W. Yellowstone (5 days), Gardiner (4 days)
 

Hello,

Wife and I, 2 teen kids (geez, how many folks have seen THAT posted here before, ha!) heading and staying in W. Yellowstone late July for 5 days then will move to Gardiner for 4 days. Our first trip to Yellowstone and we are looking to see 'the essentials' of course but are open to off the beaten track spots and plan to be out and about at dawn some days to avoid crowds--if that's actually possible!

In process of creating an interinary of sorts and any suggestions are much appreciated. We like to walk, hike, photograph (that would be me).

Thanks,

Gus (Philadelphia suburbs)

Are you planning to spend any time in Grand Teton? I might shift a few of those nights to GTNP.

Lamar Valley (along the northern road through Yellowstone) is great for wildlife and easier to access from Gardiner. Early and late in the day are best.

Buy or rent bear spray.

Hi, we fly into Jackson hole area/GTNP mid afternoon but really didn't plan to linger there; just start our drive from Jackson to W. Yellowstone. We do plan to stop a lot as we drive through that park ( I was there solo in 2001) and would like my family to see some of it if time allows.

I was in Glacier in 2000 and should have bought bear spray and will do so on this trip...thanks.

Gus

Do buy bear spray, but be aware it is not allowed in luggage on airplanes. Renting may be a option or buy and donate it to the Rangers if you haven't used it.

If you click on my user name, you will see my trip report to Yellowstone with kids. Go to the nps.gov website for Yellowstone and check out the park newsletter before you go. This has great ideas for all sorts of hikes plus it tells you the schedules for ranger talks. The best part about Yellowstone is that if you get 1 mile off the road, you will see almost nobody. Just check every day with the ranger office about possible bear closures for hikes.

One day after dealing with the crowds in Yellowstone, we drove to Mesa Falls in Idaho and then to the Bechler Ranger station. There are trails in both areas, but be sure to bring bug spray! It was so nice because there were no traffic jams and no waits for parking places!

We also enjoyed the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman if you want to do something like that.

We just spent a week (July 4th) in Yellowstone, hiked a bunch of trails and didn't see a single bear. We stay in the park so were able to hit most places by 8. Parking anywhere after 12 noon was nearly impossible so take an afternoon and return in later PM or early evening. It was light till nearly 10pm.