Vacations to Go



 Home

 CD's and Comics-2009

 Ainsworth Hot Springs Fling

 2009 Spring Preservation Conference

 Ocean of Fun-2009

New England 2009


 Future Trips:

 British-French Invasion 2010

 Maui and Kauai-2011 or Alaska/
Caribbean Cruise


 Trips for Friends:

 Spectacular Yellowstone-2009

Optional Trips:
Long Trips-

Florida Sights

 Great Britain on the Run-2008

Ireland

plus Key West Attractions or Key West Restaurants

 Hawaii

 Oregon
Coast-a-Thon

 Oregon Coast from Rockaway Beach North and South

Oregon Coast Websites for Vacation Rentals

 Waterton-Glacier National Park

Yellowstone National
Park-Long
Trip

Short Trips:

 Glacier in a Weekend

Seattle-Whidbey Island Adventure-2006

 A Week in Walt Disney World-2008

Yellowstone National
Park-
Short Trip

Yellowstone for McGees

Day 1    
Mileage
4:00 a.m.
Depart:
 Spokane
  (East on I-90)
6:00 a.m.
Arrive:
 Montana Border
100
Do:
 Rest Stop

6:15 a.m.

 Depart: Montana Border  
MT9:15  a.m.
Arrive:
 Missoula, MT
100
Do:
 Food Break/Rest Stop
9:45 a.m.
Depart:
 Missoula
12:10 p.m.
Arrive:
 Butte, MT
119
    (There is a rest stop after Butte about 7 miles.)  
2:00 p.m.
Arrive:
 Bozeman, MT
82
    (Continue on I-90.  Take exit 333/Hwy 89.  Turn right/south in Livingston on Hwy 89.)  
2:30 p.m.
Arrive:
 Livingston, MT
23
  (Continue south on Hwy. 89)
Do:
 Enter Yellowstone National Park
$20 for 7 days in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
3:30 p.m.
Arrive:
 Yellowstone National Park
57
 

Do:

 Picture of entrance to park  
3:45 p.m.
Arrive:
 Mammoth Hot Springs
5
 

Do:

 Dinner-Terrace Grill Fast Food or Mammoth Hotel Dining Room  
5:00 p.m.
Option::

The Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces—Walk
Explore Yellowstone's colorful geologic past and present through the rainbow hues of Mammoth Hot Springs. Learn how these dynamic terraces of travertine are unique among the park's thermal basins.
Approximately 1-1/2 hours.
Meet at the Upper Terrace Drive entrance parking lot, 2 miles south of Mammoth Village
 
6:40 p.m.
Depart:
 Mammoth
See:
 Petrified Tree

7:05 p.m.

Arrive: Tower Junction

18

7:30 p.m.

 Arrive: Canyon Area

19
Lodge:
 Canyon Lodge Economy Cabins $$58.86 (307) 344-7311
(523)

 

Day 2      
9:00 a.m.
Depart:
 Canyon
 

See:

 Canyon  
9:00 a.m.

Option:

Walking the Canyon Rim
Words can hardly convey the startling beauty of the Yellowstone River, its Grand Canyon and spectacular waterfalls. Explore the geology and natural history behind the scenery.
Approximately 1.5 hours.
Meet a park ranger at Uncle Tom's Parking Lot on the South Rim Drive (road to Artist Point).

  

10:40 a.m.
or
11:00 a.m.

Option:

The Yellowstone Canyon Talk
From a classic viewpoint, enjoy the Lower Falls, the Yellowstone River, and the spectacular colors of the canyon while learning about the area's geology and history. Discover why artists and photographers have been drawn to this special place. Join the park ranger on the lower platform at Artist Point on the South Rim Drive for this short talk.
Approximately 10-15 minutes (excpet 10 a.m. Junior Ranger talks, which are 20-30 minutes).
Meet at the lower platform at Artist Point on the South Rim Drive.

  
See:
 Canyon Visitor Center
Inspiration Point
Grand View
Lookout Point
Upper Falls View
Uncle Tom’s Trail (300 steps down)

11:30 a.m.

Depart:

 Canyon  
    (Go west on Norris Canyon Rd.)  
 
Do:
 Lunch-
Picnic area on Upper Falls Road or 12 miles west of canyon
OR Canyon Lodge Dining Room or Cafeteria
12:30 p.m.
Arrive:
 Norris Geyser Basin

12
See:
 Norris Geyser Basin Museum

2:30 p.m.

Option:

Geyser Basin Talk
Norris Geyser Basin has many of the unique characteristics that make Yellowstone National Park so special. While you're at Norris, stop by and enjoy this ranger talk in beautiful surroundings.
Approximately 20 minutes
Meet at the Norris Geyser Basin Museum.

  
See:
               Porcelain Basin Trail                    
Back Basin Trail (may be closed)
3:00 p.m.
Depart:
 Norris Geyser Basin
    (Turn left/south on  Grand Loop Rd.)  
3:30 p.m.
Arrive:
 Madison
14
See:
 Madison Information Station
Do:
 Firehole Canyon Drive and Firehole Falls-
Firehole Canyon Drive, a side road, follows the Firehole River upstream from Madison Junction to just above Firehole Falls. The drive takes sightseers past 800-foot thick lava flows. Firehole Falls is a 40-foot waterfall. An unstaffed swimming area here is very popular in the warmest of the summer season. Cliff diving is illegal.
Artist Paint Pots (1 mile round trip)
4:45 p.m.
Depart:
 Madison
 

Do:

 Dinner- Picnic area by Madison Museum  
5:00 p.m.
Arrive:
 Clepsydra Geyser spews water at Fountain Paint Pots in the Lower geyser Basin.
Lower Geyser Basin
This large area of hydrothermal activity can be viewed by foot along the boardwalk trail at Fountain Paint Pots and by car along the three mile Firehole Lake Drive. The latter is a one-way drive where you will find the sixth geyser predicted by the Old Faithful staff: Great Fountain. Its splashy eruptions send jets of diamond droplets bursting 100-200 feet in the air, while waves of water cascade down the raised terraces. Patience is a virtue with this twice-a-day geyser, as the predictions allow a 2 hour +/- window of opportunity.
8
See:
 Fountain Paint Pots (.5 mile loop)
Yellowstone's four types of thermal features can be seen in one short walk along this loop trail: geysers, hot springs, mudpots, and fumaroles. A trail guide is available for this area, which also includes the Firehole Lake Drive area.
8 miles north of Old Faithful
Midway Geyser Basin (.5 mile loop)
This geyser basin, though small in size compared to its companions along the Firehole River, holds large wonders for the visitor. Excelsior Geyser reveals a gaping crater 200 x 300 feet with a constant discharge of more than 4,000 gallons of water per minute into the Firehole River. Also in this surprising basin is Yellowstone's largest hot springs, Grand Prismatic Spring. This feature is 370 feet in diameter and more than 121 feet in depth.
 

Depart:

 Madison  
    (Go north on Grand Loop Rd., then east/right on Norris Canyon Rd.)  
 

Arrive:

 Canyon

34
Lodge:
 Pioneer Cabin $58.37

68

 

Day 3    

8:00 a.m.

 Depart: Canyon  
    (Go south on Grand Loop Rd. towards Lake Roosevelt)  
 

Do:

 Look for buffalo  
   
Mud Volcano-
The short loop from the parking lot past the Dragon's Mouth and the Mud Volcano is handicapped accessible. The half-mile upper loop trail via Sour Lake and the Black Dragon's Caldron is relatively steep. Two of the most popular features in the Mud Volcano front country are the Dragon's Mouth and the Black Dragon's Caldron. The rhythmic belching of steam and the flashing tongue of water give the Dragon's Mouth Spring it's name, though its activity has decreased notably since December 1994. The Black Dragon's Caldron exploded onto the landscape in 1948, blowing trees out by their roots and covering the surrounding forest with mud. The large roil in one end of the Caldron gives one the sense that the Black Dragon itself might rear it's head at any time		  
 

See:

 Lake Roosevelt-
With a surface area of 136 square miles, Yellowstone Lake is the largest lake at high elevation (i.e., more than 7,000 ft.) in North America. It is a natural lake, situated at 7,733 ft. above sea level. It is roughly 20 miles long and 14 miles wide with 110 miles of shoreline. It is frozen nearly half the year. It freezes in late December or early January and thaws in late May or early June

16

 

Arrive

 West Thumb/Grants Village

21

    (Follow Hyw 14/16.  At West Thumb go west on Hwy 191/20/89.)  

9:30 a.m.

Arrive:

 Old Faithful

17

 
See:
 Old Faithful Visitor Center
10:00 a.m.
 Option:

Geyser Discovery Stroll
Learn the ins and outs of one of the rarest geological features on earth - geysers! Accompany a park ranger on a daily trip through the Upper Geyser Basin exploring the world of geysers.
Approximately 1.5 hours
Meet at Castle Geyser, half mile west of Old Faithful (15-minute walk from the visitor center).
See:
 Upper and Lower Stores
Old Faithful Lodge and Snow Lodge
12:00 p.m.
Depart:
 Old Faithful
Do:
 Lunch-
Geyser Grill  Fast Food
Pony Express Fast Food
Snow Lodge Restaurant

1:00 p.m.

Depart:

 Old Faithful  
    (Go east on Hwy 20/191 to West Thumb.  Go south/right on Hwy 287/191/89.)  

2:30 p.m.

Arrive:

 Grand Teton National Park-Colter Bay

66

 

See:

 Colter Bay Visitor Center and Indian Arts Museum (8-7)  
    (At Jackson Lake Junction/Teton Park Rd. turn right/west.)  
     
See:
 Potholes Turnout
Mt. Moran Turnout
Mountain View Turnout
Cathedral Group Turnout
Jenny Lake Overlook
Teton Glacier Turnout
Windy Point Turnout
    Menors Ferry Historic Area  
    (Continue on Teton Park Rd. to junction with Hwy 26/89/191  
 

See:

 Blacktail Ponds Overlook  
    Glacier View Turnout  
    Teton Point Turnout  
    Snake river Overlook  
    Cunningham Cabin Historic Site  
    (At Moran Junction go left/west on Hwy 191/287)  
 

See:

 Oxbow Bend Turnout  
 

Arrive:

 Colter Bay

60
 

Do:

 Dinner:
North Jenny Lake-Lodge Dining Room
Jackson Lake Lodge-Mural Room or Blue Heron
Colter Bay-Chuckwagon or Cafe Court		  
       

4:30 p.m.

Option:

 Lakeshore Stroll-
One hour stroll to enjoy panoramic view of the Teton Range and learn about it's creation
Meet at Colter Bay Visitor Center Flagpole		  

6:30 p.m.

Option:

 Jenny Lake Cruise-
One hour scenic boat cruise on Jenny Lake. 
Reservations (307) 734-9227 $12/$7 (7-12)
South Jenny Lake Boat Dock

 

6:30 p.m.-
8:30 p.m.

Option:

 Evening on the Back Deck-
Join a ranger on the back deck of Jackson Lake Lodge for answers to your questions about Grand Teton N.P.  Look through the spotting scope at some of the best bird and moose habitat in the park.
Jackson Lake Lodge Back Deck		  
       
 

Depart:

 Colter Bay

 

    (Continue north on Hwy. 89/191/287.  At West Thumb go east/right on Hwy 14/16/20. At Lake Village go left/north on Grand Loop Rd.)  
 

Arrive:

 Canyon

75

 

Lodge:

 Pioneer Cabin $58.37

(255)

Day 4                
7:00 a.m. Depart:

Canyon

  
   

(Go west on Norris Canyon Rd.  Go left/south on Hwy 89/Grand Loop Rd.  At Madison go west to West Yellowstone.)

  
8:00 a.m. Arrive:

West Yellowstone, MT

 40
   

(Go north on Hwy 287.)

  
8:30 a.m.
Arrive:
 1959 Earthquake Area
20
See:
 Earthquake Damage          
9:00 a.m.
Depart:
 Earthquake Area
    (Continue on Hwy 287 west, then north.  At Jeffers it will go west.)  
10.00 a.m.
Arrive:
 Virginia City, MT
47
See:
 Ghost Town              
Do:
 Lunch
12:00 p.m.
Depart:
 Virginia City
  (West, then north on Hwy. 287.  Go north on Hwy. 41 at Twin Bridges, then west on Hwy. 2 to I-90.)
1:30 p.m.
Arrive:
 Butte, MT
75
      (Continue on I-90)  
3:25 p.m.
Arrive:
 Missoula, MT
119
5:25 p.m.
Arrive:
 Montana Border
100
Do:
 Rest Stop
5:45 p.m.
Depart:
 Montana Border
PT6:45 p.m.
Arrive:
 Spokane
100
 
(501)


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Vacations to Go...