Late September in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons.....

Gen Disarray · 08-07-2005, 09:08 AM

I am considering a late September visit to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national park. I have been several times in the summer, but never late in the season and never with a TT. Can anyone give me specific insight into visiting the park at that point in the year? Do campsites fill up? are services cut back? Are some campgrounds particularlly good that time of year? And of course, any Yellowstone/TT specific information would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

jordandvm · 08-07-2005, 10:44 AM

GD,
We the did Tetons and Yellowstone last year late Sept on our way to Kansas.........and it was fantastic! The National Park fee will allow you to use both parks for one week. The fall colors are in full force, very few people, no problems getting a campsite without reservations (check which ones are open.... they have closing dates posted on their website). We camped at Fishing Bridge (hookups available) in Yellowstone, and Colter Bay (no hookups where we camped) in the Tetons. The nights are cold! We exited Yellowstone via Sylvan Pass, which had certain hours of use posted, extensive construction ongoing, and was a bit harrowing as it was steep, narrow, bumpy, and muddy. If you're planning on using that route, check ahead on the status.
I've included some pics of what you'll expect to see at that time of year!
Have a great trip!

pmclemore · 08-07-2005, 11:36 AM

What a great answer to his question. You have also planted a germ of a fall trip idea in my mind by posting such beautiful pix.

Thanks - Pat

Gen Disarray · 08-07-2005, 11:43 AM

Thanks Jim and Cheryl,

those pics look fantastic, what sort of temps did you run into? Elks in rut?

Janet's Husband · 08-07-2005, 03:01 PM

Rodney

Try these two web site to help with park info.

http://www.recreationmaps.gov

http://www.recreation.gov

Good start for info.

jordandvm · 08-07-2005, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gen Disarray

Thanks Jim and Cheryl,

those pics look fantastic, what sort of temps did you run into? Elks in rut?

We had frost on the ground Sept 23, 2004 in Colter Bay and arrived in a small wet snow flurry, so does get to freezing. We had our generator with us to recharge our battery (we had a 2004 22' CCD back then). The heater fan draws a lot of juice keeping the chill off at night.
Yes we did see some bull elk sparring in Yellowstone around the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake paint pots. And of course lots of Buffalo.....with crazy tourists walking up to get a closer view

Davydd · 08-07-2005, 09:23 PM

I was at Old Faithful in 1993 the week after Labor Day week for an International Log Builders exposition. That would still be the first half of September. It was nice at first and then turned cold. It got down to 18 degrees one night. I was staying in one of the small cabins that had no heat. It also snowed a few flurries the following day. So it can get cold.

Over 4 days I watched that geyser go off many a time. BTW, it is not as faithful as it used to be. It also gave me time to discover there is a lot more than the one geyser. A walk through the geyser fields will amaze you. There are some geysers more spectacular than Old Faithful but you would have to be lucky to ever see them. One that does go off about every 11 hours is spectacular but I imagine most stop by and go visitors would never see it.

The camp grounds were fairly empty that week. Other than the exposition attendees everyone else seemed to be a foreign tourist.

**CanoeStream** · 08-08-2005, 08:50 AM

Current road construction can be seen at http://www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/roadmap.htm

Better descriptions, including seasonal closings, can be had at http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/or...l/roadclos.htm

jimlegs · 08-23-2005, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davydd

I was at Old Faithful in 1993 the week after Labor Day week for an International Log Builders exposition. That would still be the first half of September. It was nice at first and then turned cold. It got down to 18 degrees one night.

I don't have my new Airstream yet and never owned a trailer before. How does one take care of water when the temps get this low? Do you have to heat the lines? Will my 2006 Safari have provisions for this, or will I have to do some modifications? Should take delivery in about 2-3 weeks.
Thanks in advance.

Jim

65GT · 08-23-2005, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordandvm

GD,
We exited Yellowstone via Sylvan Pass, which had certain hours of use posted, extensive construction ongoing, and was a bit harrowing as it was steep, narrow, bumpy, and muddy. If you're planning on using that route, check ahead on the status.

We left there in June on your only other entry point coming from the east, the northeast entrance. While it wasn't as bad as what's written above, they were completely changing the direction of Rte 212 in some places and we sat for more than a half hour waiting for an escort truck to come back and take us eastbound shortly after leaving the park. West bound was waiting for the same escort truck -- he just kept going back and forth... So, if it's still going on (they were plowing new paths, leveling dirt and gravel -- all BIG earth-mover stuff), I don't know if harrowing is better than sitting (just kidding). But maybe the northeast is harrowing now too!

_
__

Condoluminum · 08-23-2005, 10:59 PM

Jim-

Welcome (almost) to Airstream World... Good news is that your trailer has double floor with skin under tanks and water lines, and when you're in it with heat on, heater will keep lines from freezing, as part of warm air goes into gap below trailer floor.. Movement when towing should also keep water from freezing in lines, though if temps get really cold that might not work out.. Members who leave trailers parked in cold country for winter drain water lines (per owner's manual) to avoid risks..

That part of Wyoming usually gets one snow sometime in second half of Sept, but it usually remains on ground for a day or two and then melts away... Does get cold at night though...

John McG

wheel interested · 08-23-2005, 11:11 PM

So you think late September this year and the colors might be peaking?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordandvm

GD,
We the did Tetons and Yellowstone last year late Sept on our way to Kansas.........and it was fantastic! The National Park fee will allow you to use both parks for one week. The fall colors are in full force, very few people, no problems getting a campsite without reservations (check which ones are open.... they have closing dates posted on their website). We camped at Fishing Bridge (hookups available) in Yellowstone, and Colter Bay (no hookups where we camped) in the Tetons. The nights are cold! We exited Yellowstone via Sylvan Pass, which had certain hours of use posted, extensive construction ongoing, and was a bit harrowing as it was steep, narrow, bumpy, and muddy. If you're planning on using that route, check ahead on the status.
I've included some pics of what you'll expect to see at that time of year!
Have a great trip!

jordandvm · 08-24-2005, 01:58 AM

We hit Yellowstone NP Sept 26 last year and the colors were gorgeous! I think that's a great time to visit.....but no guarantees!