Yellowstone, Jackson Hole and area
Jun 1st, 2003, 03:36 PM
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Yellowstone, Jackson Hole and area
Just beginning to plan this for Sept. Spending the night in Desmoines, then Laramie and on to our destination of Jackson Hole. Then on to our other destination, Yellowstone then to Mt Rushmore and back to the east. Should we allow time in Laramie for???? Are we missing anything?? Custer State park is where? and should we allow time for it? Any info in this itinerary is very much appreciated.
Jun 1st, 2003, 05:35 PM
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Howard
I guess that is one of my problems. Not knowing how much time I should allow for each destination. We were thinking of 2 nights in Jackson Lake Lodge, 2 nights in Yellowstone, (can't get reservations yet) and then on to South Dakota.
I guess that is one of my problems. Not knowing how much time I should allow for each destination. We were thinking of 2 nights in Jackson Lake Lodge, 2 nights in Yellowstone, (can't get reservations yet) and then on to South Dakota.
Jun 1st, 2003, 07:08 PM
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cd,
Please plan more than two days in Yellowstone. There is so much to see and do in the area. There is a lot more to this park then just Old Faithful. IMHO it takes two days just to see all the geysers areas in the Old Faithful area, then you have Mammoth Hot Springs area, Hayden Valley, the Mud Pots, the canyon area, the tower, the lake & West Thumb area. If you have the time spend at least 4 days in Yellowstone.
Custer State park is worth some time too and is just a little south of Mt. Rushmore. I would also suggest spending some time at Badlands National Park just east of Rapid City, SD.
On you way from Yellowstone to Mt. Rushmore you might consider taking a side trip up to Devils Tower National Monument. You would take Hwy 14 north out of Moorcraft, WY. Then take Hwy 24 up to the Devils Tower.
http://www.nps.gov/deto/index.htm
So, how much time do you have?
Utahtea
Please plan more than two days in Yellowstone. There is so much to see and do in the area. There is a lot more to this park then just Old Faithful. IMHO it takes two days just to see all the geysers areas in the Old Faithful area, then you have Mammoth Hot Springs area, Hayden Valley, the Mud Pots, the canyon area, the tower, the lake & West Thumb area. If you have the time spend at least 4 days in Yellowstone.
Custer State park is worth some time too and is just a little south of Mt. Rushmore. I would also suggest spending some time at Badlands National Park just east of Rapid City, SD.
On you way from Yellowstone to Mt. Rushmore you might consider taking a side trip up to Devils Tower National Monument. You would take Hwy 14 north out of Moorcraft, WY. Then take Hwy 24 up to the Devils Tower.
http://www.nps.gov/deto/index.htm
So, how much time do you have?
Utahtea
Jun 1st, 2003, 07:57 PM
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Utahtea
It will take us 3days to drive there. 3days back and leave us with 6 in the area. That is why I thought 2 in Jackson Hole, 2 in Yellowstone and 2 in Custer State park. I think I will change it to one in Jackson Lodge and 3 in Yellowstone and 2 in Custer. (So far, I have not been able to get accomodations in Yellowsrone)With 3 days in Yellowstone what would you do?
It will take us 3days to drive there. 3days back and leave us with 6 in the area. That is why I thought 2 in Jackson Hole, 2 in Yellowstone and 2 in Custer State park. I think I will change it to one in Jackson Lodge and 3 in Yellowstone and 2 in Custer. (So far, I have not been able to get accomodations in Yellowsrone)With 3 days in Yellowstone what would you do?
Jun 1st, 2003, 08:50 PM
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cd,
If you can't get accommodations in the park then try just outside at West Yellowstone. It really is at a good location.
That's not a lot of time to do other side trips. Yellowstone is such a wonderful place that you really don't need side trip ideas.
I would spend one day walking around the geyser areas at Old Faithful, Black Sand Basin, Biscuit Basin, Midway Geyser, take the Firehole Drive, visit the Fountain Paint Pots and then if you have accomodations in West Yellowstone you will be close by.
Second day work you way to Norris Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs and if you think you have the time make it over to Tower Falls. BEWARE the Road between Tower Falls and Canyon Village is closed for road repairs this year so you can't make a circle. You will have to double back to your lodging.
The third day I would take the short cut thought the park over to Canyon Village, Artist Point and the water falls, Hayden valley (which is a good place to find wildlife) Mud Volcano (the mud pots), the Lake and West Thumb geyser basin and then back around to your lodging if its at West Yellowstone. The hwy between Madison and the West Entrance is also a good place to see wild life at dusk and early morning.
http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/index.htm
Utahtea
If you can't get accommodations in the park then try just outside at West Yellowstone. It really is at a good location.
That's not a lot of time to do other side trips. Yellowstone is such a wonderful place that you really don't need side trip ideas.
I would spend one day walking around the geyser areas at Old Faithful, Black Sand Basin, Biscuit Basin, Midway Geyser, take the Firehole Drive, visit the Fountain Paint Pots and then if you have accomodations in West Yellowstone you will be close by.
Second day work you way to Norris Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs and if you think you have the time make it over to Tower Falls. BEWARE the Road between Tower Falls and Canyon Village is closed for road repairs this year so you can't make a circle. You will have to double back to your lodging.
The third day I would take the short cut thought the park over to Canyon Village, Artist Point and the water falls, Hayden valley (which is a good place to find wildlife) Mud Volcano (the mud pots), the Lake and West Thumb geyser basin and then back around to your lodging if its at West Yellowstone. The hwy between Madison and the West Entrance is also a good place to see wild life at dusk and early morning.
http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/index.htm
Utahtea
Jun 2nd, 2003, 03:55 AM
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I am a huge fan of the Grand Teton. Thus, I recommend "equal time" for that area! We love its majestic beauty so much that we are returning to the area in July and will be spending most of our time in the Teton.
No matter what your final decision, bring lots of film!
No matter what your final decision, bring lots of film!
Jun 2nd, 2003, 08:20 AM
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Thanks UtahTea and HowardR. Your comments and suggestions are so helpful! Are you able to recommend accommodations in West Yellowstone? Would that be close to all our activities? I keep thinking that there will be cancellations in the Park, but maybe that's not so important...Or is it? Thanks for your help.
Jun 2nd, 2003, 02:23 PM
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We have camp for the last 26 years so I really can't recommend anything. West Yellowstone is a pretty good jump off place for seeing Yellowstone, but if you can get lodging in the park at two different locations then that would be the best.
29 years ago we stayed in cabins in the Old Faithful area, Roosevelt and Mammoth.
Utahtea
29 years ago we stayed in cabins in the Old Faithful area, Roosevelt and Mammoth.
Utahtea
Jun 2nd, 2003, 03:40 PM
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UtahTea
Thanks again. I just, in the last half hour, made reservations at the Lake Lodge Cabins. I wish I had a map of the Park so that I could see exactly where we are staying. I am sure it will be fine, but if anything opens up in the Inn or Lodge, I will jump on it. If you have any more input, I would love to hear it!
Thanks again. I just, in the last half hour, made reservations at the Lake Lodge Cabins. I wish I had a map of the Park so that I could see exactly where we are staying. I am sure it will be fine, but if anything opens up in the Inn or Lodge, I will jump on it. If you have any more input, I would love to hear it!
Jun 2nd, 2003, 11:08 PM
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cd,
Here is the link to the offical Yellowstone NP website interactive map.
http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/orientation/index.htm
Just put your cursor over the Fishing Bridge and click on it and it will show a detailed map of where the Lake Lodge is. Then you can click on other areas & roads for more details.
The Lake Lodge will be an excellent place for seeing wild life. Around dusk take a drive north to Hayden Valley. This will also be a good place to explore nearby Mud Pots, Canyon Area to the north & West Thumb geyser area to the south. You can also make day trips to the other areas. If you can't get anything else in the park a night at West Yellowstone would be good.
I guess you can tell that I like Yellowstone more than the Grand Tetons. Don't get me wrong...the Tetons are beautiful but I like the diversity that Yellowstone has to offer.
Here is the main link to Yellowstone website.
http://www.nps.gov/yell/home.htm
Utahtea
Here is the link to the offical Yellowstone NP website interactive map.
http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/orientation/index.htm
Just put your cursor over the Fishing Bridge and click on it and it will show a detailed map of where the Lake Lodge is. Then you can click on other areas & roads for more details.
The Lake Lodge will be an excellent place for seeing wild life. Around dusk take a drive north to Hayden Valley. This will also be a good place to explore nearby Mud Pots, Canyon Area to the north & West Thumb geyser area to the south. You can also make day trips to the other areas. If you can't get anything else in the park a night at West Yellowstone would be good.
I guess you can tell that I like Yellowstone more than the Grand Tetons. Don't get me wrong...the Tetons are beautiful but I like the diversity that Yellowstone has to offer.
Here is the main link to Yellowstone website.
http://www.nps.gov/yell/home.htm
Utahtea
Jun 3rd, 2003, 01:50 PM
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Thanks again Utahtea and Howard for all your knowledge and willingness to share. I finished making reservations this afternoon. Once in the area, we will spend one night at Jackson Lake Lodge in the Tetons.Then on to West Yellowstone where we are staying 3 blocks from the West Entrance to the
park. We will be there for three
days,then driving on to Deadwood
(husbands only request
From there to see Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse and on to Custer State Park for two days. I will print out your suggestions and take them with us so if you have
anymore, I would love to have them! Going middle of August.
park. We will be there for three
days,then driving on to Deadwood
(husbands only request
From there to see Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse and on to Custer State Park for two days. I will print out your suggestions and take them with us so if you have anymore, I would love to have them! Going middle of August.
Jun 4th, 2003, 02:14 PM
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The first time we went West (we're from S. Fl-driving), we spent 2 nights in Teton then 3 nights in Yellowstone.
The second time - 5 nights in Teton and visited Yellowstone 1 day (fishing bridge area).
Finall, the 3rd time, I said 'I want to just BE in Teton) so back we drove for a month (rented a condo) That way when the weather was bad, we always had the next day,etc. The best trip so far. The Tetons and my own Moose in the backyard !
We had to wait many years to have the time to spend so long there, but I'm ready to do it again anytime.
The Tetons are so beautiful and you can enjoy from flatland and not so long distances between sights, as in Yellowstone.
Whereever you go out there, you will love it!
The second time - 5 nights in Teton and visited Yellowstone 1 day (fishing bridge area).
Finall, the 3rd time, I said 'I want to just BE in Teton) so back we drove for a month (rented a condo) That way when the weather was bad, we always had the next day,etc. The best trip so far. The Tetons and my own Moose in the backyard !
We had to wait many years to have the time to spend so long there, but I'm ready to do it again anytime.
The Tetons are so beautiful and you can enjoy from flatland and not so long distances between sights, as in Yellowstone.
Whereever you go out there, you will love it!
