GP, I forgot to ask where in Yellowstone are you staying?

Utahtea

The chances of seeing moose in Wyoming will depend in good measure on the temperature. During out stay last July-August, because of the extremely hot weather, the moose stayed undercover. In 10 days, all we managed to see were two through our binoculars and the antlers of a third hiding in the brush!
If the weather cooperates, then the aforementioned Oxbow Bend in the Teton is a good place to see them.
Interestingly, this contrasts greatly with a previous September trip. Then, the moose were ever-present during what was the mating season.

Since you asked, my favorite geyser is the Echinaus, (not sure on spelling cause I'm not at home) and I think it's in the Norris Basin. Right or Wrong?? I love to just sit and watch it fill and then erupt. Other family members have other favorites. But you can just sit or walk and watch and watch and watch..

Hi Utahtea

We are staying in Canyon Lodge in one of their high range rooms. I plan on spending at least one sunrise in Hayden Valley.

Have Fun
GP

Echinus Geyser is indeed in the Norris Geyser Basin, to the left of the parking lot as you walk toward the steps that lead downward.

Unfortunately, Echinus is no longer considered to be predictable because its eruptions have become sporadic and, at times, less than thrilling when compared to previous displays.

I was there last summer, and did not see it erupt.

Of the semi predictable ones, Great Fountain, Grand, and Castle are good shows.

Castle sometimes spews and emits steam for 45 to 50 minutes.

GP,

OK, if it were my trip and I was coming up from the Grand Tetons and spending two nights at Canyon Village...this is what I would do.

On the day I left the Grand Tetons I would visit the West Thumb Geyser basin, stop along the lake, visit the Mud Volcano area and see the bubbling mud pots, then I would visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and hike down to the lower falls. At dusk I would drive back to Hayden Valley.

The next day I would plan on spending the whole day going to the different geyser basins. Since you want to be at Hayden Valley at sunrise, this will be the best morning to do it.

Starting with the Old Faithful geyser area I would first check at the visitor center to see when some of the other famous geysers were scheduled to go off. Some have a window of an hour or so and some have windows of several days.

But you might just happen to be in the area when one is scheduled to go off. The last time we were there we were just walking up to Grand Geyser when it started to go off...I thought the man next to me was going to hit me because he had been waiting for two hours. The hike from Old Faithful to Morning Glory pool and back is one of my favorites. The geysers are so different and the pools are breath takingly beautiful.

I would then do the little hikes at Black Sand Basin, Biscut Basin, & Midway Basin geyser basin. All of these are so different and worth the time. Take the Firehole Lake drive and hope you hit a geyser going off. The Fountain Paint Pots will be your next stop and then on to the Norris Geyser Basin. If you run out of time you can always do the Norris Geyser Basin the next day as you exit the park. I've been to geyser area in Lassen and there is NO comparison what so ever!

On the day you leave you can visit Mammoth Hot Springs before exiting the park. I don't know if you realize this or not, but the road between Canyon and the Tower will be closed again this year.

Utahtea

Utahtea's suggested routing through Yellowstone is well thought out.
I would like to suggest one aspect of a Yellowstone visit that I have found enjoyable on more than one occasion: The stroll to Lone Star Geyser.

Lone Star, as the name indicates, sits out by itself well away from the other geysers. The approach path is along an old road that follows the Upper Firehole River. The trail leads through unburned forest, green meadows, and, at times, alongside the clear water of the river.

The geyser itself erupts about every three hours in two phases. What I have enjoyed is to eat my lunch in the shade of the pines and take a nap while waiting for Lone Start to do its thing.
There is a danger of sleeping through the show, but near eruption time a small crowd gathers and the activity usually rouses me.

The Firehole River is near the geyser and people often wade in it and enjoy themselves. On a hot day, its cold water can be refreshing.

The eruption itself is non trivial. While not as powerful as Grand Geyser, it is never-the-less, a spectacular shower of water and steam.

Thank You Utahtea, Mr Brown and the others for Yellowstone advice!

Anyone care to pipe up about Glacier or Grand teton?

Have Fun
GP

Can anyone add advice about visiting Jackson Hole/Tetons/Yellowstone during the last week of May or the first week of September (we're hoping to miss the summer crowds). Temperature, rainy or not, etc.??? If one doesn't like small planes, is it better to fly into Salt Lake City and drive up...any other suggestions?

The first week of September is a great time to go. The crowds are gone, the weather is great and the foliage is beautiful! And, it's mating season, so you'll see lots of moose and other animals.

I have been there in late May and in early September. I found late May to be better. The days are long, but the crowds did not strike me as being as large. On the other hand, Yellowstone is a magnet. If the weather is fairly good, many people will be there.

As for airports, Missoula, Billings, and Bozeman are closer than Salt Lake City. The drive up from Salt Lake City airport is not bad. I came up through Logan and drove to Jackson via Bear Lake. The I 15 route through Idaho with a branch northeast to West Yellowstone is perhaps faster. But I think it is less scenic.

There is another route to Jackson over the Teton Pass. Take I 15 north from SLC as far as Idaho Falls. Then turn east on US 26 until it intersects with Idaho 31. Follow Idaho 31 to the pass and the route becomes Wyoming 22.

The Teton Pass is steep in places, and scenic. I drove it once in some kind of a car from a rental company. I forget what it was, but it lacked considerable oomph. For some reaon it had a tachometer on it, which was most useless as an engine performance indicator, although it did provide some amusement. I was roaring up the pass about 25 mph with the engine straining mightily in a lower gear. It was churning about 5,000 - 5,500 rpm but we were not gaining much speed; 30 mph was about all it would do on the upslope. I would not have been surprised if one of the cylinders had started to burn a piston or a valve. (I did stop at the top and check the oil, very carefully with a couple of paper towels for insulation.)

About half way up, with the engine sounding like we were nearing the sound barrier, but with the speedometer stuck on 23 or so, my wife leaned over, studied the needles for about 20 seoncds, and concluded, "One of them is gaining and one is losing." Even trucks wanted to go faster than I could.

At least the radiator did not boil over. I was keeping a close eye on that guage, too. But it had an idiot light rather than a needle. Fortunately, the light never came on.

At least the car had good brakes because the transmission would provide braking only in the lowest gear which threatened to push the tach past the red line.

To hnskrnc:

We were in Yellowstone the first week of June and were surprized to find the crowds weren NOT there yet. The rangers said the season didn't really start until the 2nd week. We had BEAUTIFUL weather...but your mileage may vary;)

Utahtea