Mary_Fran

We are planning a May trip to Yellowstone from our home in Spokane and are trying to decide on the best time to go. We'd like to go before school lets out, so that we can avoid crowds and traffic to the extent possible, hence we were thinking mid-May. However, we wondered whether we'd benefit from significantly better weather if we waited until closer to the end of May.

We do not plan to camp or even to hike (bad feet and a questionable ticker). We'd just like an opportunity to see beautiful scenery, geology, and perhaps the odd glimpse of wild life.

Any suggestions? Do we need to be concerned about snow in mid-May? Any idea what range of temperatures we might expect during daylight hours?

We are thinking about entering the park from Bozeman, to the north, and then driving through the Grand Tetons to the south on our way back to Spokane.

P.S. If you have any particularly fond memories of Yellowstone and suggestions for how we should spend our time there, we'd love to hear them. We're thinking we'll have a week to ten days to make the trip from Spokane, and we plan to stop a night in Missoula and make a loop up through Big Fork and along Flathead Lake: http://www.missoulacvb.org/day_trips_lakes.php

Dayle

Hi Mary Fran,

May is early for Yellowstone weather wise. It's not unusual for it to get snow even in June. If you don't really plan to do a lot of hiking, you can still enjoy with the right layers. Take fleece, warm coats, gloves and hats.

The nice part about May is no crowds, lots of new baby animals (not just odd glimpses either, LOTS). It will probably be too early for the wildflowers unfortunately!

You should try to stay IN the park, but I'm not sure if all lodging will be open that early. A night in Jackson would also be very nice.

Have fun!

ausc59

We have just finished planning at trip for mid-may...the main roads are all scheduled to be opened by then. The Snow Lodge at Old Faithful is open with vacancies, the Lake Hotel opens around the 11th and the hotel at Mammoth is open then.
The other advantage we have found to going then is that for many of the ski resorts around Jackson it is a shoulder season, thus the rates are a little more reasonable.
We were there the end of June several years ago and had snow so we have learned to go prepared for anything.
It is worth it!

AlJ

Hi Mary Fran
Since you asked, our Yellowstone experiences and pictures are on our website. www.AlandSueJohnson.com You can click on the bison picture.

We started in Jackson and worked our way north. Be ready for all kinds of weather. Its a wonderful place and you'll love it.

trippinkpj

I enjoyed my just after Labor Day in early Sept. visit. Less crowds and more wildlife than my late June visit. Also the weather was a little warmer in early Sept., though I know it can vary from year to year.

tovarich

I agree.September after Labor day is the best time.Paul

Mary_Fran

Thank you so much, all! It does seem to me that the best time to go would be right after Labor Day. However, this year we're going to Ireland at that time. September is my favorite time to travel!

Alj, you website page and photos are marvelous! I'm going to plan to spend lots more time on your site, because there is much to see. It's hard to pick a favorite photo from your Yellowstone group, but I loved these:

Lilly pond: http://www.alandsuejohnson.com/weste...tone_pics.html

Gibbons falls: http://www.alandsuejohnson.com/weste...tone_pics.html

Lower falls: http://www.alandsuejohnson.com/weste...tone_pics.html

As beautiful as your Yellowstone pictures are, the Glacier Nation Park stuff looks terrific too. So far, I've just read the opening page:
http://www.alandsuejohnson.com/glacier_np.htm

I'm intrigued! GNP is closer to us here in Spokane, and it just looks wonderful. How would you compare your experience between the two parks?

Incidentally, it looks like some of the links on the Glacier area are broken. It's on this page:

Broken Link: http://www.alandsuejohnson.com/from_...ier_index.html

Mary_Fran

Oops! Didn't post the links to great photos correctly. Let's see if I can compound my error:

Lilly pond: http://www.alandsuejohnson.com/weste.../dsc_0268.html

Gibbons falls:
http://www.alandsuejohnson.com/weste.../dsc_0399.html

Lower Falls: http://www.alandsuejohnson.com/weste.../dsc_6452.html

Neat, neat photos.

mmouse52

We were in Yellowstone 1st week in June it was a great time the weather was nice cool in the morning you would need a sweatshirt and warm by noon. Great time to see animals babies are born in spring and you'll see more animals when the weather is cooler than in hotter months. Make a point to be in the lamar valley area a few hours before sunset great place for animal viewing. If you can do the beartooth hwy one of the most beautiful rides.

bob_brown

I think I would also opt for early June.
The alternative is early to mid September.

The drawback to mid September is that many of the ranger-led walks have terminated.

In early June, the weather can be sometimes cool. The objective I am sure is to beat the mobs, but that is not always successful because other people have similar ideas.

I was there in late May once and I can recall that waiting for Old Faithful to erupt was an act of endurance because the wind was strong and the temperatures near freezing.

I have many fond memories of Yellowstone. I will list 4 of them:

Watching Grand Geyser erupt by the light of a full moon.

Watching Riverside by that same moon and spotting a large owl in a tree silhouetted against the moon-lit sky.

Watching Castle Geyser erupt for the first time.

Walking along the trail from Artist's Point toward the Falls of the Yellowstone. Views of the canyon and the falls were spectacular.

In Bozeman, I recommend highly a visit to the Museum of the Rockies. The museum underwent a major upgrade about 3 years ago. I found it to be a very good museum, particularly on paleontology.

The Museum of the Rockies is the homebase of one of America's foremost dinosaur paleontologists: Dr. John R. (Jack) Horner whose work with fossil discoveries in the Hell Creek formation and other Montana dinosaur sites is legendary.

His excavation of a T-Rex fossil led to the discovery of some complete protein inside one of the leg bones. A scientist at North Carolina State concluded that the tissue most resembled that of a chicken. Come to think of it, the leg bone of a T-Rex does look something like a huge drumstick.

Dr. Horner and Don Lessem wrote a book on T-Rex that is ideal for non scientists. In it, they made one statement with which I fully agree:

"Most of all we a lucky that T-Rex is dead. And we are not."

I have no desire to find a live one nosing round in my backyard.

RedRock

We have been in YS in early May to late September. Prime time is July and August. May can be wet and cold and no one can predict what the weather may bring. Our favorite time is mid late June before the crowds. September can also be cold and things start to close after Labor Day. http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Michael

Mary_Fran,

I suggest that the next time you refrain from posting long URLs by passing them through Tiny URL (http://tinyurl.com/), which will reduce their size and allow them to fit within the screen.

RedRock

All the urls posted in this entire thread fit my screen with no problem.

Michael

RedRock,

But it would be nice to think of those who have problems with large URLs.

RedRock

I would guess in that case.... But how do you tell when the url you are going to post is going to be to long and bother 'some' of the people. I rarely have a problem..

Michael

Just make the assumption that it is long and go to Tiny URLs. It does not take that much effort.

Mary_Fran

Michael, "I suggest that the next time you refrain from ..." sounding like quite so much of a dictator. Here, try this:

"Mary_Fran, long urls distort my screen. It would be helpful to me if you would use tiny urls."

I don't visit here as much as I once did, and since I don't have problems with long urls any more, I assumed Fodors had fixed the problem. Apparently, I was wrong. I think the tiny url thing is kind of a silly and convoluted fix, but to the extent I bother to post urls at all any more, I will use it.


Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll get back to reading the helpful suggestions posted here about my trip to Yellowstone.

Annam

We went to Yellowstone in Mid-June, 1999. Camped in a pop-up at a campground between Jackson and Yellowstone (Colter Lake?) There was still snow on shady hillsides in the higher elevations, but the weather was beautiful. We picnic'ed out for lunch every day. Crowds were minimal. Wildflowers were in bloom.

Mo_G

I just stumbled upon your Krakow thread--Wow! We're headed there in June and all that info is priceless. I'd love to hear how that trip went, and where else you toured in Central Europe. Feel free to email me directly...I'm so glad to be able to contribute to your Yellowstone query!

We visited Yellowstone in May of '03 with our then almost 3 year old. We're not hikers either. Rented a minivan and took in all the gorgeous scenery from there. (And of course we stopped a bunch and got out of the car!) It was a wonderful trip! We saw tons of buffalo, moose, bear, bald eagles and even a mountain lion!

We went late May, the last week BEFORE Memorial Day. After that the crowds get insane. Only one road in the park was not fully opened yet for the season. And the weather was beautiful.

We had easy access to everything we wanted to see, including walking right up to Old Faithful 5 minutes before an eruption and experiencing it within maybe 10 other people there at the same time. (Plus and old coyote rambled around and watched us as we watched the geyser--very exciting!)

It's my understanding that AFTER Memorial Day, the crowds at Old Faithful (and in the park in general) are HUGE. This was confirmed as we exited the park on our last day (which, I believe, was the Friday or Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, and saw the massive traffic jam headed in.)

We started our trip at the Chico Hot Springs Resort in Bozeman, which I'd recommend if you're going with adults or kids over 7--not much to do for younger kids there. Though their naturally heated (and chlorine-free) pool was wonderful, as was dinner in the hotel dining room: Had an orange and chocolate flambee dessert that was incredible! The place is rustic, and bathrooms were communal, but that was fine by us. From there we stayed a couple of nights at the Old Faithful Lodge. Highly recommended if you can get a reservation. It's rustic timber construction is fabulous. We loved hanging out there in the late afternoon/early evening, listening to the pianist, though the food was extremely average.

Our last 2 nights was spent, I believe, at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. That one is more difficult to recall. Though we did have a great time watching some buffalo from the hotel restaurant window.

The only disappointment was that we didn't get to see any wolves. But they're very shy, I understand. We had a fabulous time there. I'm sure you will too. Definitely see the Tetons on your way out, we ran out of time, but will certainly head back there again.

One more note, if you're flying, the Bozeman airport looks just like a ski lodge, just what you'd expect for Montana! Be aware, however, that we found the security there very tight. Nice to know they're taking things seriously, but be sure to add in enough time when you're leaving the state.

Have a great trip!!

Mary_Fran

Wow! This is great.

I decided to go ahead and book a room at the Snow Lodge for three nights, arriving May 25th. (We'll see if my sister agrees, and we can change if she doesn't, but Spokane is too nice to leave in June!)

Bob Brown, thanks so much for that tip about the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman! That looks fascinating. The paleontology angle is extremely interesting.

I also love the study of geology, though not terribly knowledgeable, so if anyone has any tips about museums or other resources that will help me understand what I'm seeing in Yellowstone, I'd love to hear them.

We will be driving from Spokane, heading first toward Big Fork via HWY 2, through Libby, then from Big Fork along Flathead Lake, through St. Ignatius to Missoula.

I'll post a separate request for ideas for that leg of the trip and confine this one to Yellowstone.

Mo G, that Krakow thread really was amazing, wasn't it, in the quality of input I got from my request for suggestions. Maybe I'll see you over on that thread, because I'll post a little summary of our visit there.