My Oh My Wyoming
Wyoming is home to two of our most breathtaking National Parks: Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Grand Teton NP offers stunning views of wildlife, lakes, and mountain peaks. Park goers can enjoy hiking many trails, climbing the peaks, and camping among the alpine forests. Yellowstone was the first named National Park in 1872 by congress. Yellowstone is a massive park, the second largest in the lower 48. With over 2.5 million acres between both parks, there is a lot to see and figuring out the best ‘itinerary’ can be daunting (trust me, I know the feeling). I hope this post helps relieve the stress of planning and allows you to enjoy your travels to Wyoming!
Lander, WY
Before venturing to the national parks, we stayed a couple nights at Sinks Canyon State Park. Clayton attended a geology field camp here during college and has always wanted to come back together. When you stay at the park, you can stay at one of there camp sites or yurts that is alongside the Popo Agie River. We enjoyed dinner (both nights) at Lander Bar & Grill. Clayton had many fond memories here on his days off from mapping the state park, so it was a must do on our list. While there, drive the roads and take in the scenery or enjoy a couple hikes. We hiked along the Johnny Behind the Rocks Trail System, Falls Trail, and Popo Agie Nature Trail. You can also take a hike to see the sinks and rise of the Popo Agie - the river disappears into a cave system called the sinks and reappears at the rise a few hours later. If you have extra days in your trip, you should definitely add this on!
Grand Tetons
The name Teton derived from French-Canadian trappers who came across the towering peaks, calling them “Trios Tetons” or “The Three Beasts”. To the natives, the peaks were referred to as “The Three Brothers”. Beyond the mountain range, Grand Teton has lakes that formed from glaciers, over 200 miles of hiking trails, and expansive landscapes with opportunities to view wildlife from afar and up close. Grand Teton NP is right next door to the town of Jackson Hole. If you do not want to camp or stay in the park, Jackson Hole is a great option.
Travel Tip: Visit some of the parks scenic spots like Jackson Lake Dam Overlook, Oxbow Bend Turnout, Willow Flats Overlook, or Elk Ranch Flats Turnout. Many of these spots will have excellent opportunities for wildlife viewings from bison, moose, elk, beavers, and a variety of birds.
Day One:
Begin your day by visiting Mormon Row and get spectacular views of the peaks behind the preserved homestead and barns. From there, visit the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center to learn more and get your NP passport stamped! Then head to Jenny Lake Visitor Center for some hiking. Parking is a nightmare here and you are likely to not find a spot in the parking lot, unless you arrive early. If you are not able to find a spot, there is parking along the road. You can either take the Jenny Lake Loop to the trailheads or ride the the shuttle for $20 per person. The line does not take as a long as it looks -we had about 100 people in front of us and it was maybe a 30 minute wait. We hiked the Hidden Falls trail which brought us to a view of a 200 foot cascading waterfall. You can hike further up to inspiration point or alongside the shoreline to String and Leigh Lakes. From here you can head south to Taggart Lake Trailhead or the Lakeshore Trail near Colter Bay. We opted for the Lakeshore Trail and took in the views of Jackson Lake. End your night at Jackson Hole for dinner and dessert!
Day Two:
Start your day going over 4,000 feet sky high via an aerial tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. If you order your tickets online, it is $58 per adult. It is pricy, but something I would do again! At the summit take in the views of the Tetons, Jackson Valley, and more… just don’t fly away! The wind gusts at the top are intense, so hold on tight to your hats. The most amazing part is you can even enjoy gourmet waffles at Corbet’s Cabin (and warm up a little before your ride back down). From there, head back to the park and either hike Leigh Lake, String Lake Loop, or Phelps Lake Overlook trail. We opted for Leigh Lake trail which was gorgeous. We had so many amazing views of the lake and mountain ranges in the background. Next, drive up the Signal Mountain Summit Road for views overlooking the Teton Range and Jackson Lake. Finally, enjoy the views and sounds of Jackson Lake from the shore. Bring your chairs and sit along the beach or head into the water. The lake is frigid - with an average temperature of 60 degrees. If you are up to it, I would recommend dipping your toes in at least! End your night at Leek’s Pizzeria for dinner and dessert.
Yellowstone
Yellowstone is a massive park with numerous points of interest. You could easily spend a week exploring the park and going on different hikes throughout. Picking where to stay depends on wether you want to camp or stay at one of the many inns. If you choose to stay at an inn, it is suggested to stay at different inns throughout your trip so you are closer to each days activities. If you camp, I suggest staying at Canyon Campground. We found it be the the most centrally located and allowed us to visit each unit of the park without having to drive too far. If you choose to change your stay each day, make sure you change the order based on your starting point!
Travel Tip: Visit Lamar Valley to get fabulous views of wildlife. The best time to visit is during dusk or dawn. We were able to see herds of bison, bears, elk, pronghorns, and moose.
On day one, explore Madison and Old Faithful.
Morning: Grand Prismatic Spring - On your drive to the first trailhead, check out Gibbon Geyser Basin, Gibbon Falls, and drive the scenic Firehole Canyon Drive. Midway Geyser Basin trailhead parking can look daunting, but with enough patience you can find a spot in the parking lot. For a more breathtaking view, drive to Fairy Falls parking lot and hike the Grand Prismatic Overlook trail.
Lunch: Old Faithful - Watch Old Faithful erupt from one the viewing areas. Old Faithful erupts about every 90 minutes. Afterwards, walk along the boardwalk trail to Upper Geyser Basin. You will spend a couple hours here, so grab lunch at the inn or enjoy a picnic.
Afternoon: Even MORE Geyser Basins - On your way back to camp, stop to see other geyser basins in the same area: Black Sand Basin, Biscuit Basin, and Fountain Paint Pot trail.
On day two, explore Norris and Mammoth Hot Springs.
Morning: Norris Geyer Basin - Hike the trail at Artists Paintpots to see thermal hot springs and mud pots. Then head to Norris Geyser Basin, which is known for being the hottest and most dynamic geothermal area in Yellowstone. If you are lucky enough, you may even see Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest geyser, erupt. Optional: stop at the geological feature known as Obsidian Cliff.
Lunch: Enjoy a relaxing lunch and check out Albright Visitor Center.
Afternoon: Mammoth Hot Springs - Drive to Mammoth Hot Springs Trailhead and take the boardwalk to see numerous travertine terraces. Your time here can vary depending on how many viewpoints you want to see. Afterwards, head north to the Roosevelt Arch built in 1903 marking the north entrance into the park.
On day three, explore Canyon Village and West Thumb.
Morning: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone - There are two rims to visit plus the brink of the upper falls. Start at the south rim stopping at the Upper Falls Viewpoint and Artist Point. Next visit Brink of Upper Falls and enjoy the view from the lower outlook. Finally, head to Brink of Lower Falls. This hike is strenuous - in under half a mile you will go down the steep incline of 600 feet - but it is all worth the view. Before leaving the drive, take in the beauty at Inspiration Point.
Lunch: Enjoy lunch within Canyon Village before driving through Hayden Valley to see herds of bison and other wildlife. Optional: go on a short trail at Mud Volcano to see bubbling mud features.
Afternoon: West Thumb Geyser Basin - Take in the views of Yellowstone Lake at Gull Point. Alongside the shore Yellowstone Lake visit the Abyss Pool, Fishing Cone, and other geysers at West Thumb.
