Some 1-Star reviews of Yellowstone Park (Idaho Falls, Hayden: school, closing, automobile)

[banjomike]

Here's an amusing article from the Post-Register, Idaho Falls' newspaper.

Not everyone who visits Yellowstone falls in love with it, apparently, but one reviewer liked the place, even though there wasn't any cell phone reception. And no Starbucks. That was a real prob for some of the visitors.

https://www.postregister.com/news/lo...2e7a7b30b.html

[volosong]

Oh man! Yellowstone sounds like such a disappointment. Why would I ever want to go there?



Seriously though . . . looking at the crowds on that boardwalk in that Post Register picture makes me want to stay away. Now that school has started and most of the tourist have gone home, maybe now is the best time to visit.

[NW Crow]

Yes, early September is a good time to visit for reduced crowds.


List of closing dates, if these things matter:


https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/hours.htm

[oregonwoodsmoke]

It's crowded and traffic is often simply parked on the road. One grizzly bear on a hillside and everyone stops to look and traffic backs up for miles. You can't be in a hurry.



Those are people problems, nothing to do with the park which is spectacular.


The last time I was there, Old Faithful was off schedule so we had to sit around and wait until it finally went off. However, I know for a fact that you can get a cup of coffee.

[banjomike]

Dang! No cell phone, and the rocks aren't even yellow! (except in the canyon.)

I necwe go to Yellowstone in the summer season any more. Too many people. But Crow's right- in September, it's great! The trees turn color early in the park because it's so high and cold there.

[pnwguy2]

Yellowstone is a great park but there can be periods where there is little wildlife to be found. But the general park is consistent with the geysers and hot springs. Well worth the trip even if you don’t see wildlife. It is not guaranteed.

[nm9stheham]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

It's crowded and traffic is often simply parked on the road. One grizzly bear on a hillside and everyone stops to look and traffic backs up for miles. You can't be in a hurry.

Reminds me of a trip there where a bunch of folks were stopped looking at a 'bear' up in the woods. We zoomed in it with our zoom lens.... a rock. We just nudged each other, giggled quietly, and moved on...

[volosong]

Originally Posted by NW Crow

Yes, early September is a good time to visit for reduced crowds.


List of closing dates, if these things matter:


https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Some of my most memorable visits to the park were in that short Springtime window where the roads are clear of snow, but the park isn't open to vehicular traffic. It is the transition season when the park is getting ready for summer crowds. They do let bicycles enter the park. The only roads they close to bicycles are where bears are involved in mating rituals.

Is there an Autumn "shoulder" season where cars are prohibited, but bicycles can continue entering the park?

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by volosong

Some of my most memorable visits to the park were in that short Springtime window where the roads are clear of snow, but the park isn't open to vehicular traffic. It is the transition season when the park is getting ready for summer crowds. They do let bicycles enter the park. The only roads they close to bicycles are where bears are involved in mating rituals.

Is there an Autumn "shoulder" season where cars are prohibited, but bicycles can continue entering the park?

I'll bet there is, at least in part of the park. The road from the north entrance to Gardiner, which lies just above the northwest entrance, is the only access Gardiner has to the outside world in the winters, so it's plowed and cleared all year.

I'm sure that would allow bicycles too, at least through the Hayden valley part of the park, the Mammoth Springs area, and probably down as far as the W. Yellowstone entrance or Old Faithful.

There's winter traffic in all of these areas, and while automobiles may not be permitted, bicycles sure could be. They only close the roads down to prepare for the seasonal changes in traffic.

[NW Crow]

https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvis...-bicycling.htm

https://rootsrated.com/stories/bikin...rides-for-fall