Yellowstone National Park & Grand Teton National Park
26 May to 03 June 2019
We did a short trip of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks from New Jersey from 26 May to 03 June 2019.
Tour Map;
· Get up early! Be up and out by 8 am and you will not have a problem with parking or crowds.
· Everyone should be cautious but if traveling with children, be especially careful around the hydrothermal areas. It is NOT a playground.
· You will have no cell service so download maps, itinerary, and any other necessary information beforehand.
· Always wear layers. The weather can and does change often especially when hiking in high elevations.
· Always add extra time for driving. Yellowstone is HUGE and very busy in the summer season.
· Bear safety:
· You must stay 100 yards or more away from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other wild animals in Yellowstone.
· Try not to hike alone and always make noise when walking especially when turning a corner. You can play music, where a bear bell, clap your hands, and/or yell out every once in a while.
· Purchase bear spray before arriving to give you peace of mind.You cannot fly with bear spray so purchase only after arriving if coming by plane.
· Ask rangers about bear activity in areas before hiking.
· Be aware that bears, like most animals, are more active at dusk and dawn.
· Food should always be stored in vehicles or in bear-proof canisters or lockers.
Best Places in Yellowstone National Park
· Old Faithful Geyser
· Morning Glory Pool
· Grand Prismatic Spring
· Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
· Norris Basin
· Bison in Hayden Valley
· Wild life in Lamar Valley
· West Thumb Geyser Basin
· Mammoth Hot Springs
26 May Flt To Salt Lake City
Took United Air Flt 2418 From Newark at 19.35 pm , the flt got delayed by 2hours and we landed at Salt Lake City at 1.45am , Time Diff of + 2 hours from Eastern US Time.
Checked into hotel Comfort Inn Suites next to Airport.The Hotel is very good and has free shuttle from and to Airport.
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| At The Hotel |
We had breakfast and my Son brought the Rental Car , we started our journey by road although little late at 10.30 am. We reached Antelope Island around 11.20 am. Our first halt was Antelope Island in Salt Lake.
We Started by visiting the Lady Finger Point which is closest to Entrance of Antelope Island.
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| View From Lady Finger Point There after visited the Visitor Centre . On advice of The Ranger we then drove toBuffalo Point . We went for a short but steep hike of about 40 min walking to mountain top. The views from Top are very nice. |
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| Visitor Centre |
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| At Buffalo Point |
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| Bison at Antelope Island |
We started our journey again at 15.45pm to Yellowstone National Park ,West Gate after quick lunch at Syracuse City enroute. There are many options available for Lunch here.
We reached our night stay at Faithfull Street Inn at Faitfull Street, MT 59758 at 9pm. The log cabin was very nice with 2bedrooms, sitting room and kitchen. The temp was fairly low with little drizzle.
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| Faithful Street Inn |
28 May – South and Central Zone
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
We started at 9.30 am after breakfast . Took the Entry ticket of 35$ for a week at the Entrance Gate.
The 14 mile drive from Entrance Gate to Hudson Junction was very slow and with traffic stopping to look at Bisons close to road.
We reached canyon area by 11 am. The dramatic 1,200-foot deep canyon is home to 109-foot Upper Falls and 308-foot Lower Falls. It is 24 miles of arresting beauty.
The 1,200-foot deep canyon cut deep in the soaring rocks will cut deep into your heart as well. It is picture-perfect.
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| Colourful Canyons |
We took the 24-mile drive along the river stopping off at a few of the seven overlooks to view the spectacular Upper and Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
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| Upper Falls |
For North Rim Drive (Brink of Lower Falls, Inspiration Point, Grand View Point, and Lookout Point):
Drive 1.5 miles to the sign "North Rim Drive". We stopped at Brink of Lower falls but did not walk down to falls. Then we stopped at Inspiration Point. You can see the Lower Fall and the Canyons from here. We did not stop at Grand View Point and Look Out Point but drove to Visitor Centre. We had our lunch here before starting agin for South Rim drive.
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| At Visitor Centre Canyon Village |
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| Lower Falls from Artists Point |
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| Nice to Drive |
The South Rim Drive has Artist Point, Uncle Tom's, and Upper Falls.
The Drive is 2 miles to the sign "South Rim Drive". The Uncle Tom’s Trail was closed. We then headed for Artist’s Point. This must be visited.
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| Mud Volcano |
Then we drove to Mud Volcano. Mud Volcano: Once a large mud dome, the mud volcano erupted to its shape today. You may smell this bubbling mud pot before you see it. It has Dragon's Mouth Spring: This steaming hot spring has had a number of different names.Sulphur Caldron: Across the highway, visit the Sulphur Caldron, the most acidic hot springs in the park. It has a good Boardwalk which you can enjoy. On return from the Board Walk, we found Bison in the Parking lot.
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| Sulphur Caldron |
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| Bisons feel comfortable in Geysers |
We then drove to Fishing Village.
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| Yellow Stone Lake |
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| The Bison |
We on return drove through Hayden Valley. Hayden Valley, is considered one of Yellowstone’s best areas to see wildlife.
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| Hayden Valley |
We reached back at our Inn at 8 pm.
29 May– South West Zone.
We started at 9.30 am today. The drive to Old Faithful was very again slow and full of stops.
We arrived at 11.30 am and our first stop was at Visitor Center to find out the next eruption time and plan accordingly. It blows every 80 – 90 minutes so if you have time beforehand, watch the short film as an introduction to the park.
We decided to take a walk before the next blowing of Old Faithful. We walked along the Old Faithful Inn and walked to Morning Glory Geyser.
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| Morning Glory |
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| Old Faithful |
Thereafter we walked on board walk and came to watch the blowing of Old Faithful
Having watched the Old Faithful , we had our picnic lunch and started for Midway Geyser basin by car.
Midway Geyser Basin . This has two geysers. Excelsior Geyser and Grand Prismatic Geyser. The 160 ft (almost 50m) deep Grand Prismatic is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world.
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| In Front Grand Prismatic and away is Excelsior Geyser |
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| Flow of Grand Prismatic from Board walk |
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| Grand Prismatic from Boardwalk |
30 May. North West Zone.
The Norris Geyser Basin Consists of Three Areas
Porcelain Basin – a .75 mile dirt trail and boardwalk cascades around a milky colored, steaming landscape barren of trees.
Back Basin - a 1.5 mile trail of boardwalk and dirt trail encircles a heavily wooded area of many geysers and hot springs.
One Hundred Springs Plain - an off-trail section of the Norris Geyser Basin that is very acidic, hollow, and dangerous. Travel is discouraged without the guidance of knowledgeable staff members.
A 2 mile trail winds through Norris Geyser Basin, leading you to features such as Black Growler Steam Vent, Ledge Geyser, the basin's second highest geyser, and Porcelain Basin hot springs coated in the milky color of silceous sinter. Give yourself between 1-3 hours to fully explore this area.
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| Geyser in Porcelain Basin |
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| Porcelain Basin |
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| Colourful Back Basin |
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| Back Basin |
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| back Basin |
Having seen the Norris Basin we headed North to Mammoth Hot Springs. We reached the Upper Springs parking at about 3pm. We had our lunch and went around the Upper Springs. Most of the Geysers of Mammoth Basin were not active.
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| Mammoth spring Upper Drive |
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| Road to Mammoth Springs |
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| Mammoth Spring Area |
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| Visitor Centre Seen from Top of Spring |
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| Active Spring |
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| Grandson with Elk at Mammoth Spring |
As regards wildlife, you are almost guaranteed a sighting of elk near Mammoth Springs. The grass was full of them grazing away and we even saw a few walking along the street.
We finished the day by 6.30pm and drove through North Gate to Cowboy’s Lodge, where we would stay two nights. The Suite was very nice with two large bathrooms, big sitting Room and Kitchen.
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| View From Room |
31May – Northeast Section
Today morning was very early. On request of my grandson, we started at 4.30 a for Lamar Valley, basically to sight the Wildlife. We were not disappointed at all. We returned at 11am and had our breakfast and went to sleep again.
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| Elk at Visitor Centre |
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| Lamar Valley |
At 4pm we went again to Lamar Valley and sighted some more wild life. This black bear was grazing next to our car. We returned at 7pm.
1 June Yellowstone South and Drive through to Grand Teton.
Today morning we checked out after Breakfast and started our journey South at 10 am.
Our first Halt was to have a close look at Black Bear n Two cubs. Thereafter we halted at Tower Falls.
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| Base of Mount Washburn |
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| Tower Fall |
Next we halted near Mount Washburn base. The road is extremely scenic and pull up for pics are awesome.
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| Lunch Break Yellowstone Lake |
Next halt was at West Thumb Geyser Basin. The 3/8 mile long , boardwalk runs right along the lake with spouts bubbling underneath in the lake. The water is gorgeous, crystal clear with a rainbow of colors showing off sporadically.
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| West Thumb Geyser Basin |
West Thumb Geyser Basin is the largest geyser basin along the lake with many features lying underneath the water.
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| Under Water Geysers |
The basin’s geysers pour 3,100 gallons of hot water into the lake every day. The heat from the underwater hydrothermal features can melt ice on the lake’s surface. How West Thumb got its name? Look at the shape of Yellowstone Lake and you'll see that it resembles a hand with a large western bay as the thumb...West Thumb.
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| Geyser water Flows to Lake We then drove out of South Gate to Grand Teton National Park. The road is very scenic , the Jackson Lake was full of ice and had not melted. We had to buy another ticket of 35$ for Entry. |
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| Lake Covered with Ice |
We reached our AirBNB apartment in Wilson at 9pm, after having dinner at Jackson. The apartment was really good with 2 Bedrooms, Kitchen and a Sitting Room.
2 June GRAND TETON PARK
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| Jenny's Lake |
We started at 10.30am after breakfast after a photo shoot of Sun Rise. We reached Jenny’s Lake visitor Centre at 11.30 am.
We decided to take 2.4 mile trek to Hidden Falls. Half way on our trek we came close to Black Bear with two cubs. The bear was as close as 15yards to us. We took a halt at Inspiration Point.
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| Crossing our Track |
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| Hidden Falls |
We reached Hidden Falls at 1.30 pm. You can view the falls from a close distance.
Thereafter we walked another 500 yards to Boat Point and took Boat back to Jenny’s Visitor Center. Boats run from mid May till the end of September. The Operating hours of boat are from June 8 to September is 7AM till 7PM. It depart every 10-15 minutes and takes 12 minutes. No reservations are taken, you just take the next available boat.
We had our Lunch here.
We drove to scenic ride to Signal Mountain view area.
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| On The Way |
We returned to our Apartment in Wilson at 8 pm.
3 June Wilson to Salt Lake City
We checked out after breakfast, and started our journey to Slat Lake City at 10.30 am.
We had good time strolling through old downtown of Jackson. We then started at 1 pm from Jackson .
We reached Temple Square of Salt Lake City at 5.30 pm.
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| The Temple |
We had a good visit of Temple and then went for Dinner.
After Dinner we reached airport at 10.30pm for our United Air Flt 1490. We checked in and boarded at 12.15 am.
4 June
Our flt landed at 6.15am and we reached back home at 8 am.
We stayed at;
Salt Lake City
We stayed at these 2 Bed Room Furnished Apartments
Salt Lake City
Comfort Suites Airport
171 N. 2100 W.SLC,84116
(801) 715-8688
At West Gate
Faithfull Street inn
120 N. Faithful Street, MT 59758
406-412-2030,4066461010
At North Gate
Cowboy's Lodge
208 Stone St, Gr, 59030
590307745
For Grand Teaton Park
Air B N B,
3940 Spurces Bldg South Lake Creek Dr
Wilson
Recommended to go by Rental Car as you have freedom of movement and can plan your day.
