Displaying items by tag: Yellowstone in spring

Yellowstone's roads are fully open by Memorial Day weekend, presenting an ideal opportunity for visitors who are ready to experience the park before peak summer crowds really start to hit. If you love the thought of playful baby animals or meandering along the shores of high alpine lakes, read on for a three-day Yellowstone itinerary that is best enjoyed in late May through mid June.

Day One: The Grand Loop/Geyser Gazing

Your itinerary begins in Gardiner, Montana at Yellowstone's charismatic and historic North Entrance. Eat a big breakfast and grab a packed lunch in Gardiner before heading out for your first day exploring Yellowstone. As you head south from Mammoth, you’ll cruise down roads lined with geyser basins. Stop and meander the boardwalks at Norris or Midway Geyser Basin. Further south, Old Faithful makes the perfect picnic stop to stretch your legs and learn more about the park’s geology at the Old Faithful Visitor Center. Finish the loop by heading east towards Yellowstone Lake and north through Hayden Valley or backtrack to stop at any geysers you missed on the way down.

Day Two: The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Yellowstone Lake

Rise early and head to the Canyon area by driving east toward Tower Junction and up and over Dunraven Pass. Choose from one of several viewpoints and spend as much time as you like admiring the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone as it plunges more than 300 feet into the colorful canyon below. Continue south through Hayden Valley, leaving time for chance wildlife encounters including bison and grizzly bears. Beyond Hayden Valley you'll find yourself on the shores of spectacular Yellowstone Lake—the largest lake above 7000' in North America. After a picnic lunch on the pleasant beach behind the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center, take an hour or two to hike Storm Point Trail along the shores of the lake. Be sure check in with the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center to ensure the trail is not closed for bear management. As the afternoon winds down, head back to Gardiner the way you came or by taking the cut-across road from Canyon to Norris, then north to Mammoth Hot Springs and on to Gardiner, Montana.

Day Three: Northern Range

Spend your final day in our favorite part of the park, the Yellowstone Northern Range. Heading east from Mammoth Hot Springs, travel along what is known as the"Serengeti of North America" for a chance to spot Yellowstone’s most famous critters. In the springtime, highlights include bison calves (also known affectionately as "red dogs"), elk calves, moose, and clumsy black bear cubs. Break up the day with a short hike to Lost Lake or Trout Lake. For optimal wildlife viewing—and to leave the driving and planning to someone else—book with a local guide. If you prefer to travel solo be sure to get out early or stay out late as Yellowstone's wildlife are most active at dawn and dusk.

Helpful Sources

Where to Stay
Where to Eat
Hire a Guide
Park Road Opening Dates
What to Expect in YNP in March, April, and May

Photos courtesy of Yellowstone National Park Service.

Whenever family or friends ask what time of year they should visit, my answer is always an easy one—spring. Free from the intensity of summer crowds, this charming season provides a more intimate experience with Gardiner, Montana, and the incredible public lands surrounding us on all sides.

To begin with, spring is one of the most photogenic times of the year. We’re fortunate to live amongst an abundance of spectacular wildlife—some of which make their homes right here in town. April and May are wonderful times to watch a small elk calf take her first steps, or witness the rusty red coat of a baby bison against impossibly green hillsides. Top that off with early spring wildflowers and waterfalls flowing at their peak, and you have yourself a nature photographer’s paradise.

Speaking of paradise, I might also suggest taking advantage of lower elevation hiking opportunities. Pine Creek Falls and Passage Creek Falls are mellow, dog-friendly hikes on the Gallatin National Forest in Paradise Valley. Or if you’re craving a shorter hike in Yellowstone National Park, trails suitable for the entire family include Lava Creek, Rescue Creek, and Wraith Falls along the park’s Northern Range.

Spring is also the ideal time of year to take a day trip into Yellowstone National Park. Thermal attractions like the Upper Geyser Basin (home to Old Faithful) or Midway Geyser Basin (hello, Grand Prismatic!) are packed in July and August, but both are accessible and breathtaking before Memorial Day crowds arrive. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and crisp alpine air surrounding a partially frozen Yellowstone Lake are also not to be missed.

Cycling enthusiasts will also love a visit to the Gardiner area this time of year. For a brief window of time, Yellowstone National Park roads that are still closed to automobiles become bike-friendly. Although weather can be fickle, a cycling trip into the park will leave you with an unprecedented memory of Yellowstone solitude – just you, the whir of your tires, and the blur of (hopefully) far-off bison herds rushing past you.

Best of all, our gateway community shakes off its heavy winter coat and springs to life! Local area businesses including comfortable lodging, local eateries, and recreation and guiding companies are ready to help you make the most of your spring visit.

If you find yourself lucky enough to be in the area this spring, be sure stop by the Gardiner Chamber and say hello! Whether it’s a Northern Range wildlife watching excursion or sinking your teeth into one of Montana's best elk burgers we look forward to sharing this unsung season with you.

Happy trails,

Guest Author for Gardiner Chamber of Commerce