Fodorites' Recommendations for Yellowstone & GTNP
Jul 17th, 2006, 06:34 PM
#21
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BayouGal,
We plan to return home on Sat, Sept 16 but still haven't booked airfare. The flights from Albany to Salt Lake and especially Jackson all suck! It's kinda messing up our itinerary a little.
If all goes as planned, we should fly into SLC & head toward West Yellowstone - stay somewhere. Then we have 2 nights each in OF, Mammoth, & Canyon. Then one night at Signal Mtn. We still have the last night open but we'll probably need to make an early flight out of SLC the next day. Not sure yet.
We just bought a bunch of maps & info from the Yellowstone Association - they have been really helpful. Also bought a few books to take along.
We plan to return home on Sat, Sept 16 but still haven't booked airfare. The flights from Albany to Salt Lake and especially Jackson all suck! It's kinda messing up our itinerary a little.
If all goes as planned, we should fly into SLC & head toward West Yellowstone - stay somewhere. Then we have 2 nights each in OF, Mammoth, & Canyon. Then one night at Signal Mtn. We still have the last night open but we'll probably need to make an early flight out of SLC the next day. Not sure yet.
We just bought a bunch of maps & info from the Yellowstone Association - they have been really helpful. Also bought a few books to take along.
Jul 17th, 2006, 06:39 PM
#22
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Sharondi, we bought our tickets around Feb. It's hard now after Katrina to find good flights out of N.O. without paying a bundle, but when I found a reasonable fare to Jackson, I jumped on it. No matter how much I travel, I still have trouble knowing just when to purchase airline tickets. We actually saved money by flying into Jackson and renting a car there. I hope you can get it all straightened out soon. If I can help in any way, please let me know!
BTW, we arrive on Sept 15 and drive from Jackson to Canyon.
Good luck!
BTW, we arrive on Sept 15 and drive from Jackson to Canyon.
Good luck!
Jul 17th, 2006, 06:55 PM
#23
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BayouGal,
Don't think you'll find Signal Mt "too rough" especially if you love magnificent scenery. It's a great location away from the crowds.
There is also a quite good (for the area) restaurant on the property. One side is more like a family restaurant, but the one to the left when you enter the building is a very nice dining room with moe upscale choices.
Enjoy!
Don't think you'll find Signal Mt "too rough" especially if you love magnificent scenery. It's a great location away from the crowds.
There is also a quite good (for the area) restaurant on the property. One side is more like a family restaurant, but the one to the left when you enter the building is a very nice dining room with moe upscale choices.
Enjoy!
Jul 19th, 2006, 03:42 PM
#26
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Thanks Bayougal!! What a helpful list. We are trying to figure out where to go next June, and this moves Yellowstone and the Tetons up the list.
Hi Fun4all4--I guess you are as sick as I am--just back from one trip and planning the next. Where else are you considering?
Hi Fun4all4--I guess you are as sick as I am--just back from one trip and planning the next. Where else are you considering?
Jul 20th, 2006, 04:45 AM
#27
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Almost forgot, one other strong recommendation is to get a copy of Frommer's handy guidebook, "Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks." It's a most useful book, and it's small enough to carry around in your pocket or camera bag. Highly recommended.
Jul 21st, 2006, 04:38 AM
#28
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HI digbydog!
I don't want to hijack this thread, especially as it is being set up as a resource....feel free to email me and I'd be happy to hash through our different thoughts - in fact, I'd love to hear what you are considering and other places you've been with the guys.
I don't want to hijack this thread, especially as it is being set up as a resource....feel free to email me and I'd be happy to hash through our different thoughts - in fact, I'd love to hear what you are considering and other places you've been with the guys.
Aug 8th, 2006, 03:09 AM
#31
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Here's an interesting map of volcanic activity, location of quakes, boundaries of cauldera, etc. http://tinyurl.com/omztx
Aug 9th, 2006, 03:01 PM
#33
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Great list, BG!
I enjoy ranger led hikes in the National Parks. One day when I found myself solo (boys were fishing, SIL was shopping) I went on one to STANDING petrified trees on a ridge. What a great day.
Last week I went on a night hike at the GC North Rim.
Check the ranger led options while you are there for great experiences.
I enjoy ranger led hikes in the National Parks. One day when I found myself solo (boys were fishing, SIL was shopping) I went on one to STANDING petrified trees on a ridge. What a great day.
Last week I went on a night hike at the GC North Rim.
Check the ranger led options while you are there for great experiences.
Aug 9th, 2006, 03:08 PM
#34
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BayouGal,
I'll return the favor for your help on the Alaska board, by telling you that when you do the hike to Inspiration Point, be sure to go on farther. Although Inspiration Point is beautiful, Cascade Falls (I think that's the name) is gorgeous! We hiked quite a bit farther on--not hard at all--and saw a huge moose standing in the water just chewing and watching us. Don't miss the scenery on beyond "the point."
Also, we stayed last summer at Signal Mountain Lodge and loved it. We stayed in one of the rooms--bedroom, living/dining area, kitchenette, and bath--overlooking the lake. What a breathtaking sunset! Not rough at all, and believe me, I do not like it rough.
We also did a whitewater trip down the Snake River with Mad River Runners. Great trip.
In Yellowstone we hiked down Uncle Tom's Trail and really liked it. Lots of steps but not too bad. In fact, there was a gentleman with one leg doing the trip with crutches.
We along with 12 year-old son also did the Old West Cookout from Mammoth and really enjoyed it. This was on July 8 and it was freezing. A huge rain storm blew in and thank goodness we had taken our ski jackets and jeans!!
One of our best memories of Yellowstone was reading and playing games in front of the huge rock fireplace in the lobby. So cozy.
Have a great trip! We still are talking about ours a year later.
Lynda
I'll return the favor for your help on the Alaska board, by telling you that when you do the hike to Inspiration Point, be sure to go on farther. Although Inspiration Point is beautiful, Cascade Falls (I think that's the name) is gorgeous! We hiked quite a bit farther on--not hard at all--and saw a huge moose standing in the water just chewing and watching us. Don't miss the scenery on beyond "the point."
Also, we stayed last summer at Signal Mountain Lodge and loved it. We stayed in one of the rooms--bedroom, living/dining area, kitchenette, and bath--overlooking the lake. What a breathtaking sunset! Not rough at all, and believe me, I do not like it rough.
We also did a whitewater trip down the Snake River with Mad River Runners. Great trip.
In Yellowstone we hiked down Uncle Tom's Trail and really liked it. Lots of steps but not too bad. In fact, there was a gentleman with one leg doing the trip with crutches.
We along with 12 year-old son also did the Old West Cookout from Mammoth and really enjoyed it. This was on July 8 and it was freezing. A huge rain storm blew in and thank goodness we had taken our ski jackets and jeans!!
One of our best memories of Yellowstone was reading and playing games in front of the huge rock fireplace in the lobby. So cozy.
Have a great trip! We still are talking about ours a year later.
Lynda
Aug 10th, 2006, 05:51 AM
#36
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SpeedBuggy,
Just reread the posts and saw yours regarding Lone Star Geyser. We did this hike and, although we had to wait 2 hours for the eruption, it was well worth the wait. The walk is rather long, but cool and very flat. The wait for the eruption was rather hot since it is not as wooded as the trail, but, oh my, what a site. I have pictures of it blowing into the air with a rainbow behind it. Of course, it was our first geyser, but we would do it again in a heartbeat. If you have access to bikes, that would be the ideal way to go.
Just make sure you take a book or something in case there is a long wait; although, you can hike on into the countryside, but we didn't have any bug repellant and the bugs about drove us crazy. They weren't too bad as long as we stayed out in the open in the heat, but the slightest move to the trees, and on into the countryside, etc. and they were all over you. Make sure you have repellant with you.
By the way, the eruption will begin with starts and fits and you'll think, "Is that all there is?" But just wait it out and you will be well rewarded.
Just reread the posts and saw yours regarding Lone Star Geyser. We did this hike and, although we had to wait 2 hours for the eruption, it was well worth the wait. The walk is rather long, but cool and very flat. The wait for the eruption was rather hot since it is not as wooded as the trail, but, oh my, what a site. I have pictures of it blowing into the air with a rainbow behind it. Of course, it was our first geyser, but we would do it again in a heartbeat. If you have access to bikes, that would be the ideal way to go.
Just make sure you take a book or something in case there is a long wait; although, you can hike on into the countryside, but we didn't have any bug repellant and the bugs about drove us crazy. They weren't too bad as long as we stayed out in the open in the heat, but the slightest move to the trees, and on into the countryside, etc. and they were all over you. Make sure you have repellant with you.
By the way, the eruption will begin with starts and fits and you'll think, "Is that all there is?" But just wait it out and you will be well rewarded.
Aug 10th, 2006, 12:36 PM
#37
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Link, I don't know if you've already done your trip, but Signal Mtn lodge has 2 TVs. One is in the bar, and the other in a lounge in the registration building. We just returned from our YNP/GTNP trip and had 2 nights at SML. Our 2-room cabin was fantastic. The front room, as well as our side porch, looked out over jackson Lake. I'd been trying to get a Lakeview room, couldn't, but we were thrilled with our cabin-not rustic by our standards, (although we'd just come from 2 terrific nights in the frontier cabins at Tower/Roosevelt.
Thanks to all of you and your postings, and your list, BayouGal, we did do the Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point walk. We were rewarded with 2 separate sightings of black bear and one bear cub up a tree, not 10 feet from the walking path. The guide books said the additional hike up Cascade Canyon, LynTom, was steep and strenuous, and long, so we opted out. Mistake? But, I was also told that there was a bull moose right in that Cascade Canyon. This was a couple of days ago. Caution: as the bison are in their rutting and mating season now, and were aggressive in YNP,and about one angry second away from our car, Sept is the rutting/mating season for moose. Be careful not to get close to bull moose then.
For another hike not mentioned; YNP, South Rim coupled with Ribbon Lake/Clear Lake. This 4-5 mile loop begins at Wapiti Lake Picnic Area (similar to Uncle Tom mentioned above). It climbs up and then along the South Rim, MUCH less crowded than the North Rim, goes to the other side of the Artist Point parking lot where you pick up Ribbon Lake trail, wends its way through a moonscape wasteland of bubbling mudpots, that you can get as close to as you care, around a lilypadded lake, then follow Clear Lake trail to a beautiful lake. When you come to a Y in the road, which has been knocked down constantly by wandering bison, go straight. You'll walk up and down through a beautiful, flower strewn meadow til you reach your car at Wapiti trailhead. The trip is a delight of contrasts, with surprises awaiting you at every turn.
Lost Lake, which starts behind the Tower/Roosevelt Lodge, is another climb up to a beautiful lilypad lake, great for picnicing if you bring your mosquito repellent.There are waterfalls back there too, and yellow bellied marmot.
I'll also throw in the hike at Mammoth, Hoodoo Trail. This climbs up the ridge of a mtn to a spot tht looks as though giants have been playing with gigantic boulders as though they were no more than pebbles to be tossed up in the air. The trail continues to another sight, or you can double back.
A word about the fires. My DH and i had been to YNP some 26 years ago before the fires. What happened is that otherwise tree-enclosed roads have now given way to exposed valleys and more dramatic vistas. And with the rich soil deposited by the burned trees, more vegetation has been able to thrive, and so the wildlife is more abundant. With the scorching temp of the fires, the lodgepole pine could release their seeds, hence the new growth also apparent in these 20 years.
Two more books to recommend, besides the Fommers are Yellowstone Day Hikes by Anderson and Exploring the Yellowstone Backcountry by Bach. Both have ideas of trails, length, difficulty, and in the case of Day Hikes, marvelous pictures.
Thanks to all of you and your postings, and your list, BayouGal, we did do the Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point walk. We were rewarded with 2 separate sightings of black bear and one bear cub up a tree, not 10 feet from the walking path. The guide books said the additional hike up Cascade Canyon, LynTom, was steep and strenuous, and long, so we opted out. Mistake? But, I was also told that there was a bull moose right in that Cascade Canyon. This was a couple of days ago. Caution: as the bison are in their rutting and mating season now, and were aggressive in YNP,and about one angry second away from our car, Sept is the rutting/mating season for moose. Be careful not to get close to bull moose then.
For another hike not mentioned; YNP, South Rim coupled with Ribbon Lake/Clear Lake. This 4-5 mile loop begins at Wapiti Lake Picnic Area (similar to Uncle Tom mentioned above). It climbs up and then along the South Rim, MUCH less crowded than the North Rim, goes to the other side of the Artist Point parking lot where you pick up Ribbon Lake trail, wends its way through a moonscape wasteland of bubbling mudpots, that you can get as close to as you care, around a lilypadded lake, then follow Clear Lake trail to a beautiful lake. When you come to a Y in the road, which has been knocked down constantly by wandering bison, go straight. You'll walk up and down through a beautiful, flower strewn meadow til you reach your car at Wapiti trailhead. The trip is a delight of contrasts, with surprises awaiting you at every turn.
Lost Lake, which starts behind the Tower/Roosevelt Lodge, is another climb up to a beautiful lilypad lake, great for picnicing if you bring your mosquito repellent.There are waterfalls back there too, and yellow bellied marmot.
I'll also throw in the hike at Mammoth, Hoodoo Trail. This climbs up the ridge of a mtn to a spot tht looks as though giants have been playing with gigantic boulders as though they were no more than pebbles to be tossed up in the air. The trail continues to another sight, or you can double back.
A word about the fires. My DH and i had been to YNP some 26 years ago before the fires. What happened is that otherwise tree-enclosed roads have now given way to exposed valleys and more dramatic vistas. And with the rich soil deposited by the burned trees, more vegetation has been able to thrive, and so the wildlife is more abundant. With the scorching temp of the fires, the lodgepole pine could release their seeds, hence the new growth also apparent in these 20 years.
Two more books to recommend, besides the Fommers are Yellowstone Day Hikes by Anderson and Exploring the Yellowstone Backcountry by Bach. Both have ideas of trails, length, difficulty, and in the case of Day Hikes, marvelous pictures.
