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OT: Yellowstone NP 2016

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Not sure I can add much to the advice in this thread but I thought I'd share my experience. About 12 years ago, I decided to take a couple of weeks and drive around the west coast parks. Left LA and was in Jackson Hole the 2nd night. Jackson is really nice but definitely a tourist town. Prices are up there. In the summer you can still ride the Gondola to the top of the mountain and there are beautiful views. Drove through the Grand Tetons to Yellowstone and spent three days there. There are several different areas but waterfall is great. My favorite thing to see was the bubbling hot springs and terraces. I spent hours taking photos. Surreal and gorgeous. Old faithful is cool once but didn't need to spend a lot of time there. But the park is really amazing and there are things to see for everyone - wildlife, geysers, waterfalls, forests, more wildlife, and the most amazing crystal structures that look other worldly that you will ever see.

For the record, I think you'll get the best flights and car rental rates flying into SLC and driving from there.

If you have time, driving from Yellowstone to Glacier National Park in Montana is well worth it. It's about 6 hours. Glacier is just amazing - particularly the Road to the Sun if you can handle steep drops while 2 feet from your wheels when you drive.

I went from there to Little Bighorn which I would recommend skipping. Very depressing. A mound in the middle of a field with lots of flags where people died.

If you have enough time on the trip, you can drive from Glacier to Mt Rushmore in about 12 hours. Mt Rushmore isn't worth more than an hour or so, but you can see the Badlands which were cool and Sturgis in the same day. Both worth while.

Some of the best parts of the trip was driving between the different parks. Really cool landscape and geology and when they say big sky, you don't understand until you drive across Montana.

Hope this helped.
 
One more thing to consider - a camera. If you are not super proficient with a DSLR, get a good/great superzoom camera depending on your budget. So much easier than changing lenses. I love my DSLR, but I find I'm far more likely to pick up my superzoom point and shoot and get shots I would miss switching lenses with the DSLR. If you have a great DSLR, it's still not a bad idea to get one of these - you can hand it to anyone else you're traveling with while you're shooting with your fancy camera and they will get great shots with one of these.

This is the ultimate place to find out out about these cameras. If the review is too detailed (it is for me), just skip to the conclusions: Superzoom Camera Roundup
 
The thread has covered most of it. Definitely drive down to Teton and Jackson -- it's well worth the trip and you can cover Yellowstone in 6-7 days. I'll only offer two more tips.

1) Eat in the dining room at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel. Tour the hotel and grounds as well.

2) Don't do what I did and fall and dislocate your shoulder on the first day.
 
jleves said:
Not sure I can add much to the advice in this thread but I thought I'd share my experience. About 12 years ago, I decided to take a couple of weeks and drive around the west coast parks. Left LA and was in Jackson Hole the 2nd night. Jackson is really nice but definitely a tourist town. Prices are up there. In the summer you can still ride the Gondola to the top of the mountain and there are beautiful views. Drove through the Grand Tetons to Yellowstone and spent three days there. There are several different areas but waterfall is great. My favorite thing to see was the bubbling hot springs and terraces. I spent hours taking photos. Surreal and gorgeous. Old faithful is cool once but didn't need to spend a lot of time there. But the park is really amazing and there are things to see for everyone - wildlife, geysers, waterfalls, forests, more wildlife, and the most amazing crystal structures that look other worldly that you will ever see.

For the record, I think you'll get the best flights and car rental rates flying into SLC and driving from there.

If you have time, driving from Yellowstone to Glacier National Park in Montana is well worth it. It's about 6 hours. Glacier is just amazing - particularly the Road to the Sun if you can handle steep drops while 2 feet from your wheels when you drive.

I went from there to Little Bighorn which I would recommend skipping. Very depressing. A mound in the middle of a field with lots of flags where people died.

If you have enough time on the trip, you can drive from Glacier to Mt Rushmore in about 12 hours. Mt Rushmore isn't worth more than an hour or so, but you can see the Badlands which were cool and Sturgis in the same day. Both worth while.

Some of the best parts of the trip was driving between the different parks. Really cool landscape and geology and when they say big sky, you don't understand until you drive across Montana.

Hope this helped.
Expand ...
Why not fly into Jackson?
Beartooth is an amazing ride in early spring.
Secret to finding wildlife......find parked cars.
Lamar valley is amazing. Rent a spotting scope when you get there.
Go to the Grand Teton Lodge, go up the big staircase, keep your eyes on the huge windows in front of you. "Holy ####".
Enjoy your two weeks.
 
Excalibur said:
The thread has covered most of it. Definitely drive down to Teton and Jackson -- it's well worth the trip and you can cover Yellowstone in 6-7 days. I'll only offer two more tips.

1) Eat in the dining room at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel. Tour the hotel and grounds as well.

2) Don't do what I did and fall and dislocate your shoulder on the first day.
Expand ...

Wow ex that blew huh?
 
Dove said:
We look to be out there at least 12 days.
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As Hank Griswold taught us long ago, that's about 11 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes and 54 seconds more than you need to visit a national park:

 
.-.
Great stuff so far.

Do we need to make in park lodging reservations way in advance?
 
We can only do July so may be missing big animals.
 
I'm flying into Billings and driving down. I completely forgot SLC is within driving range but oh well.
 
Dove said:
Great stuff so far.

Do we need to make in park lodging reservations way in advance?
Expand ...

Yes, unless you have someone that is willing to call every day to see if there were cancellations. We booked in March but my uncle lives in Bozeman and was able to check in regularly and get us spots at the Old Faithful Inn, Lake Yellowstone Hotel and others for July.
 
So what amount should I budget for a 7-10 day excursion seeing and experiencing as much as we can? I'm talking upon arrival at the park.
 
.-.
Letsgohuskies11 said:
I'm flying into Billings and driving down. I completely forgot SLC is within driving range but oh well.
Expand ...

We flew in and out of Billings it was fine - your way into YNP will be through, up and over Beartooth Pass, one of America's most scenic drives, you will love it.
 
I'll add on because of previous conversations we've had. I've done a variety of outdoor adventures throughout all of Wyoming. The best wilderness hiking is actually in the Wind River range, to the southeast of Yellowstone. It rivals the High Sierra for mountainous beauty.

Happy Trails!
 
Well Dove you've received alot of info. about the park and many hiking adventures so I'll give you some info. about Jackson which most people will pass through on your way to the park. There's a lot of options on the restaurant front. Snake River is one of the nicest restraunts in town (somewhat pricey) as well as the Granary at Spring Creek Ranch where you have a view of the Teton. It's a good place for happy hour and a drink. For a mid priced restaurant, we have enjoyed the Trio. For something more casual, you can try the Lift. You can sit outside and the food is good. A couple of good bars are the Silver Dollar and the Cowboy. There's Dornan's at the entrance into Grand Teton National Park...great views there. The scenic float trips are very nice. I would suggest the one up in the park. You will float right by the Tetons. It is very slow, relaxed and beautiful. If you want more adventure, you can opt for the white water. The float in the park is way better than the one further south. You can drive through Antelope Flats (on the opposite side of the highway going north from GTNP). You can often see bison herds on that road. That's what comes to mind right now. If I can think of anything else, I'll let you know. Enjoy, and if you're going in September, bring some warm clothes, as it gets cold there real quick.
 
Personally always have flown into Salt lake City ; rented a car and drove up to Jackson. Drive is easy about 3.5 hrs. But as many have said you have some options.
 
Thanks donyell!. Before the weekend is over I will reread the thread and write down a lot of notes. My wife and steep slopes don, t mix so hiking will be minimal. Those float trips sound up her alley, too.
 
.-.
I would still like to know how much to budget for 7-10 days in park.

Lets say a modest to regular budget. Doesn't need to be high end, considering lodging, eats, park fees and attractions.
 
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