Anyone from Wyoming, Montana, Idaho or Utah?

[SolomonKane79]

Hello Folks! 
I am going to visit the Yellowstone Park area this summer, on our honeymoon. Is there anyone from that part of the US who is willing to give some advice for our trip? Thanks in advance!

[ColoSwiss]

I'm from down in Colorado, but was up there a few years back.

The biggest advice I can give is: make hotel reservations. Was up there in September, which I thought was off-season. Instead got the last room in town. The motel manager was nice enough to call around and make reservations for the next several nights, or I'd been sleeping in the car.

My route was:

Cody, Wyoming (including Buffalo Bill Historical Center)

Gardner, Montana

Jackson, Wyoming

with a counter-clockwise swing around Yellowstone and down to Grand Teton.

Lots of other possible ways however.

Have a great trip!

[SolomonKane79]

I'm from down in Colorado, but was up there a few years back.

The biggest advice I can give is: make hotel reservations. Was up there in September, which I thought was off-season. Instead got the last room in town. The motel manager was nice enough to call around and make reservations for the next several nights, or I'd been sleeping in the car.

My route was:

Cody, Wyoming (including Buffalo Bill Historical Center)

Gardner, Montana

Jackson, Wyoming

with a counter-clockwise swing around Yellowstone and down to Grand Teton.

Lots of other possible ways however.

Have a great trip!

Thank you very much for the reply, mate! I will for sure book everything in advance! Did you enjoy your trip? Was it worth? Thanks again!

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[Fortytwo]

I'm told Europeans often underestimate the sheer size of the US national parks and the dangers that comes with the size. European remote locations doesn't really come close to how remote you can get in the US. This should never be a problem for most travellers of course but a multitool and a couple of litres of water extra in the car could come in handy.

Then again I was a bit scared off by this story that took place in one of the most hostile environments on earth, Death Valley (clue's in the name guys!). It's a long read but very fascinating as a European where death by exposure seems much more rare and the environment is usually much more forgiving.

Show content

TL.DR. group of German tourists including 4 y.o. boy underestimate Death Valley in the midst of summer.

[Etherealicer]

I'm told Europeans often underestimate the sheer size of the US national parks and the dangers that comes with the size. European remote locations doesn't really come close to how remote you can get in the US. This should never be a problem for most travellers of course but a multitool and a couple of litres of water extra in the car could come in handy.

Then again I was a bit scared off by this story that took place in one of the most hostile environments on earth, Death Valley (clue's in the name guys!). It's a long read but very fascinating as a European where death by exposure seems much more rare and the environment is usually much more forgiving.

Show content

TL.DR. group of German tourists including 4 y.o. boy underestimate Death Valley in the midst of summer.

+1 on that. Also if you rent a car... rent a bigger car! With a bit of off-road capabilities as not all roads are tarmac (who can blame them with those distances).

[SolomonKane79]

Thank you everyone for your precious advice, please keep it coming!

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[ColoSwiss]

Definitely keep size in mind. Wyoming is 253,000 sq km, larger than the United Kingdom, while its population is less than 600,000. Parts of Wyoming are beautiful, while other parts have an awful lot of nothing.

Lots of things to see in Yellowstone. Old Faithful gets all the press, but there are geysers, boiling mud pots and hot springs all over. When I was there Spasm Geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin was erupting almost continuously for the half-hour I watched. Yellowstone Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (not the Colorado), Mammoth Hot Springs are all great. And the Tetons are spectacular.

Also lots of wild life. Buffalo and elk are pretty certain, while I lucked into a grizzly bear; and river otters and a moose down in Grand Teton NP.

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody is a complex of a half-dozen museums. Very interesting.

[sLaughterMed]

Definitely keep size in mind. Wyoming is 253,000 sq km, larger than the United Kingdom, while its population is less than 600,000. Parts of Wyoming are beautiful, while other parts have an awful lot of nothing.

Lots of things to see in Yellowstone. Old Faithful gets all the press, but there are geysers, boiling mud pots and hot springs all over. When I was there Spasm Geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin was erupting almost continuously for the half-hour I watched. Yellowstone Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (not the Colorado), Mammoth Hot Springs are all great. And the Tetons are spectacular.

Also lots of wild life. Buffalo and elk are pretty certain, while I lucked into a grizzly bear; and river otters and a moose down in Grand Teton NP.

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody is a complex of a half-dozen museums. Very interesting.

Just a note, since we seem to be getting all doom and gloom on this thread...

While the animals are very cool, they are also pretty dangerous, and are not afraid of humans (too many idiot visitors leave food out, or activly feed them! ). Dont get out of the car if there are any in the road. Wait them out. They will  (eventually) move.

Especially moose. Bears get a bad rap, but are gennerally pretty docile (as long as you leave them alone). Moose have been known to attack with little to no reason, and are extremly aggressive.

Now that thats out of the way, I bet you'll have a blast!

And as always, take nothing but pictures, and leave nothing but footprints!

[ColoSwiss]

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Trying to resize photos. seems to be working.

[ColoSwiss]

Some more.

[campussecurity]

Beautiful land out there. I own 100 acres in Shelby, Montana. Plan to build a house and retire out there.

[ColoSwiss]

Beautiful land out there. I own 100 acres in Shelby, Montana. Plan to build a house and retire out there.

Sounds like great plan!   

[SolomonKane79]

Thanks to you all comrades for the great feedback! 

[SolomonKane79]

I'm told Europeans often underestimate the sheer size of the US national parks and the dangers that comes with the size. European remote locations doesn't really come close to how remote you can get in the US. This should never be a problem for most travellers of course but a multitool and a couple of litres of water extra in the car could come in handy.

Then again I was a bit scared off by this story that took place in one of the most hostile environments on earth, Death Valley (clue's in the name guys!). It's a long read but very fascinating as a European where death by exposure seems much more rare and the environment is usually much more forgiving.

Show content

TL.DR. group of German tourists including 4 y.o. boy underestimate Death Valley in the midst of summer.

Than you very much for the advice, no way i am going to understimate the desert's sun!

[SolomonKane79]

I'm told Europeans often underestimate the sheer size of the US national parks and the dangers that comes with the size. European remote locations doesn't really come close to how remote you can get in the US. This should never be a problem for most travellers of course but a multitool and a couple of litres of water extra in the car could come in handy.

Then again I was a bit scared off by this story that took place in one of the most hostile environments on earth, Death Valley (clue's in the name guys!). It's a long read but very fascinating as a European where death by exposure seems much more rare and the environment is usually much more forgiving.

Show content

TL.DR. group of German tourists including 4 y.o. boy underestimate Death Valley in the midst of summer.

+1 on that. Also if you rent a car... rent a bigger car! With a bit of off-road capabilities as not all roads are tarmac (who can blame them with those distances).

I will remember this, thanks! 

[SolomonKane79]

Definitely keep size in mind. Wyoming is 253,000 sq km, larger than the United Kingdom, while its population is less than 600,000. Parts of Wyoming are beautiful, while other parts have an awful lot of nothing.

Lots of things to see in Yellowstone. Old Faithful gets all the press, but there are geysers, boiling mud pots and hot springs all over. When I was there Spasm Geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin was erupting almost continuously for the half-hour I watched. Yellowstone Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (not the Colorado), Mammoth Hot Springs are all great. And the Tetons are spectacular.

Also lots of wild life. Buffalo and elk are pretty certain, while I lucked into a grizzly bear; and river otters and a moose down in Grand Teton NP.

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody is a complex of a half-dozen museums. Very interesting.

Precious info, thanks! 

[SolomonKane79]

Some more.

Beautiful, many thanks for sharing mate! 

[SolomonKane79]

Definitely keep size in mind. Wyoming is 253,000 sq km, larger than the United Kingdom, while its population is less than 600,000. Parts of Wyoming are beautiful, while other parts have an awful lot of nothing.

Lots of things to see in Yellowstone. Old Faithful gets all the press, but there are geysers, boiling mud pots and hot springs all over. When I was there Spasm Geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin was erupting almost continuously for the half-hour I watched. Yellowstone Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (not the Colorado), Mammoth Hot Springs are all great. And the Tetons are spectacular.

Also lots of wild life. Buffalo and elk are pretty certain, while I lucked into a grizzly bear; and river otters and a moose down in Grand Teton NP.

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody is a complex of a half-dozen museums. Very interesting.

Just a note, since we seem to be getting all doom and gloom on this thread...

While the animals are very cool, they are also pretty dangerous, and are not afraid of humans (too many idiot visitors leave food out, or activly feed them! ). Dont get out of the car if there are any in the road. Wait them out. They will  (eventually) move.

Especially moose. Bears get a bad rap, but are gennerally pretty docile (as long as you leave them alone). Moose have been known to attack with little to no reason, and are extremly aggressive.

Now that thats out of the way, I bet you'll have a blast!

And as always, take nothing but pictures, and leave nothing but footprints!

Thanks again, these are precious info. I am not going to play the italian Steve Irwin(RIP) for sure! 

[SolomonKane79]

I am going to bring my LM charge as Fortytwo suggested and all the trinkets i am allowed to bring and carry by the law! Any suggestion about useful items i could bring? Of course i have to consider the limited capacity of luggages... So i'll have to bring only essentials... 

[ToolJoe]

If you are going to bring any mt's, you will have to stash them in your checked in luggage. You can't carry anything in your carry on luggage..

[Fortytwo]

If you are going to bring any mt's, you will have to stash them in your checked in luggage. You can't carry anything in your carry on luggage..

True, I just assumed everyone knew that by now (but then again TSA sales proves not everyone knows). Those rules are just the same here in Europe (most of the world I believe) since 9/11 (before that things were a bit more lax).