Start From Big Sky
Our day starts at the front door of your place of lodging. We will make our way down the Gallatin Canyon enroute to West Yellowstone, a one-hour drive south where the official entrance to the park is located. Introductions will take place and even the possible sightings of bear, moose, elk, and various other wildlife and geographical features.
Start from West Yellowstone
Our day will begin at the front door of your place of lodging. Simple introductions will take place as we make our way to the West Entrance of the park.
The Park Entrance
In West Yellowstone, a bathroom and coffee break is prompted for those that wish. Shortly after we will go through the West Entrance of the park where our entrance fees will be paid and the collection of maps, newspapers, and excitement for our day in the park begins.
Madison Junction
The first 14-mile one way, out and back drive is a scenic entrance to the park where the first sightings of wildlife take place. It is not uncommon to see elk and bison along this section as the Madison River slithers its way adjacent to the road, guiding us to the start of the Northern Loop.
Mammoth Terrace Hot Springs
To start the North Loop, our excursion begins with a thirty-minute drive straight north from the
Madison Junction. On the way, the drive takes us to Swan Lake Flat where views of the Gallatin Range to the west paints the landscape with bison, elk, and potentially a bear sighting in the sage and alpine environment. The binoculars and spotting scopes are the name of the game up north and here is a great start to getting familiar with that equipment.
Shortly after begins our descent down the boardwalk of the only thermal feature of the day, the Travertine Terrace Hot Springs. It is best to do this hot spring in the early hours of the day as the daytime highs in summer months can reach the high 80's and even 90's. But at the bottom, a gift shop, snack stop, and bathroom break ensue before our wildlife tour begins.
Tower-Roosevelt Junction
With the touristed and populated stop of Mammoth in our rearview mirror, our front windshield shines light on the signature of the north, wide open vistas. The trees slowly fade, and huge landscapes host the vast majority of wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Allow us to do the driving while you look out the window and gaze at the natural beauty of the park. The beauty of the northern section of the park cannot be understated.
Lamar Valley
Following the Lamar River into the valley's namesake, the overwhelming sense of bison roaming the landscape engulfs your vision. It isn't far-fetched to dream up dinosaurs roaming the landscape. A stop is a must along the valley as all species of Yellowstone's wildlife call it home. Wolves frequent this area, grizzly bears forage in the upper meadows, and elk bugle in the distance. Without question, the Lamar Valley is the North Loop's crown jewel.
Lunch is set somewhere incredibly beautiful to your liking where bears and mountain goats often halt lunch proceedings. Lunch is served with local deli made sandwiches, freshly baked cookies, and a cold beverage. All with the heightened and incredible scenery of wind blowing through the trees and the snow-capped peaks of the Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Dunraven Pass
In route, we will retrace our steps back through the Lamar Valley, doubling our chances of seeing Yellowstone's precious wildlife. Once back at Tower Roosevelt Junction, we will begin our highaltitude scenic drive-up Dunraven Pass near Mt. Washburn, one of Yellowstone's many 10,000-foot peaks. With sweeping views of where we just came, this is a great place to take a family photo or simply sit in the grass and gaze in wonder.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River
Though it may be a younger and smaller sibling to the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Yellowstone's Lower Falls demand an equal amount of respect. Coming in at 308 feet tall, nearly twice the height of New York's Niagara Falls, the Lower Falls of Yellowstone and its Grand Canyon is a fantastic finale to our day with sweeping views for a family photo. Shortly after is a gift shop and bathroom break to acquire any last-minute snacks and memories to remember your trip by as we slowly drive back to West Yellowstone.
