Day 3 we started by finishing up the Tetons Loop Drive. We started by exploring the Craig Thomas Discovery Center. This was a fun spot to explored with videos explaining the creation of the Grand Tetons and different animal skins and furs.
We next visited the Laurence S. Rockefeller Preserve. This building was very cool fun to walk through the light and sound rooms.
Our sightseeing is done for the day. Now we are going to get some laundry done and go grocery shopping, into Jackson WY we go.
Day 2 in GT, however really our 1st full day. We woke up to lots of smoke. The smoke from the Washington and California fires is moving east, which over the mountains.
Thanks yo our Gypsy Guide, that we call Hal, we decided to explore to day on the Tetons Loop. So we started at the Colter Bay and worked our way around. On the way we stopped at Mormon Row, here is the oldest settleybarns and home in this national park.
Next was a pull out for a great picture of Grand Teton mountain, but can’t see any mountains because of the smoke. Squint maybe you will catch the top of it!!
Took a little stroll around one of the Snake River’s skinny sections. Do you see any mountains?
Made it back to Colter Bay for our hike of the day, on LakeShore Trail. the water level is so low we could walk around the shores and dip our toes in the water.
Next along the loop drive was a trip up to Signal Mountain. Views of the Tetons and Jackson Hole.
The smoke has changed directions just as we arrived at Jenny Lake for a quick boat ride to the base of the Grand Teton.
Well we are tired, so headed back to the campsite.
Today we woke up after a huge rain storm. Good thing we packed up the camper the night before. We only had to fold up beds. Then we took off for the Grand Tetons.
Well after picking up breakfast sandwiches.
Before leaving Yellowstone National Park we stopped at West Thumb Geyer Basin because we didn’t finish seeing everything.
On the road again, just a short 4 hours between campgrounds. Our first stop in the Grand Tetons was Colter Bay Visitor Center. Just a quick stop to grab the Jr Ranger Book.
We got into the Grand Tetons right as a thunder storm was coming in. Our campground in the Grand Tetons is called Gros Ventre on the border to the Elk Refugee.
We set up camp in the rain, we are really good at a quick set up. We timed ourselves, 15mins.
Since it was rainy we had family game night in the camper, played Sequence, Mom won.
Goodnight from Grand Tetons.
Last day in Yellowstone and our parents surprised us with a charter fishing trip on Yellowstone Lake. You can fish for Cutthroat Trout and Lake Trout Lake Trout is an invasive fish to the Lake and eat Cutthroat babies, so the let us keep all the Lake Trout we caught. We did catch on Cutthroat that we had to throw back. Guess what’s for dinner tonight.
After our fishing trip we had a picnic lunch on the lake and then decided to see more hydrothermal features, today was more hot springs and mud volcanos. Our favorites; Grand Prismatic Spring and Dragon’s Breath.
Our last night at our campsite we we over to get the last of our stamps, a Jr Ranger Patch and some souvenirs. We didn’t walk though, we took the Olli. The Olli is a self driving trolly, so much fun.
Dinner tonight was the catch of the day Lake Trout, yum. My parents did not clean the trout, our fishing guide Steve cleaned all 6.
Oh and we can’t forget the hail storm on our last night. Goodnight Yellowstone.
Today was a day of Geysers! Mom made us get up early so that we could get to Old Faithful before it got crowded. Didn’t work so well. There were so many people. The next eruption was in 45 mins, so we explored the Old Faithful Inn. Pretty neat log construction.
We grabbed a seat near Old Faithful with some snacks from the cafe and waited. Finally we got to see our first geyser erupt.
Onward to Upper Geyser Basin. I won’t name them all as there were so many. Some of our favorites were Grand Geyser, Castle Geyser and Spasmatic Geyser.
We moved onto Lower Geyser Basin and Biscuit Geyser Basin. We learned that there are 4 Hydrothermal features in Yellowstone; Geysers, Hot Springs, Mud Volcanos and Steam Vents. So many to see not enough time.
On our way back to Canyon Campground we drove through Hayden Valley. It was slow moving as we were stopping and going for Bison on the road.
Back to our camper for dinner and bed!!!
We got up early to pack up and drive into Yellowstone, with hundreds of other families.
Check in at Canyon Campground in Yellowstone is not until 1:00, so we went sightseeing. First up Mammoth Hot Springs.
Also in the Mammoth area is Fort Yellowstone. So we did some more exploring of the area, even stopped in at the visitor center to grab Ollie a Jr Ranger book.
On to Norris Geyser Basin
Oh it’s 1:00, let’s go check in…
We are staying at Canyon Campground in Yellowstone Canyon Area.
Time to get out and stretch for a little bit
Next up The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Went during sunset over to artist point, fun to see the yellow stone the canyon is formed from.
Went over to Brink of the Falls to see the Yellowstone River up close and personal.
Fun 1st day in Yellowstone, back to the campsite for dinner and bed.
Just another long drive day to get us to Yellowstone. Had to stop in at Helena MT for lunch, grocery shopping and a car repair place. Dad’s cruise control was not working and the check engine light came on.
Oh and we found a car & camper wash
We came into our 1 night stay campsite in the middle of a rain storm. At least we know that we will stay dry in the camper.
Next day into Yellowstone.
Day 10…
Our last day here at Glacier. We decided to time-lapse our trip into Logan’s Pass, where we are heading for a hike today.
We got to Logan Pass Visitor Center, got our stamps, put on our hiking boots and refilled our camelbacks. Now off on our hike on Hidden Lake Trail.
Glaciers, waterfalls and many hills & stairs later we made it to Hidden Lake.
We could not get as close a we would have like on the overlook, some one was blocking our view.
Back down the mountain, and dad could not resist singing for us…
Crossed the Continental Divide and got a quick pic.
Back to our campsite on the Going to the Sun road and our last stops before leaving the park for good.
Can’t forget Oliver’s Jr Ranger Badge, I have stopped counting.
Last stop in Glacier was the park store. Bye Glacier!
Day 9..
Today we started off by driving along the Going To The Sun Road. They are only letting a few hundred people ride this road at a time so luckily we had a timed entry into glacier today. We showed our pass to get into the park and off we went. The road starts off in the grasslands but soon you drive around some curves and you find yourself in the forest. Next we drive a long steep cliffs on one side and rock ledges on the other side.
After an hour and a half we’ve reached the western most point of Going to the Sun Road. Our destination Lake McDonald. We first stopped at our first visitor center, Apgard Visitor Center. Stamped our books, picked up our junior ranger book and off we went to Apgard Village. In the village was the Lake McDonald lodge and a bunch of other shopping areas. We headed straight to the lake. We rented kayaks and paddleboard‘s for the afternoon.
After a while we found a nice shore to get out of our boats and take a swim in the lake. It was freezing and refreshing at the same time the glacier water is so clear we could see all the way to the colorful rocks on the lake bed.
After we were done kayaking we turned our boats back in and went into the café for some ice cream.
Next up was a hike through Trail of the Cedars. This was a fun hike to explore the three different trees that you can find throughout Glacier National Park.
Long day, back to the campground for dinner and bed.
Day 8…
Starts our adventures at Glacier National Park.
On our first day we ventured to Many Glaciers for some adventures. We started with a hike around Swiftcurrent Lake. A fun path with views over to Many Glacier Lodge. A quick dip in the clear waters to cool of, very cold.
After our hike we jumped on a wooden boat tour of Swiftcurrent lake and Josephine lake. They are you are not connected, so we got off one boat, hiked a little path and got on another boat. Our boat ride did allow us to get to see a moose and her calf running and playing through the waters on the shore of Josephine Lake.
At the end of our boat cruise we took a look inside Many Glaciers Lodge, decorated to look like a Swiss Chalet. We also stopped at the café for some ice cream.
Back to our campground at St Mary’s for dinner. Another fun day in the park tomorrow.
