We have been to several national parks, but I have to say that we are feeling overwhelmed by Yellowstone and wondering if the best way to go is to hire a guide for a half or full day. We will, of course, avail ourselves of the great NPS programming, but wondered if folks have used a guide and would have recommendations. I have had two recommendations from the dude ranch where we are staying after we leave the park--Alpen and Yellowstone Safaris. Also, in Glacier, we took a Red Jammer tour,, which we enjoyed, and it looks like there is something similar in YNP with the yellow buses.

All suggestions/ recommendations welcome. After GTNP, we are in Yellowstone for five days; two nights at Old Faithful Inn and two nights at Canyon Lodge. I should mention that we are two adults and a ten year old girl who will, of course, be most interested in wildlife (very grateful to our 12-year old neighbor who told her, "you are going to be so sick of seeing that Old Faithful geyser go off all the time .

Thanks in advance!

Mary In D.C.

The nps.com website has a list of available guides in Yellowstone. Xanterra runs bus tours, too.

Yellowstone is best done as a drive it your self project. You can use the information that is given to you when entering the Park. I know I would not want to be stuck on a tour bus traversing their preplanned itinerary. You will miss a lot.

As far as wildlife the best of the best is the Lamar Valley located on the road to the NE entrance. Visit early morning or evening for the best results.

We've never taken a tour and agree with RedRock, but also understand your confusion (there is so much information -- alot of different opinions). Since you will be in Yellowstone for five days, taking a half day tour might be beneficial to orient you and they usually give you interesting information about the park.

A good book to get (you can check it out at the library and see if you like it) is Janet Chapple's Yellowstone Treasures.

appreciate the thoughtful responses from all!

thanks,

Mary

Glad to hear others recommend not taking a guided tour. We did take the red Jammer tour in GNP. I had to hear our tour guide constantly talk about all the near death and death experiences people had with grizzlies at the park. At the time, my children were 8 and 9, and I really didn't appreciate it. Literally, he spent the whole trip blabbing about the dangerous grizzlies. The only reason I decided to take the tour was because I thought taking the "Going to the Sun" road on our own may have been too white knuckle to enjoy, and it ended up that the road was snowed out a week before we got there (end of June!). Otherwise, GNP was gorgeous. Have fun in Yellowstone.

Hi Mosey, the reason we did the Red Jammer tour was because after driving the Going to the Sun road to Many Glacier (we hadn't stopped anywhere because it was going late), my husband declared he would not be driving it again!

Appreciate everyone's advice!

Mary

We went out with Yellowstone Yearround Adventures.

http://www.yellowstoneyearround.com/

They're based in Gardiner. It works best if you're in Mammoth or Roosevelt or even Gardiner. We had already explored the park on our own but wanted to learn more information. We enjoyed our time with them.

You can also have a very good time without a guide.