Hi all. We've been all over out west, but never to Yellowstone/Grand Teton, which we're planning on doing next summer. I have some questions:
(1) Is Yellowstone going to be really crowded in mid to late July? Would I deal with less crowds if I plan on visiting the park during the week and not the weekend, or wouldn't that make a difference? My idea of a fun vacation is not sitting in traffic or fighting the crowds.
(2) Which are the quietest, nicest in-park places to stay? We once stayed at the Lake McDonald Lodge in Glacier NP, and while it was a very attractive building, the rooms were extremely small (the bathrooms even smaller). And b/c all the rooms encircled the lobby, any lobby noise made it to the rooms. It was a very noisy place to stay. Will we experience similar accomodations inside Yellowstone?
(3) I'm still debating doing the Beartooth Hwy. I know you're all going to think I'm nuts for saying this, but pictures of this leave me underwhelmed. I'm probably the only person who wasn't impressed with Trail Ridge Rd. in Rocky Mnt. NP. I prefer my mountains green, and not just grey rock with patches of snow. Alpine tundra is OK, but nothing very scenic in my eyes. If I didn't like Trail Ridge Rd., would I like the Beartooth, or is it very similar to Trail Ridge. BTW, my favorite mountain drives are:
1. Going to the Sun Rd., Glacier NP
2. Yankee Boy Basin above Ouray, CO
3. Toward Gothic above Crested Butte, CO
4. The road through Kootenay NP in Canada.
I can tell by lurking here that this is a very knowledgable group of people, so I look forward to your replies. Many thanks, Karen

July is peak season in Yellowstone so I doubt weekday vs. weekend is really an issue. Also, it is one of the most traveled to parks in the US.

Just curious, why are these not usual tourist questions? They seem pretty typical to me.

If you can go in mid-June it will probably be a bit quieter. Still the area has lots of tourists most of the summer, and I don't think weekday or weekends will make much difference, this is not a weekend trip for most visitors.

We visited in mid-June about three years ago and the traffic through the park was minimal and have a great time. Stayed at Yellowstone Lodge in a newer room, and found it to be quiet. Again the sizes of the lodge rooms are not big! I don't believe any had much facilities, very minimal.

The Yellowstone Snow Lodge is very nice and probably would be quieter than other lodges in the summer, and the rooms may even be bigger.

No comments about the mountain drives, I avoid them at all costs, because they scare the **** out of me! Have fun its beautiful, both Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

We just stayed in the Old Faithful Inn and while I truly enjoyed the experience, it was noisy as you described. From walking through other hotels in the park, I think they are much different. Old Faithful has a mystique and history which makes every visitor to the park want to come see it. I always did too but felt different when people were walking down the hell yelling like they were in an amusement park! I think they forget people actually stay there.

Another thought is to stay in cabins. I looked at a friend's cabin next to Old Faithful and they had been completely redone, inside and out. The area was VERY quiet but you are still close enough to walk over to the Inn and geyser.

We've been all over the Rockies and to Alaska and Beartooth is still one of our favorite drives. It is more like Going to the Sun Road except that a lot of times you are actually on high meadows with grass and trees instead of on the side of a cliff the whole time.

In Grand Tetons my husband recently stayed in a Signal Mountain Lodge cabin. Beautiful views of the mountains and Jackson Lake and pretty quiet. BTW, the closer to the main building the better the mountain view. As you get away from there, you turn a bend in the lake and lose the taller, more dramatic mountain peaks.

I thought the Beartooth Highway was spectacular..As for Yellowstone....Largest crowds are in the Southern and Western sides of the park...a zoo. Check-out the wildlife in the Lamar valley and stay in the Eastern or Northern sides on the park or just outside of the park..otherwise it can be nasty in the Summer.

Hi Karens,
I agree with the last poster that there is a significant difference between crowds in the west side of the park vs. east. Much more tourist (zoo) like on the west side. We were there July 2-9. If you are willing to get out of your car and onto to hikes, you will lose at least 80% of the people. Do geysers really interest you? Why are you wanting to go to Yellowstone? I ask because, as others have said, this is a very popular and at certains places crowded park and it is best to face that rather than be disappointed. June would probably be better than July or August, but it could be significantly colder especially at night.

We did the Beartooth and loved it, but we love alpine tundra, so it might not be for you. Based on your underwhelm by rocks, grey, etc. I would think of skipping the Mammoth Hot Springs area.

We stayed in the park. Only in cabins. Accomodations where we stayed were small, but quiet compared to some of the lobbies, esp. near Old Faithful.

You are smart in that you know what you like and want to narrow down your plan to make for the best trip possible.

Many thanks, all. OK, I'm going to hit crowds. Are there any parking areas that are particularly hard to finding parking in during the day? Maybe we should plan on hitting those areas first. What are you favorite short hikes in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. I am travelling with my 2 boys, who lose patience quickly with hiking too much. They are athletic enough to hike far, but they deem hiking "too boring" after awhile. Thanks, Karen

Karen
We are going to Yellowstone/Teton in two weeks. While in Teton we will be staying at the Jackson Lake Lodge with a view room and I understand the view is wonderful. We have reservations with the hotel to do a dinner/float trip down the snake river. They have vehicles that take you from the hotel to the river where you board a raft, do the float and then a chef cooks dinner for you on the shore. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Karens,
Would highly recommend the third week in June. Crowds are not that bad yet. Some suggestions. Early (dawn) at Lamar Valley just drive til you see a group of parked cars, usually around Soda Butte area. This is a sure sign the wolves have been sighted. Look up on the hills above the road and will see groups of people with spotting scopes. If you are staying at Mammoth Hot Springs allow 45min to hr drive to get over there. Canyon area. Stop at the overlooks. Osprey nests can be seen on a number of the tallest hoodoos. The nests are used every year and in late June have chance of seeing the birds on their eggs or still bringing in sticks to add to the nest. Be patient and use binoculars. Tower Falls area fills every day as does Old Faithful. Suggest you get here no later than mid-morning. Take the boardwalks around Black Sand Basin and Grand Prismatic Spring for sure, lots of beautiful colors in the hot springs and little elevation change. Norris geyser basin also has beautiful colors. The trails are longer with more elevation change but not difficult. Just remember to bring water. Spring (late June) also gives you a great chance to see the young of all species, deer, elk, bison and bear. Good Luck.

we stayed in the Old Faithful Lodge Cabins last year. We had one with bath, one without. Both fine and excellent values. Just a very short walk to Old Faithful Geyser. we were ther in mid June and after 4 PM or so, the place was virtually deserted. lots of short, interesting hikes that shouldn't bore your boys.

Also stayed in a cabin at Colter Bay in Grand Teton - my wife's favorite accomdation during our two month trip.

If you are going to be in Yellowstone for a few days, consider staying in two different areas - it is a very big park.

Karens,
How old are your boys? We took the sunrise float trip using Solitude out of Teton on July 4th and while the scenery was gorgeous we only saw two eagles and a few other birds. I would think that youngsters would have been bored. There are some white water, but not too rough, raft trips available out of Jackson that might be fun.

The Artist's Paint Pots hike by Gibbon Meadow is a fairly short hike and had great mud pots especially in the section to the right and up the trail.

I agree with the suggestion of Lamar Valley, however, at that time of the summer you will have to get up at about 4:30 to 5:00AM to get to view the early wildlife. You can also opt for near to 7:00-7:30PM to near dark and you will see similar congregations of those viewing wildlife.

We stopped by the Jackson Lake Lodge and the setting was lovely. We stayed at the Colter Bay Cabins and they were very nice. Very thin walls between the shared units, however.

Your boys might like the Firehole Canyon Drive and taking a dip at the area where swimming is allowed.

Have fun.