Help! Yellowstone & Grand Teton
Aug 4th, 2003, 09:08 AM
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Help! Yellowstone & Grand Teton
We will be doing a two week trip, doing the South Dakota area then leaving for Devil's Tower, Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Can anyone suggest one night of lodging near Devil's Tower.
Then we are off to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Which one should we do first? How much time in each area do we need? I thought 4 or 5 days in Yellowstone, and 2 in Grand Teton. If anyone has suggestions for lodging that would be great. Should we stay at the same place in Yellowstone all four nights? We do not really like motels. Something in a very scenic and quiet area. Thanks!
Then we are off to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Which one should we do first? How much time in each area do we need? I thought 4 or 5 days in Yellowstone, and 2 in Grand Teton. If anyone has suggestions for lodging that would be great. Should we stay at the same place in Yellowstone all four nights? We do not really like motels. Something in a very scenic and quiet area. Thanks!
Aug 4th, 2003, 11:59 AM
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I think your plan to do two days in the Tetons and 4 or 5 days in Yellowstone is a good idea.
I just returned from 3 days in Yellowstone, but this was my 6th trip.
Lodging around Yellowstone inside of the park is problematic. Starting this late, if you don't have reservation in Yellowstone, chances are that you will not find 4 consecutive nights at any one location.
The Old Faithful Inn can be very hot, and expensive for what little you get in some of the rooms. Most of the cabins are not much at all to brag about, but the concessioner, Xanterra, fills them up regularly.
My suggestion is to try for a motel in West Yellowstone. That is what I just did and was glad I did because temperatures have been on the hot side.
None of the accommodations that I know of in Yellowstone have air conditioners.
Our room in the Inn as small and poorly ventilated. The shower was so small that at 6 feet, 180 pounds I had trouble turning around.
For the Tetons, you might try Signal Mountain Lodge or thelodge on Colter Bay.
I just returned from 3 days in Yellowstone, but this was my 6th trip.
Lodging around Yellowstone inside of the park is problematic. Starting this late, if you don't have reservation in Yellowstone, chances are that you will not find 4 consecutive nights at any one location.
The Old Faithful Inn can be very hot, and expensive for what little you get in some of the rooms. Most of the cabins are not much at all to brag about, but the concessioner, Xanterra, fills them up regularly.
My suggestion is to try for a motel in West Yellowstone. That is what I just did and was glad I did because temperatures have been on the hot side.
None of the accommodations that I know of in Yellowstone have air conditioners.
Our room in the Inn as small and poorly ventilated. The shower was so small that at 6 feet, 180 pounds I had trouble turning around.
For the Tetons, you might try Signal Mountain Lodge or thelodge on Colter Bay.
Aug 4th, 2003, 05:28 PM
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Patti
Just an acknowledgement to Bob Brown's post re: West Yellowstone. We stayed at the Holiday Inn there last year, which was very acceptable, and we found West Yellowstone central to the points we wanted to visit after entering from the East (which it sounds like you may be doing). There are even a few places to shop and dine there--check out Bullwinkles if you do. If you are coming in from the East, highly recommend the drive through Big Horn Forest from Cody to Sheridan. The day we entered from the East, we were able to see Old Faithful and other sites going directly through the park. Then, once situated in West Yellowstone, it was a good base of operations to head to points north and south that circled around.
Just an acknowledgement to Bob Brown's post re: West Yellowstone. We stayed at the Holiday Inn there last year, which was very acceptable, and we found West Yellowstone central to the points we wanted to visit after entering from the East (which it sounds like you may be doing). There are even a few places to shop and dine there--check out Bullwinkles if you do. If you are coming in from the East, highly recommend the drive through Big Horn Forest from Cody to Sheridan. The day we entered from the East, we were able to see Old Faithful and other sites going directly through the park. Then, once situated in West Yellowstone, it was a good base of operations to head to points north and south that circled around.
Aug 4th, 2003, 07:14 PM
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Let me add, that the road along the Madison River between West Yellowstone and Madison Junction is a treat. We saw eagles, elk, and other animals.
One of the elk was a young bull with a full rack.
The drive is fairly level and straight.
Some of it is through burned forest; other sections are through unburned areas. You can see what it was like before the fire, and then see the new growth. Driving it does not take long at all.
From West Yellowstone, you can access all of the geyser basins. The road to the Norris Geyser Basin has been reworked, and a new road is being built.
I doubt that the new section will be ready until 2005.
One tip, once you buy your ticket to get in, there is an "express" lane for prepaid visitors at the West Gate.
We should have used it more.
One of the elk was a young bull with a full rack.
The drive is fairly level and straight.
Some of it is through burned forest; other sections are through unburned areas. You can see what it was like before the fire, and then see the new growth. Driving it does not take long at all.
From West Yellowstone, you can access all of the geyser basins. The road to the Norris Geyser Basin has been reworked, and a new road is being built.
I doubt that the new section will be ready until 2005.
One tip, once you buy your ticket to get in, there is an "express" lane for prepaid visitors at the West Gate.
We should have used it more.
Aug 4th, 2003, 07:16 PM
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PS. The trip over the Big Horns is a fun one. Scenic and steep as you ascend or descend the canyons on the western escarpment. Ten Sleep Canyon is so steep I had to stop and let my ears catch up with the change in air pressure.
