GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
People often visit this park, Grand Teton NP, starting in the upscale community of Jackson, Wyoming--a very popular drawing card, lodging/eating location. Most visitors come into the park on Rt. 26 in Wyoming or via Rt. 31/22 and than take Rt 89 through Jackson, Wyoming (Population 9500; elevation 6200 ft).
The names Jackson and Jackson hole are used interchangably although they really designate different things. Jackson is the name of the town; Jackson Hole refers to the geographic valley that is located at the foot of the mountains.
People often visit this park, Grand Teton NP, starting in the upscale community of Jackson, Wyoming--a very popular drawing card, lodging/eating location. Most visitors come into the park on Rt. 26 in Wyoming or via Rt. 31/22 and than take Rt 89 through Jackson, Wyoming (Population 9500; elevation 6200 ft).
The names Jackson and Jackson hole are used interchangably although they really designate different things. Jackson is the name of the town; Jackson Hole refers to the geographic valley that is located at the foot of the mountains.
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As we drove up Routes 189 and then 26 into Jackson,
we drove through a 100 mile 1500 participant bicycle race
we drove through a 100 mile 1500 participant bicycle race
Once at the north end of Jackson, one can either take Rt 191 or slightly west, a park road to see the main sights. Off of the park road, you will want to stop at Teton Villege, and then 6 lakes--the most popular being Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake. There are three excellent visitor centers: (1) in downtown Jackson; (2) at Craig Thomas Discover Center and; (3) at Jenny Lake Visitor Center. With the Grand Teton Mts, one primarily looks at them except for hiking into them. There are no roads into the mountains; only to their base.
In the winter most of the park is snow covered-- keep to the main roads.
In the winter most of the park is snow covered-- keep to the main roads.
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At Jenny Lake, you can take a boat ride to different place on this lake including hiking trails on the other side of the lake. You will see beautiful Teton Mts, visit the Snake River, hike, ride bikes, canoe, kayk, paddle board or float on a raft. There is skiing and other winter sports in the winter season.
The Snake River Starts Small but gets larger & larger as it flows north.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
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Yellowstone National Park, America's first national park, was founded in 1872. It is a 3,471 sq.-mile wilderness recreation area atop a volcanic hot spot. It's massive size resembles the state of Maine. Mostly in Wyoming, the park spreads into parts of Montana and Idaho too. There are five entrances to the park: North, Northeast, East, South and West. Many visitors enter the park from the west entrance via RT 20 from Aston and stay and eat in West Yellowstone.
Yellowstone features dramatic canyons, alpine rivers, lush forests, hot springs and gushing geysers, including its most famous, Old Faithful. It's also home to hundreds of animal species, including bears, wolves, bison, elk and antelope. You can almost be guaranteed to see many Buffalo and Elk; seeing a bear is a special and somewhat unusual event. One is strongly warned not to hike alone as accidents happen and even being killed by a threatened bear is not impossible. Yellowstone can be divided into three areas: (1) Glacier Basin, (2) Mamonth Hot Springs, and (3) Yellowstone Grand Canyon/Mamouth Village. As there are few major roads in the park, you will have to drive repeatedly on the same main roads.
Yellowstone features dramatic canyons, alpine rivers, lush forests, hot springs and gushing geysers, including its most famous, Old Faithful. It's also home to hundreds of animal species, including bears, wolves, bison, elk and antelope. You can almost be guaranteed to see many Buffalo and Elk; seeing a bear is a special and somewhat unusual event. One is strongly warned not to hike alone as accidents happen and even being killed by a threatened bear is not impossible. Yellowstone can be divided into three areas: (1) Glacier Basin, (2) Mamonth Hot Springs, and (3) Yellowstone Grand Canyon/Mamouth Village. As there are few major roads in the park, you will have to drive repeatedly on the same main roads.
Day One: From the west entrance, enter the park and go to Madison and then north to the Steamboat Geysers area up to Norris and then south down to the Geyser Basin area as far as Old Faithful (if that hallmark is about to shoot up, stop and see if--if not, you will go by it again on Day 3) .
A major attracton of the park are the many geysers, especially Old Faithful. This geisher is named that because it "erupts" every 90 minutes on schedle, 365/7/24. The other geysers do not follow a schedule and some go months without eruption.
The geyers emit steam on regular basis and have an extremely strong smell to them. They are mainly found in the Geyser Basin secton of the park, near the west entrance. Look below at some pictures of geyshers.
Day Two: From the west entrance, enter the park, go by Madison and Norris and go clock-wise on a loop up to Mamounth Hot Springs--a very neat village to visit and see the weeping rocks.
You then will be in the beautiful mountain section of Yellowstone and enjoy the ride through the Grand Canyon area of Yellowstone, stopping in or even staying in Canyon Village where they have dozens upon dozens of lodges.
At Canyon Village there is a must see Lower and Upper Falls. Stop at the overlooks for Lower Falls first and then go to the Upper Falls overlook for the best views. There are hikes here for the adventuresome. Head back to Norris, Madison and West Yellowstone.
Dav Three: From the west entrance, enter the park, go by Madison and Norris and go on the biggest loop--again clockwise to Norris, and then to Canyon Village. Go down to new territory to Fishing Bridge, Lake Village, Bridge Bay, West Thumb and Grant Village and then back north to Old Faithful--stopping again if desired. You will finalize your visit by going through Madison to the west enterance/exit and then to West Yellowstone.
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We visited both parks during the second week of September after the huge crowds had left and were told that although most of the park is open all winter, West Yellowstone and some of the roads into the parks close in November. We also learned that West Yellowstone averages 120 inches of snow a winter and is a meca for snowmobilers. Many of the stores, restraurants and private lodging shuts down starting 21th September as snow will start coming regularly then.
Depending on the season, and traffic--including animal traffic that can result in 4-5 mile backups and hours of waiting, one can see most of both parks in a total of three day park time.
A goal of most visitors to either park is to see wild animals.
Buffalo and Bear head the list.
Animals are most apt to be seen in Yellowstone National Park
Buffalo and Bear head the list.
Animals are most apt to be seen in Yellowstone National Park