Yellowstone
 

Going to Yellowstone in August. Any suggestions on what to do. Love outdoor activities. Spending 3 days there then going to Teton.

Just drive around to the different areas. Each area has something to offer. Some are hot springs, others are wildlife.

Most of these Wyoming pictures are of Yellowstone:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7623124826386/

I was in Yellowstone & Grand Tetons (don't miss this park just south of Yellowstone) near the beginning of this past August.

You can click on my name and find my very, very detailed report.

In addition, do a searth of Yellowstone on this forum and you'll find quite a few comments and reports.

You can see my photos at:

www.travelwalks.com

A great trip.

Old Faithful is interesting, if you can overlook the 4-lane highway and cloverleaf to get there. Almost always crowded that time of year. IMO better to spend time at some of the other geyser areas and Mammoth. Favorite other places are Lamar Valley and Yellowstone Falls area.

I think the best geysers are in the Old Faithful area. I would spend a full day there, and don't miss Old Faithful Inn. Specific geysers that we liked were Riverside, Daisy, and Castle. Only slightly harder to catch than Old Faithful, but they put on a longer different show. each one is unique.

Spend another day in Canyon/Tower/Rosevelt area

Another day in Hayden and Lamar Valley

Mammoth is my least favorite part of the park.

Check this URL

http://www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/plan.htm

In the section labeled "Length of Time -- What to See"

Let me try and summarize the Upper Geyser Basin.

Essentially, there are 2 types of Geysers. Those that are predicted and those that aren't.

By far Olf Faithful is the easiest to time. It's located at the lodging and has an approximate time span between eruptions of about 90 minutes.

The other 4 predicted geysers are at least a half hour's walk towards the other end of the Basin. I think you could easily spend the better part of a day wandering the whole basin. The other geysers erupt when they want to. Even the other predicted geysers erupt only a couple of times a day so timing them takes time. But worth it.

You also have Morning Glory right near Riverside Geyser.

In my opinion, one of the stars is Grand Prismatic Spring. And the best view is not on the official viewing boarwalk. It's a mile's hike from the Fairy Falls trailhead and then a bit of a climb up an unoffical trail to get a bird's eye view.

In Canyon, the star is the Lower Falls. In my opinion, the best view is to hike down to Red Rock Point. Just the right distance from the falls and right elevation.

Hayden and Lamar area are for wildlife. Other than bison, it's hit or miss with what you may or may not see.

And as spiro wrote, Mammoth is my least favorite part of the park.

I've visited Yellowstone over several decades and I am totally turned off by the huge, unruly crowds that now surge over the most popular sights like herds of disoriented animals.

The geothermal sites (such as Old Faithful) are fascinating. Stay in the park and get up early to see them before the day-trippers swarm in.

The north part of the park is still relatively pristine. Highlights of our 2010 visit to Yellowstone included the drive on the Beartooth Highway to Red Lodge, MT, and from there to Cody, WY, for the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and the rodeo.

There is much more to the region than the parks. We also like Ennis, MT, Dubois, WY, and several other nearby towns.

In contrast to Yellowstone, when you visit Grand Tetons NP you will find beauty wherever you look.

HTTY