2016 Yellowstone Forum Rally - Trip Planning

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Kim (skyking4ar2) Bertram

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Well, for those who have been hibernating, the YNP Rally is just a little over 90 days away, and we'll use this post to keep folks up with things they need to know, which should be especially helpful for the new folks (and there's a bunch!) who are coming.

If you need a refresher, here's the rally announcement, and here are the expected attendees and some other important info.


Starting down the list of things to be mindful of:


Binoculars, cameras, stuff to see stuff with - the sights are many and often, but at a distance - the longest lenses, biggest binoc's, etc. will help you cover the vastness and the animals in their natural cover


Layered clothing and good footgear - weather in May is very changeable, and you need to prepare for temps in the 30's to 60's. If you plan to hike some, and there are many opportunities, think some boots, not tennies....


Stocked pantry - West Yellowstone, while it has several grocery stores, may not have the selection of things you are used to, so hit the Walmart or whatever on the way in for most of your goodies and fill in. You may not enjoy premium prices in the area and going elsewhere may cost you a half a day.


Bottle water and things to eat in the park - while several of the venues will be open in the park, we have found it important to carry drinks and sammies or whatever, because those stops are a LONG way between each other. If you are sugar sensitive, as I am, you'll learn the trick about carrying something interesting to eat as a backup.


Fuel - while there is fuel in the park, it is expensive, and again, far apart. Think keeping your tank full on the way into the park and you won't be disappointed. It's only 2.9 million acres...


A GPS mapping program on your personal device - cell signals are almost non-existent except at Old Faithful and it wasn't great. I have had good luck with CoPilot which is based off the GPS on your phone, not your cell signal. There are others.


Others who have been in the park will be sharing their info here as well, and I encourage that.


It's going to be a great time with plenty of diversity for all! Get crackin' and start packin' !!


See ya soon!

 
We are already getting questions from folks about routing into West Yellowstone and it is an important topic because of the time of the year and how late winter was and the variety of ways you can come in. Hopefully, those who have gone before will share their routing experience and take a little of the edge of.

Personally, we typically come up from the south via Salt Lake City and I-15, and then US 20 out of Idaho Falls. That route could be picked up by folks coming from the east, and folks coming from the west at some point. Targhee Pass north of Ashton, ID is a bit of a pull but nothing extraordinary. The Idaho Potato Museum, though not large, in Blackfoot, was an interesting stop with RV parking for those who need to slow down and get a sandwich. Rupe's Burgers about a block from the museum is somewhat of a local legend and food was good!

The Shoshone Reservation Casino in Fort Hall on I-15 is also a great fuel stop for larger rigs, we had good food there, and it's an overnight stop with its own RV park if you are running out of daylight.

As usual, your choice of routing at that time of the year is still about weather as you traverse elevations.
 
Subscribed to this one as well Kim.

I think you are correct, though, this time of year the West approach will be the easiest.  They also generally have the East entrance open but Dunraven Pass will be a crap shoot for that time of year so you will want to make certain to go South towards West Thumb and Old Faithful then around to Madison Junction if coming in from the East from Cody, WY.

Mike.
 
Mike, we should make a point to all who look at a map and are considering coming through the park to West Yellowstone.

If this is your first time, that route may look simplest, but there will probably still be roads closed at that point. There are some links we'll post so you can see real time and expected openings of different parts of the park.

If that's your plan, please communicate your routes and get comments from those who have done it and additional information from the Czars of all things Yellowstone, Pancake Bill and Jim Dick, who while working in the park for many years, have their fingers on the pulse of what's happening better than any of us.

The vastness of Yellowstone and the limited access points make your planning, especially with a Plan B, especially important. We want everyone to get there safe and sound!

Kim
 
I agree Kim, even with as much as Chrystal and I are there (2-3 times a year) there are too many road closures and detours to keep track of them.  Each time it seems like we are getting detoured somewhere differently for one reason or another, not always road construction related.  It will be even more important for those unfamiliar with the park to keep close tabs on the thread as well as the parks website/updates.

Mike.
 
Coming to Yellowstone from Salt Lake City the Hell's Half Acre rest area on I-15 in Idaho has some great boardwalk trails that are signed so you know what type of lava bed formations you're walking over.  Very interesting stop and a great place to walk out the kinks from driving.

ArdraF
 
hi kim. took your advice and made reservation at grizzly for 5/26 to5/31 hope there will still be people left there from the rally looking forward to it,paul&retta
 
paul&retta again we will be coming from the east on 90 to the Yellowstone rally should we come through the park or would there be a better way his time of year ,
 
demag88 said:
paul&retta again we will be coming from the east on 90 to the Yellowstone rally should we come through the park or would there be a better way his time of year ,

If you are on I-90 I would drop down and come through Gardner which is the "original" entrance.  Then drop to Mammoth and on down to Norris and West @ Madison Junction and you will come out only a couple of blocks from Grizzly RV park when you enter West Yellowstone, MT.

Mike.
 
Hi Kim,

Laurie & I are looking forward to the Yellowstone rally. We're leaving Benson around the 15th of April and have stops planned at Flagstaff, Page, Bryce, and SLC while heading north. From the Yellowstone rally, we're heading north to Alaska for the summer via the Marine Highway.

When do we need to confirm our reservations at Grizzly and how will they be handled? With the cheap fuel prices, the SKP park here in Benson is at 100% capacity almost all the time this winter and I would expect similar at Grizzly.

 
Kim,

DW and i are getting more excited about this trip. I hope I haven't missed an email or message as it is passed March 1st.

Thanks
Steven Thum
 
We'll be coming from the west along I-90. I haven't been that way in several decades, and don't remember which way into West Yellowstone is the better route with a motorhome..(287 or 191) but we're planning on gassing up at Costco in Bozeman... so 191 makes the most sense...IF the road is decent.
 
Boomer,

I have had the motorhome on the US 287 route which I found a bit less twisty than US 191, but my rule of thumb is US highways are motorhome roads. There are exceptions, no doubt, but everyone has their preference. I think the US 191 is a beautiful drive down the river, the other not quite as scenic, but ....

There are a couple of shorter passes on both, but nothing to walk away from - you are in the mountains!

Best advice is carefully watch the weather, just in case, but I think you'll be fine either way!

We will be in the park a week early getting organized and will be able to get folks some real time, boots on the ground road conditions, and will keep folks informed.

Kim
 
BoomerD said:
We'll be coming from the west along I-90. I haven't been that way in several decades, and don't remember which way into West Yellowstone is the better route with a motorhome..(287 or 191) but we're planning on gassing up at Costco in Bozeman... so 191 makes the most sense...IF the road is decent.

Either hwy 287 or hwy191 are fine for large RV's.  Hwy 287 is less twisty as Kim puts it but not by much.  I prefer Hwy 191 mainly due to scenery, I love driving alongside the Gallatin River alongside hwy191.  Although driving around Quack Lake and Hebgen Lake are quite scenic as well.

Mike.
 
191 is my preference. I WANT to stop and have breakfast here:
http://innonthegallatin.com/the-cafe-at-the-inn/

Their pancakes (and breakfasts in general) have been rated as some of the best in the country...how can I resist?  :p

I suspect we'll stay at least one night there on the way to the rally...IF I make it that far on the 2nd day.
 
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