JACKIE118

I will be driving up to Jackson Hole from Salt Lake City. We are then visiting the Tetons and Yellowstone. I have a few questions.

1. How are the roads from Salt Lake to Yellowstone? Narrow and curvy? high drops?

2. How is the Rodeo in Jackson Hole? We don't really have time to go out to Cody.

3. What short hikes have you liked the best and would recommend or consider must dos?

4. Are the trails well marked?

Any comments on my shortened itinerary below is appreciated.

We are staying in Jackson - 3 nights (Painted Buffalo)

we will be doing the float and whitewater raft trip, Antelope Flats bike tour, and a chuckwagon dinner (Bar T, i think)I was planning to tour the town and was thinking about eating at the Cowbow Club and lunch at the Jackson Hole Playouse (Saddle Rock Saloon)for the 11 - 3 shoot-out.

From here we go up to the Canyon Lodge for 3 nights.

Onto the Old Faithful Snow Lodge for 2 nights, then 2 nights at Mammoth Hot Springs.

We will be taking the horseback ride to Roosevelt Cookout

Other than that I am looking for other suggestions and hikes.

Is the Petrified Forest a good worthwhile hike?

Ag3046

I have been snowed on in June in Yellowstone. Remember it's high elevation and can be very cold at night. Road from SLC is pretty flat, maybe some curves. I don't recall any high passes. The road is fine.

gail

We saw a local rodeo in West Yellowstone - I am hardly a rodeo authority, but what we found cool about it was that we were probably the only non-locals there. Everyone seemed to know everyone else - it was the most non-tourist moment of our trip.

We got a guide book that did a linear description of each point of interest - listed places in order you would encounter them as you drove. I think it was a Smithsonian book, but am sorry I do not remember. There are several similar books out there - and they will list distances for walk/hikes. Many points of interest have short and longer options.

When we asked about rafting and float trips, it seemed that the gentler trips - the float trips - were more common nearer Jackson and the rougher water was north - near Gardiner. I have heard the earlier in the spring/summer, the rougher the water, depending on winter snow run-off.

We had to scrape frost off our window in the AM in August.

richbutnot

The road from SLC to Jackson via Logan Pass is very scenic. Great views of Bear Lake. A little curvy, but not too narrow or scary.

The horseback ride and cookout at Roosevelt is fantastic. We stayed at the Snow Lodge which was very nice, but our Mammoth cabin was so small we could only fit one suitcase in the room.

We were there for three nights the middle of last June. It was 85 degrees the first two days, and 35 degrees and snowing the third day.

AlJ

You have a very nice trip planned. We'll be at Canyon in a cabin June 16 for 4 nights and Roosevelt in a cabin starting that Wednesday, 6/20. Riding horses to the cookout that evening.

Make sure you get into Hayden Valley early in the AM. We had trouble doing that from Old Faithful Inn and are at Cabin this time.

The Upper Geyser Basin was fascinating to me. We missed Norris but will get there this time.

We enjoyed the hike to Beaver Ponds but wouldn't declare it to be special. Its not too long and the wildflowers were beautiful. It starts at Mammoth.

Partly we enjoyed just driving around and looking. You never really know what's around the bend.

When you get back, how about posting about the whitewater trip. I've always thought the water must still be frigid.

Our trip report and several pictures are at www.AlandSueJohnson.com Click on the bison picture.

We didn't spend enough time in the Tetons to help. We didn't have enough time planned to do any hiking.

JACKIE118

Thanks everyone.

Anyone else have any comments regarding the hikes. I do have 2 Yellowstone hiking books, but there are so many that sound good I can't go on all so I was trying to wittle down all my choices.