Itinerary Critique: BNP/Mt.R/YNP/Jac

Old Sep 1st, 2015, 02:06 PM
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Itinerary Critique: BNP/Mt.R/YNP/Jac

First timers to area, mid-50's, not too outdoorsy, seeking major sites/scenery/animal sightings.
Have 7 nights:
DAY 1. Land Rapid City 10:30am, pick up car. Is Wall Drugs worth the stop? On to Badlands N P.
Staying 1 overnight Circle View Guest Ranch/ Interior, SD (good location?)
2. In morn, drive to Mt. R./Crazy Horse. Maybe Hill City? What else?
Visit Devils Tower en route to one overnight in Best Western/SheridanWY. Is this reasonable, time & distance-wise? Anything else we should hit?
3. In morn, drive Sheridan - YNP. Suggestions?
Nights 3-4-5 staying at Lake Yellowstone Hotel. 8:30pm dinner res at OFInn...is it difficult to drive in the dark there?
Day 6 & 7: Leave YNP early on DAY 6 to head to GTNP area/city of Jackson. Would like to do tram ride, float tour, bit of shopping in Jackson. Currently have 2 nite res at 4 Seasons but maybe we should stay in city of Jackson instead??
(Flying out very early morn on Day 8 from JAC-Chgo.)

Any thoughts/suggestions appreciated. Thank you.
MJfromChicagoBurbs1 is offline  
Old Sep 2nd, 2015, 07:10 AM
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Wall drugs could be a rapid stop but I think that should not shortened the Badlands visit. There are a lot to see and some small hikes to do.
Circle view was nice(we have been twice but 8-9 years ago...) .On what I saw on tripadvosir seem always fine BUT no diner...So the best if it is open is at the lodge in Badlands National park...
The breakfast at Circle view was a must...
On day 2 you can not do all this programm.
I will do Mt Rushmore and Devils Tower. The trail in Mt Rushmore is at least 1h then the drive and there is also some hikes around Devils Tower.
Crazy horse is seen from far and I always think that the best here is their indian museum...
In Yellowstone, you have to take a day for the highlights around Old faithfull : there are Geyser's hill but also Grand Prismatic not far.
If you want to hike choice between Fairy falls, Mystic Falls or Lone Star Geyser. I will not drive back to Lake Hotel but stay in the area for the diner.There are some nice souvenir shops, but also the hotel and the lodge lobbies...and a sunset with an OF eruption could be exceptional...

In the region of the lake, depending on how you are good hikers, the Pelican valley's trail to the cabin worth the day(not the pelican creek..the pelican valley).

From Lake you can drive also to Mud Volcano/Sulfur caldron and then the Hidden valley and to the Lamar valley for wildlife.
Some hikes are easy : lamar creek(the first part), The canyon rims also...

Finally on the way to Mammoth the Mary mountain trail by the west trailhead is a must.Or the Grizzly lake trail and the terrace at mammoth.If you favor short or middle hikes, Norris basin should be add to the programm.
The restaurant at the lake Hotel is good.
Problems at those restaurants(Lake hotel and OFI) are the service.
The service is much better at canyon(but diningroom less attractive, menu less raffinated,), mammoth(nice room, excellent menu-smoked trout a must, top service) or Old snow(the obsidian room : decor average but a nice lounge to take a drink,excellent meal : try the bison ribs and top service).

Finally in Grand Teton I would try to get an unit at Signal moutain lodge. To Jackson it's less than 1 hour drive and it's much better for the view and to explore the park...It would be damage not to profit from it...
Excellent hikes, nice wildlife ant much more "wild" atmosphere than Yellowstone.
The Peak restaurant is very good or a diner at the Mural room at Jackson lodge is also fine.
Erik
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Old Sep 5th, 2015, 06:26 PM
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Unless you already have reservations totally scrap all of this and start over. 6.5 days is not enough time.

You have enough time to do Yellowstone/Tetons/Jackson

or Mt. Rushmore/Custer/Wind Cave/Jewel Cave/Mammoth Site/Devils Tower/Badlands.

If you can I highly recommend staying at mutliple places in Yellowstone. I like Roosevelt and Old Faithful areas best.
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Old Sep 6th, 2015, 10:09 AM
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Just got back from a 10 day trip to Jackson/GT,YNP and Mt. Rushmore and agree you are trying to fit in too much for 6.5 days. We did not see Badlands so cannot really comment on whether you should skip that, but something's got to give if you have already booked your flights.

We had our anniversary dinner at the OF Inn and were not impressed with our dining experience. It's not worth the drive from the Lake Hotel (we saw their dining room and it is more elegant than the OF). Just go to the OF area in the daytime for the geysers. Also try to see the Hayden Valley for the Bison, also found in the Lamar Valley. Seeing the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the upper/lower falls/artist's point are a must!
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Old Sep 6th, 2015, 10:11 AM
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When driving from the Keystone/Hill City area after seeing Mt. Rushmore, you can stop in Deadwood on your way to Devils Tower.
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Old Sep 8th, 2015, 07:16 AM
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Thanks, all.
I do already have hotel res. in a couple spots.
I am eliminating Devils Tower.
Our major interest is BNP, Mt. R. and YNP.
I'll report back!
-MJ
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