p.1 #1 · Is Yellowstone too crowded July 4th week?
I was just presented with the chance to be in the Yellowstone greater area next week -July 2- 7th, more or less.
Do any of you with local knowledge have any recommendations about visiting the park during a holiday week? I would never plan a trip there during mid summer, but this is a take it or leave it. I can push it off for a few days if it would be significantly better.
I would be self contained in my van, so accommodations aren't a major concern. I'm mostly interested in wildlife, though I wouldn't pass up any landscape opportunities. Sheep, moose,bears,bison, and certainly wolves are high on my list.
Also, is there a better, less crowded way to enter the park. I would be ideally coming from Idaho Falls or there abouts.
I haven't been to the park in decades, so any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.
Stuart
p.1 #2 · Is Yellowstone too crowded July 4th week?
I was just there in late May-early June, supposedly before the crowds arrive in late June-July-August. It was a zoo of tourists who block traffic and frantic photographers in paparazzi-style desperation for even the most mundane photos. If you do go from the Idaho Falls area, I'd recommend going over the Beartooth Hwy (>10,000 ft elevation) and entering the north east part of the Park through Cooke City. This will take you to the Lamar Valley, which, in my opinion is the most beautiful part of the Park and furthest away from the congested pandemonium of the west Park--West Yellowstone and the geysers. The Lamar Valley is the "Serengeti" of Yellowstone and has plenty of bison, plus pronghorns, wolves, badgers, bears, elk, and sheep. However, only the bison are a high-probability find. Many of the other animals move to higher elevations in the summer. Regarding being self-contained in your van, remember that overnight parking is only allowed in the designated campgrounds. Good luck.
p.1 #3 · Is Yellowstone too crowded July 4th week?
Thanks, jdc562. That's kinda what I was afraid I'd hear about the crowds. Thanks for the suggestion about the Lumar Valley. Any sense of whether one can even get overnight parking at a campground without a reservation?
p.1 #4 · Is Yellowstone too crowded July 4th week?
I have been going to YNP for over 23 years and avoid summer if I can. Moving around the park is difficult at best as any animal near the road will create massive traffic jams. The rangers have their hands full and are only interested in people management and keeping things moving along. They are much nicer at other times of the year. Lamar Valley is probably the least traveled and even that can be difficult to maneuver around in and at this time of year it's probably bison only. Maybe an occasional coyote or fox. The sheep will be higher as will the elk which takes most predators with them. Some friends came back about two weeks ago and did do well with the otters on the Lamar river. They reported an occasional grizzly in the fishing bridge area.
p.1 #5 · Is Yellowstone too crowded July 4th week?
thanks, wildvisions. We'll probably try the northern entrance and head to the Lamar valley, as mentioned. Bison will be appreciated.
Are there significant wildlife opportunities outside of the park, such as on the Beartooth Hwy, or does hunting keep the animals too wary to be seen outside the park? Any other suggestions of where else to visit while traveling to the Bozeman area from Calif is greatly appreciated, also.
Stuart
p.1 #6 · Is Yellowstone too crowded July 4th week?
Yellowstone will always be "crowded" in the summer. The reason is because it is such an amazing place with so many amazing things to see and do. Probably the best way to avoid the crowds is to beat them. Getting up before sunrise to get to Hayden Valley or some other location to view and appreciate the wildlife will get you some elbow room. Most visitors never get more than a few feet from the pavement. So, I would go on a short to medium hike during the middle (and busiest) time of the day. Then be back out at a good spot for the last couple of hours of daylight. The wildlife is most active early and late and going for a hike will give you a perspective the most visitors do not get. Ask a Ranger and you will get good advice on where to hike and what wildlife may be active in that area. My wife and I did saw Osprey, Elk, Bison and a Grizzly crossed the hiking trail 100 feet in front of us a few years ago on a mid-day hike.
