Mapping out our trip to Yellowstone - help
The wife and I are making plans for our first trip out West next June. The first try at the itinerary is shown below. We plan on making reservations at Yellowstone and Custer. Not sure where to stay i...
Forum Discussion
Mote, the high pass of Beartooth would be more enjoyable temperatures for travel and touring during summer, although in June count on areas (some maybe large areas) of the previous year's unmelted snow still around. Typically don't plan high country (off road for example) travel until after 4th of July at the earliest. August is typically the best month for great temps and limited snow in the high country.
But August would be terribly packed with people in the lower Yellowstone. June through August is Yellowstone's worst. September is getting bad too, especially early September. Late September and even early October brings beautiful fall colors to the aspens around here, but most of Beartooth is above treeline, tundra. Tundra is most enjoyable (arguably) during summer. September will bring possible freezing temps over night in Yellowstone, maybe a snow flurry but generally gorgeous weather. Mid day is cool enough to walk the trails, wear a jacket with your shorts, limit total numbers of people. Our favorite times of year in the parks (Yellowstone and Teton) are Fall or Spring, before the people arrive and while the elk are departing (spring migration leaving the elk refuge near Jackson).
If you take the perhaps better weather (but potential hot and sh!!ty) of summer and brave the crowds just accept it's going to be crowded and work the crowd into you mental way of enjoying the trip. Your here in part for the wildlife right? We like to speculate on the people around us, what car will they get into? What state are they from? People can be quite entertaining. :)
If you take the fall time, expect more free space, less traffic, cooler temps, possibly awesome colors. We lived in Northern VA for a year and took advantage of living there to see things. One of our favorite memories is seeing Mount Vernon and Gettysburg in all four seasons. You should have the same viewpoint regarding the Intermountain west. In other words, at least four trips here over the rest of your life will not only lessen the total things to see and do during anyone trip, but get a few seasons. Really, nobody should die before trying to see Yellowstone during winter!
Hope some of this helps.
But August would be terribly packed with people in the lower Yellowstone. June through August is Yellowstone's worst. September is getting bad too, especially early September. Late September and even early October brings beautiful fall colors to the aspens around here, but most of Beartooth is above treeline, tundra. Tundra is most enjoyable (arguably) during summer. September will bring possible freezing temps over night in Yellowstone, maybe a snow flurry but generally gorgeous weather. Mid day is cool enough to walk the trails, wear a jacket with your shorts, limit total numbers of people. Our favorite times of year in the parks (Yellowstone and Teton) are Fall or Spring, before the people arrive and while the elk are departing (spring migration leaving the elk refuge near Jackson).
If you take the perhaps better weather (but potential hot and sh!!ty) of summer and brave the crowds just accept it's going to be crowded and work the crowd into you mental way of enjoying the trip. Your here in part for the wildlife right? We like to speculate on the people around us, what car will they get into? What state are they from? People can be quite entertaining. :)
If you take the fall time, expect more free space, less traffic, cooler temps, possibly awesome colors. We lived in Northern VA for a year and took advantage of living there to see things. One of our favorite memories is seeing Mount Vernon and Gettysburg in all four seasons. You should have the same viewpoint regarding the Intermountain west. In other words, at least four trips here over the rest of your life will not only lessen the total things to see and do during anyone trip, but get a few seasons. Really, nobody should die before trying to see Yellowstone during winter!
Hope some of this helps.
