2 Week Vacation in Yellowstone and Grand Teton Parks
Jan 26th, 1998, 05:33 PM
#1
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2 Week Vacation in Yellowstone and Grand Teton Parks
Two couples are planning a 2-week vacation in the Yellowstone and Grand Teton areas. We will be renting a car. We have no experience in this setting. We seek advice on where to stay while in this area, what to visit, and any other suggestions to make this a meaningful vacation. We plan to take our vacation in June of this year. Because we'll have 2 weeks for sightseeing, we'd also like to know if there are any other places worth visiting while in this region of the country. Thanks in advance for any help you can give to us.
The Bellers
The Bellers
Mar 5th, 1998, 07:56 PM
#2
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Two weeks seems like a long time to spend between Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. My wife and I did a 2-week tour which started in Durango for a couple nites (train ride to Silverton, etc.) and progressed northward through the Rockies to Jackson and then to Yellowstone. The mountains are spectacular all the way. We enjoyed Old Faithful Lodge very much. It a national historic site, being made of pine logs. Old Faithful is about 200 feet from the hotel. Try to get a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor overlooking the guyser. In reality, whatever you do you will enjoy since the area is so spectacular!
Mar 6th, 1998, 05:15 AM
#3
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My family had a great stay a couple of times at Jackson Lake Lodge near Jackson Lake in Grand Teton Park. They have a main lodge with a spectacular view from their main lodge -- as well as separate cottages on the same grounds. Nearby, you can also rent tent cabins or, if you're more into roughing it, camping spaces. Jackson Lake Lodge is roughly half-way between Yellowstone and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, so if you tired of the spectacular scenery, trails, boating on Jackson Lake, you can go to Yellowstone which is visually stunning, but often too crowded for me during season OR Jackson, which is a funky version of Aspen, Colorado. Very hip. From Jackson you can arrange a Snake River Rapids ride ranging from "nice-and-easy" to " you've got to be kidding". Have a good one...
Mar 6th, 1998, 09:14 AM
#4
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You are planning to visit two very special places -- the Tetons and Yellowstone. Let me start with Yellowstone first. To prepare, I strongly suggest you read something about the geology of the area.
Yellowstone is actually a collapsed volcanic caldera and the thermal features are the remnants of what was once volatile geothermic activity.
My favorite attractions are the geyser basis, the falls on the Yellowstone River, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the wildlife. They geysers are special, particularly when you can catch them in full eruption. My favorites are Grand, Castle, and Riverside. Check in the Visitor Center close to Old Faithful for estimated times.
If you want to really enjoy the park, walk some of the trails. My favorite is the stroll to Lone Star Geyser. The path is level, partly paved, and highly scenic. Another scenic hike, but uphill, is the walk up to the observation building on top of Mt. Washburn. The slopes are without trees, so you get a panoramic view of the whole park. On a clear day you can see the Tetons to the South.
In the Tetons, if you are physically fit, walk the steep trail up to Amphitheatre Lake, which looks right up at the Grand Teton. Other walks are also scenic, particularly along the lakes. And, if you are up to it, try Death Canyon.
On the edge of Yellowstone, I highly recommend driving the Beartooth Highway over to Red Lodge, MT. It is a most spectacular drive. We have driven it both ways, and would willingly go back again.
As for places to stay, my son enjoyed Signal Mountain Lodge last year. I stayed at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge cabins. But call NOW because these cabins go fast. Other than that, the Old Faithful Inn and the Lake Lodge are a little pricey, but you are right there in the park. If budget accommodations are in your plans, try the Lazy G Motel in West Yellowstone. It is clean and comfortable -- in keeping with an 2-star AAA rating.
You might find two weeks in Yellowstone and the Tetons to be a bit much. But there are activities such as trail rides, with meals included.
I could spend 3 or 4 days in the geyser basis alone.
And the Grand Canyon and Falls are worth at least a full day. So if you read up on your geothermal geology and take the drive to Red Lodge, you will occupy most of 2 weeks just gazing at the wonders of nature.
Yellowstone is actually a collapsed volcanic caldera and the thermal features are the remnants of what was once volatile geothermic activity.
My favorite attractions are the geyser basis, the falls on the Yellowstone River, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the wildlife. They geysers are special, particularly when you can catch them in full eruption. My favorites are Grand, Castle, and Riverside. Check in the Visitor Center close to Old Faithful for estimated times.
If you want to really enjoy the park, walk some of the trails. My favorite is the stroll to Lone Star Geyser. The path is level, partly paved, and highly scenic. Another scenic hike, but uphill, is the walk up to the observation building on top of Mt. Washburn. The slopes are without trees, so you get a panoramic view of the whole park. On a clear day you can see the Tetons to the South.
In the Tetons, if you are physically fit, walk the steep trail up to Amphitheatre Lake, which looks right up at the Grand Teton. Other walks are also scenic, particularly along the lakes. And, if you are up to it, try Death Canyon.
On the edge of Yellowstone, I highly recommend driving the Beartooth Highway over to Red Lodge, MT. It is a most spectacular drive. We have driven it both ways, and would willingly go back again.
As for places to stay, my son enjoyed Signal Mountain Lodge last year. I stayed at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge cabins. But call NOW because these cabins go fast. Other than that, the Old Faithful Inn and the Lake Lodge are a little pricey, but you are right there in the park. If budget accommodations are in your plans, try the Lazy G Motel in West Yellowstone. It is clean and comfortable -- in keeping with an 2-star AAA rating.
You might find two weeks in Yellowstone and the Tetons to be a bit much. But there are activities such as trail rides, with meals included.
I could spend 3 or 4 days in the geyser basis alone.
And the Grand Canyon and Falls are worth at least a full day. So if you read up on your geothermal geology and take the drive to Red Lodge, you will occupy most of 2 weeks just gazing at the wonders of nature.
Mar 9th, 1998, 05:58 PM
#5
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I work in Yellowstone and would be happy to help you out with your travel plans to the park. You can obtain a great deal of general information from Yellowstone's web site at www.nps.gov/yell. I would strongly suggest making reservations for accomodations as soon as possible as they fill quickly. Prices range from around $20 for a rustic cabin with a shared bath in some areas, to rooms in the $40 to $90 range for a hotel room or cabin with private bath. You can also find deluxe accomodations (suites) in the $200 to $300 range. You can make reservations for accomodations in Yellowstone by calling Amfac Parks and Resorts, Inc. at (307) 344-7311. Of course you can always find accomodations in the gateway communities surrounding the park. If I remember right, you can find the phone numbers for these chambers of commerce on the web page. If I'm mistaken and you cannot find them, just ask and I will provide you with them. Don't hesitate to e:mail me if you have questions or need additional information.
Mar 9th, 1998, 09:20 PM
#6
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Last fall, we drove from Chicago to Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Flaming Gorge, Canyonlands (UT), Aspen (CO) and back to Chicago. The most beautiful site in Yellowstone is the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, especially seen from Artist Point. The raging water and colorful rock is breathtaking. Old Faithful was disappointing and over rated, however, the springs and other geysers around it are pretty. You need to hike the Tetons to really appreciate it. We did the Cascade Canyon hike, an intermediate level hike, which can be made easier by taking a boat across Jenny Lake instead of hiking around the lake. If we had time, we would have loved to see more of Montana- Big Sky and Gardiner and also seen a rodeo in Buffalo, Wyoming.
Mar 20th, 1998, 09:00 PM
#7
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Paul: Two weeks is plenty of time to see the Yellowstone/Teton area. I stayed at Colter Bay Village in the Tetons, rustic but clean cabins right on Jackson Lake. Jackson Lake Lodge, a few miles south, has a good restaurant with a spectacular view. I'll echo Susie's recommendation of the Cascade Canyon hike; a ranger-led tour makes the experience more interesting. I also enjoyed a ranger-led caravan to the top of Signal Mountain. I stayed at the Old Faithful Inn more than 30 years ago and had breakfast there about six years ago. If you can't get a room there, I found a nice place at West Thumb, on the shore of Yellowstone Lake (I forgot the name). Outside of the area, a drive to Pinedale offers excellent views of the Wind River Range, and a drive to Cody takes you to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center with nice scenery en route. Have fun!
