Seeing yellowstone on foot?

[Naio]

I've been reading the past threads on Yellowstone here, and people keep talking about long scenic drives. But I don't like to do that -- I like to drive to where I am camping, and then leave the van at the campsite for however many days I am there, with awning out and all, and do my sightseeing on foot.

Can I do that at Yellowstone? I made reservations for a week each at Grant and Canyon, based on reading the threads here. But are those too close together? What can I do/see from each base? My trip is far enough in the future that I can probably move reservations if you folks think I oughta.

I realise there may be a shuttle bus, but I prefer to avoid those, too :). On the plus side, I don't mind missing some 'important sights' -- just being in a beautiful place is good.

And are the buffalo going to gore me if I am not in a vehicle? I will keep my distance, of course, but if they are on the road and headed my way...

[OutdoorPhotogra]

There's another way to partially beat the crowds - be up at the crack of dawn. I lived near Yosemite and tried to avoid it midsummer but spent a week in June once and even there, I was out shooting photos at first light and had it mostly to myself until 8:00 and relatively light until 10:00. I was at Yellowstone last year and shot photos relatively near the campsite until 8:00 and then hit the road with the family. Of course we eventually had to deal with crowds and traffic but we could cover 30 miles relatively quickly and get to the area of the park that we intended to explore for that day. If you rent a scooter, I'd head out early to your chosen trailhead.

[Naio]

fj12ryder wrote:
When I was there in the summer, there were traffic jams due to people stopping on the highway to take pictures, and all the walking trails around the hot springs and such were crowded with people. If you don't mind some crowded conditions you may not mind Yellowstone in the summer. It's not my cup of tea.

That being said we went in late September a couple years ago and it was still very crowded. Even the concessionaires commented on how unusual the crowds were for so late in the season. We left Fishing Bridge campground on the day it closed for the season. You just never know.

Hmmm again! Based on this forum, it does seem like EVERYONE is headed to y'stone this year..

[fj12ryder]

When I was there in the summer, there were traffic jams due to people stopping on the highway to take pictures, and all the walking trails around the hot springs and such were crowded with people. If you don't mind some crowded conditions you may not mind Yellowstone in the summer. It's not my cup of tea.

That being said we went in late September a couple years ago and it was still very crowded. Even the concessionaires commented on how unusual the crowds were for so late in the season. We left Fishing Bridge campground on the day it closed for the season. You just never know.

[Naio]

fj12ryder wrote:
Yes, high summer is the only time it probably won't get below freezing at night. Swimming in the river isn't recommended either, as the temperature is such that only a few minutes is a recipe for hypothermia. Yellowstone in the summer is almost a constant flow of traffic. There is not much in the way of isolation in the summer. In fact trying to find a place to stay could be taxing. I've been there once in mid-June and swore I would never go back during the summer, and never have. We go early spring, and mid-to late September.

I really don't think you're really aware of the distances involved in and around Yellowstone.

Hmmm... The park websites are full of pictures of crowds of people swimming in the Firehole river, and talk about the water being warmed from hot springs. But, of course, if it's too cold I won't go in!

I have had the experience, like you, of entering a national park (Yosemite valley) mid-summer and thinking 'Heck no, too crowded' and leaving shortly. The high country was much better :). I appreciate the warning that this could happen again.

I do have camping reservations already made, so I am not worried about getting places to sleep.

I AM worried about having enough time for my post-yellowstone travels before snow, so if it is too crowded for me and I leave early that would not be the worst thing.

Do you think I should skip it entirely in summer, and come back later with a genny and a heater?

[fj12ryder]

Yes, high summer is the only time it probably won't get below freezing at night. Swimming in the river isn't recommended either, as the temperature is such that only a few minutes is a recipe for hypothermia. Yellowstone in the summer is almost a constant flow of traffic. There is not much in the way of isolation in the summer. In fact trying to find a place to stay could be taxing. I've been there once in mid-June and swore I would never go back during the summer, and never have. We go early spring, and mid-to late September.

I really don't think you're really aware of the distances involved in and around Yellowstone.

[Naio]

Busskipper wrote:

Naio wrote:
I don't plan on doing a lot of intensive hiking. Mostly I just like to look at the pretty scenery, walk a ways, sit and look some more...

I do like to find uncrowded places. I also might like to swim in the rivers.

Even as a muscley, super-energetic teenager, when I went to the North Rim I just sat there on a rock and stared all day. Now I regret not hiking down to the bottom, or to Roaring Springs, but at the time it seemed like plenty just to soak it all in from the top.

If you are looking for solitude and a chance to enjoy Yellowstone without crowds then you really have two options - one is to hike back away from the crowds and the other would be to visit in the off season.

We have been there after the crowds have left, returning to enjoy an Indian Summer, we stayed in Madison with a dozen or so other campers - the Bison and the Elk outnumber the Humans probably 100 to one. Every where we went we would have no other people to worry about.
Best visit ever of over a dozen trips to and through Yellowstone over the Years. We could just sit on a bench and enjoy the sights and sounds of YELLOWSTONE, Spectacular!

Just a thought/option to put in your head -

BOL,

Yes, I have done that in other NPs, and it was amazing! I have some planned for the fall this year :).

My worry about y'stone is that it would be too cold. I don't have heat in my rig. Looking at historic temps, it seemed like high summer was the only time I could expect reasonably warm nights. I like to stay above 30 most nights, if I can. I could keep an eye on things, though, and rearrange my plans if it turns out to be a hot summer.

What do you think?

[Busskipper]

Naio wrote:
I don't plan on doing a lot of intensive hiking. Mostly I just like to look at the pretty scenery, walk a ways, sit and look some more...

I do like to find uncrowded places. I also might like to swim in the rivers.

Even as a muscley, super-energetic teenager, when I went to the North Rim I just sat there on a rock and stared all day. Now I regret not hiking down to the bottom, or to Roaring Springs, but at the time it seemed like plenty just to soak it all in from the top.

If you are looking for solitude and a chance to enjoy Yellowstone without crowds then you really have two options - one is to hike back away from the crowds and the other would be to visit in the off season.

We have been there after the crowds have left, returning to enjoy an Indian Summer, we stayed in Madison with a dozen or so other campers - the Bison and the Elk outnumber the Humans probably 100 to one. Every where we went we would have no other people to worry about.
Best visit ever of over a dozen trips to and through Yellowstone over the Years. We could just sit on a bench and enjoy the sights and sounds of YELLOWSTONE, Spectacular!

Just a thought/option to put in your head -

BOL,

[Naio]

I don't plan on doing a lot of intensive hiking. Mostly I just like to look at the pretty scenery, walk a ways, sit and look some more...

I do like to find uncrowded places. I also might like to swim in the rivers.

Even as a muscley, super-energetic teenager, when I went to the North Rim I just sat there on a rock and stared all day. Now I regret not hiking down to the bottom, or to Roaring Springs, but at the time it seemed like plenty just to soak it all in from the top.

[tatest]

For Yellowstone, you would have to do that from more than a couple base camps, maybe, depending on just what parts of the park you want to see. It is a very large park, with areas that are quite different from each other.

People who want to see more than just the geysers might find themselves driving 40 miles from campground to trailhead, then spending the day hiking 15 to 25 miles. It would be difficult to recommend any particular CG without knowing just what it is that you want to experience.

I would start with buying a guide book. It has been so long since I've gotten one that I don't know what to recommend among the more than 1000 books currently in publication, but you might look for something with "hiking" in the title. My own interests would be rather "geology" and "wildlife."

My Yellowstone experience, I would rather not walk the park roads. Although speeds tend to be slow, drivers are also inattentive to pedestrians and cyclists, while at the same time being in a hurry if there is nothing to see immediately.

[Naio]

OutdoorPhotographer wrote:

Maybe you could plan the first and last days of your trip to park at a trailhead

I think I will do that. Also considering the bike/scooter suggestions.

I found this excellent map of Teton bike trails:

http://www.friendsofpathways.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/pathways-county-Map-2014-layered-Front.pdf

[OutdoorPhotogra]

Naio wrote:

Campfire Time wrote:
I'm curious, why the aversion to driving to trail heads in the park?

I just don't like to take down and set up camp every day. The van is small, so when I am camping I put stuff in the drivers seat and in front of the windows, which I have to move again in order to drive. I keep some equipment outside locked to the van, so I have to move that. I have to level the van again before sleeping. It's just a lot of bother.

As someone said earlier, Old Faithful isn't near campgrounds.

Maybe you could plan the first and last days of your trip to park at a trailhead and explore nearby trails when once you are setup? There are tons of geysers in the Old Faithful area. The day you break camp, do so early and drive to Old Faithful and spend the day hiking that area. Pick something else for day you setup allowing time to get setup before dark.

[Campfire_Time]

Ah! That makes sense. Here's an idea, get a scooter and a carrying rack.

[Naio]

Campfire Time wrote:
I'm curious, why the aversion to driving to trail heads in the park?

I just don't like to take down and set up camp every day. The van is small, so when I am camping I put stuff in the drivers seat and in front of the windows, which I have to move again in order to drive. I keep some equipment outside locked to the van, so I have to move that. I have to level the van again before sleeping. It's just a lot of bother.

[Campfire_Time]

I'm curious, why the aversion to driving to trail heads in the park?