AboutBruce Gourley Expertise General and specific questions about Yellowstone National Park.
Experience I live near Yellowstone, have spent untold thousands of hours in the Park over the years, and am owner of Yellowstone Net (www.yellowstone.net) which features extensive information and reservation services for the Yellowstone region via the Internet.
Publications Yellowstone Net Newspaper, among others
Expert: Bruce Gourley Date: 5/25/2008 Subject: Day Trip Through Yellowstone
Question QUESTION: Hi -- My husband and I will be driving through Yellowstone in early June and, unfortunately, only have a day to drive through from North to South. We will be coming in from Billings and staying in Jackson. Do you have recommendations for "must see's" as well as best routes?
thanks in advance for your expertise!
mlf
ANSWER: Hello Mary,
Driving from Billings to Jackson in one day will make for a very long day. My suggestion is to go West on I-90 to Laurel, then South to Red Lodge, and over the Beartooth Highway to the NE entrance to Yellowstone.
Upon entering the Park, follow the road through Lamar Valley (look for wildlife) to the Tower / Roosevelt junction, turn south and drive to Canyon. Visit the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone at Canyon.
Then you have a choice. The shorter route is to head due South down to Yellowstone Lake. This segment goes through the Hayden Valley, and is an excellent place to see wildlife. Stop at the Lake area for a short visit, then continue South to West Thumb Geyser Basin (take a 20-30 minute stroll through the basin). Afterwards, continue South to Jackson.
Or ... from Canyon head west to Norris Junction. If you have time, visit the Norris Geyser Basin. If not, turn South at Norris Junction and continue on to Old Faithful, which you will certainly want to see. Between Norris and Old Faithful, there are plenty of other thermal features you can choose from, if you wish ... plus you will see some wildlife. After Old Faithful, continue South to Jackson.
Regardless, I recommend you leave Billings no later than 6 AM, earlier if possible.
Have a good visit to the Grand Old Park!
Bruce Gourley
Yellowstone Net
www.yellowstone.net
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: After just a bit of re-organization we were able to get ourselves into Grant Cabins -- so we will be extending our stay into an overnight stay -- I assume this opens things up -- do you have any suggestions? We need to go to Twin Falls on our 2nd day. This will take some of the "rush" out of the stay.
Thanks again for your sharing!
mlf
Answer Mary,
Here are some suggestions based on what type of things you prefer to see / do in Yellowstone.
If you would like to see geysers and other thermal activity, on day one go across the Beartooth Pass (as we discussed earlier) into Yellowstone, drive through Lamar Valley (see wildlife) to Tower / Roosevelt, take a right and go to Mammoth (stop at the Visitor Center / Museum and walk around the Terraces). From Mammoth travel south to Norris (walk around Norris Geyser Basin), then east to Canyon (see Lower Falls), then proceed onward to Grant via Lake Village.
On day two, visit more geyser basins, all just to the north: West Thumb (two miles from Grant) and Old Faithful (about 30 minutes from Grant; the Old Faithful Dining Room has a wonderful breakfast buffet and lunch buffet, reasonably priced, no reservations required). I also suggest Biscuit, MidWay, and Lower Geyser Basins (all just minutes north of Old Faithful). Then turn around and head south to Grand Tetons and Jackson.
Or, if you prefer to wildlife watch, follow the same route on day one to Norris, but head south from there toward Grant, taking in the Geyser basins. Then get up early on day two and drive north on the east side of the Park, past lake and to the Hayden Valley (about 45 minutes drive), and look for bison, elk and bears (no guarantee on the latter).
Or, if you prefer hiking, do Norris to Canyon to Lake to Grant on day one, then drive up north on the west side of the Park and consider one or more of the following trails: Mystic Falls, Fairy Falls, Fountain Flats area, Lonestar Geyser, and Old Faithful trails (Morning Glory, Daisy Geyser, etc.). They're all shorter hikes, from easy to moderate difficulty.
