Yellowstone: what's the big deal about it?

[rexlion]

I would like to ask those of you who think Yellowstone NP is worth 3, 4, 7 or even more days of a vacation, what do you find so interesting there? Maybe I'm missing it, and you can help me know what I should be seeing there.

I've been to Yellowstone twice. First time was at about age 12 with my parents. With a 22' Winnebago MH we drove across Canada (starting in Michigan), through Banff and Yoho, then to the Seattle area where we visited with my eldest brother for a day. Then we returned east through Montana, went into Yellowstone for a day, continued east to Mount Rushmore, and eventually back home to MI. After seeing the spectacular snow-capped Canadian Rockies grow ever larger as we moved west from Calgary, and then camping near the foot of Takkakaw Falls, and seeing Lake Louise and Emerald Lake and the hoodoos, the US Rockies seemed like plain vanilla by comparison.

Then about 14-15 years ago my wife and I towed a popup and spent a day in the Tetons (which I really liked and want to spend more time at), then a day in Yellowstone, then headed to Idaho to visit the same brother (who moved from WA eventually to ID). We saw Lewis Falls, the paint pots and steaming pools near Yellowstone Lake, the big waterfall in the canyon, some bison, a couple of bears, and Old Faithful. Old Faithful was not very faithful to us, BTW; when it was 40 minutes overdue we headed back toward the van, only to have it blow when we neared the parking lot. After one day we felt like we had seen about everything worth seeing. What did we miss?

[katleman]

I've been lucky to have visited Yellowstone 5 times in the last 10 years, and hope to return soon.

I used to worry about telling folks about getting up and on the road by 6am to fully enjoy Yellowstone before the crush of tourists each day. No worries, most do want to sleep in and join the crowds.

Those who like the wee hours like I do, will be rewarded by more wildlife, and uncrowded attractions. I have no problem with the late risers, though I suspect they won't enjoy the park either.

Each of my visits, I've seen things I've never seen before or taken trails I've never done.

Fav spots

"Hike" to Lone Star Geyser, more of a stroll on an old park road that used to go to the geyser. More reliable than old faithful.

Hike to the Old Faithful Overlook, short but considerable up hill hike, ending with a grand overview of the geyser basin. I am in my early 50s and not in the best shape and the hike wasnt a killer.

Firehole Lake Drive, wonderful side road near Artist Paint Pots (opposite side), was the road that "melted" earlier this year.

Do take advantage of Ranger lead hikes when you can, takes an ordinary walk or hike and shows you things you wouldn't have normally seen.

[dewey02]

newk wrote:

soos wrote:


We found it took 3 days just to figure out the rhythm of the animals and tourists. Animals are out around 6 am. we were driving by 5 am. looking for bears and wolves. tourists arrive from town at lunch time. we were back at camp by then....

DING DING DING
We have a winner!


Most of my trips to Yellowstone, at least the most enjoyable ones, were in search of nature photos. We'd get up early and be on the road well before dawn, set up our gear at a specified spot, then shoot from pre-sunrise until 9-10. Then we'd head back to camp, have brunch, maybe take a nap, then head out in search of the spots where we wanted to take sunset and sunrise photos for the next day. An hour or two before sunset we'd be set up again, waiting for the just-right light. Head back to camp in the dark, take a nap, then start it all over again.

I spent an afternoon photographing a beaver. (We became friends!) Another one photographing a moose; I enjoyed a 3-hour lunch with my camera and a family of trumpeter swans. I also enjoy fly fishing and have spent many a day on some of the park's blue ribbon trout streams -- tying flies that "match the hatch" and pulling in literally hundreds of pounds of wild and beautiful trout.

To enjoy Yellowstone, really enjoy it, you must slow down and let it move around you. Rushing to see this or that? Heck, you may as well be in an amusement park.


As for the crowds, here's a little-known secret. (Don't tell anyone.) There are no crowds in Yellowstone if you do your sightseeing from 6-10 a.m and 6-10 p.m. From 10 a.m - 6 p.m. go back to camp. Make love to your special other. Or just make lunch. Take a nap. Phase II of the daily Yellowstone experience is only hours away.

Well we were there On VACATION.. Good for you that you get up at 5AM to go traipsing in the dark. We enjoy a nice leisurely cooked breakfast, and sleeping in a bit. It is a vacation, you know. Still saw lots of critters, including a Grizzly bear. Yellowstone is what you make of it.

[Sue_Bee]

Francesca Knowles wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
WOW! the OP used a big spoon to stir the pot! and the contents are still stirring! LOL

:B
Coming soon:

"Rushmore, phooey- there's better sculpture in my kids' sandbox!"

Sequoia NP- pfft, they're just trees. What's the big deal?


My only issue with Yellowstone was all the crowds, and we over-estimated our son's ability and interest at his age to hike more than a couple of miles.

Now that I know better, I will do things differently when we go back-
We will stay in the park, not at Fishing Bridge (at least not more than a day or two).
We will go earlier than Memorial Day or later than Labor Day
We will spend more time off of the pavement, and on the hikes into the back country.

[Bumpyroad]

lets see, the first day in I stopped at the stuff coming in from the North. got to old faithful in time that afternoon so got that mandatory look see out of the way. spent the next day doing the North loop, making stops along the way. did the south loop the next day. I saw the falls of the grand canyon of the yellowstone, lots of sulfur pots, etc.
No I did not consider it to be a religious experience.
bumpy

[Lauren]

You will not do the grand loop in a couple of hours though. And why bother just looking out the windshield?

[Jim_Shoe]

The grand loop in Yellowstone is 140 miles long. If you step on it early in the morning, you can do the loop in a couple of hours and leave. Don't go back. You'll just be in the way, and you'll never understand or appreciate its beauty.

[newk]

soos wrote:


We found it took 3 days just to figure out the rhythm of the animals and tourists. Animals are out around 6 am. we were driving by 5 am. looking for bears and wolves. tourists arrive from town at lunch time. we were back at camp by then....

DING DING DING
We have a winner!


Most of my trips to Yellowstone, at least the most enjoyable ones, were in search of nature photos. We'd get up early and be on the road well before dawn, set up our gear at a specified spot, then shoot from pre-sunrise until 9-10. Then we'd head back to camp, have brunch, maybe take a nap, then head out in search of the spots where we wanted to take sunset and sunrise photos for the next day. An hour or two before sunset we'd be set up again, waiting for the just-right light. Head back to camp in the dark, take a nap, then start it all over again.

I spent an afternoon photographing a beaver. (We became friends!) Another one photographing a moose; I enjoyed a 3-hour lunch with my camera and a family of trumpeter swans. I also enjoy fly fishing and have spent many a day on some of the park's blue ribbon trout streams -- tying flies that "match the hatch" and pulling in literally hundreds of pounds of wild and beautiful trout.

To enjoy Yellowstone, really enjoy it, you must slow down and let it move around you. Rushing to see this or that? Heck, you may as well be in an amusement park.


As for the crowds, here's a little-known secret. (Don't tell anyone.) There are no crowds in Yellowstone if you do your sightseeing from 6-10 a.m and 6-10 p.m. From 10 a.m - 6 p.m. go back to camp. Make love to your special other. Or just make lunch. Take a nap. Phase II of the daily Yellowstone experience is only hours away.

[Floridafrances]

We've been to YS 3 times, first in the summer, then winter, then fall. We still want to see it in the springtime when all the baby animals are around and the earth is still shaking off the last of winter.

Both my husband and I love photography and geology and YS has so much to offer in both those areas. There are so many beautiful places in our vast country we still want to visit, but I know if the chance to include YS in a future trip presents itself we'll jump on it. And if it doesn't, then we'll make a point of going there again.

Our grandchildren will soon begin getting old enough to go with us and I'm so looking forward to introducing them to the amazing natural wonders the USA is blessed with.

[vegasken34]

If you have to ask, its better you don't go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dewey02]

TexasShadow wrote:
There's a certain fascination with being on a crusty top of something like a ginormous pressure cooker filled with melted rock and knowing it can blow. At any time:)
Other than that, I like the scenery etc better down in the Tetons.

Exactly. My wife said almost the same thing after our recent visit.

[Francesca_Knowl]

dodge guy wrote:
WOW! the OP used a big spoon to stir the pot! and the contents are still stirring! LOL

:B
Coming soon:

"Rushmore, phooey- there's better sculpture in my kids' sandbox!"

[dodge_guy]

WOW! the OP used a big spoon to stir the pot! and the contents are still stirring! LOL

[cecerecreek]

Reminds me of a Yogi Berra quote....."People don't go there anymore, it's too crowded"... I went there in late September a few years ago to avoid the crowds, there were still crowds!!! I can't imagine being there in the summer. Ya know, after a few days, a bison is just a cow, get back in your car !!!! !!! Traffic back ups when a squirrel runs across the road it seems. I guess those people had never seen a animal before. There are just as nice ,scenery wise, places to visit without the enormous crowds. I count Yellowstone as one of my biggest RV disappointments. You couldn't pay me to stay at Fishing Bridge again.....I will not return!!!.Just my 2 cents worth...I've been wanting to vent this for a few years.....Not my cup of tea, but you may enjoy it.....

[monkey44]

rexlion wrote:
I would like to ask those of you who think Yellowstone NP is worth 3, 4, 7 or even more days of a vacation, what do you find so interesting there? Maybe I'm missing it, and you can help me know what I should be seeing there.

I've been to Yellowstone twice. First time was at about age 12 with my parents. With a 22' Winnebago MH we drove across Canada (starting in Michigan), through Banff and Yoho, then to the Seattle area where we visited with my eldest brother for a day. Then we returned east through Montana, went into Yellowstone for a day, continued east to Mount Rushmore, and eventually back home to MI. After seeing the spectacular snow-capped Canadian Rockies grow ever larger as we moved west from Calgary, and then camping near the foot of Takkakaw Falls, and seeing Lake Louise and Emerald Lake and the hoodoos, the US Rockies seemed like plain vanilla by comparison.


Then about 14-15 years ago my wife and I towed a popup and spent a day in the Tetons (which I really liked and want to spend more time at), then a day in Yellowstone, then headed to Idaho to visit the same brother (who moved from WA eventually to ID). We saw Lewis Falls, the paint pots and steaming pools near Yellowstone Lake, the big waterfall in the canyon, some bison, a couple of bears, and Old Faithful. Old Faithful was not very faithful to us, BTW; when it was 40 minutes overdue we headed back toward the van, only to have it blow when we neared the parking lot. After one day we felt like we had seen about everything worth seeing. What did we miss?

*****

Pretty interesting comments here - lots of difference of opinion. So, Monkey44 will give one more. If you need to ask why Yellowstone is such a great national park, you probably shouldn't bother going because you'll never "get it" ... some folks enjoy the wilderness, the beauty of it and it's critters and vegetation and geology, some don't. If you don't - then best to stay home and leave room for those of us who do enjoy it.