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The Perfect Mountain Vacation for the Adventurous Family, and Lovers of Wildlife and Beauty Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America's first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Inside Yellowstone you will be able to see the world-famous Old Faithful and a collection of the world's most extraordinary geysers, hot springs, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and arguably the most impressive array of wildlife in the U.S.West Yellowstone…or West as the locals call it, is a small tourist town bordering the West entrance to Yellowstone National Park near the Montana, Idaho and Wyoming borders. The summer season is when most visitors come, but it also has cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. The town also offers entertainment for families at the Grizzly Discovery Center (children aged 5 and up can hide bear food. Then the rangers let the bears out and the kids watch as the bears try and find the food they hid.), the IMAX Theater and the Museum of Yellowstone inside the old train station. West Yellowstone offers quaint curio shopping opportunities, as well more upscale shopping and a variety of restaurants. There are fly fishing shops and outdoor equipment stores for the outdoorsman/woman. You can also spend an entertaining evening at the local live theater. Other than the world-famous Yellowstone National Park, please visit nearby Hebgen Lake, Henry's Lake and State Park, Big Springs, Island Park Reservoir, Henry’s Fork River, Harriman State Park (I just discovered this little gem last summer), Quake Lake, Ennis, Big Sky Resort (also open in the winter for skiing) and Virginia City/Nevada City. There are myriad motels and RV parks if you want to stay in town, but to me… "West" is just too busy. A great place to spend an hour or so, but it‘s like any other small town, except for the tourists. It is not the place I want to spend most of my days and lay my head down at night because there are other much better places to stay nearby if you want the true experience of the mountains, and the caldera. My two favorites are Hebgen Lake, and Island Park Idaho, on the border with Montana. Both are about 20-24 miles from the park entrance. They both offer more of the outdoors feeling you go to Yellowstone for and you can stop in West after a day in the park or those days you are tired of all the activities Heben and Island Park offer… boating, water skiing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, floating the Buffalo River or Henry‘s Fork, golf, animal spotting and bike riding these places offer. Island Park in one of the top ten fastest growing second home locations today. The geography of Island Park is actually unique and distinctive. It is largely flat and it has unusually high precipitation. Island Park is at the same 6,000 feet of elevation as Teton Valley, Idaho, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, or the Centennial Valley, Montana yet these nearby areas are semi-arid prairie or even desert receiving less than 12 inches of precipitation annually while Island Park is forested and green with many steams, ponds, lakes, and meadows.The same natural forces that made Yellowstone so scenic have made Island Park similarly beautiful - country just made for the appreciation of natural wonders, relaxation and recreation! The heart of Island Park is Harriman State Park, 4,330 acres of pristine forest land and high-country meadows. Located in the center of a 16,000 acre wildlife refuge, the park is a haven to rare trumpeter swans, numerous waterfowl and elk, deer and other wildlife. The world famous fly fishing stream, on the Henry's Fork river, winds through the meadows at the park. You can fish in the summer and cross-country ski or snowmobile in the winter. In fact, Island Park is famous for its snowmobile trails. People come from as far away as the east coast, and even Europe in the winter for snowmobiling as well as the myriad summer activities. Big Springs The headwaters of the Henry's Fork are spawning grounds for huge rainbow trout you can see near the bridge and throw bread crumbs to, with moose, muskrat, geese, and great blue herons frequenting the area. Downstream is the Big Springs National Water Trail. You can take your canoe or river raft yourself or rent one and have it towed to the farthermost point in the river. It's a fantastic four-hour float trip that offers scenic forest, mountain views, and wildlife viewing (don't bother the moose! They're our favorite). Island Park Reservoir This large reservoir is popular for boating, fishing and water-skiing. Visitors may drive on the top of the dam for scenic views of the Centennial Mountains and Box Canyon. There are many million-dollar+ waterfront cabins you can rent. BUFFALO RIVER The Buffalo River is a slow-moving river crossed by Hwy 20 at Pond's Lodge. It's one of my favorites in the area. There is camping, hiking, river floating, canoe and kayaking, fishing and biking. You can also rent cabins in the area, some of which are waterfront like the one pictured on this page or you can camp along the river across from Pond's Lodge. It's near the Island Park Reservoir for other boating activities too. It's also frequented by moose and other wildlife, including bear so be "bear safe" and don't leave food around. The Ranger Station is near and they have some good "bear safe" information. Wildlife Island Park is home to grizzly & black bear, elk, deer, moose, prong-horns (a type of antelope), eagles, many fur bearing mammals like beaver, otters, muskrats etc., trumpeter swans, pelicans, & many song- birds. Public lands are managed by the Targhee National Forest, the Bureau of Land Management and the Idaho Department of Lands.
Things to Do When Staying Near or Inside Yellowstone
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Pristine water of the Buffalo River
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Want to Canoe or go boating on the rivers inside the park? You will have to use a commercial business authorized by the park. They offer guided trips for anyone interested in canoeing down the pristine waterways. But there are rivers close to Yellowstone, in Island Park that you don't need a guide and they are great fun for the kids and adults as well. Take a leisurely float down the Henry's Fork or the Buffalo river and be awed by the beauty and the occasional moose! There's also a little known swimming hole the locals frequent at the end of the river before it converges with the Henry's Fork...but I have to warn you, it is icy cold mountain water. "What are the things you must see when you visit Yellowstone?" In truth, Yellowstone is vast and varied, and visitors have different interests and abilities, so there is no one easy answer. But here is a general list of the top attractions in Yellowstone that will prove helpful. It's a starting point for planning your visit. Allow at least 3 days to visit the Park because it is so vast and there is so much to see, and that doesn't include the many other activities nearby if you stay in Island Park, or Hebgen.
2. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone When I want to look for buffalo I go to Hayden Valley but you can find them in smaller numbers near Old Faithful and other spots. Some years are better than others for spotting these giants. September is a great time to see them sparring, snorting and showing the cows and their opponents what they’re made of! Many of the elk are found in the serene meadows along winding streams before the Madison Junction, but you can see them up front and personal along the Gibbon River and Mammoth Hot Springs. Some animals are hard to find. Moose are elusive and you hardly ever see them inside the park, but there are some near Jackson, and Island Park along the Buffalo River and the Henry’s Fork at Macks Inn. I used to think they were ugly but now I find them magnificent creatures. Bears are equally hard to find. We went for years without seeing any, but this year we saw 8 in one day! Last year we saw two, a black bear and a grizzly. Before that…none for 15 years! Some people get lucky and see bears their first visit. But stay in your car when you see wild animals. They are called wild for a reason. They can kill you with a swipe of a paw or antlers, or a bone crunching bite. Please, stay safe. Don't approach them. Enjoy watching them from a distance. |
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