Yellowstone & The Grand Tetons

[Guest LeoWalker]

Just got back a few days ago from a week trip in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons National Parks. Had never been before so I basically ended up driving every stretch of road possible. The park isn't very good about advertising many of the little things you could find, so if anyone is planning on going just wanted to point out:

 

1. You can swim in one of the hot springs -- about 2.5 miles North from Mammoth as you cross over the state line there's two parking lots, the one to the right has a path that leads to an area where the hot springs meets with the river and it's allowed to go swimming there.
   
2. There's another area you can swim at in a different river. Coming back from the West entrance there's a side road river road, follow it and you'll eventually come to the swimming area.
   

 

I didn't realize this until my last day there, but the EXUM mountain climbing school is one of the three best in the nation...so I'll probably be going back in the Spring to take the classes; it's something I've wanted to do for years.

 

Curious if anyone else found areas that aren't generally advertised. Otherwise, I've included a few pics from the trip. =)

 

http://leowalker.com/yellowstone/1.jpg

 

http://leowalker.com/yellowstone/2.jpg

 

http://leowalker.com/yellowstone/3.jpg

 

http://leowalker.com/yellowstone/4.jpg

[Guest LeoWalker]

http://leowalker.com/yellowstone/5.jpg

 

http://leowalker.com/yellowstone/6.jpg

 

http://leowalker.com/yellowstone/7.jpg

 

http://leowalker.com/yellowstone/8.jpg

[Guest LeoWalker]

http://leowalker.com/yellowstone/9.jpg

 

http://leowalker.com/yellowstone/10.jpg

 

http://leowalker.com/yellowstone/11.jpg

 

I didn't realize there wasn't a pic / post ratio limitation...so hope I didn't violate anything by posting the pics.

[kevininsa]

Breathtaking

 

OMG Leo... the photos are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

 

KevinInSA

[+ Charlie]

The pictures are gorgeous--oh, and the background landscapes are nice, too.

[jackcali]

Nice Landscapes

 

I was going to say that this is some of the most beautiful country that I've ever seen. The only problem is that a few of the pictures have this hot guy in them who keeps distracting me from the scenery.

[Guest greatness]

I agree

 

He is dreamy....

 

I was going to say that this is some of the most beautiful country that I've ever seen. The only problem is that a few of the pictures have this hot guy in them who keeps distracting me from the scenery.

[Txpaytoplay]

Great Pictures

 

Nice pictures.

[Guest LeoWalker]

A little funny irony: the friend I went with was manning the video camera and panning across the landscape towards my direction so I'd come into view, his narrative: "Oh...what beautiful landscape...until this guy came along." lol, so nice to hear the opposite.

 

Thanks guys for all the compliments. =)

[Doe Be Doe]

I have never been particularly athletic or outdoorsy but I went to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons a few years ago and became the biggest fan I know of our national parks and wonderful western outdoor spaces.

 

Yellowstone has about 5 parks in one all with different landscapes and advantages. The geysers were not as attractive to me as the animals and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The Tetons cannot be surpassed for their beauty and the wonderful (and easy) hiking available there.

 

I just returned from another trip west, this time visiting Glacier National Park. Once again I was awed by the natural beauty and the wonderful hiking. Alas, I did not see as much wildlife as I did in Yellowstone.

 

If I could find a job in Montana I might actually move there. Leo, we might have something in common.

[Edward]

Other Parks

 

Also try the red rock country of Southeastern Utah and Colorado. Take a raft trip on the Colorado River. Arches National Park, Canyonlands NP, Zions NP and Brice Canyon NP. Also, breath taking country.

 

As to the guy in the pictures. He had to many cloths on to really tell much about him. Nice pics though. Love the Yellowstone country.

[Epigonos]

If you find the Southwest United States interesting here are two, little known, parks that are two a my favorite places in the world:

 

1. Canyon de Chelly National Park. It is located on the border of Arizona and New Mexico. In the late 19th century many Navajos tried to escape Kit Carson and the U.S. Military by seeking refuge here. They weren’t successful. Today several Navajo families still farm on the floor of the various canyons. Thunderbird Lodge (http://www.tbirdlodge.com) at the mouth of the canyon is a wonderful place to stay. They have half and full day trips, on half tracks, into the canyon. Also trips by horseback with local Navajo guides can be arranged.

 

2. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. It is located in Utah just across the border from Arizona. Hollywood Director John Ford put Monument Valley on the motion picture map with some of the greatest western films every made (“Stagecoach” 1939, “My Darling Clementine” 1946, and a film that many consider the greatest western ever made “The Searchers” 1956). The place to stay, with a great history of its own, is Goulding’s Lodge. Information on the lodge and park can be found at http://www.nationalparkreservations.com/monument_valley.htm

 

While visiting these two parks it is possible to visit numerous old trading posts on both the Navajo and the Hopi Reservations as well. Old Oraibi on the Hopi Reservation is believed to be one of the oldest continually inhabited sites in the United States.

[+ imagooddog]

Mesa Verde

 

Another overlooked park is Mesa Verde in southwestern Colorado.

Wonderful views and great history of the local Indians who lived in

the cliff dwellings. I had a blast working there one summer while

I was in college.

[+ Charlie]

Zion is my favorite western park, but Crater Lake is the most stunningly beautiful.

[Guest LeoWalker]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions on other parks to see. I'll have to research them and see how I can work them in. =)

 

Zion has been on my list for a long time...the horrible part about it is that I had to drive threw Arches at night and then pass Zion the next morning to make my schedule to Vegas (long story, helped a friend move). I think it was American Way...there was an article in there a month or so ago about canyoneering in Zion.

 

Doe Be Doe, I'm definitely jealous...Glacier has been on my list for a while as well. It just seems so far removed from anywhere I'd probably end up being...but I guess I could just fly into a local airport. Let me know if you want company on your next trip. =)

[+ azdr0710]

some of you know that the latest Ken Burns documentary about the National Parks will start showing on PBS around the last week of September...it will no doubt be incredibly filmed with inspiring music - the whole bit...his shows are always fantastic....

 

Yellowstone was the first National Park formed - in 1872....imagine coming upon that scene as one of the first ever to see it...the scenery and spectacles keep coming at you up there....

[Guest LeoWalker]

...the latest Ken Burns documentary about the National Parks will start showing on PBS around the last week of September...

 

Thanks for mentioning that; I had forgotten.

 

http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/

[Edward]

Your Photos

 

Leo it would have been nice to see you in the hot pools in Yellowstone just in your swim suit or Bday suit

[Guest adnyuki]

Leo it would have been nice to see you in the hot pools in Yellowstone just in your swim suit or Bday suit

 

Leo, terrific photos and they brought back memories to my own visit to the Grand Tetons some years back - breathtakjing vistas and a great place to relax in nature. I share the sentiments that it would be nice to dream of you in one of those hot spings...

[Guest LeoWalker]

Thanks guys, again.