Results 1 to 25 of 194
-
06-18-2021, 01:47 PM #1
How much of a shitshow will Yellowstone be this summer? Alternatives?
I had planned on taking my kids to Yellowstone this summer for a week. I generally avoid national parks due to crowds, so I've never been there in the summer. I figured both my kids and I should see Old Faithful and all of that so just suck it up.
I just finished a trip in UT and while Zion is amazing, the area around the visitor center and anything served by the shuttles was the definition of shitshow. I did some backcountry overnights but any time we were back in Springdale it sucked. The bottom mile of the narrows was just retarded.
How bad is Yellowstone? It's bigger for sure. I am thinking about just skipping it.
Is there something more like Escalante near Yellowstone? National Forest with dispersed camping, hot springs, hiking, cool shit. I felt like Escalante soooo much better than Zion as an experience.
Kids are tween/teen. I am a self-described single 'rad dad' trying to grow a moustache.I <heart> hot tele-moms
-
06-18-2021, 01:51 PM #2
If the kids are up for it once you get away from the roads most of Yellowstone is empty except for the animals. Look into back country permits and get away or nibble around the edges, the park is just lines on a map, the area to the west of Island Park is beautiful and less crowded.
I have been in this State for 30 years and I am willing to admit that I am part of the problem.
"Happiest years of my life were earning < $8.00 and hour, collecting unemployment every spring and fall, no car, no debt and no responsibilities. 1984-1990 Park City UT"
-
06-18-2021, 01:58 PM #3
Thanks. Any specific suggestions. I am staring at this NP info sheet.
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvis...ip-Planner.pdf
I <heart> hot tele-moms
-
06-18-2021, 03:26 PM #4
Where are you planning on sleeping?
Well maybe I'm the faggot America
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda
-
06-18-2021, 03:29 PM #5
Wind Rivers out of Pinedale, lakes just out of town, big, big hikes available. Amazing backcountry. Be bear aware. There's hot springs around there, but I never visited them.
Merde De Glace On the Freak When Ski
>>>200 cm Black Bamboo Sidewalled DPS Lotus 120 : Best Skis Ever <<<
-
06-18-2021, 03:43 PM #6I <heart> hot tele-moms
-
06-18-2021, 03:45 PM #7
-
06-18-2021, 03:45 PM #8
Yeah - your should take your kids to Yellowstone. It's amazing. That said - try to get lodging in the park and see the big stuff before 9am and after 4pm. Staying in the park is key, as you can get a *much* quicker start than the hordes that come in from Gardner, West Yellowstone, and Jackson.
During the prime part of the day hang out on one of the rivers and float around, eat, and nap.
-
06-18-2021, 03:46 PM #9
-
06-18-2021, 03:54 PM #10
zero available in the park. unless I am looking at summer 2051.
in zion people were lining up for the shuttle to the narrows at 5 am, an hour before it starts. at the same time, we just went to other places outside the park that were *almost* as cool, but could just go mid day and see almost no one.
i am thinking lakes and hikes near pine dale. then a day or two of ridiculous crowds to see old faithful and prismatic and pasty chubby nebraskans pounding big gulps.
I <heart> hot tele-moms
-
06-18-2021, 04:19 PM #11
I found quite a bit of availability in both June and July... - or were you talking about camping? I wouldn't personally recommend camping in the park. Get a hotel room. And yes, it's going to be horrendously expensive.
i am thinking lakes and hikes near pine dale.
then a day or two of ridiculous crowds to see old faithful and prismatic and pasty chubby nebraskans pounding big gulps.
-
06-18-2021, 04:24 PM #12
Now you're starting to figure it out. I go to wonderland pretty much every year, (20 times, maybe), and it's a lot of pre-trip effort to dial it in. To get a taste you could stay outside the East entrance for example, and exit whichever entrance works into your plans. Leave nothing to chance. The lines start essentially the night before for the first-come-fist-seved campsites.
Well maybe I'm the faggot America
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda
-
06-18-2021, 04:54 PM #13
^^^^^^^^^
What PB said. First come, Fist served.
Like most things around here, it's a chess game to do it right.
Staying in the park can be cool, but usually it's a drag during busy season.
What dates?
Literally dozens of places to camp within an hour of the park... South gate is 1 hr. from Jackson, thru GTNP.
Are you car campers or comfy tent camping?
You can be at old faithful at 8 am and it's not a gazillion people yet, maybe 200 tho.
And getting away from people in gtnp is easy for those willing to walk a little.
-
06-18-2021, 05:26 PM #14
-
06-18-2021, 05:47 PM #15Banned
- Join Date
- May 2007
- Location
- Sandy, Utah
- Posts
- 14,410
Please, if you do go, make a point to try to make the Yellowstone wildlife thread. I hear the bison love being pet behind the ears.
Good luck, especially with the moustache
Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using TGR Forums mobile app
-
06-18-2021, 05:50 PM #16
If you want to get into the Winds and are willing to backpack at least one night the easiest way is to take the trail 9 miles one way from Big Sandy Opening to Cirque of the Towers. It was a tough drive to the trailhead when I did it decades ago and it doesn't sound like it's gotten any easier.
https://www.summitpost.org/big-sandy-opening/171419
-
06-18-2021, 05:59 PM #17Registered User
- Join Date
- Dec 2020
- Location
- Idaho
- Posts
- 1,725
Last edited by Hopeless Sinner; 06-18-2021 at 07:53 PM.
-
06-18-2021, 06:04 PM #18
You can stay away from the crowds, play the clock. Best intel can be had at the park gas stations, no shit - ask the workers where the latest/greatest bear and wuff sightings, they have the best info. Get out at first light and you'll be way ahead of the crowds.
-
06-18-2021, 06:07 PM #19User
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- Ogden
- Posts
- 9,103
-
06-18-2021, 06:08 PM #20User
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- Ogden
- Posts
- 9,103
-
06-18-2021, 06:10 PM #21Flachlandtiroler
- Join Date
- Jan 2010
- Posts
- 107
Good luck.
Did this a few years back before the (post-)pandemic shitshow and towards the end of the busy season. It was still busy. Was able to snag camp sites but it involved some strategery, a lot of luck and some anxiety. It’s a looong drive if you can’t stay in the park, probably even longer now.
Many parts of the park are a lot more impressive than Old Faithful, may want to reconsider your priorities.
-
06-18-2021, 06:52 PM #22
No, all National parks do not require a reservation just to get in. A pass or some other paid entry, yes.
THIS is the key. Get up and out by 7 at the latest and it's all so much more bearable.
Re-read the quote. It was a joke. dayum.
There's so much easy camping around here, it's laughable. Anyone who needs to be in a NPS campground, should keep on keepin' on.
Jhyatt, in a pinch, you can camp on our back lawn for a night or two. In town and convenient.
-
06-18-2021, 07:08 PM #23User
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- Ogden
- Posts
- 9,103
^^Sorry missed the misspelling!
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
-
06-18-2021, 07:54 PM #24Registered User
- Join Date
- Dec 2020
- Location
- Idaho
- Posts
- 1,725
-
06-18-2021, 08:24 PM #25Registered User
- Join Date
- Jan 2014
- Location
- Gaperville, CO
- Posts
- 5,845
There are a number of backcountry spots that are allocated for first come first serve...or at least there were two years back? We rolled in early, snagged one, hiked in for a couple days. Was legit AF. Saw very few people. Lots of wildlife. Geyser basins.
Bookmarks