to scared to walk back to the camper. There were not that many people at the laundry area and i explained that now that it was pitch black out I was too scared to walk back alone and could they please give me a ride. can you believe it, people said, "No" When the 3rd person told me "No" and there was nobody else around I literally begged and started to wimper. They guy caved in and gave me a ride but wasn't at all happy to do so.
So if you cmap at Yellowstone don't be walking around at night to far away from your camper/tent or you might get scared. Stay close to your camper at night, sont' be walking around, in other words plan ahead for showers and things, not like i did.
After visiting the park all day then making diner I decided I better get some laundry done so I walked with my washbasket to the laundromat inside the park. we were camped inside of yellowstone. there were flyers all over our camp area to be careful about bison as they had attacked like 3 people in this camp area. So as I'm walking with my laundry basket I'm reading sign after sign really looking around for bison and make it to the laundry area no problem. Course doing laundry takes time so by the time I was done it was pitch black out and i was to scared to walk back to the camper. There were not that many people at the laundry area and i explained that now that it was pitch black out I was too scared to walk back alone and could they please give me a ride. can you believe it, people said, "No" When the 3rd person told me "No" and there was nobody else around I literally begged and started to wimper. They guy caved in and gave me a ride but wasn't at all happy to do so.
So if you cmap at Yellowstone don't be walking around at night to far away from your camper/tent or you might get scared. Stay close to your camper at night, sont' be walking around, in other words plan ahead for showers and things, not like i did.
OP
NY_Yankees_Fan
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Thanks for all the good info, much to think about. This will be part of a 3 week road trip starting off by flying into Denver, heading north to Yellowstone, then south to Salt Lake and finishing in Colorado Springs. Have the car and airline booked all I have to do now is find a place to stay for 24 nights. Anyone been in Salt Lake for the 4th of July?? I hope they have fireworks?
Anyone been in Salt Lake for the 4th of July?? I hope they have fireworks?jcotta
Bronze Member
Tom
I have been to Yellowstone 3 times, Many great memories. I would fly to Salt Lake City, flights are cheaper. Rent a vehicle and drive to Jackson Hole day one , two days in the park , one day for each loop of the figure eight. Drive out west entrance to West Yellowstone . About 20 miles from West Yellowstone stay here 320 Ranch in Big Sky. A client of mine owns the ranch 320 Guest Ranch: Ski Big Sky Montana | Vacation Lodge | Log Cabin Rentals | Yellowstone National Park
Make reservations for white water rafting on Gallatin River. Find your way to Virginia City and pan for Gold. Back to Salt Lake and fly home.
John
Go Red Sox , Clemens in Fenway for 2007
I have been to Yellowstone 3 times, Many great memories. I would fly to Salt Lake City, flights are cheaper. Rent a vehicle and drive to Jackson Hole day one , two days in the park , one day for each loop of the figure eight. Drive out west entrance to West Yellowstone . About 20 miles from West Yellowstone stay here 320 Ranch in Big Sky. A client of mine owns the ranch 320 Guest Ranch: Ski Big Sky Montana | Vacation Lodge | Log Cabin Rentals | Yellowstone National Park
Make reservations for white water rafting on Gallatin River. Find your way to Virginia City and pan for Gold. Back to Salt Lake and fly home.
John
Go Red Sox , Clemens in Fenway for 2007
