Yellowstone was the first national park, established in 1872 when President Ulysses S. Grant signed into law the bill to create a truly wondrous symbol of natural preservation. Located mainly in the northwest corner of Wyoming, Yellowstone is a true American wilderness and is one of the largest remaining intact wild ecosystems on Earth. The park encompasses nearly 3500 square miles of wild mountains, lush meadows, clear lakes, and sparkling springs, abundant with diverse wildlife. About 97per cent of the park remains undeveloped.
The name Yellowstone is instantly recognized worldwide, even if it often confused with other parks and other places. The Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, and other areas surrounding the park are often thought to be part of Yellowstone National Park. Although they are not, they are part of the same ecosystem.
Yellowstone is home to the gray wolf, grizzly bear, bald eagle, lynx, and one of the world’s largest concentrations of elk. Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the United States where bison have existed in the wild since prehistoric times.
Geysers and hot springs abound in Yellowstone, a reminder of the park’s volcanic origins. Visits to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Quake Lake, and rushing waterfalls twice the height of Niagara are not to be missed.
There are more than 1100 archeological sites located within Yellowstone National Park. The park also houses a collection of more than 379,000 cultural objects and natural science specimens. Thousands of historic documents and photographs can also be seen at Yellowstone.
In 1986 the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service formed the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee to provide a higher level of public service together than either could offer separately. Yellowstone’s neighbors have become more insistent on having a voice in how the park is managed. The Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee provides a forum for input from interagency groups, park, forest, and state employees, and the park’s surrounding neighbors. Government workers have joined with private landowners to address issues such as weed, garbage, and tourism.
Although much good has come out of the neighbor-to-neighbor efforts, more needs to be done. If Yellowstone is to remain the world’s finest park, even more must be done to strengthen the lines of communication and understanding. Your Yellowstone vacations depend upon it.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Large Mammals of Yellowstone Park
Yellowstone vacations are a great way to observe wildlife up close. If you choose to drive through the park you might miss some of the smaller animals that call Yellowstone National Park home. But a drive through the park just might be the best way to see some of the larger mammals almost any time of the day or year. 
One of the highlights of Yellowstone vacations is seeing the large herds of bison. Bison are often seen grazing in the meadows along the roadway. The bison is the largest land mammal in all of North America. They have occupied Yellowstone National Park continuously since prehistoric times. Males can weigh up to 2000 pounds, while the females range up to 1000 pounds. They are fast creatures for their size and can run as fast as 30 miles an hour. They can also change direction very quickly, so never approach these animals on foot. They are best observed from the safety of your vehicle.
Yellowstone vacations are also great for viewing elk. More than 30,000 elk make up the seven or eight herds that summer in the park. Elk are the second largest of the deer family, and males can weigh up to 700 pounds and females about 500 pounds. Adult males, also called bulls
, grow antlers each year, which may have from six to eight points on each side and can weigh more than 30 pounds. Bulls use these antlers during the mating season, called the rut, to fight for the right to mate with the females in the autumn. Bulls can be heard for miles “bugling” to attract females. This love call is more of a high-pitched whistle than a bugle, but the ladies seem to like it.
One of the most popular animals seen on Yellowstone vacations is the moose. Moose are the largest of the deer family. Males, also called bulls, weigh up to 1300 pounds and females, a
lso called cows, may weigh up to 800 pounds. Bulls have impressive palmate antlers which are shed annually. Moose have always been rare in Yellowstone. In the late 1980s only about 1000 moose were estimated to live in the park. Moose feed on willow during spring and summer, and move to mature stands of sub alpine fir and Douglas fir during the winter months. Moose also like to browse in stands of gooseberry and buffalo berry bushes.
Yellowstone vacations can introduce you to one of the most elusive, and perhaps most controversial, of all creatures that live in the park. The wolf is the largest member of the canine family and is the ancestor of the domestic dog. The gray wolf is about the same size as a German shepherd and weighs anywhere from 55 to 130 pounds. The color of a gray wolf can range from gray to all black or all white. Wolves prey on elk, deer, moose,
beaver, rabbits, and other small prey. They are also known scavengers and eat other animals that have died from other causes. The gray wolf is known to have occupied Yellowstone National Park nearly 1000 years ago, but was hunted to extinction by 1930. Many were killed by ranchers for attacking livestock. In 1995 the gray wolf was reintroduced into the park. Fourteen wolves were brought from Canada and traced by radio collar. By 2003, their number had increased to nearly 300. The park population count for 2008 showed 124 wolves, although this number may be much higher. Wolves are secretive, so you might not see one, but if you visit the park in the early morning or evening you might hear them howling and yipping.
Many people enjoy Yellowstone vacations because of the opportunities to observe wildlife up close. The park is home to many large North American mammals, such as bison, elk, moose, and gray wolves. These magnificent animals can often be seen from the roadway, making a drive through the park a thrilling experience for the whole family.
One of the highlights of Yellowstone vacations is seeing the large herds of bison. Bison are often seen grazing in the meadows along the roadway. The bison is the largest land mammal in all of North America. They have occupied Yellowstone National Park continuously since prehistoric times. Males can weigh up to 2000 pounds, while the females range up to 1000 pounds. They are fast creatures for their size and can run as fast as 30 miles an hour. They can also change direction very quickly, so never approach these animals on foot. They are best observed from the safety of your vehicle.
Yellowstone vacations are also great for viewing elk. More than 30,000 elk make up the seven or eight herds that summer in the park. Elk are the second largest of the deer family, and males can weigh up to 700 pounds and females about 500 pounds. Adult males, also called bulls
, grow antlers each year, which may have from six to eight points on each side and can weigh more than 30 pounds. Bulls use these antlers during the mating season, called the rut, to fight for the right to mate with the females in the autumn. Bulls can be heard for miles “bugling” to attract females. This love call is more of a high-pitched whistle than a bugle, but the ladies seem to like it.One of the most popular animals seen on Yellowstone vacations is the moose. Moose are the largest of the deer family. Males, also called bulls, weigh up to 1300 pounds and females, a
lso called cows, may weigh up to 800 pounds. Bulls have impressive palmate antlers which are shed annually. Moose have always been rare in Yellowstone. In the late 1980s only about 1000 moose were estimated to live in the park. Moose feed on willow during spring and summer, and move to mature stands of sub alpine fir and Douglas fir during the winter months. Moose also like to browse in stands of gooseberry and buffalo berry bushes.Yellowstone vacations can introduce you to one of the most elusive, and perhaps most controversial, of all creatures that live in the park. The wolf is the largest member of the canine family and is the ancestor of the domestic dog. The gray wolf is about the same size as a German shepherd and weighs anywhere from 55 to 130 pounds. The color of a gray wolf can range from gray to all black or all white. Wolves prey on elk, deer, moose,
beaver, rabbits, and other small prey. They are also known scavengers and eat other animals that have died from other causes. The gray wolf is known to have occupied Yellowstone National Park nearly 1000 years ago, but was hunted to extinction by 1930. Many were killed by ranchers for attacking livestock. In 1995 the gray wolf was reintroduced into the park. Fourteen wolves were brought from Canada and traced by radio collar. By 2003, their number had increased to nearly 300. The park population count for 2008 showed 124 wolves, although this number may be much higher. Wolves are secretive, so you might not see one, but if you visit the park in the early morning or evening you might hear them howling and yipping.Many people enjoy Yellowstone vacations because of the opportunities to observe wildlife up close. The park is home to many large North American mammals, such as bison, elk, moose, and gray wolves. These magnificent animals can often be seen from the roadway, making a drive through the park a thrilling experience for the whole family.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Yellowstone Vacations Something for Everyone
When planning Yellowstone vacations, think about what activities will be available during your stay. There’s plenty to do no matter when you decide to visit.
Getting to your Yellowstone vacation can be fun. There is no train service to Yellowstone, and the only way to easily get around within the park is by car. A popular option is to fly in to Salt Lake City and rent a car. Yellowstone vacations-by either renting or driving your own vehicle to the park is really your only option in order to see all there is to see. Distances might seem small within the park, but traveling on mountain highways takes more time and caution, and there are frequent traffic back-ups on Yellowstone's mostly two-lane roads.
If you are planning Yellowstone vacations, choosing where to stay may be the hardest part. Lodging is available year-round and comes in all types, sizes, and price ranges. There’s a perfect place for you and your family to stay no matter what you have planned for your Yellowstone vacation.
If you are on a limited budget, try one of the many hotels within a few miles of one of the Park’s entrances. Rooms with one queen bed start for as little as $59 a day in the low season. Many hotels also have honeymoon suites and family suites. Restaurants are within a short walking distance from most hotels.
No Yellowstone vacation is complete without a guided tour of the park. Ride in air-conditioned comfort during summer or enjoy the majesty of winter in Yellowstone from motor coaches specially adapted for travel over snowy terrain. Learn about the park’s history, wildlife, geology, and current issues that affect the park. If you would rather go it alone, rental cars are available nearby.
Yellowstone vacations in winter can include cross country skiing and snowshoeing, as well as guided snowmobile trips. Summer time Yellowstone vacations can include hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, camping, and horseback riding. What are you going to try first?
Camping or overnight vehicle parking in pullouts, picnic areas, picnic grounds, or any place other than a designated campground are not permitted and there are no overflow camping facilities. However, camping is often available in neighboring communities and forests outside the park.
Camping in Yellowstone Park is limited to 14 days between July 1 and Labor Day to 30 days the rest of the year. There is no limit at Fishing Bridge RV Park. Check-out time for all campgrounds is 10:00 AM.
In addition to outdoor activities, you can visit the Yellowstone Historic Center, enjoy a play at the Playmill Theatre, observe grizzly bears and wolves at the Grizzly Discovery Center, see the effects of the 1959 earthquake at Quake Lake, or enjoy a tour of a real Old West town like Virginia City or Nevada City, both in Montana.
With a Yellowstone vacation one can see Cultural and historic resources that abound with more than 1,100 archeological sites. A museum collection of more than 379,000 cultural objects and natural science specimens and thousands of irreplaceable photographs and historic documents can be found at Yellowstone.
No matter when you visit or what you like to do, there’s something to make everybody happy on a Yellowstone vacation. Plan yours today!
Getting to your Yellowstone vacation can be fun. There is no train service to Yellowstone, and the only way to easily get around within the park is by car. A popular option is to fly in to Salt Lake City and rent a car. Yellowstone vacations-by either renting or driving your own vehicle to the park is really your only option in order to see all there is to see. Distances might seem small within the park, but traveling on mountain highways takes more time and caution, and there are frequent traffic back-ups on Yellowstone's mostly two-lane roads.
If you are planning Yellowstone vacations, choosing where to stay may be the hardest part. Lodging is available year-round and comes in all types, sizes, and price ranges. There’s a perfect place for you and your family to stay no matter what you have planned for your Yellowstone vacation.
If you are on a limited budget, try one of the many hotels within a few miles of one of the Park’s entrances. Rooms with one queen bed start for as little as $59 a day in the low season. Many hotels also have honeymoon suites and family suites. Restaurants are within a short walking distance from most hotels.
No Yellowstone vacation is complete without a guided tour of the park. Ride in air-conditioned comfort during summer or enjoy the majesty of winter in Yellowstone from motor coaches specially adapted for travel over snowy terrain. Learn about the park’s history, wildlife, geology, and current issues that affect the park. If you would rather go it alone, rental cars are available nearby.
Yellowstone vacations in winter can include cross country skiing and snowshoeing, as well as guided snowmobile trips. Summer time Yellowstone vacations can include hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, camping, and horseback riding. What are you going to try first?
Camping or overnight vehicle parking in pullouts, picnic areas, picnic grounds, or any place other than a designated campground are not permitted and there are no overflow camping facilities. However, camping is often available in neighboring communities and forests outside the park.
Camping in Yellowstone Park is limited to 14 days between July 1 and Labor Day to 30 days the rest of the year. There is no limit at Fishing Bridge RV Park. Check-out time for all campgrounds is 10:00 AM.
In addition to outdoor activities, you can visit the Yellowstone Historic Center, enjoy a play at the Playmill Theatre, observe grizzly bears and wolves at the Grizzly Discovery Center, see the effects of the 1959 earthquake at Quake Lake, or enjoy a tour of a real Old West town like Virginia City or Nevada City, both in Montana.
With a Yellowstone vacation one can see Cultural and historic resources that abound with more than 1,100 archeological sites. A museum collection of more than 379,000 cultural objects and natural science specimens and thousands of irreplaceable photographs and historic documents can be found at Yellowstone.
No matter when you visit or what you like to do, there’s something to make everybody happy on a Yellowstone vacation. Plan yours today!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Opportunities for Fun on Yellowstone Vacations
When planning Yellowstone vacations, think about what activities will be available during your stay. There’s plenty to do no matter when you decide to visit.
No Yellowstone vacation is complete without a guided tour of the park. Ride in air-conditioned comfort during summer or enjoy the majesty of winter in Yellowstone from motor coaches specially adapted for travel over snowy terrain. Learn about the park’s history, wildlife, geology, and current issues that affect the park. If you would rather go it alone, rental cars are available nearby.
Yellowstone vacations in winter can include cross country skiing and snowshoeing, as well as guided snowmobile trips. Summer time Yellowstone vacations can include hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, camping, and horseback riding. What are you going to try first?
In addition to outdoor activities, you can visit the Yellowstone Historic Center, enjoy a play at the Playmill Theatre, observe grizzly bears and wolves at the Grizzly Discovery Center, see the effects of the 1959 earthquake at Quake Lake, or enjoy a tour of a real Old West town like Virginia City or Nevada City, both in Montana.
No matter when you visit or what you like to do, there’s something to make everybody happy on a Yellowstone vacation. Plan yours today!
No Yellowstone vacation is complete without a guided tour of the park. Ride in air-conditioned comfort during summer or enjoy the majesty of winter in Yellowstone from motor coaches specially adapted for travel over snowy terrain. Learn about the park’s history, wildlife, geology, and current issues that affect the park. If you would rather go it alone, rental cars are available nearby.
Yellowstone vacations in winter can include cross country skiing and snowshoeing, as well as guided snowmobile trips. Summer time Yellowstone vacations can include hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, camping, and horseback riding. What are you going to try first?
In addition to outdoor activities, you can visit the Yellowstone Historic Center, enjoy a play at the Playmill Theatre, observe grizzly bears and wolves at the Grizzly Discovery Center, see the effects of the 1959 earthquake at Quake Lake, or enjoy a tour of a real Old West town like Virginia City or Nevada City, both in Montana.
No matter when you visit or what you like to do, there’s something to make everybody happy on a Yellowstone vacation. Plan yours today!
Where to Stay on Your Yellowstone Vacations
If you are planning Yellowstone vacations, choosing where to stay may be the hardest part. Lodging is available year-round and comes in all types, sizes, and price ranges. There’s a perfect place for you and your family to stay no matter what you have planned for your Yellowstone vacation.
If you are on a limited budget, try one of the many hotels within a few miles of one of the Park’s entrances. Rooms with one queen bed start for as little as $59 a day in the low season. Many hotels also have honeymoon suites and family suites. Restaurants are within a short walking distance from most hotels.
If your idea of the perfect place to stay on your Yellowstone vacation includes something a bit more romantic, try one of the log cabins. Most have fireplaces and jetted tubs, and many also offer complete kitchens. Daily rates start at $89 in the low season.
There are many choices for families who want to combine a reunion with a Yellowstone vacation. In addition to family suites at local hotels and larger cabins, there are many condos, town homes, and private residences for rent in the area.
Most lodgings are able to assist you with tours and recreational activities on your Yellowstone vacation. Be sure to set aside time for bus tours, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, bird watching, and trout fishing! They are all just steps away from your door.
If you are on a limited budget, try one of the many hotels within a few miles of one of the Park’s entrances. Rooms with one queen bed start for as little as $59 a day in the low season. Many hotels also have honeymoon suites and family suites. Restaurants are within a short walking distance from most hotels.
If your idea of the perfect place to stay on your Yellowstone vacation includes something a bit more romantic, try one of the log cabins. Most have fireplaces and jetted tubs, and many also offer complete kitchens. Daily rates start at $89 in the low season.
There are many choices for families who want to combine a reunion with a Yellowstone vacation. In addition to family suites at local hotels and larger cabins, there are many condos, town homes, and private residences for rent in the area.
Most lodgings are able to assist you with tours and recreational activities on your Yellowstone vacation. Be sure to set aside time for bus tours, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, bird watching, and trout fishing! They are all just steps away from your door.
Yellowstone Vacations Something for Everyone
There's something for everyone on a Yellowstone vacations-- history, culture, rare geologic formations and phenomena, stunning scenery, ample wildlife, and outdoor activities too numerous to list (fly fishing, backpacking, and river rafting are just a start). Friendly park staff members are at the ready to answer your questions. Yellowstone vacations include this and so much more beautiful lakes are accessible via a short, hike through the forest. Throw out a line and you're bound to catch one of the abundant rainbow trout, or, catch a drift on a float tube.
Be prepared for extreme climate changes on your Yellowstone vacations. Yellowstone is a place of extremes in geology, topography, and climate. With 80-degree dry summers and frosty winters that make many roads impassable, the time to visit really depends upon whether you like your vacations hot or cold. July and August are the prime tourist months, so be sure to book your accommodations months in advance (many guides recommend a year ahead).
Getting to your Yellowstone vacation can be fun. There is no train service to Yellowstone, and the only way to easily get around within the park is by car. A popular option is to fly in to Salt Lake City and rent a car. Yellowstone vacations-by either renting or driving your own vehicle to the park is really your only option in order to see all there is to see. Distances might seem small within the park, but traveling on mountain highways takes more time and caution, and there are frequent traffic back-ups on Yellowstone's mostly two-lane roads.
Yellowstone vacations fun facts:
•Yellowstone is the world's first national park, established in 1872. It is bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
•Yellowstone falls within three states: 96 percent in Wyoming, three percent in Montana, and one percent in Idaho.
•Yellowstone is home to seven species of native deer, two species of bears, 311 recorded species of birds and 18 species of fish.
•Old Faithful geyser, perhaps the most famous geyser in the world, is located in Yellowstone's Upper Geyser Basin and erupts roughly every 90 minutes.
•There are 950 miles of back country trails and 287 back country campsites in Yellowstone, most of which are never visited by the majority of the park's tourists.
•Yellowstone is an active volcano and experiences about 2,000 earthquakes each year. Much of the park sits within one of the world's largest calderas.
Be prepared for extreme climate changes on your Yellowstone vacations. Yellowstone is a place of extremes in geology, topography, and climate. With 80-degree dry summers and frosty winters that make many roads impassable, the time to visit really depends upon whether you like your vacations hot or cold. July and August are the prime tourist months, so be sure to book your accommodations months in advance (many guides recommend a year ahead).
Getting to your Yellowstone vacation can be fun. There is no train service to Yellowstone, and the only way to easily get around within the park is by car. A popular option is to fly in to Salt Lake City and rent a car. Yellowstone vacations-by either renting or driving your own vehicle to the park is really your only option in order to see all there is to see. Distances might seem small within the park, but traveling on mountain highways takes more time and caution, and there are frequent traffic back-ups on Yellowstone's mostly two-lane roads.
Yellowstone vacations fun facts:
•Yellowstone is the world's first national park, established in 1872. It is bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
•Yellowstone falls within three states: 96 percent in Wyoming, three percent in Montana, and one percent in Idaho.
•Yellowstone is home to seven species of native deer, two species of bears, 311 recorded species of birds and 18 species of fish.
•Old Faithful geyser, perhaps the most famous geyser in the world, is located in Yellowstone's Upper Geyser Basin and erupts roughly every 90 minutes.
•There are 950 miles of back country trails and 287 back country campsites in Yellowstone, most of which are never visited by the majority of the park's tourists.
•Yellowstone is an active volcano and experiences about 2,000 earthquakes each year. Much of the park sits within one of the world's largest calderas.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Yellowstone Vacations Camping Rules
Yellowstone vacations are fun and camping can be a way to experience the park up close.
Camping or overnight vehicle parking in pullouts, picnic areas, picnic grounds, or any place other than a designated campground are not permitted and there are no overflow camping facilities. However, camping is often available in neighboring communities and forests outside the park.
Camping in Yellowstone Park is limited to 14 days between July 1 and Labor Day to 30 days the rest of the year. There is no limit at Fishing Bridge RV Park. Check-out time for all campgrounds is 10:00 AM.
Campfires and Yellowstone vacations - Wood and charcoal fires are permitted only in locations with fire grates. Special fire restrictions are occasionally put in place when the danger of wild land fires is great. If you plan to light a fire in the park, please ask about current fire restrictions at the entrance station when you arrive or email our Visitor Services Office immediately prior to your visit.
Yellowstone Vacations Quiet Hours - Camping in Yellowstone Park is a special experience. Each visitor deserves the opportunity to hear the birds, wildlife, and streams in this beautiful environment. Respect this by complying with the law: generators prohibited 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM; quiet hours 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. No loud audio devices or other noise disturbances will be allowed in the Park during this time. Generators are only permitted in six Yellowstone campgrounds and the Fishing Bridge RV Park.
Camping or overnight vehicle parking in pullouts, picnic areas, picnic grounds, or any place other than a designated campground are not permitted and there are no overflow camping facilities. However, camping is often available in neighboring communities and forests outside the park.
Camping in Yellowstone Park is limited to 14 days between July 1 and Labor Day to 30 days the rest of the year. There is no limit at Fishing Bridge RV Park. Check-out time for all campgrounds is 10:00 AM.
Campfires and Yellowstone vacations - Wood and charcoal fires are permitted only in locations with fire grates. Special fire restrictions are occasionally put in place when the danger of wild land fires is great. If you plan to light a fire in the park, please ask about current fire restrictions at the entrance station when you arrive or email our Visitor Services Office immediately prior to your visit.
Yellowstone Vacations Quiet Hours - Camping in Yellowstone Park is a special experience. Each visitor deserves the opportunity to hear the birds, wildlife, and streams in this beautiful environment. Respect this by complying with the law: generators prohibited 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM; quiet hours 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. No loud audio devices or other noise disturbances will be allowed in the Park during this time. Generators are only permitted in six Yellowstone campgrounds and the Fishing Bridge RV Park.
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