Yellowstone

Yellowstone

How We Got There

Our trip to Yellowstone was a bit of a last minute decision. We were already going to Colorado for a few weeks and wanted to explore areas we had yet to see. This led us to realizing that Yellowstone wasn’t too terribly far away. The problem, however, was that due to it being already so late in the trip planning season, all of the hotels were super expensive if they had any space available at all. Then we had another idea. What we if we bought a camper?

We found a pop-up camper for about $2000 in Durango and we already had a truck. It was cheaper to buy the camper and to travel around to campgrounds and stay in it, than it was to book hotels or AirBnBs everywhere.

So we bought the pop-up. Loaded it up and hit the road first to Utah, then Idaho, and then over to Wyoming. Then there’s the logistics of camping in Yellowstone. If it’s not in the bear territory where you need a hard-sided camper, you have to go to one of the “first come, first serve” campgrounds. This means that you have to get there super early in the morning and get in line. We left Ashton, Idaho at the crack of dawn and got in line at the Nolan Campground. We were fortunate to get a spot for two nights. The spot came with a bear-proof box for your food and cooler, a picnic table, and a fire pit. We had a nice view of a field with a stream running through it as well. It’s a nice campground with decently spaced spots.

Another thing you don’t necessarily think about is the temperatures at night. During the day, you’re driving around, walking to the different spots, etc. and it’s warm. Like, really warm. Then it gets down to nearly freezing overnight! It was not uncommon to be walking to the bathroom in the morning and seeing people that had started out in their tents, sleeping in their cars to stay warm!

While Yellowstone is incredibly beautiful, it can also be incredibly dangerous! As they say, “Don’t Pet the Fluffy Cows!” Enjoy the beauty, but don’t touch the water and don’t get killed by a bison. Yellowstone is very much a look, but don’t touch sort of place.

The Beauty and the Danger of Yellowstone

  • The Bison

    While there are different parts of the park that have more bison. If you find yourself in backed up traffic, it’s typically because bison are in the road or close to it.

  • Waterfalls

    Pictured is Yellowstone Falls, but there are nearly 300 falls throughout the park. Many are accessible by car or a short hike.

  • Hot Springs & Thermal Pools

    While these areas of the park are some of the most unique and beautiful, they are also the most dangerous. The park has walkways designed to allow you to see these areas safely. The water, although prismatic and colorful, is extremely hot (often beyond the temperature of boiling water) and deadly.

  • Mammoth Hot Springs

    The Mammoth Hot Springs are travertine terraces with hot water and steam rising through them to create the unique walls and steps that you see. These are also extremely hot and dangerous.

  • Mudpots

    The mudpots are thermal pools that are so acidic the dirt becomes mud. They also have a sulphur smell. There’s something kind of cool about boiling mud though.

  • Geysers

    There are many geysers in the park, but Old Faithful draws a big crowd. The park keeps a time schedule of when it will spray as well. Get there early, because parking is crazy!