In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are diving into one of the parks we get the most questions about - Yellowstone!
Since everyone starts trip planning after the holidays, we figured this was the perfect time to tell you everything you need to know about this beautiful park in case …In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are diving into one of the parks we get the most questions about - Yellowstone!
Since everyone starts trip planning after the holidays, we figured this was the perfect time to tell you everything you need to know about this beautiful park in case you’re heading there this year. So come along as we explore Yellowstone!
Join us as we cover:
What we love about Old Faithful
Why Grand Prismatic is so cool
Why the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a must for your first trip
Our favorite viewpoint in the Canyon area
Hiking trails you don’t want to miss
Food to try while visiting Yellowstone
What we think of the “Great One Buffalo”
Our favorite things about the Norris Geyser Basin
The wildlife you can find in Lamar Valley
The differences between the northern and southern loops
Don’t miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/episode-10-exploring-yellowstone/
Planning your own Yellowstone National Park adventure?
Dirt in My Shoes Yellowstone Itinerary: https://shop.dirtinmyshoes.com/products/yellowstone-itinerary
Dirt In My Shoes Yellowstone National Park Planning Resources: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/yellowstone-national-park/
Episode 73: The Best Places in Yellowstone to See Wildlife: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/best-places-to-see-wildlife-in-yellowstone-national-park/
Episode 112: Yellowstone Tips — What You Need to Know Before You Go!: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/yellowstone-tips-what-you-need-to-know-before-you-go/
Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/
National Park Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/
Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/more
Patrick Doyle, from Visit Montana, discussed the ghost towns, badlands, and Native American sights found in Big Sky Country's state parks. He also discussed why rodeos are such a fun lens into the state's culture and traditions, and when is the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park.
Takeaway…Patrick Doyle, from Visit Montana, discussed the ghost towns, badlands, and Native American sights found in Big Sky Country's state parks. He also discussed why rodeos are such a fun lens into the state's culture and traditions, and when is the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park.
Takeaways:
• Montana is characterized by vast landscapes and a relatively low population density, which affects visitor experiences.
• The state has numerous historical sites, including Fort Owen and St. Mary's Mission, which tell of the state's early days.
• Bannock State Park, a well-preserved ghost town, offers a unique glimpse into Montana's past as the first territorial capital.
• The Bitterroot Valley is rich in history and outdoor activities, making it an ideal destination for tourists seeking adventure.
Companies and destinations mentioned in this episode:
• Yellowstone National Park
• Montana
• Billings
• Bozeman
• Missoula
• Darby
• Fort Owen
• St. Mary's Mission
• Makoshakea State Park
• Medicine Rock State Park
• Carter County Museum
• Bannock State Park
• Montana State University
• Western Montana College
• North American Indian Days
• Crow Fair
• Wild Horse Stampede
Mentioned in this episode:
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This podcast is part of the Voyascape Travel Network, that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com.
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During a typical summer day at Yellowstone National Park roughly 3,000 vehicles enter through the North Entrance and head down to Mammoth Hot Springs so their passengers can begin their park adventure.
Up until June 2022 their route took them along the Gardner River. But that all changed on June 13…During a typical summer day at Yellowstone National Park roughly 3,000 vehicles enter through the North Entrance and head down to Mammoth Hot Springs so their passengers can begin their park adventure.
Up until June 2022 their route took them along the Gardner River. But that all changed on June 13, 2022, when a once-in-500-years rainstorm, falling on top of snow cover, sent waters rampaging down the Yellowstone, Lamar, and Gardner rivers.
Those flood waters took out sections of both the northeast and north entrance roads in the park. While the gaps in the Northeast Entrance Road were patched relatively quickly, the North Entrance Road through Gardiner Canyon remains closed to traffic. Instead, vehicles are temporarily using the Old Gardiner Road, a stagecoach route that was relatively quickly rehabilitated to handle vehicle traffic.
Since the flood, the National Park Service has been looking for a permanent route from Gardiner Montana, to Mammoth Hot Springs that would avoid going all the way through the Gardiner Canyon. Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly joins us today to explain the decision-making that has gone into finding that route. more
It's been five years since our first visit to Yellowstone National Park, and our return trip this spring was a whole different experience! If you're planning a trip to Yellowstone or just love hearing about epic RV journeys, this is an episode you won't want to miss!
*Become an RV Miles Mile Marker …It's been five years since our first visit to Yellowstone National Park, and our return trip this spring was a whole different experience! If you're planning a trip to Yellowstone or just love hearing about epic RV journeys, this is an episode you won't want to miss!
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00:00 Introduction02:26 Planning Your Yellowstone Trip03:13 Journey from Grand Teton to Yellowstone04:16 West Yellowstone Campground Experience07:13 Exploring West Yellowstone Town15:05 Dining in West Yellowstone21:11 Yellowstone National Park Overview22:51 Exploring the Southwest Quadrant29:53 Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin37:00 Staying at Fishing Bridge Campground47:30 Magical Moments at Fishing Bridge55:02 Wildlife Adventures in Hayden Valley58:02 Meeting Fellow Travelers in Yellowstone59:31 Canyon Area and Grand Canyon of Yellowstone01:03:13 Dining and Lodging in Yellowstone01:06:07 Norris Geyser Basin01:11:05 Date Night at Mammoth01:19:44 Exiting Through the East Entrance01:23:21 Tanks01:36:38 Outro
Track SSTK_MUSIC_ID 437726– Monetization ID MONETIZATION_ID AMXDXB4BX5FLHUYE.more
Elisabeth Kwak Hefferin, author of the just-released guidebook Frommer's Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks was our first guest, followed by Frommers.com's Editor in Chief Jason Cochran who just returned from a cruise on NCL's newest ship.
Mentioned in this episode:
Check out all of our othe…Elisabeth Kwak Hefferin, author of the just-released guidebook Frommer's Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks was our first guest, followed by Frommers.com's Editor in Chief Jason Cochran who just returned from a cruise on NCL's newest ship.
Mentioned in this episode:
Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Travel Network, that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com.
If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.
Voyascape Podcast Network
Check out the Smart Travel Podcast
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:
There are sounds that wake you up out of a deep sleep, only to be dismissed as you fall back to sleep. And then there are sounds that rivet you, make you sit bolt upright.
That was the type of sound that woke us while we were deep in the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park. Sunrise hadn't yet …There are sounds that wake you up out of a deep sleep, only to be dismissed as you fall back to sleep. And then there are sounds that rivet you, make you sit bolt upright.
That was the type of sound that woke us while we were deep in the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park. Sunrise hadn't yet come, yet we were wide awake, listening to one of the most mesmerizing sounds you can encounter in the wilds: The melodious rising and falling howl of a wolf.
It was late summer in 2008 when two friends and I were lucky enough to catch that howling. Had it been 20 years earlier, there would have been an audible hole in the park sky because there were no wolves in Yellowstone in 1988.
It was an effort launched early in the 1990s that returned the predators to the park in January 12, 1995 – 30 years ago – when 14 wolves trapped in Canada were brought into Yellowstone to kick off an audacious effort to see healthy wolf packs loping through the park.
How have they done? To find out, our guest today is Eric Clewis, the Northern Rockies senior representative for Defenders of Wildlife.more
Many of us like to take a walk in our favorite national park, whether it's a short stroll down one of the boardwalks at Yellowstone National Park, the hike to the top of Old Rag at Shenandoah National Park, or up the Mist Trail at Yosemite National Park, we like to get out and experience parks up cl…Many of us like to take a walk in our favorite national park, whether it's a short stroll down one of the boardwalks at Yellowstone National Park, the hike to the top of Old Rag at Shenandoah National Park, or up the Mist Trail at Yosemite National Park, we like to get out and experience parks up close.
As you might imagine, there are walks in the National Park System, and then there are walks. Kevin Fedarko and his photographic sidekick Pete McBride took one of those "other" hikes in Grand Canyon National Park. And it didn't initially go as planned. While Fedarko raised some serious blisters on his feet that required duct tape to protect, McBride almost needed a medical evacuation from the backcountry.
Still, the hike - or rather hikes - generated a compelling book from Fedarko titled, appropriately enough, "A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon".more
As the National Mammal and a symbol closely tied to the National Park Service and the national parks, bison are highly revered in the United States. But that doesn't mean they're free of controversy.
Recently the staff at Yellowstone National Park released the Final Environmental Impact Statement o…As the National Mammal and a symbol closely tied to the National Park Service and the national parks, bison are highly revered in the United States. But that doesn't mean they're free of controversy.
Recently the staff at Yellowstone National Park released the Final Environmental Impact Statement on a bison management plan for the park. The preferred alternative in that plan calls for a bison herd ranging in number between "about 3,500 to 6,000 animals after calving." It also calls for a continuation of the transfer of bison to tribal lands via the Bison Conservation Transfer Program, and continuation of both a "tribal treaty harvest" and public hunting outside the park to regulate numbers.
But is that a good plan? We're going to discuss that today with Erik Molvar, the executive director of the Western Watersheds Project which long has followed how the Park Service has managed bison in Yellowstone. more
I'm back in the USA, and this time I'll be in Billings, Montana and Yellowstone National Park, where I get up close with a bunch of buffalos and big bear.
I also visit a unique landmark without aliens.
See pictures and read blog post here: www.theradiovagabond.com/259-usa/
It’s that time of year again — time to start thinking about Yellowstone National Park! In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we discuss the amazing wildlife that can be seen in Yellowstone.
The wildlife in this park is incredible. It’s the North American Safari! Join us as we explore the…It’s that time of year again — time to start thinking about Yellowstone National Park! In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we discuss the amazing wildlife that can be seen in Yellowstone.
The wildlife in this park is incredible. It’s the North American Safari! Join us as we explore the top spots in Yellowstone to see wildlife, with a sprinkle of wildlife-themed dad jokes along the way!
In this episode, we discuss:
The unmatched spot in this park to see the best wildlife
Where to find the most buffalo
The best spots to see wolves
Our favorite places to see grizzly bears
The one place to go if you want to see some elk
The different types of birds you can see in the park
Where to see the fastest animals in North America
The best times of year to see these animals
We hope you enjoyed hearing about the wildlife in Yellowstone. This park is packed full of amazing wildlife, and we hope you get the chance to see it this year!
Don’t forget to complete your task for this week! Have you had a wildlife encounter in Yellowstone? Tell us about it! Head over to the Dirt In My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and let us know!
Check out the full show notes here.more
For this episode, Mandela stepped back as a producer and asked Dr. Nathan Varley to interview his friend and colleague, Leo Leckie. During one of the coldest days recorded, they discuss close encounters with grizzly bears, famous Yellowstone wolves, and the incredible ways in which wolves are helpin…For this episode, Mandela stepped back as a producer and asked Dr. Nathan Varley to interview his friend and colleague, Leo Leckie. During one of the coldest days recorded, they discuss close encounters with grizzly bears, famous Yellowstone wolves, and the incredible ways in which wolves are helping underprivileged youth in southern california.
Leo Leckie is the co-founder of the Yellowstone Wolf Family Tree on Ancestry.com. Leo has given everyone the opportunity to follow the bloodlines as well as the stories behind the wolves of Yellowstone National Park from the reintroduction in 1995 to today. Leo is a writer, an author and an storyteller.
During this recording, the team runs into bison and other key stone species.
The radio version of the show premieres Sunday nights at 6 MST, streaming live online at Trail1033.com & locally (Missoula) on the Trail 103.3 FM
This episode was recorded on location in collaboration with Xplorer Maps. We want to extend boatloads of gratitude to Xplorer Maps for their generous support of this podcast and international outreach programs paired with conservation projects. Learn more at XplorerMaps.com and be sure to follow the adventures of their story maps on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
Xplorer Maps is a small family business based in Missoula, Montana with deep roots in Africa. Xplorer Maps has over 60+ hand drawn story maps of destinations from all over the world, including our national parks.
PART II of our interview with Dr. Nathan Varley. This interview was recorded in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park whilst observing wolves with Dr. Varley.
Nathan grew up in Yellowstone National Park in the tiny community of Mammoth Hot Springs. His parents have been biologists and park …PART II of our interview with Dr. Nathan Varley. This interview was recorded in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park whilst observing wolves with Dr. Varley.
Nathan grew up in Yellowstone National Park in the tiny community of Mammoth Hot Springs. His parents have been biologists and park rangers that have lived and worked in the park for 3 decades. Following in the family footsteps, Nathan studied biology at Montana State University where he earned B. S. and M. S. degrees.
The ecology of mountain goats in the Absaroka Mountains on Yellowstone's eastern edge was his research topic. Further adventure in wildlife studies took him among moose in Alaska, guanacos in Patagonia, and pine marten in Idaho.
His trails have led home as often as afar, where Yellowstone's coyotes, bears, river otters and gray wolves became primary study subjects. As a contributor to the historic gray wolf restoration project he has often been in the field tracking wolves. His research at the University of Alberta focused on the relationship between wolves and elk after wolf reintroduction.
With his wife, Linda Thurston, Nathan owns his own wildlife touring business group, Yellowstone Wolf Tracker which specializes in outfitting groups to view wolves, other wildlife, and all that the Yellowstone wilderness has to offer.
This is part II of II episodes we recorded with Dr. Varley. Follow the adventures and interviews in real time at TrailLessTraveled.net and be sure to check out our visual series on YouTube!!!
The radio version of the show premieres Sunday nights at 6 MST, streaming live online at Trail1033.com & locally (Missoula) on the Trail 103.3 FM
This episode was recorded on location in collaboration with Xplorer Maps. We want to extend boatloads of gratitude to Xplorer Maps for their generous support of this podcast and international outreach programs paired with conservation projects. Learn more at XplorerMaps.com and be sure to follow the adventures of their story maps on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
Xplorer Maps is a small family business based in Missoula, Montana with deep roots in Africa. Xplorer Maps has over 60+ hand drawn story maps of destinations from all over the world, including our national parks.
Nathan Varley grew up in Yellowstone National Park in the tiny community of Mammoth Hot Springs. His parents have been biologists and park rangers that have lived and worked in the park for 3 decades. Following in the family footsteps, Nathan studied biology at Montana State University where he earn…Nathan Varley grew up in Yellowstone National Park in the tiny community of Mammoth Hot Springs. His parents have been biologists and park rangers that have lived and worked in the park for 3 decades. Following in the family footsteps, Nathan studied biology at Montana State University where he earned B. S. and M. S. degrees.
The ecology of mountain goats in the Absaroka Mountains on Yellowstone's eastern edge was his research topic. Further adventure in wildlife studies took him among moose in Alaska, guanacos in Patagonia, and pine marten in Idaho.
His trails have led home as often as afar, where Yellowstone's coyotes, bears, river otters and gray wolves became primary study subjects. As a contributor to the historic gray wolf restoration project he has often been in the field tracking wolves. His research at the University of Alberta focused on the relationship between wolves and elk after wolf reintroduction.
With his wife, Linda Thurston, Nathan owns his own wildlife touring business group, Yellowstone Wolf Tracker which specializes in outfitting groups to view wolves, other wildlife, and all that the Yellowstone wilderness has to offer.
This is part I of II episodes we recorded with Dr. Varley. Follow the adventures and interviews in real time at TrailLessTraveled.net and be sure to check out our visual series on YouTube!!!
The radio version of the show premieres Sunday nights at 6 MST, streaming live online at Trail1033.com & locally (Missoula) on the Trail 103.3 FM
This episode was recorded on location in collaboration with Xplorer Maps. We want to extend boatloads of gratitude to Xplorer Maps for their generous support of this podcast and international outreach programs paired with conservation projects. Learn more at XplorerMaps.com and be sure to follow the adventures of their story maps on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
Xplorer Maps is a small family business based in Missoula, Montana with deep roots in Africa. Xplorer Maps has over 60+ hand drawn story maps of destinations from all over the world, including our national parks.
Sam Archibald is a Lead Field Educator for Yellowstone Forever.
After completing his B.A. in history, Sam served with the US Peace Corps, working with an Ecuadorian nonprofit organization to develop outdoor leadership and environmental education programs for youth. Sam has continued to focus on out…Sam Archibald is a Lead Field Educator for Yellowstone Forever.
After completing his B.A. in history, Sam served with the US Peace Corps, working with an Ecuadorian nonprofit organization to develop outdoor leadership and environmental education programs for youth. Sam has continued to focus on outdoor education, joining the National Park Service as a Crew Leader for the Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps and earning his Master’s in Environmental Management degree (Western Colorado University). Sam first joined Yellowstone Forever's team as a winter seasonal educator and became a permanent lead educator in 2022. Sam is grateful for every day he gets to spend out in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and looks forward to the continual discoveries offered by this wild and wonderful landscape.
This episode was recorded on location in collaboration with Xplorer Maps. We want to extend boatloads of gratitude to Xplorer Maps for their generous support of this podcast and international outreach programs paired with conservation projects. Learn more at XplorerMaps.com and be sure to follow the adventures of their story maps on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
Xplorer Maps is a small family business based in Missoula, Montana with deep roots in Africa. Xplorer Maps has over 60+ hand drawn story maps of destinations from all over the world, including our national parks. Xplorer Maps and The Trail Less Traveled both share the vision of connecting people and place through storytelling, conservation, art, history and culture. We're collaborating to Bring Cartography to Life through story maps, podcasts, live presentations and a multimedia visual series on social media.
Follow the adventures and interviews in real time at TrailLessTraveled.net and be sure to check out our visual series on YouTube!!!
The radio version of the show premieres Sunday nights at 6 MST, streaming live online at Trail1033.com & locally (Missoula) on the Trail 103.3 FM
Since its completion in 1936, the Beartooth Highway has thrilled millions of visitors with jaw-dropping views of one of the most beautiful and wild areas in the lower 48 states. It seems fitting that a road built 90 years ago to take travelers to and from Yellowstone National Park would be as specta…Since its completion in 1936, the Beartooth Highway has thrilled millions of visitors with jaw-dropping views of one of the most beautiful and wild areas in the lower 48 states. It seems fitting that a road built 90 years ago to take travelers to and from Yellowstone National Park would be as spectacular as the park itself.
In this episode, we talk about the stretch of highway that Charles Kuralt once called “the most beautiful roadway in America.” This 68-mile section of U.S. Highway 212, which runs between Red Lodge and Cooke City, Montana, climbs to almost 11,000 ft at Beartooth Pass, providing road trippers with panoramic views of several stunning mountain ranges, and of course, Beartooth Peak.
This scenic drive has become one of our favorite activities whenever we’re in the area, and no trip to Yellowstone National Park is complete without experiencing this amazing and unique landscape. That is, during the few summer months in which the highway is cleared of snow and open to traffic.
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