quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
Maybe most important. While you’re in the GYA, make a point of getting outside well after dark one night and look up. God’s gift.

Are the Northern Lights (Aurora) visible from here? Or not sufficiently north enough?

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
Maybe most important. While you’re in the GYA, make a point of getting outside well after dark one night and look up. God’s gift.

Are the Northern Lights (Aurora) visible from here? Or not sufficiently north enough?

Not typically, but the Milky Way is right on top of you.

We've visited twice, in Sept, last time was 11 years ago. We liked lodging outside the park but did stay at the Lake lodge on our first visit. We wanted access to the major wildlife viewing areas, that lodger was close to Hayden Valley. Last time saw quite a few Wolves and plenty of Bison, Elk.

We've stayed twice in West Yellowstone, we were early to the park and didn't deal with much traffic. We always had good wildlife sightings by the Madison River area, Elk and Otters.

The best place we've stayed was in Cooke City, the B&B/Lodge was terrific. We had relatively easy access to Lamar Valley, saw Wolves, Grizzly, Pronghorn, Elk and lots of Bison. Bison are everywhere, interesting to watch.

https://www.skylineguestranch.com/

Yellowstone covers a huge area, lots of driving. You have to be out at dawn or dusk for the best wildlife.

On our first trip we stayed in Jackson a couple of nights. Really enjoyed the Tetons, did a little hiking, drove around a bit.

Keep an eye on the road reports for construction after the flooding. We’re close enough we have never stayed in the park.

If you get a chance, The Gunbarrel Steak House in Jackson Hole is good. Jackson Hole Gun Club also puts on a pretty good USPSA match. The tram at Grand Targee ski area has some good views. Mormon Row, the Elk refuge and such is worth a drive past. On the dirt road into the refuge you get to through town you can often see bighorn and other less common wildlife.

http://cameras.americanalpinec...eras/gtcr/webcam.jpg

Whats the weather like at Yellowstone the last week of October?

Lots of good stuff already mentioned, two things that'll add:

1) Visiting National Park, double check the traffic conditions, road closures and developing situations. Flooding and fires are an issue that can throw a wrench into any plans, just keep an eye on things as they develop.

2) Also when visiting a NP, I always take in one or, two of the free Ranger-led programs; usually they're listed in the paper you get upon entering. Whether it's a basic hike, animal watching, geology talks, etc. Irregardless, you get a richer experience by interacting with somebody who's there and can give some color and perspective to what you're looking at. Yellowstone is an animal watching paradise, get away from the roadside idiots, pack a thermos & binoculars for an early morning animal watching experience. Always fun to watching bald eagles finding breakfast, a grizzly wandering around or, a pack of wolves warming up in the morning, a much more engaging experience than most park visitors get.

3) I wouldn't get too wound-up on location, after all you're there for the natural scenery. All I ask for is clean sheets, some hot water pressure and a good lock.

quote:

Absolutely come into Yellowstone from the northeast and the Beartooth Highway. It's one of the most scenic drives in America and will be a highlight of the trip. Just make sure to fill up the tank in Red Lodge before you get into the mountains. There's gas in Cooke City, but it's expensive.

Check on closures. The North and Northeast Entrances are currently closed from the flooding they had.

https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Old Faithful is fun and historic. Easy walk
to the geyser and buffalo. The trail to the lower geothermic area is right there. I've also stayed in the cabins. And the Lake Yellowstone Hotel. The Hotel is very nice and expensive.

The cabins were no fun here for us.

When we were there, we had the best diner burger and fries at the Fishing Bridge Store.

See the mud pots and Mammoth Falls, too. You'll go through the Roosevelt Arch at Gardiner. Pass the old army base and find Mammoth.

On the way back, head out the east gate and go see the Buffalo Bill Cody Center. It is a world-class museum. Keep on to Sheridan and there's another lodge that Bill helped build. He used to audition Wild West acts from the Porch.

If you head back east on I-80, North Platte has the Scout's Rest. Another ranch of Buffalo Bill. Pretty interesting and cheap when we went.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ChuckWall,

For Jackson area:

Although small and sometimes crowded, the Moose to Wilson road is a good twilight drive. Almost always see moose or elk, occasionally a black bear.

You should get a drink in the Million Dollar Cowboy bar or lunch at the Wort Hotel. Touristy but pretty fun. I’ve not stayed at the Wort but I’ve heard good things.

Jackson is definitely touristy but at least they took the Starbucks off the Square. Restaurants are staffed mostly by summer help so the service is not great usually. The GunBarrel is pretty good still but it’s a nicer place.

Thomas Mangelsen has a photo a gallery there. https://www.mangelsen.com/

The Snake River Brewery has good beer, but it’s super loud and poor service the last couple times. We won’t go back.

LOCAL, a burger place next to the Cowboy Bar is decent.

I’ve been told the Lexington is a good hotel.

Yellowstone:
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is very nice.
Lamar Valley generally has a good amount of wildlife.
Definitely travel early in the morning and have patience. Bring a cooler and stock up outside the park and a get full tank of gas. Bring a jug of water and bug repellent. It can get cool in the evening but probably similar to your area.

If you have time and get that far west, there is the Mesa Falls area toward Island Park, ID and Henry’s Fork of the Snake River with amazing fishing. Virginia City, MT is fun to walk around.

Was just at the Wort Hotel several weeks ago…our pilots overnight there. It’s a nice place, but VERY expensive. My Captain asked the front desk what they charge per night for the crew rate and he told me they said $850. He didn’t ask what the normal rate is. The room isn’t worth $850, as there is nothing special about it. If it included one or two meals per day and some adult beverages, I might pay that. The area scenery IS beautiful, but it’s a tourist trap. Breakfast, while very good, was $35-ish at a place called the Rabbit or Bunny Cafe, or something like that. And that was just for me.

My thinking was that if I wanted to revisit the area, I’d rent an RV from someplace 100 miles or so away and drive into/around the area and rough it away from the hotels. JMHO…

quote:

Originally posted by comet24:

quote:

Absolutely come into Yellowstone from the northeast and the Beartooth Highway. It's one of the most scenic drives in America and will be a highlight of the trip. Just make sure to fill up the tank in Red Lodge before you get into the mountains. There's gas in Cooke City, but it's expensive.

Check on closures. The North and Northeast Entrances are currently closed from the flooding they had.

https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Here's the view from the top of the Beartooth in case the road closures keep you from seeing it in person

Late September one year we stayed at Old Faithful Lodge for a few days and went to Mammoth Hot Springs (NW corner of YNP).

It was at the start of elk rut and the herd took over Mammoth.

We stayed in a cabin in Mammoth and would absolutely do it again.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
Maybe most important. While you’re in the GYA, make a point of getting outside well after dark one night and look up. God’s gift.

Are the Northern Lights (Aurora) visible from here? Or not sufficiently north enough?

Not typically, but the Milky Way is right on top of you.

on the contrary.. I would see them in Missoula all the time

Last month they were visible most nights for almost 2 weeks

quote:

Originally posted by snwghst:

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
Maybe most important. While you’re in the GYA, make a point of getting outside well after dark one night and look up. God’s gift.

Are the Northern Lights (Aurora) visible from here? Or not sufficiently north enough?

Not typically, but the Milky Way is right on top of you.

on the contrary.. I would see them in Missoula all the time

Last month they were visible most nights for almost 2 weeks

Uh-huh

quote:

Originally posted by snwghst:

on the contrary.. I would see them in Missoula all the time

Last month they were visible most nights for almost 2 weeks

That wasn't the northern lights, that was all the pot smoke wafting around.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:

quote:

Originally posted by snwghst:

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
Maybe most important. While you’re in the GYA, make a point of getting outside well after dark one night and look up. God’s gift.

Are the Northern Lights (Aurora) visible from here? Or not sufficiently north enough?

Not typically, but the Milky Way is right on top of you.

on the contrary.. I would see them in Missoula all the time

Last month they were visible most nights for almost 2 weeks

Uh-huh

A few examples on west side of Flathead lake. Friends were seeing them as far south as Hamilton and Stevensville in the Bitteroot Valley.

snwghst, recall the phrase I used, “not typically.” I stand by that. Of course, the A.B. isn’t typically seen anywhere in the world in July. Agreed?

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:
Was just at the Wort Hotel several weeks ago…our pilots overnight there. It’s a nice place, but VERY expensive. My Captain asked the front desk what they charge per night for the crew rate and he told me they said $850. He didn’t ask what the normal rate is. The room isn’t worth $850, as there is nothing special about it. If it included one or two meals per day and some adult beverages, I might pay that. The area scenery IS beautiful, but it’s a tourist trap. Breakfast, while very good, was $35-ish at a place called the Rabbit or Bunny Cafe, or something like that. And that was just for me.

My thinking was that if I wanted to revisit the area, I’d rent an RV from someplace 100 miles or so away and drive into/around the area and rough it away from the hotels. JMHO…

Our crews stay at the Snow King. Regular rates seem to be around $300-$400 per night. Good rooms, lots of western ambiance. There are hiking trails right from the hotel up the mountain, and the ski area is right there. Walking to the main square in town takes about 10 minutes.

About a decade ago I was staying there during the airline ski federation national meet. The party was in full swing when we arrived around 10 pm for our reduced-rest overnight. Two of the drunkest flight attendants started talking to us and followed us into the elevator, asking where we'd been because we were late to the party. When they heard we worked early in the morning they bailed out looking for better prospects.

That hotel always seemed to have a party going on during tourist season.

Years and years ago they put us up at an old motel near the square, then we moved to a nice hotel just off the square, but some fools decided to skinny dip in the outdoor hot tub and the company got booted. The Snow King was a good upgrade other than not being right at the square.

quote:

Originally posted by armored:
Whats the weather like at Yellowstone the last week of October?

Two years ago we got a light dusting of snow the last day I was there. First week in Oct.

Mornings I have pictures staring the day in a fleece with puffy coat. Later in the day just a long sleeve shirt and sometimes a tee. I don’t remember the temps.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
snwghst, recall the phrase I used, “not typically.” I stand by that. Of course, the A.B. isn’t typically seen anywhere in the world in July. Agreed?

I respectfully disagree. I’ve seen them during July in Big Piney, on top of Gannet and Freemont Peaks. I won’t continue the disagreement and take the thread away from its purpose