Are you ready to take in all the beauty of big sky Montana and Wyoming? Visiting Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park is a dream vacation for many, but it can seem daunting and difficult to plan. Look no further, your itinerary is here!
String Lake, Grand Teton National Park
Trip Highlights
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Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park Trip Itinerary
Day One: Grand Teton NP: Hike Jenny Lake Trailhead to Inspiration Point, Hidden Falls, & Cascade Canyon.
Day Two: Grand Teton NP: Drive the 42 mile scenic loop and Visit Jackson Hole.
Day Three: Grand Teton NP: Hike Taggart Lake, Swim in String Lake. Yellowstone NP: Upper Geyser Basin boardwalk, Old Faithful, Midway Geyser Basin.
Day Four: Yellowstone NP: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Wildlife Viewing at Hayden Valley, Hike to Grand Prismatic Overlook.
Day Five: Yellowstone NP: Wildlife viewing at Lamar Valley, Scenic Beartooth Highway, Swim in Crazy Creek Falls.
Day Six: Outside the Park Day: Hike Pine Creek Falls, Soak at Yellowstone Hot Springs, Grizzly Bear Watching.
Day Seven: Start the drive home. We stopped at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Devil's Tower National Monument, Deadwood (South Dakota), and Badlands National Park.
Full, Detailed Itinerary
Here's how to plan and spend every day of your week-long road trip to the great outdoors!
Day One in Grand Teton National Park
Hike Jenny Lake Trailhead to Inspiration Point, Hidden Falls, & Cascade Canyon
Cascade Canyon needs to be on your to-do list!
Welcome to Grand Teton National Park! Entering the park is an experience in itself as the beautiful mountains come into view and you roll the windows down to take a deep breath of mountain air.
Start your day with a hike around Jenny Lake. This is one of the most popular spots in the park, so it's best to start in the morning. If there are parking spots available, you can park right at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center. Either begin your hike around Jenny Lake on foot or take the ferry boat across the lake to shave off a few miles. The ferry is about $12 a person one way, or $20 a person roundtrip. It runs about every 15 minutes.
If you are like us and arrive in the afternoon (You might be from the Midwest if you drive 14 hours instead of flying), there's hope for you yet. Parking was full at the Visitor Center, but we found parking just down the road by the Exum Mountain Guides building (from the Visitors Center: turn right onto Teton Park Rd., then take the following right turn onto Lupine Meadows Rd). We ate a quick picnic lunch in the grass lot and then began our hike!
When the parking lot looks like this, you know the hike is going to be good.
We chose to hike in and take the ferry back. The main loop around Jenny Lake was beautiful, but crowded. Just off the main loop lies Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls. If you elect to take the ferry, it will drop you off right at the trail entrance to Hidden Falls. While Jenny Lake, Inspiration Point, and Hidden Falls were undeniably picturesque, it was all about Cascade Canyon for us.
Hidden Falls
I highly recommend hiking Cascade Canyon, even if you only go for a few miles and turn back. This hike is special because you are literally hiking in a canyon valley in the middle of two tall mountain ranges.
Cascade Canyon
There's a stream to dip your toes in, and we even saw some people swimming. We also saw two adult male moose across the stream! If you are doing Jenny Lake, you simply must venture a bit further into the Canyon. We took the ferry back because I simply needed to be ON the water (and also, my parents were done hiking and waiting on us with some new wares from the Jenny Lake gift shop). If you just take the ferry one-way, you will pay when you get off the boat.
Cascade Canyon
I recommend taking the Jenny Lake Scenic Drive while you are in this area of the park. It's a one-way, slow 15 to 30 minute drive full of views. This could be done before your hike (if you aren't in a hurry to find parking), or after.
Following our hike, we checked into our cabin at Signal Mountain Lodge within Grand Teton NP. I highly recommend staying here. It was so nice to stay within the park and not have to deal with enter/exit traffic daily. Our cabin was two bedrooms with a shared bathroom in the middle. There are no main spaces - but that's okay, we found our front porch to be the perfect spot for relaxing and having picnic lunches. It was more than I would typically imagine paying for a rustic cabin, but of course, there are premiums for staying inside the park. I booked our lodging a year in advance.
Signal Mountain Lodge Cabin #110
Signal Mountain Lodge was the perfect place to stay for us because it gave easy access to restaurants, groceries, ice for our coolers, and beautiful views on Jackson Lake. They also have free coffee and hot chocolate in the mornings. We ate dinner at The Trapper Grill inside the Lodge twice during our stay. It's pricy, but the food is good, its inside the park, and its conveniently located just a short walk from the cabins! I recommend eating there.
After dinner, we enjoyed a sunset stroll along Jackson Lake just behind the Lodge. It was so beautiful to watch the sunset, the mountains, and the waves.
Back at our cabin, we utilized the clear evening for star gazing. I think this was my mom's favorite part of the entire trip. We saw two shooting stars right in a row. I'm from the middle of nowhere, and I have never seen a sky full of stars so clear and bright. We named the constellations and stood outside in our pajamas making those feel good memories you can only make on a family vacation in a tiny cabin.
Inside of cabin
Day One Hiking Stats:
We hiked 8.75 miles on Day One. We took Jenny Lake trail to Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point, and into Cascade Canyon (about halfway in - it's an out and back trail), then took the ferry back.
If you hike around Jenny Lake, to Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls, and through Cascade Canyon and back, it is around 14 miles total.
If you hike around Jenny Lake and go to Hidden Falls, it would be around 5 miles total.
If you hike around the entire Jenny Lake Loop (full circle), it would be around 7 miles total.
If you took the ferry boat and hiked from the drop off through Cascade Canyon, it would be around 9 miles total.
If you took the ferry boat and hiked from the drop off to Inspiration Point, it would be around 2 miles total.
If you took the ferry boat and hiked from the drop off to Hidden Falls, it would be around 1 mile total.
You could easily cut down miles and time on any of these hikes by taking the ferry either one-way or roundtrip.
Day Two in Grand Teton National Park
Drive the 42 Mile Scenic Loop and Visit Jackson Hole
Snake River Overlook
Today is all about taking in the sights and driving Grand Teton's scenic loop. Sights are listed in visiting order from Signal Mountain Lodge. If you are staying in Jackson Hole, you would want to reverse the order.
Get an early start and head to Oxbow Bend for sunrise if you can. The Snake River was so still on this morning that it offered a perfect reflection of Mount Moran.
Oxbow Bend is a picture of serenity and stillness.
Hop back in the car for a very short ride to Elk Ranch Flats Turnout. I've heard this is a great spot for wildlife spotting. We only saw two prairie dogs, but they were fun to watch. This pull-off was completely empty. We were the only people there, which is pretty rare in Grand Teton.
Elk Ranch Flats Turnout
Up next, Snake River Overlook! We had so much fun watching a black bear cub in a tree here. He was so sleepy! This was my first "bear in the wild" sighting. We kept our heads on a swivel for mama, just in case.
Hi. You're so cute. Don't tell your mom I saw you.
Next stop, Schwabacher Landing! This is about a 0.5 mile flat walk for a really rewarding view of the Teton Mountains reflected in the Snake River.
Schwabacher Landing
Chances are you have already seen a photo of our next stop. Mormon Row's TA Moulton Barn is a famous photography spot. Drive to the Mormon Row Historic District and turn right at the homestead onto the gravel road. It's a very short walk to the barn. I've heard that this is a perfect (and busy) spot to watch sunrise and sunset.
TA Moulton Barn
You are now at the southern end of the park. If you want to see Jackson Hole, you are at the perfect spot. I wasn't planning on visiting Jackson Hole, but my parents were ready to ride in a horse drawn carriage, so off we went! You could spend an entire day exploring the town if you wanted to. The town square is famous for its antler arches (which are all real, by the way!). There are also several shops on the square. It's a touristy town, if that's your thing!
We headed back to our cabin for a picnic lunch on the porch and to get ready for our family photos. We took photos at Mountain View Turnout during golden hour. This was the perfect spot! It was gorgeous and only one car stopped during the hour we were there. There are plenty of pretty spots in the park, but if you don't want people in the background of your photos, I'm going to recommend this one!
Mountain View Turnout
If you are interested in getting professional photos done in Grand Teton National Park, I highly recommend Lashay and Light Photography. (I do not earn commission for recommending her, I just had an excellent experience). Kaylee is the best photographer I have ever worked with. She was patient, kind, and very direct in posing and giving directions. She is very reasonably priced and so easy to communicate with. We got our photos back very quickly and were in LOVE with them. I'm obsessed!
Photography by Lashay and Light
After a gorgeous sunset at Mountain View Turnout, we headed back to the cabin for some celebratory drinks and dinner at The Trapper Grill. (Yay, we survived family photos!)
Day Two Hiking Stats:
I clocked a little over 3 miles walking around at the viewpoints listed.
Day Three in Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park
Grand Teton NP: Hike Taggart Lake, Swim in String Lake
Yellowstone NP: Upper Geyser Basin, Old Faithful, Midway Geyser Basin
Taggart Lake
Celebrate your last morning in Grand Teton with a beautiful hike at Taggart Lake (3.8 miles roundtrip). The reflection of the mountains on the lake was just insane and the water was so clear that you could see the bottom. I loved this hike!
Breathtaking Taggart Lake
Add a quick stop by the Chapel of Transfiguration to your morning. If you are visiting on a Sunday, please know that they do have services here. This is a very short, picturesque stop for a photo of a cross in the mountains.
Chapel of Transfiguration
Now for my favorite spot in the whole park, String Lake! I can't explain how much I loved it here. It's a gorgeous alpine lake, surrounded by mountains, and it's very easily accessible. There is a trail around the lake, but you don't have to walk very far to find a spot to step in. I wish we would have had time to swim here! The water is cold, but so beautiful! I really recommend visiting String Lake, whether for a hike, to swim, or just to enjoy it for a few minutes like us!
This is how I feel at String Lake
Grab the cooler and head to Colter Bay Picnic Area, it's time for a scenic lunch and your last taste of Grand Teton! This spot has plenty of picnic tables, a great view of Jackson Lake, and restrooms with running water. Can't beat that!
Colter Bay Picnic Area
About an hour in the car later, you have reached Yellowstone National Park! First stop: West Thumb Geyser Basin. This boardwalk trail loop is around one mile long (and sure to be busy with other tourists). It's a great introduction into the park and the geothermal features it is famous for. It's also a great way to see Yellowstone Lake up close.
Abyss Pool at West Thumb Geyser Basin
Up next, take a short drive to the Upper Geyser Basin Boardwalk, home of Old Faithful Geyser, Morning Glory Pool, and many other geothermals. Check the Old Faithful projection times online or posted at the Old Faithful Visitor Center to determine your action plan! When we arrived, it was projected to erupt in the next 30 minutes or so. It erupts several times a day, and they call it Old Faithful because you can faithfully predict when it will blow. We were able to grab seats pretty close to the front on the provided benches and wait. I was surprised by how long the eruption lasted! One of my parents' most anticipated moments was to see the infamous geyser.
Old Faithful Geyser (view from benches)
The walk around the Upper Geyser Basin Boardwalk is about three miles roundtrip from the Old Faithful Visitor Center. If you are up for the journey, there are several geothermal features to look at along this boardwalk. It was a long, hot, August day, and the boardwalk does not have any tree cover. If I could go back, I would have skipped this boardwalk. It was a lot of effort without much return, in my opinion.
Morning Glory Pool in Upper Geyser Basin
We arrived back at the Old Faithful Visitor Center just in time to watch it erupt again before leaving the park.
Completely exhausted from our boardwalk trek, we decided to call it a day and head for our new home base. To get to our cabin, we drove through Gardiner, just outside of the north entrance of the park. Gardiner has plenty of restaurant options or grocery stores for dinner. We had a good experience at Outlaws Pizza and left with an extra pizza to snack on over the next few days at the cabin.
Our cabin outside of Emigrant, Montana
We were completely blown away when we reached our cabin, and we couldn't even see the amazing view yet in the dark! It was so beautifully decorated. This is the nicest Airbnb I have ever stayed in. We had an excellent experience here and highly recommend this cabin for your Yellowstone trip! Although we were a party of four, this cabin can sleep seven.
We stayed at the same lodging for the whole of our Yellowstone trip. Many folks elect to move around: staying a few nights at the west entrance, the south entrance, etc. This is totally doable (and even beneficial to cut down on drive time) if you are fine with staying in hotels or in towns. We were looking for something more rustic and surrounded by natural Montana. We found the perfect cabin outside of Emigrant called Changes in Altitude on Airbnb (https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/53495406?source_impression_id=p3_1704046116_kZhv7YQPuO1jpxxF). This post is not sponsored in any way by Airbnb or the cabin host.
Day Three Hiking Stats:
I clocked 9.20 miles for day three, between hikes and boardwalks.
Day Four in Yellowstone National Park
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Wildlife viewing at Hayden Valley, Hike to Grand Prismatic Overlook
Buffalo in Hayden Valley
We started off our first full day in Montana with a gorgeous sunrise from the cabin. I highly recommend waking up early every day in Yellowstone, because the park is so popular and fills up quickly. To beat the crowds, go early!
First stop, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone! This gorgeous waterfall and canyon are easily accessible from the parking lot. No hiking required! There are several hikes/walks around the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone on the north rim and south rim. As we were trying to fit as much as we could into our day, we chose to skip out on hiking at this spot. I didn't feel that you could beat this view!
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Pack your patience and binoculars for Hayden Valley. This is a prime wildlife viewing spot in Yellowstone. Cars drive slowly as they look out into the valley for animals. We were lucky to see several hundred buffalo across our drive. Some were further away, while some where right next to (or in the middle of) the road. In August, males and females are pairing up for the rut season.
The Mud Volcano in Hayden Valley is a great spot to get out and stretch your legs while viewing a bubbling mud pot geothermal feature.
It's so majestic to see the buffalo, but please remember they are dangerous wild animals. Keep your distance from them and respect the wildlife!
Buffalo in Hayden Valley
Get ready to stretch your legs at Fairy Falls hiking trail. This is backtracking from the previous day, as we were too tired for this hike after the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalk. I would recommend skipping the boardwalk and taking the Fairy Falls trail instead, thus eliminating extra driving time in the park to return back to the southern end.
With a short 1.6 miles roundtrip, you can take Fairy Falls trail to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook for a fantastic birds eye view of the geothermal feature. It's best to do this in the afternoon when the mist has burned off and you can see the richness of the colors.
Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook
After your short hike, head north to Firehole Canyon Drive. This was an impromptu stop on our trip. We had originally planned to see more geothermal features, Artist's Paintpots and Norris Geyser Basin, but we decided as a family that we had seen enough of the out-of-this-world phenomena. In my research for this trip, I found that many others became burnt out on the geothermals, but I didn't think that we would. I was wrong! I wish I would have done more research to find the features I really wanted to see the most and visited them, instead of trying to visit them all and then becoming burnt out on them. It gets to the point that you want to see something different.
Firehole Canyon drive is a two mile one-way road that follows the beautiful Firehole River, Firehole Falls, and a natural swimming hole. It's the perfect stop to dip your toes in the icy cold water and connect with nature. Check the National Park Service website to determine if the swimming area will be open during your trip. This is one of the only areas to swim in the park. In 2023, the other swimming area, Boiling River, was closed due to the 2022 flood. Please do your research before attempting to enter water in the park. Water in Yellowstone can be very hot, dangerous, and even deadly.
Firehole River
Headed north to exit the park for the day, we stopped by Roaring Mountain for a quick view of the mountain that appears to be rolling with smoke. Then, we explored the original entrance town of Gardiner. We ate dinner at Wonderland Café. The Montana Burger was a fun, local eat with huckleberry BBQ sauce. Huckleberry is very popular Montana and you have to try it at least once while visiting! We found the Gardiner Gifts shop to be a good place for souvenirs and hand-dipped huckleberry ice cream. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from.
Wild Montana at our Airbnb
We arrived back at the cabin before dark to really enjoy the beautiful scenery. Again, I can't recommend this cabin enough! At the end of a day full of sightseeing, people, and traffic, it's so peaceful and beautiful to return back to still, quiet nature. We utilized the big front porch for relaxing and reading outside. We watched deer and the sunset. Magical!
Day Four Hiking Stats:
I clocked 3.20 miles for day four.
Day Five in Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone NP: Wildlife viewing at Lamar Valley, Scenic Beartooth Highway, Swim in Crazy Creek Falls
Good morning, Montana! Start your day with another beautiful sunrise and get ready for a road trip. Today is Beartooth Highway day! This highway has been called one of the most beautiful drives in America.
Sunrise from the cabin
Beartooth Highway is just outside of the east entrance of the park. To head there, you will pass through Lamar Valley, a famous spot for wildlife viewing. We were graced with the presence of several hundred buffalo for our morning drive!
Buffalo in Lamar Valley
Take your time taking in the sights and stops on Beartooth Highway, which lies within Shoshone National Forest. This is a slow drive on a windy road with many hairpin turns and climbing elevation. At one stop, we saw a marmot. My favorite stop was a pull-off to view Gardner Lake. We just happened to stop here and were greatly rewarded with this alpine lake!
Gardner Lake on Beartooth Highway
If you continue on this road, it will end in Red Lodge, Montana. Many folks choose to start this drive in the morning, eat lunch in Red Lodge, then return to the park. We chose to turn around at Rock Creek Vista and return to the park to shave off some extra miles and time. From Lamar Valley, it was about an hour and a half drive to Rock Creek Vista, and about an hour and a half back.
On the way back, we stopped at Island Lake campground for a short hike around the lake. There was a posted sign that a bear had been spotted on the trail that morning. We had our bear spray, but decided to skip the hike and try a different spot.
Crazy Creek Falls in Shoshone National Forest
I'm so glad that we chose to hike at Crazy Creek Falls on a whim. Not only is this a hike, but it is the perfect swimming hole! This trail about two miles out and back, but we got distracted by the sounds of the creek and stopped there. The water is ice cold, but so natural and beautiful. To leave the trail and find the water, take a left onto the huge, flat boulder field as you hear the water. You will walk across it for a while until you reach the creek. There are plenty of places to get in and spread out, but we were the only people there for about an hour! This was my hidden gem on our Yellowstone trip. I had never heard of this swimming hole before!
We ate lunch at the Beartooth Café in Cooke City on our way back to the park. There was a nice gift shop with some of the most affordable Yellowstone t-shirts we saw next to the café.
Back in the park, we drove through Slough Creek for wildlife viewing. We then continued our wildlife drive through Lamar Valley, where we saw more buffalo. There were several baby calves!
As we continued to the north entrance towards our cabin, we stopped at Mammoth Hot Springs. This was something my husband had remembered from his childhood trip to Yellowstone and was excited to see. I think he was a little disappointed, because the hot springs had changed a lot over time, which is totally natural. They are interesting to see, but not something to dedicate a lot of time to.
Mammoth Hot Springs
In Mammoth town, we saw several elk. We then visited the Roosevelt Arch, just outside the Gardiner entrance to the park. "For the Benefit and the Enjoyment of the People," and it enjoy it, we did! It's so amazing to think about how these lands are preserved and kept natural.
Roosevelt Arch
Day Five Hiking Stats:
I clocked about 4.65 miles on day five.
Day Six in Yellowstone National Park
Outside the Park Day: Hike Pine Creek Falls, Yellowstone Hot Springs, Grizzly Bear Watching
I try to always plan a free day on our family vacations so we have wiggle room for anything that comes up along the way. Day six served as our "open day" to spend as we wished. We knew that we wanted to stay outside of the park on this day, because we had seen, done, and drove a lot already. A slow morning at the cabin sounded just right.
Breakfast with a view at the cabin
We decided to explore a nearby national forest, Custer Gallatin, in Livingston. Pine Creek Falls is a two and a half mile out-and-back hike with a waterfall. There was a posting at this trailhead that a bear had been spotted on the trail the day before. With bear spray in hand, we took a short hike, ending with a waterfall view. There was even a spot you could climb around behind the falls and dip your toes in the water.
Custer Gallatin National Forest
This isn't a must-do hike, but it is something to do if you have extra time. What I most enjoyed about it was the drive there, seeing wild Montana outside of the National Park.
Rural Montana
Near this hike is Chico Hot Springs in Pray. There are rave reviews about this hot spring, hotel, and restaurant. If you are staying in the area, this would be a great, nearby activity.
We chose to drive to Yellowstone Hot Springs in Gardiner (outside of the park) because we had an activity planned near Gardiner that evening. There was a very short thunderstorm with rain and lightning, so we had to wait in the parking lot for about an hour before the hot springs re-opened. This was actually perfect, because everyone had left and very few people were coming to visit with the weather. We had the hot springs to ourselves for about an hour, but then it became uncomfortably crowded as the weather cleared. When they were empty, this was such a lovely spot, soaking in the naturally-fed springs, surrounded by mountains. There was a hot pool, a cold plunge pool, a warm pool, and a Kneipp Walk. This is a walkway with two sides, one filled with hot water and one with cold. The bottom is paved in smooth rocks and pebbles to massage your feet as you walk.
Yellowstone Hot Springs in Gardiner
We had received a very special tip from a local regarding a well-kept secret spot to view grizzly bears. Bears frequently visit this spot because it has a special kind of berry utilized in preparing for hibernation. This is private land, it is not publicly owned. It is not within Yellowstone National Park. In order to keep this wild land wild, I will not share the name or exact location in this post.
Grizzly bear through a spotting scope
We watched ten grizzly bears and two cubs, from just before dusk to sunset. I can't explain the beauty of this experience. It was truly once in a lifetime.
Binoculars or scopes are necessary to see the animals from a closer view. Please, do not attempt to approach the wildlife. They are wild, dangerous animals, and they move very quickly. Stay near your vehicle at all times.
Grizzly bears and mountain sunsets make for an out of this world experience
If you are planning on visiting this area, or any natural area, please follow Leave No Trace principles. Do not leave trash, do not vandalize, do not make any changes to this beautiful area. Do not leave behind cigarette butts or light up portable grills while watching the wildlife (yes, it happens). Wild fires are always a possibility and will rob this area of the vegetation that draws the bears.
If humans damage this area, the grizzlies may no longer visit it. Please, do not ruin this magical experience for others. To do my part in protecting it, I will not share the name or location publicly online.
This was a late night due to wildlife watching until dark then driving over an hour to the cabin. We were very thankful for our leftover pizza.
Day Six Hiking Stats:
I clocked about 3.20 miles on day six.
Day Seven: Leaving Yellowstone National Park
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Devil's Tower National Monument, Deadwood (South Dakota)
Wake up early for one last Montana sunrise. We enjoyed taking a morning stroll down the long, gravel lane of our cabin in the early morning light. It was so hard to say goodbye to this beautiful piece of land.
Good morning, mister deer!
After some heartfelt goodbyes to the cabin, to Montana, and to Yellowstone, we began our road trip back to Nebraska. We stopped at the Wild Flour Bakery in Emigrant for the best chocolate croissant I have ever had in my life. My mom and husband got cinnamon rolls which were equally life-changing.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument was on our way home, about three hours outside of Emigrant. It is worth a stop if you are in the area. There is so much powerful history here. After walking through the battlefield and cemetery, we visited the Custer Battlefield Trading Post Café and had traditional Indian frybread tacos.
Little Bighorn National Monument
About three and a half hours from Little Bighorn is Devil's Tower National Monument. Tower Loop Trail is about 1.3 miles and takes you around the mysterious natural tower. Bouldering on the large rocks surrounding the tower is allowed. Permits are required to climb Devil's Tower. This was an interesting stop to get out and stretch our legs on our road trip.
Devil's Tower
About an hour and a half from Devil's Tower is Deadwood, South Dakota. This is a fun spot if your like history, or a very fun spot if you like gambling. We had a really great dinner in Dale's Restaurant inside the Deadwood Mountain Grand. Then, we hit a few different casinos and walked historic Deadwood downtown. We stayed at the Town Hall Inn in Lead, just a few minutes away from Deadwood. It's a small inn at an old courthouse with a super fun theme. We enjoyed our stay and recommend if you are in the area!
Deadwood, South Dakota
Day Seven Hiking Stats:
I clocked about 6 miles on day seven.
Day Eight: Road Trip from South Dakota to Nebraska
Deadwood and Badlands National Park
Before leaving Deadwood, we visited Mount Moriah cemetery to pay our respects to Calamity Jane and Wild Bill. These two wild west legends are buried next to each other.
On the way home, we visited Badlands National Park. We've been here several times, so we just made a very short stop to stretch our legs. We walked the Door Trail, which is about 0.9 miles long and very accessible. We also drove the scenic loop and took some time for rock climbing.
Badlands National Park
If it's your first time to the Badlands, I highly recommend the Notch Trail. It's about a mile and a half hike with a rope ladder.
After a few more hours in the car, we safely made it home. Thus concluded our family road trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone. It was a magical week! I hope you can use this itinerary for your trip to visit the National Parks.
Day Eight Hiking Stats:
I clocked about 3 miles on our final day.
Tips and Tricks for Visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
Bring binoculars or a spotting scope. You will need these for viewing wildlife from safe distances. If you don't bring one, you will kick yourself for it the whole trip!
Pack your bear spray. These National Parks are in bear country and you absolutely need to have bear spray and know how to use it. It's better to be safe than sorry! You can't fly with this on a plane, but there are plenty of places to buy or rent bear spray near the parks.
Don't surprise a bear. While hiking, hum, talk, or sing. Make noise. Do not surprise a bear, and you shouldn't need to use your bear spray.
Watch for wildlife warnings and sightings at trailheads. If a bear has been spotted on the trail, it is very likely that there will be a warning posted at the trailhead. Read the post at the trailhead before your hike. Even if there has not been a recent sighting, always stay bear aware. It could happen to you!
Get gas when you can. Gas stations can be few and far between outside of the parks. Although there are gas stations inside of Yellowstone and Grand Teton, they are not as common as you pass the entrance towns. Keep an eye on your gas gage and don't let it get too low.
Watch for wildlife at dark. While driving at night, keep an eye out for wildlife. Elk, deer, and pronghorn antelope are typically seen on the road.
Pack picnic lunches, snacks, and drinks. While there are restaurants, gas stations, and stores inside of the parks, they may not be conveniently located to you. For example, if you step off the hiking trail and want some lunch, you may need to drive an hour inside the park to get it. Furthermore, the food options are not always the best and they are expensive. It's better to load up on lunch meat and cheese or other picnic materials before entering the park. We had several picnics on our trip and really enjoyed them! There are so many picnic spots to choose from in the parks. Having your own food gives you the freedom to eat when and where you wish! Please research bear-safe practices and utilize bear-safe trashcans.
Check the weather before hiking. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the mountains. Try to hike in the morning or late afternoon. Be sure to check the weather forecast before setting out and always be prepared.
Stay on the boardwalks at Yellowstone. When you are there, you will see how thin the crust is and how easy it would be to fall through. Do not step off the boardwalk.
Respect the wildlife. Do not feed wildlife. Do not touch wildlife. Do not approach wildlife. Keep wildlife wild.
Book your lodging in advance. It's typical for lodging to book up to a year in advance.
Lodging in Grand Teton
I recommend booking your lodging for Grand Teton a year in advance, or as early as possible. Many folks stay in Jackson Hole to visit the park, but keep in mind that this is a very expensive area. There are many restaurants and hotel options there.
I recommend staying inside of the park to cut down on driving time entering and exiting the park. We stayed at Signal Mountain Lodge on the north side of the park. I highly recommend staying in the cabins here! We had an excellent experience. There is a restaurant, a grocery store/gas station, and a lounge with hot chocolate, coffee, and ice within walking distance.
Lodging in Yellowstone
To get the most of Yellowstone, many visitors move around, staying a few nights at the west entrance, the south entrance, etc. This is totally doable (and even beneficial to cut down on drive time) if you are fine with staying in hotels or in towns. We were looking for something more rustic and surrounded by natural Montana, and found the perfect cabin outside of Emigrant called Changes in Altitude on Airbnb (https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/53495406?source_impression_id=p3_1704046116_kZhv7YQPuO1jpxxF). This post is not sponsored in any way by Airbnb or the cabin host. We had an excellent experience here and highly recommend this cabin for your Yellowstone trip!
Emigrant is north of Gardiner, which is the town closest to the north entrance. I loved staying at the north entrance. This entrance is the only entrance in the park that is open year-round. It also isn't very popular for folks to stay at, so it still has the natural charm. The west entrance is the most popular and has the most lodging and restaurants to choose from. No matter where you choose to stay, I recommend booking it a year in advance. Things book up very quickly in Yellowstone.
Now get out there and take a hike! Katie
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