Yellowstone, Tetons, Montana

[chopyourown]

Hello all - seeking some feedback and input on an upcoming trip (mid September) to Grand Teton and Yellowstone NP. We've been before, but it has been many years. This is the first time with our young kids. Looking for a nice mix of time in the parks seeing the sights, wildlife watching, and doing some adventuring including mountain biking and mellow hiking. I'm intentionally keeping daily drive times fairly short - toddlers have only so much patience for long car rides. We generally max out at about 6 hours of driving per day. We'll be camping in our ATC - I generally prefer dispersed sites but we'll do a mix of dispersed, USFS paid, and national park.

We'll be starting from Salt Lake City after a family wedding, and have 8 days total (could flex to 9) before we need to be back in Seattle for school and work. The tentative plan is below. I'd love your input on potential dispersed sites (or favorite NF campgrounds) for a couple of nights, favorite things to do/see, can't miss food stops. Extra bonus points for soakable hot springs or family friendly mountain bike trails. The back half of the trip is pretty loosey-goosey currently. I don't mind being flexible once we're away from the crowds of the parks.

Day 1: SLC to near Jackson, WY. Camp either south of Jackson (somewhere off US89/26 like Table Creek, Fall Creek, etc.) or east of town (Curtis Canyon). Would love input on these camping options or firsthand knowledge of dispersed areas.

Day 2: Grand Teton Day 1. Likely camp at Curtis Canyon after exploring the south end of GTNP.

Day 3: Grand Teton Day 2. Explore north end of GTNP, reservation at Colter Bay CG.

Day 4: Yellowstone Day 1: Colter Bay to YNP, see southern park sites like Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, do the visitor center, etc. Planning to camp outside of West Yellowstone, FS campgrounds (Baker Hole). Open to suggestions on favorite camping spots, best things to do.

Day 5: Yellowstone Day 2: West Yellowstone to northern portion of park. Inspiration point, Norris Basin, Mammoth. Unsure on camping location - likely north of park near Gardiner MT. Any recommended spots to look for dispersed camping? We may stay at Yellowstone Hot Springs for some much-needed showers and chance to soak.

Day 6: Heading toward home - YNP toward Missoula/Lolo MT. Considering driving US12 through Lolo Pass. Unsure on camping location - possible a USFS campground or dispersed site near Lolo Pass. Several hot springs in the area too.

Day 7: Heading toward home - Lolo MT to ??? - unsure on this day. Depending on overall feeling we may make a push toward Seattle, or else make a short day to camping in northern ID or NE Washington with a chance for mountain biking. Open to suggestions. May stop at Soap Lake.

Day 8: Heading toward home - depends on above.

Thanks all for your input, excited for the trip and to share photos when we return!

 

[ski3pin]

Our best wishes for a great trip! In regards to day 6, we've enjoyed our several crossings of Lolo Pass on highway 12. There's a bit of info here - Idaho & Montana - August 2019.
There are several USFS campgrounds along the Lochsa River as you descend from Lolo Pass.

 

[Occidental]

Day 2, Up the Gros Ventre, lots of camping options, dispersed and developed.

Day 6, lots of nice camps on the Lochsa, I suggest somewhere before the Selway, there's a large fire there you'll want to avoid for the next several weeks (island creek). Jerry Johnson hot springs seem to be a popular short hike and soak.

Day 7, mayne check out Mccroskey state park, dispersed or lightly developed camps. Elk Creek Falls and McCroskey State Park – Occidentalist

Have a great trip.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Your choice of camping in GTNP could be the NP camp at Gros Ventre.
It's a nice place to stay close to activities in the park and also there are a lot of moose that roam the area ,even through the camp. Also up river there are a couple FS camps with the Gros Ventre river through camp. Also there are sites along Grassy Lake rd in the area between GTNP and YNP. They overlook the Snake river.
There is a nice hike from Rockefeller Preserve along Moose-Wilson rd.It's a few miles from the visitors center.The nice walking trail takes you the Phelps Lake.
It's a easy trail, animals to see for the kids not much of a climb.Also a around the lake trail
which will add walking time .But the trail to/from the lake has 2 ways to go so you don't have to backtrack on the same trail back to the parking area.
I probably can't tell you much about Yellowstone since you have been there.
We have camped in just about every CG in the park.Our favorites are Indian Creek/Slough Creek/ Madison/Norris/Pebble Creek.
Lots of animal viewing in the northern part of the park in the Lamar Valley.The old Gardener road from in back of the Mammoth hotel is a nice way to leave the park headed to Gardener,but I think they now use it as a temporary exit as the other road was washed out several years ago
and I don't if it has been rebuilt yet.

Lolo Pass was a great trip for us.As you drive west from the pass there are several CGs along the river that we stayed at.Very nice this time of year.Fairly quiet as the rafters are slowing off.
Following hwy 12 west was a great drive also.Enjoy the trip.
My trip blog has several Yellowstone NP/Glacier NP trips.Also in the Glacier trip there is some info about Lolo Pass.
Frank

 

[kmcintyre]

If you had more time, you are going right past the Lolo Motorway. We did this a while back and mountain biked the Motorway w/ support vehicle. Took about a week, 2 in the lookout. About 15-20 miles/day depending on where we found nice campsites. Amazing trip, lots of history.