Yellowstone National Park Travel Forum

Hi!
My husband and I are young and active and are going to Boise - Grand Tetons - Yellowstone - Glacier N.P. - Boise loop from May 23-June 3rd. I want to see everything and anything and would love to break for some worthy hikes/backpacks in both parks (Tetons we plan to canoe, only 1-2 days there). We really only have about 3-4 days in each park, so please give me some advice on any "must sees" this time of year, since we are about to become ex-patriots (Singapore) and will not have access to this lovely land for a long while. We're both first timers as well.
Any and all help is much appreciated.
Cheers,
Leah

Hi
I'll see if I can help. We went through the Tetons and spent 3 nights in Yellowstone. From there to Glacier for 6 nights. We had a great time. The difference is that we went in July. Yellowstone should be great but you're a little early for Glacier.

The weather could be iffy in YNP and GNP. We're going back in mid-June this year and were told to expect pretty much anything weather wise. Including snow.

We put trip reports for all the three parks and bunches of pictures on our website. You can see the link by clicking on my name beside the post. The information should be useful to you.

At YNP, you need to see Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin. They're together. You also need to drive through Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley. Preferably early in the morning. We had 3 days in YNP and spent a lot of time in the car. We saw a lot of the park.

I don't know what you should expect at Glacier. You shouldn't expect Going to the Sun Road to be open. I suppose you could get lucky but wouldn't count on it. We loved the area around Many Glacier Hotel and Swiftcurrent. I don't know when the lodges open but you can stay in St, Mary on the east side if they arean't. For me, East glacier is too far away. There's a lot of hiking around Many Glacier. The higher elevation trails likely won't be open due to snow. Its a beautifl area in any event.

Wow, you're really hurrying through some of the most dramatic, awe inspiring scenery in all of the Continental US...
Having said that...

If only a couple of days in Grand Teton, a hike to Hidden Falls, across the lake is a must do. Get started early so you can be on the first or 2nd boat out and ahead of the large crowds.
One day to drive around the perimiter of the Park (*outer road) and end up at Oxbow Bend and, eventually, Jackson Lake Lodge for breakfast with a beautiful teton range as a backdrop:
http://www.nationalparkreservations.com/grandteton_jackson_lake_lodge.htm

Return towards Dornan's Spur Ranch Cabins via inner loop and stop off for lunch...buy a wonderful natural sandwhich there and go on a short hike to enjoy.
Finally, finish off by doing sunset somewhere such as one of the many lookouts or, at Elk Island, where you can see the elk crossing between day and night feeding grounds (calves in tow at this time of year and bugling in the summer).
Night time you can enjoy back in Jackson Hole.

Last day, enjoy driving to Colter Ranch, do some horseback riding, drive back to the Lower Slide Lake area and, on to Red Rock area beyond where few tourists ever wander! The views are amazing and amongst the best kept secret in all of Jackson.

Yellowstone, one day (via South Entrance) to Lake Lodge (over night and explore), following day to Mammoth (overnight and explore into Gardiner), last day, down to Old Faithful where you can overnight and hurriedly explore Upper and Lower Geiser basin.

I hope this helps..we've been traveling this area for past 20 years and, about 25 trips and love it!!!
Homer

Driving the Going to the Sun Road across Glacier NP is incredibly beautiful and there are many trailheads along the road, unfortunately, it is questionable whether it will be open at that time of year. Even if it is most if not all of the higher elevation trails may be snow covered.

The following is from the NPS website: "Traditionally, the upper (alpine) section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road opens sometime during the first two weeks in June. The earliest opening date is May 16 and the latest opening date is June 28."

I no longer live in Montana and don't know what the snowpack is like there this year. If the road is closed when you are there you will likely want to choose to spend time in either the east or west side of the park. One plus for the West side is that at that time of year the snow meltoff may be getting into high gear and a rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River is great fun. Stop at an outfitter in West Glacier (there are several) and look at the photos to get an idea.

If the higher elevation trails are closed then a dayhike to Avalance Lake is a good option. Get directions at the visitor center.

If you have a canoe a fun float to consider would be to put in at the tail end of Lake McDonald (near Apgar campground) and float McDonald creek to a place called quarter circle bridge. It is short and of course you would need to check out the river level and talk to someone at the visitor center. I have never done it at that time of year.

It can be cool and rainy at that time of year so be prepared.

Hope you have a great trip!