Yellowstone - Trekking the National Park

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1.) Click the left Slide Out

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Here is the map:

Accommodations 9/5 – 9/8

Sage Lodge / 55 Sage Lodge Dr. Pray, MT 59065 / 855-400-0505

https://sagelodge.com

9/5/23:

Group arrival ~1:00 p.m. (Karen & Alberto to arrive ~4:30 p.m.). I will request early check-in but it is dependent on whether the house is booked Labor Day Weekend. We can store belongings in car or hotel.

Afternoon options on property – fly fishing, hiking / mountain biking, spa (open 10-6)

Dinner – BBQ Tuesday 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. (live music / outdoor BBQ)

Evening – Chico Hot Springs (6 minutes away) or hang at the house

9/6/23:

Optional Day trip to Yellowstone – departure by 7:30 a.m. MT / 9:30 a.m. ET (order box lunches from hotel / bring snacks / water)

9-10 hour day (Park is vast - driving can be slow due to road construction, wildlife and tourists)

This tour is to see iconic sites in the upper loop of the park. It is not a hiking tour but there is walking involved.

Drive to northern entrance of Yellowstone National Park (35 minutes)

Stop 1 – Mammoth Hot Springs https://fullsuitcase.com/mammoth-hot-springs-yellowstone/

Stop 2 – Norris Geyser Basin (not as impressive as Old Faithful or Prismatic Springs)
Consists of Porcelain Basin (*) and Back Basin

Stop 3 - Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River (2-3 hours)
North Rim (afternoon best for light) – one way road to Brink of the lower falls lookout point

RECOMMENDED Hike – Grand Canyon Rim Trail

Best viewpoints:

-Brink of the Upper Falls https://fullsuitcase.com/grand-canyon-of-the-yellowstone/#brink-of-the-upper-falls

-Brink of the Lower Falls https://fullsuitcase.com/grand-canyon-of-the-yellowstone/#brink-of-the-lower-falls

-Lookout Point https://fullsuitcase.com/grand-canyon-of-the-yellowstone/#lookout-point

-Grand View https://fullsuitcase.com/grand-canyon-of-the-yellowstone/#grand-view

-Inspiration Point https://fullsuitcase.com/grand-canyon-of-the-yellowstone/#inspiration-point

South Rim (morning best for light) – ends at Artist’s Point

Best viewpoints:

-Artist Point https://fullsuitcase.com/grand-canyon-of-the-yellowstone/#artist-point

-Point Sublime Hike

-Uncle Tom’s Trail (BEST hike - short but steep) https://fullsuitcase.com/grand-canyon-of-the-yellowstone/#uncle-toms-trail

-Upper Falls Viewpoint

Stop 4 - Lamar Valley (depending on time)

Wildlife viewing

Stop 5 – Undine Falls (depending on time)

Dinner – private chef at 7:00

9/7/23

Itinerary Options (will leave it up to the 8 of you to decide)

½ day (or full day) horseback riding https://rockinhk.com/chico-barn/
Hot air balloon ride https://www.montanaballoon.com/
Hiking in Yellowstone https://57hours.com/best-of/day-hikes-yellowstone/
Relax at Resort
Fly Fishing tour

Dinner – Fireside Room at 7:00 (resort casual dining)

Accommodations 9/8 – 9/11

Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa / Blue Moose Lodge / 3385 Cody Lane, Teton Village, WY 83025 / 307-201-6066

https://www.tetonlodge.com/

9/8/23

Itinerary

Option 1: Day trip to Yellowstone (Note that the park's lower loop has the most iconic sites) – departure by 7:30 a.m. MT / 9:30 a.m. ET (order box lunches from the hotel / bring snacks/water) Option 2 is to depart at your leisure and drive 5 hours to Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa

9-10 hour day in route to Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa - Lower Loop Yellowstone

This tour is to see iconic sites in the park's lower loop

Stop 1 – Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook

 (~2 hours from Sage Lodge) Fairy Falls parking lot to Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail (1.2 miles roundtrip) https://fullsuitcase.com/grand-prismatic-spring-yellowstone/#overlook-trail

Also there – Excelsior Geyser Crater / Turquoise Pool / Opal Pool

Stop 2 – Chromatic Pool (optional)

Stop 3 – Old Faithful (check eruption schedule)

walk to Morning Glory Pool ~3 miles walk roundtrip

Stop 4 – West Thumb Geyer Basin / Yellowstone Lake

Stop 5 – Hayden Valley 

(wildlife viewing)

Dinner for Paul’s Birthday 

Spur Restaurant (resort)

9/9/23

Nothing formally scheduled – Persephone recommended for breakfast/coffee https://persephonebakery.com/pages/menu

Options – spa (highly rated), biking to town of Jackson, gondola ride, shopping/lunch in Jackson Hole, white water rafting on Snake River (class 2 / 3 rapids),

Horseback riding https://www.viator.com/tours/Jackson/Horseback-Riding-with-Heart-6-Ranch/d51006-38400P2

Sunrise hot air balloon ride https://www.getyourguide.com/-t251857/?partner_id=6N2B5KS&cmp=JacksonHole&deeplink_id=f610d7d9-e5bb-50b3-aa0e-61a6150c5599

Fly fishing tour https://www.viator.com/Jackson/d51006-ttd/p-9888P1?pid=P00072194&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=JacksonHole

Jackson Hole winery https://jacksonholewinery.com/ (grapes grown in Sonoma County CA and transported to Jackson Hole to make high altitude wine)

Hiking #1 Munger Mountain Hike 12.2 miles / 6.5 hours https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/munger-mountain-loop

Hiking #2 Old Pass Trail 7.3 miles / 4 hours https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/old-pass-road-to-teton-pass

Million Dollar Cowboy Bar – established 1937 / watering hole in town square

Dinner 

– Corsa at Caldera House at 7:00 / walking distance from hotel (waiting for verification) https://www.corsajh.com/menu

3275 W. Village Dr. / Teton Village, WY 83025
(307) 200-4220

9/10 Grand Teton National Park (bear country)

Mormon Row for sunrise

1. drive 10 minutes to Schwabacher Landing (also beautiful around sunrise)
2. Drive Antelope Flats Road (wildlife viewing)
3. Snake River Overlook
4. Oxbow Bend
5. Jackson Lake Dam (stunning)
6. Summit Signal Mountain to Jackson Lake Overlook (spectacular panoramic views)
7. String Lake
8. Jenny Lake – hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point (cascade canyon trail). Take shuttle bus to trail to reduce hike from 7.6 miles to 2.5 miles. 1 hour boat tour https://jennylakeboating.com/boat-trips/scenic-cruises/
9. Jackson Lake Dam (stunning)
10. Colter Bay – hike Colter Bay Lakeshore Trail / flat 2.5 mile trail
11. Church of Transfiguration (take picture through church window)

Optional Hikes in Grand Tetons:

Taggert Lake / Bradley Lake Trail (hike counterclockwise so Tetons are always in front of you / moderate / 6 miles / 2.5 hours https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/taggart-lake-and-bradley-lake

String Lake Trail / ~4 miles / 90 minutes / stunning https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/string-lake-trail--6

Jenny Lake Trail / moderate / 7.6 miles / 3 hours https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/jenny-lake-trail

Phelps Lake Trail / moderate / 7 miles / 3 hours https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/phelps-lake-trail

*Cascade Canyon Trail / moderate / 9.1 miles / 4 hours / take Jenny Lake shuttle to trailhead https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/cascade-canyon-trail


Questions: Look at Mystic Falls Trail (Mystic Falls, Fairy Creek and Little Firehole Loop) as a moderate 3.5 mile hike (per US News and World Report)