Yellowstone Made Us Work For It, But It Was Worth It

For the most part, Sam and I are winging it. It’s mostly worked out for us, but visiting Yellowstone made us rethink this strategy. Our plan was to enter the park through the East Entrance, but we learned that although it was technically open, there was a bit of construction happening at the Fishing Bridge and we’d only be able to drive in 19 miles without connecting to the rest of the park – we’d have to turnaround and come back out.   Wait a sec, 19 miles and not even connecting with the rest of the park?  Just how big is this place?

“Yep, you’re in Wyoming!”

We decided the Northeast Entrance was our best bet, but Google Maps was trying to route us through Montana to the North Entrance.  I phoned the Parks Service and they confirmed we could come through the Northeast Entrance, but that there was probably a road closure in Wyoming preventing us from connecting to the Beartooth Highway.  So they suggested I call the Wyoming DOT to figure out what was going on.  My repeated calls kept dropping just as I was getting information.  When I finally was able to speak to someone, I apologized for the issue on my end and she replied, “Yep, you’re in Wyoming!”

She was able to confirm a route we could use to get through – a pretty rural and less traveled series of roads and highways that is normally closed this time of year, but fortunately for us it wasn’t… yet.  Thank goodness we brought our road atlas.  We would have been so lost and confused!  The journey alone to Yellowstone through the mountains was stunning, I could hardly wait to see what the park had in store for us.

It was like seeing an oasis in the middle of the desert – we were jumping up and down in our seats with excitement.

We were thrilled to learn our dear friend Jeff happened to be in the Bozeman, MT area for work and had a few days to kill before heading back home.  We made a plan to meet in the Lamar Valley area of Yellowstone, and I let him know that I would text him when we got to the entrance so we could coordinate.  Except, I had no reception when we got there.  We drove through the park hoping we’d cross paths somehow, but considering how big the park is, I was worried we wouldn’t find each other.  But just as we drove past a herd of bison, we looked to the other side of the street and saw Jeff snapping away with his camera.  It was like seeing an oasis in the middle of the desert – we were jumping up and down in our seats with excitement.

As a New Yorker, it almost seems impossible to me that this could be part of the same nation.

Jeff has visited Yellowstone a handful of times already and was an excellent tour guide!  We had no idea what we wanted to see and felt a little overwhelmed by it all.  Jeff led us to Tower Fall and the Mammoth Hot Springs where we saw some wildly beautiful stuff.  (See photos – but really, they just don’t do it justice!) I caught myself spinning in circles in awe of the landscape around me.  It is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.  As a New Yorker, it almost seems impossible to me that this could be part of the same nation.

On the way to Yellowstone!

Lamar Valley

Jeff and Kiwi in Lamar Valley

Tower Fall

Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs

Kiwi traveled mostly by backpack

Just as the sun started to set, we decided to exit via the main entrance and settle into our adorable little cabin in Emigrant, MT – a lovely detour through Paradise Valley.  From there, we headed to the Chico Hot Springs for a little R&R and some adult beverages.  For a mere $8.50, we had full access to their two hot spring pools with beautiful views of the Absaroka Mountains.  Afterward, we dined on bison burgers and cherry pie at the Old Saloon. You simply could not ask for a better day!

Elk on the side of the road

There were elk were everywhere!

The arch at the main entrance

Our view from the cabin

Inside our cute little cabin!

The next morning, Sam and I were on our own since Jeff had to fly home.  We set back out to Yellowstone, making our way through Norris over to Canyon Village for lunch.  We continued on to see fumaroles, the Sulphur Cauldron, and Yellowstone Lake.  But, it wouldn’t be a trip to Yellowstone without seeing a few geysers.  So of course, we saw the geyser – Old Faithful!  It had just certainly worth the wait!  We then quickly rushed to see the Grand Prismatic Spring before exiting out the South Entrance through Grand Teton.  We certainly didn’t see everything, and we wished we could have spent more time in Yellowstone.  However, the odds were stacked against us.  The weather was turning, camping was pretty much obsolete and many amenities and roads were beginning to close for the season.  Also, I came down with a sore throat and congestion so we felt it was time to keep moving.  We will be back again to visit, for sure!

Sulphur Cauldron

Old Faithful

Grand Prismatic Spring

Turquoise Pool

Exiting Yellowstone

Grand Tetons