My husband & I took a two week trip out West (we're easterners)starting Labor Day Saturday and I'll post reports in parts. This was our first trip to these parts and, as always, I used info from this forum in planning.

We flew into Billings, Montana (because our last stop was going to be Mt. Rushmore and this was the best location to avoid car rental drop charges)and headed to Red Lodge for the first night. It was a real kick being on a two-lane road with a 65 MPH speed limit. We stayed at Chateau Rouge, which was fine. Walked around Red Lodge to find our dinner spot and decided on the Creekside. Dinner there was very good and, as we had to sit at the bar, we met a lot of folks.

Up early the next morning to leave for the Beartooth Hwy. It was very cold on the high lookout looking back the way we had come. The scenery, as all have said was magnificent. We didn't stop for any lengthy walks as we had a long drive to the Lake Hotel ahead of us. We stopped in Cooke City and picked up fried chicken at the Grizzly Pad for our picnic lunch in YNP (it was only 9:30 by this time but I could have eaten the chicken right then).

The drive in through the NE entrance and Lamar Valley is beautiful. We had our first bison encounters, one very dramatic. A bison was in the road headed in our direction, moving at a good clip when another charged up from the gully at the side of the road, spooked the first and they both charged directly at our car. Fortunately, they veered off at the last second. If I needed any reminder not to get close to the bison, that did it.

We had to drive through Mammoth junction due to road closures and the place was hopping by the time we got there. We were able to find a parking spot in the upper terrace area and see that hot spring. Very impressive and different than I had thought.

Our continued drive was slowed twice more by bison in the road with long lines of cars behind and on the opposite side of the road waiting for the bison to go by.

Got up early the next morning and took the photo safari from the hotel. I know folks say that you can find the wildlife by yourself (which you can), but we wanted one opportunity with someone who knew where to go and without us driving. We did see lots, including a mama grizzly and cub and an osprey diving & catching a fish. Went to Canyon that afternoon and did all the sites there--no walks down the steep trails/steps, though. Beautiful.

The next day was geyser country. Old Faithful ok, but we were lucky enought to see Beehive erupt--that was impressive. But I really liked the other types of geothermal features better than the geysers--the colored pools, hot springs, etc. We were at one basin (I think Midway) when a small herd of buffalo started across. When their hooves hit the hot ground they took off at a run--great to see.

I liked the Lake hotel & the quiet, but I see the value in the advice to move locations if you're spending a good deal of time in the park--it's so huge you're going to drive a lot.

By the way, we took the hike from the Yellowstone picnic area up to the ridge where you could look down at the river. Lonely Planet said (I beleive) that it's an 80 foot elevation change. If that's true, then the hike in Grand Teton up to Hidden Falls & Inspiration point is a lot more than the 400 foot change we were told.

Next, on to Grand Teton.

Great report. We'll be doing a trip very much like yours next summer so I look forward to all of your reports. Sounds like you had a great time!

It was fabulous! Hope you have as good a time.

RuthMc- You are the person I have been looking for!! I leave on Sunday for Yellowstone and the Tetons. I am interested in the photo safaris. Which one did you use? Did you like it? I see you saw a bear and a cub - how wonderful! Do you think it was worth spending one of your days with a guide looking for animals or do you think you saw enough on your own?

Suggestion - It would surely be helpful if subsequent parts were posted as responses to this original post, so one could easily follow your interesting trip and whole report in proper sequence.

We used the photo safari run by the YNP concessionaire, Xanterra. It was a 4-5 hour early morning to 11ish tour. We went in a old YNP bus which only holds 11 passengers and the driver/guide so it wasn't a mass of people. We probably could have found the wildlife on our own, but the guide knew where certain types were likely to be. He also was into scenery photography and stopped by a wildflower scene. He offered great tips on photography, some of which we've actually remembered. We really enjoyed it but it was our first morning in the park and the prospect of not having to figure out where to go and then drive ourselves was very appealing. The grizzly and cub were right on the roadside and there were plently of other folks there. Also talked with people who saw bears elsewhere, but we weren't so fortunate.

Thanks so much for the information. On another thread someone said that there were tons of animals out and about so I guess I'll wait & see what it is like when I get there. But I appreciate a review of a trip I will at least be considering while I am out there!