Over the last few months I have been getting a few texts and emails about visiting Yellowstone National Park...and other parks too. Which I love for a few reasons. #1 It gets me in the swing of thinking like a ranger again and #2 forces me to reconnect with knowledge I may have lost over the winter. So, if you are thinking about planning a trip to Yellowstone, here are some of my suggestions to take into consideration. When is your trip? Very important if you want to see something in particular.
April-June Baby Animals...but with babies running around remember that the mothers are highly agitated. Keep your distance. Bison are on the move throughout the park. They have the right of way on roads. Do Not tailgate or honk at a Bison. You will regret it. Wild flowers. Possible snow on the ground in higher elevations. Some trails may not be open. Rivers are running high due to snow melt. You will get a big fat ticket if you try to go into Boiling River before it is posted as open.
July-August Highest tourist visitation. Think driving in the city...during rush hour...and then there is limited parking spaces. Don't park on the side of the road. You will get a ticket. Our law enforcement rangers are Federal Police Officers and have ever right to give you a ticket. Animals may not be as visible. Bears are starting to go to higher ground for food. Trails are usually all open at this time.
September-October You will probably not see a bear. The elk are starting the rut. Do not wash your vehicle before you enter the park or a bull elk will ram it. They see their reflection and think it is a challenging bull elk Do not stop your vehicle anywhere near a bull elk or he will ram it. Some bull elk are just jerks and want to hit anything. The best thing to do during the rut is to park your car somewhere safe and walk to a building and watch through the window. They look all nice and innocent but really, they will turn on you faster than a possessed clown doll. Visitation is lower but it is a high retiree time. The Bison are on the move again. Possible snow. The leaves are changing colors. Everything starts shutting down. Fewer ranger programs.
Ok, so that pretty much covers the highlights. You can pretty much see the thermal features anytime you want. They don't go anywhere and they just keep doing what they do. Norris is cool. Don't miss it. However, there is a lot of walking involved. Old Faithful goes off every 90 minutes or so day and night and the time does vary. It's not an exact science. If it went off at 10:31am, you can estimate it will go off about 90 minutes later. However, sometimes it goes off 60 minutes later, or 78 minutes later, or 111 minutes later. You get my drift? The best way to enjoy the geyser area is to just relax, see all the springs and bubbling mud. When you get to Old Faithful, go into the visitors center and find the next estimated time. If you just missed it, go have lunch, or an ice cream, or a cocktail. You can also check out the cool hotel or hit a gift shop or the museum.
The lake area is very relaxing. It's like a visual chill pill.
Canyon...who doesn't like a huge waterfall? Just keep everyone in your party on the trail...especially children. I could tell you a story from last year but it still breaks my heart. Oh, and if you see something that looks like an off leash dog coming towards you on the trail...just move aside (about 10 to 20 meters) and let it pass. Then get back on the trail. I have heard that the wolf pack in this area uses the trail system down there to get around easier.
Wolves...if you want to see one, plan to get up an hour before dawn and go to Lamar or Hayden Valley. Also try an hour or so before dusk. If you see anyone with a scope or one of those cameras with a lens the size of a 6 year old child...stop. They have found something. I lovingly call these people the wildlife paparazzi. You can really find them anywhere cool wildlife can be seen.
Bears can usually be found around Tower Roosevelt.
Coyotes, foxes and bison could be anywhere at any time. They just pop up when they want to,
Sheep...try the cliff in between Mammoth and Gardiner Mt. Also, over by Tower Roosevelt.
Moose...try Grand Teton National Park.
Wildlife Safety! Stay 100 yards (an American football field) away from wolves and bears. Stay 25 yards (2 nose to nose school buses) away from every other animal. I advise carrying bear spray. It is basically police strength pepper spray and it's not just for bears anymore. I keep it in my car within easy reach in case of emergency.
Hotels and Camping...book early. Make a realistic plan of attack and stick with it. Rooms and campsites go super fast. If you wait too long you may end up staying and hour and a half away from the park and commuting in each day. www.YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com or Reserve_YNP@Xanterra.com 866-439-7375 You can try outlining areas like Gardiner Mt, West Yellowstone Mt, Cody Wy, etc... There are hotels and campsites within those vicinities. For those of you who are camping...always extinguish your fires. Something tells me it's going to be a dry one this year. Also, never have food or anything smelly in your tent. You may even want to change clothes out of what you cooked in before you hit the hay. Give a bear no reason to come sniffing around. Store food items inside your car whenever you are not using them.
The only thing I think that is left to tell you is make sure you read the material they give you at the gate. It has loads of great info and times and places of ranger programs. And have fun! It really is the chance of a lifetime to come to the park. Be patient. Relax. Remember...you're on vacation.
Please feel free to ask me any additional questions you may have or stop in to one of our visitor centers once you are there.
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