It was a childhood dream to visit Yellow stone national park. When we got the first opportunity to visit, we thought of making use of it. We tried to combine visiting Yellow stone, Grand Teton, Glacial National park and the Devils Tower national monument. However, after some assessment we decided to to let Glacial and Devils Tower go due to lack of time. Now it is time to figure out where to fly in. Most of the airports in and around Yellow stone are small and expensive. Out of the two biggest, Denver and Salt Lake city, we chose salt lake city as it less expensive and closer to yellow stone NP. However, it was 5 hours drive due north on Interstate 15 and route 20 north.
In order to reach faster, we took a short cut from the town of Ashton and Maryville, ID to Grand Teton National Park. Although it is only around 60 miles on the map, it was a unpaved forest road. Our Ford Taurus was not that equipped to navigate fast on that road. With absolute zero traffic, no directions, not even a compass it took around 6 hours to figure out it as not a short cut after all. However, it was a great adventure to start the vacation with.
Yellow stone is nature at its best. There are plenty of things to enjoy and learn. The roads around the park is in the form of number '8', one upper northern loop and one lower southern loop. There are roads connecting the neighboring towns to this loop. This first national park in the world probably is the only place where you can see nature's wonders just around you- water falls, many types of geysers, wild life, meadows, canyons, mountains and lakes and so on. The meadows along the road from West Yellowstone, MT to Madsion is excellent for wildlife viewing.
If you connect all the water falls in the Yellow stone in a map, you will get a circle. Why? Yellow stone is a collapsed volcano with semi-active caldera which is in the form of a circle. The rocks outside caldera is more erodible than inside. So the waterfalls are along the caldera rim.
Most of the geysers are concentrated along the lower loop road. This loop approximately border the caldera boundary, the waterfalls and geysers are easily accessible from the lower loop road. There are geysers of every type and sizes. However, grand prismatic is the most beautiful and Old faithful is the most majestic. The prismatic got its name from its color. Depending on the temperature, different types of bacteria and micro organisms grow in those water. Different types of these organisms produce different colors in circular contours. Although many geysers erupts in the park, the impeccable time keeping of Old faithful makes it majestic.
Now a days it is very rare to encounter the most famous face of Yellow stone- Grizzly. As soon as the homosapiens invaded the park, these majestic creatures withdrawn to the park interiors. Of all the water falls, the lower yellow stone fall is the biggest. It is almost twice as tall as Niagara. Two best place to view wild life in the park are Hayden and Lamar valleys. Lamar valley is on route 212, east of which is a designated National Scenic Byway (NSB) leading to Bear tooth mountains. Once almost extinct Buffaloes(Bison) are seen every where. It seems they have a long memory (of what we did to them) ,so keep your distance. Minimum one week is required to enjoy every aspects of Yellow stone national park.
Why Snake river drains to Pacific while Yellowstone river drains to Atlantic while both originate from this park? This is because the continental divide split the Yellow stone national park into two halves. The northern catchment drains to Yellow stone river while southern catchment drains to Snake river.
Just 50 miles south of Yellow stone is Grand Teton National park. Some say this is the most beautiful national park in the contiguous US. Some of the Ansel Adam's best photographs are taken in this park. The view of Teton range across Jackson lake from Signal mountain is breath taking, especially the sunset. Never ever miss this if you ever visit Grand Tetons. Go early, otherwise you end up elbowing with professional photographers.
We had our most memorable moment here. While waiting to see the sun set behind the mount Moran, we saw a pony tailed native American climb a rock nearby, spreading his hand and telling to his children - "Once this was our sacred land".
Keys points to remember
1) Not all short cuts are short: Don't' rely on the maps alone. It will not show the conditions of the road.
2) Need at least 5 days explore and enjoy both Yellow stone and Grand Tetons. With kids, you need 7 days.
3) Carry a light jacket even in summer. Katabatic winds from mountain glaciers make evenings cold
4) Fill the gas tank even if it is 3/4 full whenever you pass small towns. Gas price is very expensive inside the park.
5) Never miss sunset from Signal Mountain. Have a lunch or early dinner at Signal Mountain Lodge restaurant. The view of the Teton range from here is breathtaking.
6) Drive very slow and carefully during dusk and dawn. Animals are everywhere.
7) Have sunscreen handy. Beach is not the only place you will get burned.
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