Mt Rushmore/ YNP, GTNP itinerary
Apr 28th, 2014, 07:27 AM
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Mt Rushmore/ YNP, GTNP itinerary
Hi! I've already gotten some great feedback from an earlier post about the YNP portion of our trip, and hoped I cold get some more for the entire thing 
I'm hoping for some feedback whether it's too much, or if I'm missing anything important. I've made some guesstimates on how long some of the stops and drives will take, but really can't be sure. Let me know if I'm way off! Recommendations for food and lodging (
I'm hoping for some feedback whether it's too much, or if I'm missing anything important. I've made some guesstimates on how long some of the stops and drives will take, but really can't be sure. Let me know if I'm way off! Recommendations for food and lodging (
Apr 28th, 2014, 11:08 AM
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THere are plenty of dining options in Wall Drug.
Day 2,3,4. Stay in Custer State Park(not the town). This is my opinion, others may have a different opinion. Frankly I would stay there day 5 and 6 too. I'm thinking you might be staying one day to many in this area, but maybe not. You might want to swim or rent one of the several kinds of boats at one of the lakes in Custer. Harney Peak is THE hike there, but might be a bit much for your parents. But, they could do something else while everyone else hikes.
Day 8 Petrified Tree is one thing you could skip, especially if you have seen Petrified Forest National Park.
Day 9 There is a Deli type place that makes good sandwiches in Canyon area. I think you are fine with your schedule.
Day 10 Be sure and catch Dragon's Cauldron(it's called something like that). Lunch is at Lake Hotel in Yellowstone?
I love Old Faithful Inn. However, the food there was the worst in the park we experienced. So, to me that meal might be a toos up. Lake Hotel was the best meal we had. We liked Hamilton Store, which is like 1/4 mile for OFI. This has a short order cook type situation(think Waffle House, but a bit better). It is good for a burger or breakfast. Not sure what they have at dinner.
Our favorite geysers were Riverside and Castle. So, check those out, if you can. They are predictble geysers.
You might want to take the shuttle boat across Jenny Lake and hike to Hidden Falls or a bit longer hike to Inspiration Point. This is a popular spot and I would suggest being on the first boat of the day over the lake.
Perhaps I missed it in your list. But you don't want to miss Grand Prismatic.
You also might want to consider the Tram ride up to see the Tetons. On your last day, you might consider doing the Alpine Slide in Jackson(for something a bit different than the parks scene). We did see a fox and kits while going up the chairlift for the slide. Which was pretty cool.
You plan looks very good the way it is. Just a few suggestions.
Your going to have a GREAT time. Have fun. We are going there Mid-June 2015. That will be our 2nd trip.
Day 2,3,4. Stay in Custer State Park(not the town). This is my opinion, others may have a different opinion. Frankly I would stay there day 5 and 6 too. I'm thinking you might be staying one day to many in this area, but maybe not. You might want to swim or rent one of the several kinds of boats at one of the lakes in Custer. Harney Peak is THE hike there, but might be a bit much for your parents. But, they could do something else while everyone else hikes.
Day 8 Petrified Tree is one thing you could skip, especially if you have seen Petrified Forest National Park.
Day 9 There is a Deli type place that makes good sandwiches in Canyon area. I think you are fine with your schedule.
Day 10 Be sure and catch Dragon's Cauldron(it's called something like that). Lunch is at Lake Hotel in Yellowstone?
I love Old Faithful Inn. However, the food there was the worst in the park we experienced. So, to me that meal might be a toos up. Lake Hotel was the best meal we had. We liked Hamilton Store, which is like 1/4 mile for OFI. This has a short order cook type situation(think Waffle House, but a bit better). It is good for a burger or breakfast. Not sure what they have at dinner.
Our favorite geysers were Riverside and Castle. So, check those out, if you can. They are predictble geysers.
You might want to take the shuttle boat across Jenny Lake and hike to Hidden Falls or a bit longer hike to Inspiration Point. This is a popular spot and I would suggest being on the first boat of the day over the lake.
Perhaps I missed it in your list. But you don't want to miss Grand Prismatic.
You also might want to consider the Tram ride up to see the Tetons. On your last day, you might consider doing the Alpine Slide in Jackson(for something a bit different than the parks scene). We did see a fox and kits while going up the chairlift for the slide. Which was pretty cool.
You plan looks very good the way it is. Just a few suggestions.
Your going to have a GREAT time. Have fun. We are going there Mid-June 2015. That will be our 2nd trip.
Apr 28th, 2014, 11:11 AM
#4
I don't know anything before Day 8 so I'll start here.
I wouldn't waster my time with Tower Fall. Maybe years ago you could see the waterfalls but in recent years the growth blocks almost the total waterfall. People go there out of habit and there are picnic tables and they sell food. What a sorry excuse for a waterfall. If you look back at my trip report several years ago I did a big thing on waterfalls and which were good and not.
Also, unless they changed things in the past year or so, the trail down to the bottom of Tower Fall is permanently close due to danger on the trail.
At Redrock Point don't just go to the top lookout. Hike down to the lower lookout for a better elevation look. Hiking back up will be a bit of an effort due to elevation.
I don't think much of the brink of waterfalls. All you see is water going over the top. You can't see much.
I have mixed feelings about Uncle Tom's Trail. It's not really a hike. It's down over 100 stairs. I'm kind of stuck between a good view and being too close. You can actually feel the splash. If anybody has knee problems they may not want to do this. Still, it's probably worth the effort.
The view from Artist Point is great.
You don't just see wildlife unless you're lucky enough to see some roadside. You have to go to places that are frequented by wildlife and be there when they're most active. Lamar and Hayden Valleys are good and very early and late in the afternoon are usually best. The problem is that you want to reduce night driving so you don't hit any animals.
I was quite surprised with OF. I thought it would be a consumer-type of attraction. It's truly impressive. A whole complex is built beside it.
Old Faithful is the easiest of the geysers to see since it erupts approximately every 90 minutes. The other 4 geysers and further down the basin and erupt a lot less. Maybe once or twice a day with a window as large as plus or minus several hours from the predicted time. Still, spend the better part of a day wandering the Upper Basin.
In my opinion, the best time to see OF is very early. There are fewer people out then, the sun is behind you and the wind hasn't kicked up.
Late in the day a good place is Plume Geyser. There are a couple of benches there. But instead of watching Plume OF is right there. So you're watching it from the other side.
Grand Geyser is a short walk from Riverside. So if possible try to coordinate them. About 5 minutes from Riverside is Morning Glory and its spectacular colors.
You didn't mention Grand Prismatic Spring. More spectacular colors. It's a couple of miles up the road. Once you've seen it and realize the view isn't the greatest, drive about a mile back towards OF and pull into the Fairy Falls parking lot.
Hike the first mile of the Fairy Falls hike until you get to Grand Prismatic Spring on the right. There's an unofficial trail up the hill on the left. That gives a great elevated view.
When you arrive in Grand Tetons, depending upon the time stop at Oxbow Bend for great views and possibly some wildlife. The road splits left to the outside road and right to the inside road and Signal Mtn.
Oxbow Bend is just a little bit on the left side (east) away from the Signal Mtn side. Only a minute or two.
A few other things. On the outside road nearer the bottom. Schwabacher Landing is reopening this summer and Mormon Row barns just a minute or so below on the other side of the road.
You can see my photos of that trip at:
www.travelwalks.com
I wouldn't waster my time with Tower Fall. Maybe years ago you could see the waterfalls but in recent years the growth blocks almost the total waterfall. People go there out of habit and there are picnic tables and they sell food. What a sorry excuse for a waterfall. If you look back at my trip report several years ago I did a big thing on waterfalls and which were good and not.
Also, unless they changed things in the past year or so, the trail down to the bottom of Tower Fall is permanently close due to danger on the trail.
At Redrock Point don't just go to the top lookout. Hike down to the lower lookout for a better elevation look. Hiking back up will be a bit of an effort due to elevation.
I don't think much of the brink of waterfalls. All you see is water going over the top. You can't see much.
I have mixed feelings about Uncle Tom's Trail. It's not really a hike. It's down over 100 stairs. I'm kind of stuck between a good view and being too close. You can actually feel the splash. If anybody has knee problems they may not want to do this. Still, it's probably worth the effort.
The view from Artist Point is great.
You don't just see wildlife unless you're lucky enough to see some roadside. You have to go to places that are frequented by wildlife and be there when they're most active. Lamar and Hayden Valleys are good and very early and late in the afternoon are usually best. The problem is that you want to reduce night driving so you don't hit any animals.
I was quite surprised with OF. I thought it would be a consumer-type of attraction. It's truly impressive. A whole complex is built beside it.
Old Faithful is the easiest of the geysers to see since it erupts approximately every 90 minutes. The other 4 geysers and further down the basin and erupt a lot less. Maybe once or twice a day with a window as large as plus or minus several hours from the predicted time. Still, spend the better part of a day wandering the Upper Basin.
In my opinion, the best time to see OF is very early. There are fewer people out then, the sun is behind you and the wind hasn't kicked up.
Late in the day a good place is Plume Geyser. There are a couple of benches there. But instead of watching Plume OF is right there. So you're watching it from the other side.
Grand Geyser is a short walk from Riverside. So if possible try to coordinate them. About 5 minutes from Riverside is Morning Glory and its spectacular colors.
You didn't mention Grand Prismatic Spring. More spectacular colors. It's a couple of miles up the road. Once you've seen it and realize the view isn't the greatest, drive about a mile back towards OF and pull into the Fairy Falls parking lot.
Hike the first mile of the Fairy Falls hike until you get to Grand Prismatic Spring on the right. There's an unofficial trail up the hill on the left. That gives a great elevated view.
When you arrive in Grand Tetons, depending upon the time stop at Oxbow Bend for great views and possibly some wildlife. The road splits left to the outside road and right to the inside road and Signal Mtn.
Oxbow Bend is just a little bit on the left side (east) away from the Signal Mtn side. Only a minute or two.
A few other things. On the outside road nearer the bottom. Schwabacher Landing is reopening this summer and Mormon Row barns just a minute or so below on the other side of the road.
You can see my photos of that trip at:
www.travelwalks.com
Apr 28th, 2014, 01:27 PM
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Spiro - I will look into staying at Custer - does that book up very far out like Yellowstone? How far a drive would I be looking at for each of the stops I have on days 2-4? I thought I had put Dragon's cualdron in there after your initial recommendation, I need to keep up with my edits better.
Myer-I totally forgot to include Prismatic Spring, I meant to! My husband saw a picture of it and demanded it be put in, lol. Thanks for the top on the best way to see it.
How far out of the way is Devil's Monument?
I think I'd been (mentally) putting Schwabacher Landing and Mormon Row with the Chapel of Transfiguration. They are close, yes?
Myer-I totally forgot to include Prismatic Spring, I meant to! My husband saw a picture of it and demanded it be put in, lol. Thanks for the top on the best way to see it.
How far out of the way is Devil's Monument?
I think I'd been (mentally) putting Schwabacher Landing and Mormon Row with the Chapel of Transfiguration. They are close, yes?
Apr 29th, 2014, 09:11 AM
#10
The chapel is very close to Schwabacher Landing and Mormon Row. However Schwabacher Landing and Mormon Row are very much photographer stops.
You want to be there quite early in the morning before the sun gets too strong and for sure not later in the afternoon when the sun is facing you. Both are facing west into the mountains.
Schwabacher Landing is a half mile dirt road down a curved hill at the start. Since it's away from the main road a bit, you'll probably be there alone. It you go early that part of the snake river will be still and with some care the mountains will reflect off the water.
The barns will be a dramatic scene with the mountains in the background.
I don't know the layout of the area where the chapel is located.
I gave you the link to my photos of this trip and these sights are included.
You want to be there quite early in the morning before the sun gets too strong and for sure not later in the afternoon when the sun is facing you. Both are facing west into the mountains.
Schwabacher Landing is a half mile dirt road down a curved hill at the start. Since it's away from the main road a bit, you'll probably be there alone. It you go early that part of the snake river will be still and with some care the mountains will reflect off the water.
The barns will be a dramatic scene with the mountains in the background.
I don't know the layout of the area where the chapel is located.
I gave you the link to my photos of this trip and these sights are included.
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