The Great American Get-Away Part 6: Yellowstone National Park
Did you know more people are injured by Bison than by Bears at Yellowstone? Sears Imported Autos Tip #1 for vacationing at Yellowstone: stay at least 25 feet away from bison; tip #2: stay at least 100 feet away from bears; tip #3: reserve your camping spot early if you plan on camping at Yellowstone in the summer. Yellowstone has several first-come/first-served campgrounds that usually fill up by 11:00 A.M. Other sites can be reserved in advance.
More adventurous campers and hikers can obtain a back country camping permit no more than 48 hours in advance by showing up at any ranger station and requesting it. Check out the Yellowstone National Park Service Website for more information on camping (and avoiding run-ins with local wildlife).
Getting There
Yellowstone is in the middle of nowhere—think Montana and Wyoming. Cody and Jackson, Wyoming; Billings and Bozeman, Montana; and Idaho Falls, Idaho are the closest cities that major airlines fly into. There are six main entrances to the park. The North entrance is the only one open year round. Unless you enjoy frozen limbs, you should probably limit your visit to warmer months.
Places to See
You can't really go to the “wrong spot” at Yellowstone, with the exception of a bear cave. The following places, however, remain the most popular.
- Old Faithful - Staring at water shooting from the ground doesn't sound exciting, but it is. The Old Faithful Geyser is so popular, in fact, that the area--most easily accessed through the West Entrance to the park - has a hotel, campsites, a general store, a gas station, and a post office. The best way to enjoy Old Faithful is to bring the family along for a hike and a picnic afterward.
- Canyon Village - Yellowstone's Canyon Village area contains a 20-mile long canyon, waterfalls, and incredible scenery. Some call it the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone; you'll probably just call it freaking amazing. The canyon, about 40 miles from the East and Northeast entrances, is best enjoyed via one of the many doable day hikes in the area.
- West Thumb Geyser Basin - For those coming from the south entrance, drive 22 miles into the park to the south shore of Lake Yellowstone. The West Thumb Geyser Basin contains an abyss pool, about 50 feet deep, a fishing cone, and the Twin Geysers. Be sure to stay on the marked pathways when visiting the area—the water gets hot and the bison get angry. Grant Village, 2 miles away, has lodging, camping, boating and fishing licenses, a gas station, post office, and a general store.
- Mammoth Hot Springs - What's so special about the Mammoth Hot Springs? The National Parks Service has the answer: “As hot water rises through limestone, large quantities of rock are dissolved by the hot water, and a white chalky mineral is deposited on the surface.” These chalky minerals form terraces that astound tourists.
It would be impossible to describe the thousands of things to see at Yellowstone. It's a place you have to see to believe.
