Pop Pop Epistle # 221 – About Yellowstone and Grand Teton

Dear Grandkids,

It’s already been a week since Nona and I (and her sister and brother-in-law) got back from our most recent national park adventure. I wanted to tell you about some of the highlights from each park and show you you a few pictures – hopefully to get you excited about going there one day.

Yellowstone

Day 1: We flew into Billings, Montana on a Thursday,  grabbed a rental car and drove the Beartooth Highway to Cooke City – which is located just outside the Northeast entrance of Yellowstone. It was about a 3 hour drive down what has been called “the most scenic highway in America.”

Day 2: We entered the park around 6:30 am and drove through the beautiful Lamar Valley which is known for all it’s wildlife. We saw bison, wolves, pronghorn, and a coyote. From there we did the top loop of the Yellowstone figure eight hitting Mammoth Hot Springs, the Roosevelt Arch, the Norris Geyser Basin along the way and ending up in Canyon Village where we stayed for the next two nights. We got to Canyon Village mid-afternoon and hiked the North Rim. Then for supper we drove through Hayden Valley down to Yellowstone Lake where we hung out with a herd of elk for supper.

Day 3: In the A.M. we drove back through Hayden Valley and down to Yellowstone Lake again just because it was so spectacular. We saw more bison and elk and a grizzly way off in the distance foraging for food. We were back at the Grand Canyon for lunch and hiked the south rim from the Upper Falls to Artist Point.

Day 4: We started out in Canyon Village and by the end of the day we were at Colter Bay in Grand Teton National Park. Along the way we did the western bottom loop of the Yellowstone figure eight hitting Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful. At Grand Prismatic we hiked the first part of the Fairy Falls Trail to the overlook which was about 1 mile each way (because the primary parking area was so crowded). We later arrived at Old Faithful about 15 minutes before it did it’s thing. I was a bit underwhelmed but would still suggest doing it if you get the chance just because it is an iconic Yellowstone thing to do. But in my humble opinion there are many other things in Yellowstone that are worth seeing.

Grand Teton

Day 5 and 6: Day 5 was our only bad weather day. Not really rainy but overcast all day so we had very little sight of the Tetons. Still, we hit all the places that first timers are supposed to hit via the Teton Park loop…Jackson Lake Lodge, Oxbow Bend, String Lake, Jenny Lake,  Chapel of the Transfiguration, Moose Wilson Road, Schwabacher Landing, Snake River Overlook. On Day 6 we repeated everything from Day 5 because it was a gloriously beautiful day – and added in a hike around Jenny Lake up to Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls as well as visiting T. A. Moulton’s Barn.

Day 7: We went moose hunting in the morning. Came across 2 moosies near the Moulton Barn. Ate breakfast. Checked out of our VRBO and headed to the airport. Got back into RDU a little after midnight.

I hope that one day you will get a chance to visit these parks. God’s creation was gloriously on display. The parks were very different but both were magnificent. Here are a few last bonus pics for your viewing enjoyment…

Never forget that you are very loved!

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