MTgirl's Yellowstone and Grand Teton travel thread

Mammoth Hot Springs is cool. Theres a couple miles of boardwalks to wander around on. Or you guys could go for a soak at Boiling River.
Lots of buffalo and maybe some elk in Hayden Valley. Maybe some mooses further up the road from there. But you're coming from AK so probably not excited about mooses.
The link from ian408 a little further back here had lots of pics from his friend's day trip through the same area, should give you an idea of what you'd see.

 

Thanks!
If you click on the "my photography" link in my signature it will take you to my website and prints can be purchased through there. The default lab/printer that I use is mpix.com. They are great - I get everything from them and their quality and service are awesome. If you can't find the particular photo you want on my site let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Not really a quick answer...ahem...

Even after labor day the campgrounds were still fairly busy last summer.
You can make reservations at some of the campgrounds - I highly recommend calling and not using the website to do so. With the RTT just ask the person what sites would they put a slide in truck camper with a pop out....no one knows what an RTT is and its impossible to try to explain it. Or tell them you just need a short but wide spot, that your tent attaches to your vehicle but you don't want a tent only spot (those are walk in sites or sites where you parallel park alongside the camp loop road, not good for RTT's). If you want to make reservations for Madison I could give you a copy of my map with all of the RTT friendly sites marked. I walked the entire campground summer before last and checked out each spot. That way when I get there and they tell me they have spot E61 available I can refer to my map and say yea or nay and move on to the next spot if needed.

Most of the campgrounds can accomodate RTT's - Madison and Mammoth are my 1st two choices. Norris isn't bad if you can get in either loop A or B but most of the sites are on a hill so its hard to find a level spot to set up. Lewis Lake, Pebble Creek, Indian Creek and Slough Creek would be good too - I have yet to camp in any of them but I've scouted them out and it would be easy to fit an RTT in most spots. They are smaller campgrounds so they tend to fill up quicker.

Check out time is 11am. If you're just winging it without reservations I would recommend showing up either the moment the camp offices open (8am I think) or at 1030 to 1130. And if the sign at the CG entrance says full don't believe it Most of the time I've gotten sites when the full sign is up at madison. If it is busy and the campgrounds are filling up fast I'd recommend just staying put once you find a site. Its not that hard to get around the park. Each of the entrance stations leading into the park have a campgrounds status board - open, full, and DNF (did not fill meaning they still had sites available the night before).
General park camping page
There are forest service run campgrounds outside the park too. Bakers Hole outside West Yellowstone, Big Springs about 20 minutes from West Yellowstone, Beaver Creek about 30 minutes from West, 2 or 3 primitive campgrounds outside Gardiner, about 10 campgrounds between the East entrance and Cody, WY, and some primitive sites behind Flagg ranch at the south entrance.

Some of the campgrounds have showers - you don't have to be a registered camper to use them, you can pay separately for them.


Will you be camping in Grand Teton as well or just Yelly?

 

did you have something helpful to contribute here Connor Mac?

 

No dirt bikes on the park trails!

 

No, no cookies allowed in the park. They attract bears!

What'd you mean aww? I thought you've been to the Tetons/Yelly before?

So are you now shoo! Scram!

 

For camping IN Grand I highly recommend Jenny Lake. Its a tents only CG and most of the spots don't work for RTT's as the parking spaces are small and there are lots of trees but its worth driving around to see if there isn't a spot you could shoehorn the truck into. It fills up early in the morning so you need to be on the lookout for campers leaving around 8am. Most times when I'm there I see people walking through camp and if they see me packing up they'll ask if I'm leaving/checking out and if they can get my spot. Its popular and usually packed but since everyone is in tents its pretty quiet. Plus you get this as your backyard.


Signal Mountain Camp isn't bad either, its in the northern part of the park. If you want to be out on your own a little more I would suggest the camping spots located behind Flagg Ranch at the south end of Yellowstone. Turn off the main park road when you see the signs for Flagg Ranch then make an immediate right. There's a dirt road back there that not many folks know about. It would eventually connect with the Cave Falls area and Ashton, ID. If you're up for a little adventure its a great drive. There are several spots located on the river behind Flagg Ranch, each with their own table, fire ring and pit toilet. I stayed there last fall and it was awesome - so peaceful. Its a little off the beaten path but that can be a good thing too - not so much traffic/crowds back there.
There's also a FS CG south of Jackson up the Granite Creek Road. Mostly locals up there. Plus there's a natural hot springs with a man made pool that you can go soak in at the end of the day. Very cool area, decent dirt road.
And the Gros Venture (gro vont) camp is nice, I usually stay there as they rarely fill up so I can get a spot any time of day and its right in the middle of my moose "hunting" grounds. Just ask to be in one of the no generator zones.
The Colter Bay CG has a shower/laundry facility - I usually stop there for a quick shower - and its really clean and convenient.
If you and your wife are OK with roughing it there are several areas outside of the park where the locals go that are just primitive sites - basically nothing but a flat place to park and a great view of the mountains.