Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Landscape Photography Locations => Topic started by: Jason Denning on April 17, 2011, 12:09:15 pm
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Hi Everyone
It will be my first trip to yellowstone in 2 weeks and wondered how long is enough time to explore there? Would 5 days suffice? Or would I get bored and less is better?
I am also going to visit grand Tetons and wondered the same, should I allow an equal amount of time as yellowstone?
Which is more interesting yellowstone or Tetons?
Thanks
Jason
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I would definitely allow more time in Yellowstone...it's large and very varied. Five days (or maybe 4) will give you enough time to explore each area of the park as each has it's own unique qualities. Probably a day in Grand teton, but that 's coming from someone that definitely prefers yellowstone. Eleanor
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I have a niece who worked two summers in Grand Tetons NP and still considered there were places left to explore there. She said she never had time to do much in Yellowstone.... I've been to Yellowstone twice but never for long enough to do a good wilderness hike. You could do the road-stop tour in five days, other than that there are numerous long hikes up mountains. I recommend two books:
"A Ranger's Guide to Yellowstone Day Hikes" by Roger Anderson, Carol Shively Anderson, Roger and Anderson and
"Hiking Yellowstone National Park" by Bill Schneider
Pick the hikes that interest you, that will let you decide the split. Sorry, I'm no help with Grand Tetons, I ask my niece ;^)
-mark
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The answer depends on whether or not you want to do some hiking. If you plan to car tour and take a few short hikes, you won't get bored in Yellowstone in 5 days. If you plan to car tour in Grand Teton National Park with a few short hikes, 2-3 days will work but you'll miss some things. If you're willing to take more or longer hikes, you can spend lots more time than you've got and not be bored.
Hikes in Yellowstone include exploring the various geyser basins (you can spend a hour or more just waiting for water to boil and a geyser to erupt), Uncle Tom's Trail to the foot of Yellowstone Falls, exploring Mammoth Hot Spring, and more. All of these (except for Uncle Tom's Trail) are fairly easy hikes. If you stop and take photos, you'll spend hours on each one.
You're in for a great time no matter how much time you spend in each area.
I've a little information on both on my website http://www.ncsparks.com (http://www.ncsparks.com)
Enjoy your trip.
Les
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Hi Everyone
It will be my first trip to yellowstone in 2 weeks and wondered how long is enough time to explore there? Would 5 days suffice? Or would I get bored and less is better?
I am also going to visit grand Tetons and wondered the same, should I allow an equal amount of time as yellowstone?
Which is more interesting yellowstone or Tetons?
Thanks
Jason
Jason,
Five days is OK but a bit on the short side in my opinion. Driving can take in a long time as the park is quite large. I would spend more time in Yellowstone than in Tetons.
Have you read Miles Hecker's geotagged locations?
Tetons:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/locations/grand_teton_national_park_photomap.shtml
Yellowstone (winter):
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/locations/winter_in_yellowstone.shtml
And finally, Michael wrote an article on both parks:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/locations/yellowstone-fall.shtml
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Yellowstone is very large and you should spend more time there. We have visited Yellowstone and Teton National Park many times in the last 40+ years and generally spend 2+ weeks in the area. We spent 2 weeks there last year and will probably go again this year. You should check to see if roads are open for driving this time of the year - we generally go in late June. Access may be limiten in May.
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Thanks for all the tips, it seems some of the roads in the park may be closed, but I think half will be open, but I'm going to allow up to 5 days, and 2 in teton as with the weather I may be restricted anyway.
Looks like I need to plan a trip in the summer too!
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Jason,
As has been said, GTNP is small compared to YNP. Nevertheless, there is a lot to see and photograph in GTNP. The grand landscape compositions are in your face, easy to understand, most are easy to access and close to your car. At this time of year, hiking will have to be at low altitude. In mid June we have found the GTNP trails, such as the Paintbrush Canyon and Cascade Canyon, blocked by snow, so much so that ordinary hiking boots were inadequate.
Just the same, I suggest you consider starting in GTNP. The weather is often better there than in YNP. You may not need reservations at that time of year; check that out. If so, a plan would be to spend time photographing GTNP for several days and then move on when ready.
You need to carefully consider where to stay to allow for sunrise and sunset shoots. Even in GTNP, the distances are such that if you are in the wrong place, a sunrise may be inconsistent with sleeping. We have found B&B's in Teton Village convenient, with more choice of dining than Jackson Hole or the more distant lodges in the park. We have also found that staying in West Yellowstone can be a convenient for YNP.
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Thank, that's great, you are right I have changed my plan to go to GTNP first, which makes sense as more roads will be open in yellowstone when I was going to be in Teton.
Thanks for the B&B tips.
I only have 7 days for both Teton and yellowstone, but I imagine with the snow being limiting and part of yellowstone closed this should be fine I think.
I may plan to come back again in the summer.