MTgirl's Yellowstone and Grand Teton travel thread

I have not been into the park since May. Too many stupid people have ruined it. I'll go back when things calm down in the fall.
Having to scream at multiple people to not do stupid shit like stand directly over a steam vent 50 yards off the boardwalk so that you can film it is bad for my blood pressure.
Not to mention the campground drama.

 

Please do not stray away from the boardwalks, or park in the middle of the road to take a picture of a buffalo a mile away, and its not a petting zoo so give the animals some space.

Let me know if you got any questions or want any tips on the best places to stop!

 

sounds like you have a bit of common sense...

Most of the roads in Yelly don't have a shoulder but there are plenty of roadside pullouts to use if you want to stop for animal type pictures. Scenic vistas are marked ahead of time so just pay attention for the signs. Traffic jams are common and people will just ignore all traffic laws and abandon their vehicles on blind corners, all four doors open. Never pass up a bathroom, you don't know how long it will be until you reach the next one.
If you plan on camping w/o reservations you better be at the camp and ready to pounce on a site by 8am or earlier. if you see someone packing up don't be shy - ask if they're leaving and if they'd mind if you claim the site. if you can play the damsel in distress and bat your eyelashes at the camp host, Madison CG does hold a few spots for late arrivals (say, after 7pm). lewis lake usually fills up last if you happen to be in the southern section of the park. there are plenty of forest service camps and dispersed camps outside of the park as well.
are you planning on coming in through the east entrance via Cody or through the NE entrance at Cooke City? Lots of campgrounds on the road from Cody but only a few are open to tent campers and pop up RVs due to bear activity. Wapiti, Big game and Rex Hale all are open to tenters, most of the others closer to Yelly are not. Same thing around the Cooke City area - the camps closest to Cooke are hard side campers only. Island Lake, Beartooth Lake and Crazy Creek are open to tenters. Bring bug spray for the mosquiotes. Gallons of it.

When at Old Faithful take the time to walk the loop of geyser hill behind OF. And if you can do the 2.5 mile loop keep going towards Morning Glory Pool as well. You won't regret it. So many awesome geysers and pools back there.
Check out the Grand Prismatic Overlook at the Fairy Falls trailhead if you can find a parking spot. Its so worth the hike.
And in Canyon I recommend the Brink of Lower Falls on the North Rim drive (it will be the first stop) and Uncle Toms Trail on the South Rim drive (so long as you don't have a fear of heights).
Norris Geyser Basin has been crazy for the last year or so due to the increased activity of Steamboat Geyser. Folks will show up at dawn and sit there all day hoping to see Steamboat erupt. I've been to the park close to 200 times and haven't seen it yet. I'm still hoping....

If you plan on doing any hiking you can rent hear spray from a kiosk at Canyon. Well worth it IMO

If you're heading south from here do take the time to check out Grand Teton. Great tent camping at Jenny Lake. Lots of other camps too. And mooses. And hiking.

A few interesting links for you:
https://geysertimes.org/
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/shoshone/recreation/camping-cabins/?recid=35807&actid=29
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/app.htm


let me know if I missed anything! And I was through Custer State Park/SD Black Hills last year so I can give you a few pointers there too if needed.

 

Be bear aware, people! That means anything that smells gets tucked away at night in either a bear proof box or in the locked cab or your truck. Coolers, trash, grills, dirty dishes, pet food, toiletries, empty water bottles, chapstick, anything that's come into contact with food in its lifetime....don't matter what it is, don't leave it out!

https://kbzk.com/news/outdoors/2019...tone-national-park-search-for-third-underway/

 

...unless you're on one of the boardwalks on a windy day. Can't tell you how may hats I've seen blown into the geyers and springs. Even got to help a NPS guy "fish" for a hat at Grand Prismatic one time - they have a fishing rod rigging up with a grappeling hook to snag hats and other items that get blown into the off limits areas. He let me give it a couple of shots after I was harssing him for his technique

Ehh...you'd probably be OK in most areas. Hard toppers and tonneaus are generally pretty safe. But be prepared to move everything indoors if the camp staff or ranger asks you to.

 

as do I. I snug the little chin strap thing down and never have lost my hat. Some folks dont plan ahead though...

Let me know if you have any questions or need any pointers. Always happy to help - I just want everyone to have a safe and happy trip out here!

 

Truck/car cabs are the best bet if/when a bear box isn't available. Harder to get into. The bears in Yosemite have figured it out but the Yelly bears aren't quite there yet.


Bear boxes are available for free at every camp in Yellowstone and at the Forest Service camps outside of the park as well. They do everything they can to encourage visitors to be safe, if you're not sure about whats OK and whats not just ask the park/camp staff.