MTgirl's Yellowstone and Grand Teton travel thread

heres the park page and its $35

https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/fees.htm

 

I am leery. Gonna just wait and see. Probably end up paying $35 at both.

 

Always use the nps.gov/ (park) sites for most current info, which will also include closures and whatnot. (EDIT, I work for the NPS at Zion, just qualifying my info, not trying to be an ass)

 

At that point, just buy the $80 annual pass and visit another park at some point.

 

I have been looking at the Western gate to Yellowstone webcam. How accurate it is I'm unsure but it looks pretty crowded.
Anyone know what is a good time to enter when it is not overly crowded at the gate? I normally get up at 4:30 am EST. And being we will
be on MST that would be like 2:30 am there. So getting there early shouldn't be a problem.

 

Just went through both parks - $35 for each at the gate. Passes are not reciprocal anymore... They were up until about 5 years ago.

I felt like an idiot when I handed the attendant my GTNP pass and she said wrong park. So had to buy another $35 pass for YNP.

 

I wouldn’t recommend doing too much driving while it’s still dark out... Lots of big wildlife that could do a ton of damage if it decided to run out in front of you.

We didn’t hit much traffic at the south or northeast entrances on our trip last week. And I don’t think we made it through either before 0830. I would suggest not getting in much later though.

As it was mentioned, plan on bringing lots of layers and a 40-50* change in temps while you’re there... Sometimes within the same day. Think we saw mid 80s to mid 30s while we were there. They were calling for snow above 7200’ the day we were leaving!

 

Saw Zion when I was 12yo ... still remember it ... beautiful.

 

Don’t hate (here comes the )

I can’t say it’s my favorite park... it’s pretty. It’s got a couple unique hikes. But after that, meh. I won’t be sad to leave here.

We just backpacked 10 days on Isle Royale in Lake Superior. Everything I had read/researched had me hyped that this too would be a drop dead phenomenal national park. I was slightly disappointed... it was wonderful, don’t get me wrong. But there’s other parks I’ve been far more impressed with than these two...

 

No worries and I understand. I'm working off 42 year old memories...but the beauty of the layers of colors sticks in my mind. And there was an awesome little swimming hole with mini waterfall near our campsite that was better than any waterpark to 12yo me and my 9yo brother. Pretty sure that was Zion. Like I said, 42 years ago.

 

I love the red rock sandstone colors! I have a Mesa view off my back porch. I just loathe the oppressive 110+ Heat for months at a time. And water. I need water! Rain. Monsoon. Sprinkler. I need water in my environment!

 

Edit that senior pass. I think it’s 60. Maybe even 62

 

There’s a park ranger in Zion that I seen with a built 3rd Gen. He had all CBI armor on it. Didn’t get to take a pix since the flow of traffic was moving. He was controlling traffic going into the tunnel.

 

White?

 

Yeah I’m pretty sure it was white if I’m not mistaken

 

Thanks for the info. I love to travel the wife not so much. Likes her house, cats and her stuff as she puts it too much. The past few years I have however gotten her to loosen up a little. Hopefully Yosemite and Sequoia next year. Followed by the Grand Canyon in 2021.

 

While you're planning ahead, put April 8th 2024 on your calendar.

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2024-april-8

 

I’m here for your Yose info if you need it. For now, start planning where you want to stay. Shit books up a year in advance...