First off is to say Yellowstone is a Bucket List Destination that everyone should visit at least once in their life. It is my favorite place on earth and I've been there multiple times.
I knew a couple that moved from here to Delores. I never got a chance to visit them there before they ended up moving back to SoCal.
Agree here. We found a lot to do around Dolores. Although that was over 10 years ago. Went horse back trail riding, san Juan fly fishing, river rafting the Durango Silverton railroad and Mesa Verde. Loved it all. If you do the train I recommend taking the bus to Silverton and the train back to Durango. You get a good narrative from the driver about things that will be important on the train ride.
Yellowstone carries the perception of being very crowded. Do you concur or do you just drive far enough away from people to get away from them? also if you've been to Yosemite is Yellowstone still your favorite?
Yes, Yellowstone is crowded if you go at the wrong times and only stick to the stuff you can see from the road. I give the same advice for Yellowstone that I give for Disneyland...take the kids out of school and go in the off-season, before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. You will have a completely different experience.
If you go in the summer it will be crowded in the popular spots and on some (if not most) of the roads. (Remember there are only 2 seasons in YNP. (Winter and Road Construction
) Depending on what you like to do you can still get away from the crowds. We like to view and photograph wildlife so we end up in some of the more less traveled areas. Cooke City is a great place to stay if this is what you like to do.
I've been to Yellowstone at least 7 or 8 times. When sitting at a beer garden with the director of tourism for Interlaken Switzerland she asked me what the ONE place everybody should see was in the U.S. It took me about 3 seconds to come up with Yellowstone. That said, this time of year it will be an absolute zoo of campers and traffic. A friend just got back from the Blackhills and he said the interstate was bumper to bumper RVs heading west. I expect that Yellowstone is the same way coming from the east and west. LOTs of people from the People's Republics of the west coast will be flooding it.
What does that even mean? Its Yellowstone. There are people from everywhere. Literally everywhere in the world. I never understood how people can bring hate into everything they do.
good to know. we went to yosemite the day after school got out and I still haven't seen anything quite like it. I thought i was in some far away place not the united states. I look forward to yellowstone but absolutely hate lines of people at national parks. the offseason it isIf you go in the summer it will be crowded in the popular spots and on some (if not most) of the roads. (Remember there are only 2 seasons in YNP. (Winter and Road Construction
I've been to both places. It's a close decision but YNP comes out on top for me. Yosemite Valley is perhaps the most beautiful spot on earth but on a summer weekend day it's one of the most crowded spots as well. Of course there is much more to Yosemite than just the Valley but that is where most want to go and see all the famous spots / sights.
For me it just comes to the overall experience and that is why I'd choose YNP. It has the majestic falls and mountains like Yosemite. (They're just aren't all concentrated in one spot like Yosemite) YPN also has the geysers which are really good to see. (especially for kids) It also has the wildlife that earns it the America's Serengeti title.
If you like to hike both places has that, but Yosemite also has rock climbing / hiking. (Hiking up to the top of Half Dome is spectacular)
You'll really enjoy visiting either place.
Agree here. My daughter and son-in-law stopped there on their honeymoon. The POPULAR attractions are crowded,in a normal year, but Yellowstone is huge with a ton of secluded area you can find and enjoy them for what they are.... according to them. Personally never been there. Would like to follow the Oregon trail from beginning to end
Ok. Will look into it. I've studied it alot. Just have not been on the trail west of Nebraska. It passes within 2 miles of ground I own
Looked it up. Heck yes I remember him coming through the area. Didn't remember the name. Thanks!!
No kidding. I think I saw the paperback for under$5. Will definitely order a copy of some sort. Thanks again for the suggestion
Some of the stuff in the park is not open right now so make sure you know what is and isn't before you head that way. Dubois in to Yellowstone is a "fer piece" IF I remember correctly. Several hours maybe. IMO, that drive up to the Tetons is one of the most beautiful ones you can take. Take time to stop at Jackson Lake Lodge. If it isn't open, there's a picnic area just north of Coulter Bay cabins and marina where you can have lunch and swim if you like cold water. There's also an RV campground I think called Flagg Ranch which is nice on the north end of the lake. The south gate of Yellowstone if I remember correctly is about half an hour north of Coulter Bay. Then depending on construction it's probably at least another half hour to the south end of Yellowstone Lake.
I prefer the southern route from Buffalo to Ten Sleep past Meadowlark Lake over the Bighorns but Shell Falls is a nice rest break on the northern route. That climb up the east side to Shell falls is beautiful but very steep and winding. I've used both routes and usually would take the southern route 16A to Yellowstone and 14A coming home. I have hiked some in the northern Bighorns but most of the time we've entered from either Lilly lake or West Tensleep Lake.
They are really very different so it's a matter of what you are looking for. Red Lodge is a long drive up the incredible Beartooth Highway from Yellowstone so I would not recommend making it a base to visit the park. It is a couple hour drive just to the entrance station, let alone the rest of the park. I would recommend staying in the park to fully enjoy the wildlife, geysers, trails, etc without spending hours behind the wheel (insider tip - in summer the crowds die down at around 7 pm while there is still 3 hours of daylight left and you can enjoy the park at it's best). It is an immense park. If you are considering Yellowstone for next year I would book now.
Let me know what you think. I haven't got any takers yet since I don't really know anyone who is interested in the Oregon Trail other than my dad who has ADD and can't sit still long enough to read a book.
If you get out of your vehicle and walk 1/2 mile off the road, it can feel like you have the park to yourself in certain places...... Bear spray!
