Yellowstone NP - things to do in and around

[Deepshax]

I will be heading out to Yellowstone NP via SLC with the wife at the end of June. Any suggestions on things to do/see/avoid in and around the area (doesn't have to be at the park). rafting/hiking/camping/scenery/etc

I know some of you live around the area and would love to hear some thoughts that might not make it on some of the tourist checklists floating around the web.

Thanks!

 

[Ntgm37]

Come to Cody Wyoming around the 4th. Amazing time, and the Buffalo Bill museum is a MUST see. Plenty of river rafting, paddle boarding, and tons to do.

 

[PA 5-0]

Following. Taking the family there in late June. Fk Disney World!!

 

[krossh]

Check out the Lamar Valley.. it's runs parallel to the north edge of the park so it's a bit of a drive, but it's awesome, and it's full of wildlife.. I went last weekend (it's only an hour from my house). From the North Entrance to Cook City, we saw sheep, elk, bison, moose, and a coyote. No wolves which surprised me..

 

[Eagle]

I worked in the park summer of 07 as a wrangler at Roosevelt Lodge. I highly recommend you look into taking part in the cowboy cookout dinner that Roosevelt puts on each night through the summer season. You can either ride horses (one and two hour rides available, total time in the saddle prior to dinner will be more along the lines of 1:40 and :40 with a short ride back to the corrals after the meal), or ride in one of the chuckwagons that goes out as well. All total, we would feed between 180-210 people each night an all you can eat steak dinner.

Aside from that, within the park itself, check out old faithful, norris geyser basin, lake yellowstone, fishing bridge, mammoth hot springs, the upper and lower falls at Canyon, and the lamar river valley (nicknamed America's Serengeti). With the crazy snow year they are having, it's unlikely you'll be able to do much hiking, but the lamar and slough creek areas should be snow free by late June and can provide a lot of wildlife sightings. Spring runoff may have all the streams too muddy for fishing at that time sadly.

There's a chance dunraven pass (Mt. Washburn) could still be closed (it's looking to be a record snow pack year at the moment) and I'd guess the beartooth highway may not be passable either. However, if it is, I highly suggest you also drive the Beartooth Highway (HWY 212) from Cooke City to Red Lodge and eat at Foster and Logans in Red Lodge. It's an amazing drive with a chance to see some mountain goats. If it's closed, you could take the very scenic Chief Joseph HWY through Sunlight Basin from Cooke City to Cody.

For shear alpine and mountain beauty, the Tetons and Beartooths are superior to YNP in my opinion, so I suggest spending a good bit of time in those areas. In the tetons, if the tram is running, you can ride it all the way to the top outside of Jackson and get some spectacular views. Jackson is also home to some incredible art galleries and the National Elk Refuge. West Yellowstone is also a cool little town and has the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center which is great if you just want to lay eyes on a few, kids love this place as well.

If you want some other ideas, PM me and I'll see what I can come up with. One thing to note is that lodging, if you haven't already booked it within the park, is likely not available, as you'll be there during the peak of the tourist season. Your best bets will be Cooke City, Cody, Gardiner, West Yellowstone and Jackson for lodging if the park is full. You can also camp at the various campgrounds inside and around the park, but they could also fill up quickly that time of year.

 

[wyosteve]

If you're planning to enter the park through the south entrance, about a mile before the gate, right before you cross the Snake River bridge on your right is Sheffield Creek Campground. If you feel like a bit of a challenging hike. You can take the trail about 5 miles to the Huckleberry Ridge lookout. It's an old fire lookout that has been maintained. On a clear day you can see about 100 miles in all directions. If you're inclined, you can spend the night if you pack in food and sleeping bags. Be advised, it's not what I'd consider an easy hike since it's pretty much uphill all the way in. Of course, that means it's pretty much downhill on the way out. Whatever you do, enjoy it, but be prepared for lots of people and traffic (unless you do the Huckleberry hike).

 

[ChrisS]

I went last year and there is a thread on here from that trip. I recommend getting to the big draws early in the morning and staying off the road during the middle of the day. It seems quite a lot of traffic is bus tours or bigger groups who come in around 8:30-9 and leave by 4. People will also stop anywhere and start taking pictures, so be alert for brake lights.

 

[robtattoo]

If you can swing by, drop into the Museum of the Mountain Men in Pinedale Wyoming. It's only a small place, but if you've got any interest in the fur trade era it's Mecca.

The Buffalo Bill museum in Cody is worth a full day visit.

Also keep your eyes open for Indian Head Mountain (I think it's called) on the road between Pinedale & Jackson.

Mostly, I'd say enjoy the park (you can't see much from the road through, so get out as often as you can), take in the scenery, enjoy the dry air & take home a pet wolf!

Oh, the antler arches & statuary in Jackson will fill a camera!

 

[Steve O]

Subscribing!

Awesome info so far, I am taking the family on our last vacation before the oldest goes to college to YNP this summer. Could anyone suggest a good hike nearby in the mountains of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming? My daughter and I are hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim later in the summer and she wants to do training himes in all three states while we are at YNP.

 

[Steve O]

And sorry...I thought I replied a couple hours ago.

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

I would rule out much rafting that time of year. This is the biggest winter in a LONG time and run off will most likely be going on still with snow still in the mountains too

 

[mtswampfox]

All of the above, just a wonder full area. From fishing to the eye candy. Cody is a favorite place from the museum to the bb hotel to the nightly rodeo. Have fun!

 

[tttoadman]

We really enjoyed the north loop road. Many elk to see. Not as crowded.
Tetons is a must see.

Move camp with you. Don't try to make a base camp. You will spend more time on the road, and it will take away from the experience.

 

[FLAK]

Pizza in West Yellowstone. Cant remember the name of the place
but probably the only pizza place. West edge of town I think???
May have been from all the walking but was dang good.
If they have my Leupold camo ball cap hanging in there let me know.

 

[Eagle]

Awesome info so far, I am taking the family on our last vacation before the oldest goes to college to YNP this summer. Could anyone suggest a good hike nearby in the mountains of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming? My daughter and I are hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim later in the summer and she wants to do training himes in all three states while we are at YNP.

Are wanting dayhike or backpacking suggestions? My advice would be to go to the beartooths in Montana and hike out of the Island Lake Trailhead, and to hike in the Tetons in Paintbrush and Cascade Canyons out of string Lake. No suggestions for Idaho in the immediate area.

 

[Steve O]

Thank you--we need day hikes--renting a house just outside the park so not bringing any camping gear.

 

[2ski]

Go to the candy place in West. A friend's parents own it and they make taffy there. Their daughter makes THE best Carmel corn. But I don't think they sell it there I don't think. A sweet day hike in Big Sky is up to Beehive Basin. You hike up about 3 miles to a little lake. And in Big Sky is Ousel Falls. Easy hike but to a cool waterfall. And if the run off is going well, it should be sweet. And if the water is really running rafting should be awesome. If you get a guide. There is a book called Day hikes around Bozeman. I would order that and you guys can read through it and decide what you want to do. I'm pretty sure they include down around west yellowstone.

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[Gumbo]

I will second Eagle's suggestions...the Beartooth Highway is a must. And the Island Lake trailhead is great hike, but the end of June might still be pretty snowy at that elevation. I was a fishing guide in the Beartooths, Absarokas, and the Park for a few years. PM me if you want some ideas/intel/logistics.

 

[PMcGee]

Go to the candy place in West. A friend's parents own it and they make taffy there. Their daughter makes THE best Carmel corn. But I don't think they sell it there I don't think. A sweet day hike in Big Sky is up to Beehive Basin. You hike up about 3 miles to a little lake. And in Big Sky is Ousel Falls. Easy hike but to a cool waterfall. And if the run off is going well, it should be sweet. And if the water is really running rafting should be awesome. If you get a guide. There is a book called Day hikes around Bozeman. I would order that and you guys can read through it and decide what you want to do. I'm pretty sure they include down around west yellowstone.

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We did beehive basin last year. It was a nice little hike and we saw some mountain goats up in there. We also did lava lake which was another nice day hike.


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[Sam's dad]

Bring a five weight. Fishing is world class. Any local shop can give you some suggestions on where to go and what hatches are happening.