Yellowstone Vacations

Yellowstone National Park: A Brief Overview

2009-06-13T15:07:00.000-07:00

Yellowstone was the first national park, established in 1872 when President Ulysses S. Grant signed into law the bill to create a truly wondrous symbol of natural preservation. Located mainly in the northwest corner of Wyoming, Yellowstone is a true American wilderness and is one of the largest remaining intact wild ecosystems on Earth. The park encompasses nearly 3500 square miles of wild mountains, lush meadows, clear lakes, and sparkling springs, abundant with diverse wildlife. About 97per cent of the park remains undeveloped.

The name Yellowstone is instantly recognized worldwide, even if it often confused with other parks and other places. The Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, and other areas surrounding the park are often thought to be part of Yellowstone National Park. Although they are not, they are part of the same ecosystem.
Yellowstone is home to the gray wolf, grizzly bear, bald eagle, lynx, and one of the world’s largest concentrations of elk. Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the United States where bison have existed in the wild since prehistoric times.
Geysers and hot springs abound in Yellowstone, a reminder of the park’s volcanic origins. Visits to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Quake Lake, and rushing waterfalls twice the height of Niagara are not to be missed.

There are more than 1100 archeological sites located within Yellowstone National Park. The park also houses a collection of more than 379,000 cultural objects and natural science specimens. Thousands of historic documents and photographs can also be seen at Yellowstone.

In 1986 the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service formed the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee to provide a higher level of public service together than either could offer separately. Yellowstone’s neighbors have become more insistent on having a voice in how the park is managed. The Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee provides a forum for input from interagency groups, park, forest, and state employees, and the park’s surrounding neighbors. Government workers have joined with private landowners to address issues such as weed, garbage, and tourism.

Although much good has come out of the neighbor-to-neighbor efforts, more needs to be done. If Yellowstone is to remain the world’s finest park, even more must be done to strengthen the lines of communication and understanding. Your Yellowstone vacations depend upon it.

Large Mammals of Yellowstone Park

2009-06-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

Yellowstone vacations are a great way to observe wildlife up close. If you choose to drive through the park you might miss some of the smaller animals that call Yellowstone National Park home. But a drive through the park just might be the best way to see some of the larger mammals almost any time of the day or year.

One of the highlights of Yellowstone vacations is seeing the large herds of bison. Bison are often seen grazing in the meadows along the roadway. The bison is the largest land mammal in all of North America. They have occupied Yellowstone National Park continuously since prehistoric times. Males can weigh up to 2000 pounds, while the females range up to 1000 pounds. They are fast creatures for their size and can run as fast as 30 miles an hour. They can also change direction very quickly, so never approach these animals on foot. They are best observed from the safety of your vehicle.

Yellowstone vacations are also great for viewing elk. More than 30,000 elk make up the seven or eight herds that summer in the park. Elk are the second largest of the deer family, and males can weigh up to 700 pounds and females about 500 pounds. Adult males, also called bulls, grow antlers each year, which may have from six to eight points on each side and can weigh more than 30 pounds. Bulls use these antlers during the mating season, called the rut, to fight for the right to mate with the females in the autumn. Bulls can be heard for miles “bugling” to attract females. This love call is more of a high-pitched whistle than a bugle, but the ladies seem to like it.

One of the most popular animals seen on Yellowstone vacations is the moose. Moose are the largest of the deer family. Males, also called bulls, weigh up to 1300 pounds and females, also called cows, may weigh up to 800 pounds. Bulls have impressive palmate antlers which are shed annually. Moose have always been rare in Yellowstone. In the late 1980s only about 1000 moose were estimated to live in the park. Moose feed on willow during spring and summer, and move to mature stands of sub alpine fir and Douglas fir during the winter months. Moose also like to browse in stands of gooseberry and buffalo berry bushes.

Yellowstone vacations can introduce you to one of the most elusive, and perhaps most controversial, of all creatures that live in the park. The wolf is the largest member of the canine family and is the ancestor of the domestic dog. The gray wolf is about the same size as a German shepherd and weighs anywhere from 55 to 130 pounds. The color of a gray wolf can range from gray to all black or all white. Wolves prey on elk, deer, moose, beaver, rabbits, and other small prey. They are also known scavengers and eat other animals that have died from other causes. The gray wolf is known to have occupied Yellowstone National Park nearly 1000 years ago, but was hunted to extinction by 1930. Many were killed by ranchers for attacking livestock. In 1995 the gray wolf was reintroduced into the park. Fourteen wolves were brought from Canada and traced by radio collar. By 2003, their number had increased to nearly 300. The park population count for 2008 showed 124 wolves, although this number may be much higher. Wolves are secretive, so you might not see one, but if you visit the park in the early morning or evening you might hear them howling and yipping.

Many people enjoy Yellowstone vacations because of the opportunities to observe wildlife up close. The park is home to many large North American mammals, such as bison, elk, moose, and gray wolves. These magnificent animals can often be seen from the roadway, making a drive through the park a thrilling experience for the whole family.

Yellowstone Vacations Something for Everyone

2009-06-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

When planning Yellowstone vacations, think about what activities will be available during your stay. There’s plenty to do no matter when you decide to visit.

Getting to your Yellowstone vacation can be fun. There is no train service to Yellowstone, and the only way to easily get around within the park is by car. A popular option is to fly in to Salt Lake City and rent a car. Yellowstone vacations-by either renting or driving your own vehicle to the park is really your only option in order to see all there is to see. Distances might seem small within the park, but traveling on mountain highways takes more time and caution, and there are frequent traffic back-ups on Yellowstone's mostly two-lane roads.
If you are planning Yellowstone vacations, choosing where to stay may be the hardest part. Lodging is available year-round and comes in all types, sizes, and price ranges. There’s a perfect place for you and your family to stay no matter what you have planned for your Yellowstone vacation.

If you are on a limited budget, try one of the many hotels within a few miles of one of the Park’s entrances. Rooms with one queen bed start for as little as $59 a day in the low season. Many hotels also have honeymoon suites and family suites. Restaurants are within a short walking distance from most hotels.
No Yellowstone vacation is complete without a guided tour of the park. Ride in air-conditioned comfort during summer or enjoy the majesty of winter in Yellowstone from motor coaches specially adapted for travel over snowy terrain. Learn about the park’s history, wildlife, geology, and current issues that affect the park. If you would rather go it alone, rental cars are available nearby.

Yellowstone vacations in winter can include cross country skiing and snowshoeing, as well as guided snowmobile trips. Summer time Yellowstone vacations can include hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, camping, and horseback riding. What are you going to try first?

Camping or overnight vehicle parking in pullouts, picnic areas, picnic grounds, or any place other than a designated campground are not permitted and there are no overflow camping facilities. However, camping is often available in neighboring communities and forests outside the park.

Camping in Yellowstone Park is limited to 14 days between July 1 and Labor Day to 30 days the rest of the year. There is no limit at Fishing Bridge RV Park. Check-out time for all campgrounds is 10:00 AM.
In addition to outdoor activities, you can visit the Yellowstone Historic Center, enjoy a play at the Playmill Theatre, observe grizzly bears and wolves at the Grizzly Discovery Center, see the effects of the 1959 earthquake at Quake Lake, or enjoy a tour of a real Old West town like Virginia City or Nevada City, both in Montana.

With a Yellowstone vacation one can see Cultural and historic resources that abound with more than 1,100 archeological sites. A museum collection of more than 379,000 cultural objects and natural science specimens and thousands of irreplaceable photographs and historic documents can be found at Yellowstone.

No matter when you visit or what you like to do, there’s something to make everybody happy on a Yellowstone vacation. Plan yours today!

Opportunities for Fun on Yellowstone Vacations

2009-06-07T15:22:00.000-07:00

When planning Yellowstone vacations, think about what activities will be available during your stay. There’s plenty to do no matter when you decide to visit.

No Yellowstone vacation is complete without a guided tour of the park. Ride in air-conditioned comfort during summer or enjoy the majesty of winter in Yellowstone from motor coaches specially adapted for travel over snowy terrain. Learn about the park’s history, wildlife, geology, and current issues that affect the park. If you would rather go it alone, rental cars are available nearby.

Yellowstone vacations in winter can include cross country skiing and snowshoeing, as well as guided snowmobile trips. Summer time Yellowstone vacations can include hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, camping, and horseback riding. What are you going to try first?

In addition to outdoor activities, you can visit the Yellowstone Historic Center, enjoy a play at the Playmill Theatre, observe grizzly bears and wolves at the Grizzly Discovery Center, see the effects of the 1959 earthquake at Quake Lake, or enjoy a tour of a real Old West town like Virginia City or Nevada City, both in Montana.

No matter when you visit or what you like to do, there’s something to make everybody happy on a Yellowstone vacation. Plan yours today!

Where to Stay on Your Yellowstone Vacations

2009-06-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

If you are planning Yellowstone vacations, choosing where to stay may be the hardest part. Lodging is available year-round and comes in all types, sizes, and price ranges. There’s a perfect place for you and your family to stay no matter what you have planned for your Yellowstone vacation.

If you are on a limited budget, try one of the many hotels within a few miles of one of the Park’s entrances. Rooms with one queen bed start for as little as $59 a day in the low season. Many hotels also have honeymoon suites and family suites. Restaurants are within a short walking distance from most hotels.

If your idea of the perfect place to stay on your Yellowstone vacation includes something a bit more romantic, try one of the log cabins. Most have fireplaces and jetted tubs, and many also offer complete kitchens. Daily rates start at $89 in the low season.

There are many choices for families who want to combine a reunion with a Yellowstone vacation. In addition to family suites at local hotels and larger cabins, there are many condos, town homes, and private residences for rent in the area.

Most lodgings are able to assist you with tours and recreational activities on your Yellowstone vacation. Be sure to set aside time for bus tours, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, bird watching, and trout fishing! They are all just steps away from your door.

Yellowstone Vacations Something for Everyone

2009-06-07T06:43:00.000-07:00

There's something for everyone on a Yellowstone vacations-- history, culture, rare geologic formations and phenomena, stunning scenery, ample wildlife, and outdoor activities too numerous to list (fly fishing, backpacking, and river rafting are just a start). Friendly park staff members are at the ready to answer your questions. Yellowstone vacations include this and so much more beautiful lakes are accessible via a short, hike through the forest. Throw out a line and you're bound to catch one of the abundant rainbow trout, or, catch a drift on a float tube.

Be prepared for extreme climate changes on your Yellowstone vacations. Yellowstone is a place of extremes in geology, topography, and climate. With 80-degree dry summers and frosty winters that make many roads impassable, the time to visit really depends upon whether you like your vacations hot or cold. July and August are the prime tourist months, so be sure to book your accommodations months in advance (many guides recommend a year ahead).

Getting to your Yellowstone vacation can be fun. There is no train service to Yellowstone, and the only way to easily get around within the park is by car. A popular option is to fly in to Salt Lake City and rent a car. Yellowstone vacations-by either renting or driving your own vehicle to the park is really your only option in order to see all there is to see. Distances might seem small within the park, but traveling on mountain highways takes more time and caution, and there are frequent traffic back-ups on Yellowstone's mostly two-lane roads.

Yellowstone vacations fun facts:

•Yellowstone is the world's first national park, established in 1872. It is bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

•Yellowstone falls within three states: 96 percent in Wyoming, three percent in Montana, and one percent in Idaho.

•Yellowstone is home to seven species of native deer, two species of bears, 311 recorded species of birds and 18 species of fish.

•Old Faithful geyser, perhaps the most famous geyser in the world, is located in Yellowstone's Upper Geyser Basin and erupts roughly every 90 minutes.

•There are 950 miles of back country trails and 287 back country campsites in Yellowstone, most of which are never visited by the majority of the park's tourists.

•Yellowstone is an active volcano and experiences about 2,000 earthquakes each year. Much of the park sits within one of the world's largest calderas.

Yellowstone Vacations Camping Rules

2009-06-06T06:41:00.000-07:00

Yellowstone vacations are fun and camping can be a way to experience the park up close.

Camping or overnight vehicle parking in pullouts, picnic areas, picnic grounds, or any place other than a designated campground are not permitted and there are no overflow camping facilities. However, camping is often available in neighboring communities and forests outside the park.

Camping in Yellowstone Park is limited to 14 days between July 1 and Labor Day to 30 days the rest of the year. There is no limit at Fishing Bridge RV Park. Check-out time for all campgrounds is 10:00 AM.

Campfires and Yellowstone vacations - Wood and charcoal fires are permitted only in locations with fire grates. Special fire restrictions are occasionally put in place when the danger of wild land fires is great. If you plan to light a fire in the park, please ask about current fire restrictions at the entrance station when you arrive or email our Visitor Services Office immediately prior to your visit.

Yellowstone Vacations Quiet Hours - Camping in Yellowstone Park is a special experience. Each visitor deserves the opportunity to hear the birds, wildlife, and streams in this beautiful environment. Respect this by complying with the law: generators prohibited 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM; quiet hours 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. No loud audio devices or other noise disturbances will be allowed in the Park during this time. Generators are only permitted in six Yellowstone campgrounds and the Fishing Bridge RV Park.

Something interesting about bison

2009-06-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

Most animals in Yellowstone are subject to different rules when they leave the park, but bison require special attention because many have been exposed to the bacteria that causes brucellosis, a disease that also infects domestic cattle. Yellowstone has worked with the state of Montana and other federal agencies to develop a plan for managing this bison population in a way that protects both its wild and free-roaming characteristics and the health of Montana cattle.

The current interagency bison management plan is another step in a long history of changing ideas about bison conservation. Although regarded as an icon of American wildlife, for most of the last 150 years the bison has been subjected to efforts to remove it from Western ranges or manage it as domestic livestock. Congressional efforts to halt the slaughter taking place across the West in the 19th century were opposed by those who hoped that elimination of both bison and nomadic Native Americans would hasten settlement by homesteaders with livestock. By the 1890s, most Native Americans were on reservations and Yellowstone was the last refuge for wild bison, but it lacked the means to protect bison from poachers.

In 1902, with the herd down to 23 bison, the park purchased 21 bison from privately owned herds. To help ensure population growth, these animals were fed and bred in Lamar Valley at what became known as the Buffalo Ranch. As the herd increased, the captive bison were released to join the park’s increasing herd of free roaming bison. But starting in 1925, concerns about brucellosis and how many bison Yellowstone could support led to periodic culling. During the next 40 years, park staff also reduced the elk herds in order to limit winter mortality and maintain a presumed “balance” between bison, elk, and their forage. However, by the 1960s, public opposition and evolving views of wildlife management brought herd reductions to an end. Instead of focusing on individual plants and animals, park managers now try to preserve the environmental processes that shape an ecosystem over time.

Yellowstone Vacations Cuisine

2009-06-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

It wasn't too awfully long ago that dining in national parks left much to be desired. Entrees were built primarily, and unceremoniously, around chicken, beef and trout. That's not to say a good meal can't be built around these base ingredients. After a long, sun-filled day hiking on your Yellowstone vacation whether you’re watching geyser basins or trekking into Garnet Canyon in Grand Teton National Park, a meal that's as stunning as the landscape is a great way to end the day.

Fortunately, today's park chefs are culinary maestros. They perform as if they were trying to compete with New York City or downtown San Francisco. They are trying to be environmentally friendly. They consider what the impacts are on the choices of the foods that they put on the menu. For instance several seafood items are not served just because of their status as over-fished, or because the farming practices are destructive to the environment."

On a Yellowstone vacation dinner at the elegant Lake Hotel might mean elk medallions pan-seared in huckleberry butter and accompanied by a broiled lobster tail with roasted red potatoes and seasonal vegetables. However, you may choose grilled Angus beef tenderloin drizzled with rosemary cabernet sauce alongside a mound of buttermilk mashed red potatoes. Vegetarians need not worry about piecing together side dishes of vegetables. The Lake Hotel offers pomegranate-glazed tofu with summer squash hash and Israeli couscous served with a saffron coconut cream at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

You will need a hearty appetite to order the signature dinner at the Old Faithful Inn – its foundation is a roasted "steamship" round of bison surrounded by peel-and-eat shrimp, baked herb chicken, Caesar salad, a bowl of the house soup, roasted red potatoes and seasonal vegetables – followed by bread pudding with vanilla cream sauce.

Yellowstone Vacations-History of Yellowstone

2009-06-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

Established in 1872, Yellowstone is the world's first national park, an international symbol of natural preservation and World Heritage Site. Yellowstone vacations cover land in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone encompasses 3,472 square miles of mountain wild land, and preserves abundant and diverse wildlife.

Yellowstone is one of the largest remaining intact wild ecosystems on Earth.
Protecting the gray wolf, grizzly bear, bald eagle and lynx, home to one of the world’s largest concentrations of elk and the only place in the U.S. where bison have existed in the wild since primitive times. Yellowstone contains the world's most extraordinary collection of geysers and hot springs, the site of the largest volcanic eruptions in the world. The spectacular Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the largest lake above 7,000 feet in North America are sites to be seen.

With a Yellowstone vacation one can see Cultural and historic resources that abound with more than 1,100 archeological sites. A museum collection of more than 379,000 cultural objects and natural science specimens and thousands of irreplaceable photographs and historic documents can be found at Yellowstone.

Great Yellowstone vacations anytime of the year!

2009-06-04T20:03:00.000-07:00

Is a Yellowstone vacation in your future? Enjoy your next vacation in wild, wonderful, Yellowstone National park. You will remember it for a lifetime.

Yellowstone vacations are filled with excitement. Look for moose, elk, bison, and wolves as you tour this 2,291,766 acre national park filled with natural and scientific wonders. See the 300 geysers, including the world-famous Old Faithful, proof of nature’s awesome powers. Spend time at Mammoth Hot Springs, the Fountain Paint Pots, and Yellowstone Lake.

Yellowstone vacations are filled with beauty. See the towering mountains, flower-filled meadows, and rushing waters of mountain streams. Don’t forget to visit Yellowstone Falls, twice the height of Niagara, located in Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon.

Try a Yellowstone vacation any time of year. Spring is perfect for viewing masses of wildflowers and seeing the park come alive. Summer is perfect for camping, hiking, and backpacking. Fall is perfect for viewing the colorful foliage and viewing the elk as they bugle in the meadows. Even winter is a perfect time for a Yellowstone vacation. You can see the bison right along the side of the road!

Lodging for your Yellowstone vacation is plentiful. Hotels and inns are located near both entrances of the park. For a truly memorable Yellowstone vacation, try staying at the Old Faithful Inn or the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Both are located within Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone Vacations

2009-06-04T06:10:00.000-07:00

Yellowstone vacations are perfect for everyone. Enjoy backpacking, camping, RV travel, or guided tours in Yellowstone National Park. View spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife at every turn. Witness natural wonders like Old Faithful and hot sulfur springs while enjoying your Yellowstone vacation.

Don’t like to camp? No problem! A wide variety of hotels and B&Bs are located near the park. For those who want a special memory of their Yellowstone vacations, try one of the lodging alternatives located right in the park.

Yellowstone vacations aren’t just for summer, either. For a truly different experience, forget the crowds and try Yellowstone National Park in the fall when the aspens are glowing and the elk are bugling. Yellowstone vacations in the spring are breathtaking – you can actually see the park come to life!

Yellowstone Vacations

2009-06-04T05:58:00.000-07:00

There is no better way to experience the backcountry than a Yellowstone vacation pack trip. Only this extended adventure affords you enough time to travel into the deepest reaches of Yellowstone's wilderness. On a pack trip, you can cover more ground and see more of Yellowstone's most remote wonders. It is the perfect Yellowstone Vacation.

With more than 3,740 square miles, Yellowstone is so vast that many of its greatest treasures remain unseen by all but a few individuals.
Choose from a custom pack trip that you design or get help from the many guides that are available or join a scheduled group pack trip. Whichever you choose will provide you with a unique experience in Yellowstone. During the day, your guide will take you horseback riding, fly fishing, hiking, or, if you prefer, they will just leave you alone to commune with nature.

Yellowstone vacation pack trips should include pack mules to carry your personal belongings, a good horse, a good saddle, big saddle bags, a three season tent, and three square meals per day--it is Yellowstone camping at its finest. Most of all, Yellowstone vacation pack trips provide you with memories that will last a lifetime. There simply is no better way to see Yellowstone National Park.