Parked for a Day

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A ‘moderate’ hike to view Tetons from Huckleberry Mountain Fire Lookout

Deb Ehlers tends to her dogs, Kirwin and Maggie, on the Huckleberry Mountain trail in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. (Tom Ehlers, Jr. - click to enlarge)

Once we made it to Huckleberry Ridge, we found evidence of recent bear presence, with numerous piles of bear scat filled with berries on and along the trail. The Internet description of the hike had indicated that when the huckleberries ripen, the ridge is a favorite feeding spot for grizzly bears, and to this we found evidence of truth! Continue Reading →

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A great day hiking and boating around Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park

For a great day hiking and taking in amazing scenery in Grand Teton National Park, the area around the southern part of Jenny Lake is hard to beat. It is understandably one of the most popular spots in the park. We started our day of hiking around Jenny Lake early by taking one of the first shuttle boat rides across the lake. There is a small fee for the boat ride, but you can select either round-trip or one way, depending on your plans. You can also walk around the southern end of Jenny Lake. Continue Reading →

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Take a leisurely stroll along Slough Creek in northern Yellowstone Park

For an enjoyable early or late season hike in Yellowstone, the Slough Creek Trail offers unparalleled scenery and great fishing. The trail starts near the Slough Creek Campground and travels 11 miles to the Park's northern boundary, following Slough Creek for most of the way. This excellent trail is actually an old wagon road leading to the Silver Tip Ranch, just north of Yellowstone. The road is still used by ranch residents to gain access to the Silver Tip, so don't be surprised if you encounter a few horse-drawn wagons on your journey. If you do, please follow proper trail etiquette and step off the trail to allow them to pass. Continue Reading →

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Yellowstone’s Kite Hill Cemetery at Mammoth is home to mysterious graves

The Kite Hill Cemetery is not to be confused with a separate military cemetery in Mammoth near horse corrals. Kite Hill is a civilian cemetery for early park workers and non-military residents. It has 14 graves, but only one monument still stands, marking two graves. The identities of at least three people buried remain a mystery. Continue Reading →

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Midway Bluff in Yellowstone Park offers sweeping views of Grand Prismatic Spring and Excelsior Geyser Crater

A hike up to Midway Bluff in Yellowstone National Park requires finding this well-hidden gem of a trail, which is strenuous, but well worth the effort, offering a view you'll never forget! If you take your time, have good hiking footwear and pause frequently, you will be rewarded at the top of this trail with a spectacular view of the entire Midway Geyser Basin. Grand Prismatic Spring and Excelsior Geyser will be visible in all their colorful glory! And you'll get a view of them that few visitors ever get to see first-hand. Continue Reading →

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Enjoy one of the best hikes in Yellowstone Park: “It’s a Hell roarer!”

For a spectacular late spring hike in Yellowstone National Park, the Hellroaring Creek Trail is not to be missed. For some moderate effort, you will be rewarded with incredible scenery, wildflower-filled meadows and exceptional birding — as well as the possibility of encountering some of Yellowstone's famed large mammals. Hellroaring Creek was named in the 1860's by A.H. Hubble, part of a group of prospectors searching for gold in Yellowstone country. During their expedition, Hubble ventured ahead of his party to scout the area. When he returned to his group, he was asked what kind of creek lay ahead and he replied: "It's a hellroarer." The name stuck, and for good reason. Continue Reading →

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Grand Teton serenity, history and philanthropy at the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve

My favorite place to visit in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem is the Laurance S. Rockefeller (LSR) Preserve, a refuge of slightly more than 1,000 acres within Grand Teton National Park, located on the southern end of Phelps Lake. The area belonged to the Rockefeller family and was called the JY Ranch, and was donated to the National Park Service in 2001. Continue Reading →

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Wildlife Watching 101: Grizzly Bears in Yellowstone National Park

For wildlife watchers, the area around Yellowstone Lake is prime spring grizzly habitat. Because Lake-area thermal features keep much of the hillsides free of lingering snow, this is a favorite early season haunt for Yellowstone’s grizzlies. When scouting this area for bears, Steamboat Point and Sedge Bay are two locations not to be missed. Although still snow-covered in spring, Hayden Valley is another grizzly favorite. Be sure to bring your binoculars so you can glass the hillsides for grizzlies and other wildlife foraging for succulent spring grasses. Continue Reading →

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View Grand Teton while you stroll along Jackson Lake Dam

Park your vehicle at the upper parking lots at Jackson Lake Dam. Walk west across the dam onto earthen portion of the dam. You will be rewarded with expansive wetlands on the north side that are home to elk, moose, grizzly bears, cranes, beavers and more, and you will experience the beauty of Jackson Lake and the Teton Mountain range on your south. Continue Reading →

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