Living near Yellowstone National Park makes your Teton Valley home the perfect home base for out-of-town family and friends. With the West Yellowstone entrance less than 100 miles away, you can take (or send) them on a summer/fall driving tour to see Old Faithful and some of the more than 500 less famous geysers. It’s also the closest gateway to Grand Prismatic Spring, the Fountain Paint Pot, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
Nearly all roads close to private vehicles between early November and mid-April, but winter visitors can explore by snow coach or snowmobile, and it’s a magical time to be in the park. You’ll need to apply for a permit if you want to travel by snowmobile without a commercial guide; many outfitters in West Yellowstone and other surrounding communities offer supported trips into the park, providing snowmobiles; snowsuits, gloves, boots and helmets; and lunch.
First-time visitors to Yellowstone usually put Old Faithful at the top of their must-see list. Park staff predict eruption times, so you can plan your drive around it. You could try to catch one of the other predictable geyser eruptions as well – Castle, Grand, Daisy and Riverside – or simply marvel at the ever-changing landscape of smaller geysers, hot springs, fumaroles and mudpots in the upper basin.
Expert Itinerary for a Driving Tour
Teton Valley resident Amber Peters has lead tours in the region for years, and she’s generous with advice. She offers the following itinerary for visiting Yellowstone National Park through the west entrance during summer and fall. First and foremost, she recommends getting an early start.
“It’s imperative, especially in summertime, if you want to see wildlife,” she says. “Animals are out in the morning. You should leave Tributary no later than 6 a.m.”
For first-time Yellowstone visitors, she suggests following the 96-mile lower loop, which encompasses a sampling of every park feature, including wildlife, hydrothermals, and waterfalls. Go in a counterclockwise direction for easier access to pull-offs and more efficient trip timing.
At Madison Junction, take a left and head northeast to Norris. You can decide if you want to stop and walk the boardwalk there (it’s the oldest and hottest thermal area in the park) or take pictures of the Norris Geyser Basin Museum, prototype for the building style that came to be known as “parkitecture.” But keep in mind that the earlier you get to Hayden Valley, the better your chances of spotting wildlife, so if that’s your priority, Peters cautions against lingering.
After Norris, turn right toward Canyon Village, taking time to stop at Artist Point overlooking the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River before continuing through Hayden Valley, which has the greatest concentration of wildlife. Drive slowly and you might see bison, elk, mule deer, coyotes, bald eagles, and maybe even a black or grizzly bear.
Your next stop should be just before Grant Village to take a walk on the .6-mile-long boardwalk loop at West Thumb Geyser Basin. You’ll see a multitude of thermal features here on the shores of Yellowstone Lake, including the colorful mud volcanoes of West Thumb Paint Pots and the aptly named deep blue Abyss Pool. “It’s totally worth it,” Peters says.
Then heading north again, you’ll make your way to Old Faithful. You’ll want to park yourself along the viewing ring until after the big show. You may feel restless but don’t leave, cautions Peters. If you miss the eruption, you’ll have to wait hours for the next one.
It may feel like that was the grand finale, but there are a few more features within a mile or so of Old Faithful worth taking the time to see. Peters recommends walking through the grand Old Faithful Lodge before you go back to the car. Grand Prismatic Spring is another spectacular sight, but the parking lot there is tiny so you may have to keep going. However, you can park at the Fairy Falls trailhead and take a stroll to the Grand Prismatic Springs overlook before you head back to the west entrance and the road home.
A final bit of advice from Peters: “Don’t make dinner reservations. It’s a pizza night.”
Tips *
- Before you head into the park, pick up boxed lunches at Mountain Mama’s Coffee House and Bakery or Ernie’s Bakery in West Yellowstone.
- Refill your coffee at Mocha Mammas Coffee Bar in the Freeheel and Wheel ski and bike shop, located just half a block from the entrance gate.
- If you’re touring with children, get them a “Passport To Your National Parks” book, available online or at park gift stores, so they can learn about Yellowstone and collect visit stamps.
- Arrive at Old Faithful at least 20-30 minutes before the next predicted eruption time.
- Contact Peters through BrushBuck Wildlife Tours for information on guided itineraries or visit the National Park Service website for a full list of authorized tour providers.
West Yellowstone Diversions
Most people go to West Yellowstone just to visit the park. However, this small gateway town offers enough entertainment to warrant a dedicated visit. Bookend a Yellowstone tour with a couple of days to explore “West,” as the locals call it, or make a one-day or multi-day trip on another occasion.
Teton Valley residents love it for a long-weekend getaway cross-country skiing on the Rendezvous Ski Trail System. Rachel Spence, the West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation program director, recommends spring/summer/fall visits as well to bike or walk the new Yellowstone Shortline Trail, which follows the historic railroad route to the Montana/Idaho border.
“It’s a 9-mile paved trail that goes along the South Fork of the Madison River with three bridge crossings, and it’s just a great thing to do,” she says, adding that you can rent bikes designed especially for the new trail at Freeheel & Wheel.
Unlike in the wilds, you’re guaranteed a sighting at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center. Bears, wolves, river otters and birds of prey are active year-round, with both inside and outside habitats for viewing. The Yellowstone Giant Screen Theatre shows both commercial movies and IMAX specials on a 60’ x 80’ screen, the perfect respite on a hot summer afternoon or a cozy spot to escape a chilling wind.
No matter where you stay, you should pop into the Holiday Inn to walk through a restored 1903 Oregon Short Line train car built for a railroad executive. Then go to Yogi’s Waffles & Grill for huckleberry custard.
*Tributary does not recommend or have a relationship with any of the businesses mentioned. You can research the full range of products and services available at destinationyellowstone.com, the official website of the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce.