Much of the area around Utah
being a desert, driving is not always a pleasure. In summer, with temperatures
routinely above 100 degrees, the prospect of driving south towards Las Vegas or
Grand Canyon is not exactly pleasant. The stunning beauty of the rock
formations of Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce and Zion is better enjoyed in the
cooler months.
My parents were visiting us in
end of June (2018), and they had already visited the east coast through Veena
World. We wanted to go a place that was totally different, and was unique to
this part of the country. Yellowstone
was a place we had heard a lot about, and its volcanic features are something
not found elsewhere in the US. It’s not a very long drive from Salt Lake City (quickest
route 325 miles to West Entrance), and takes you via the scenic landscapes in
Idaho and Wyoming.
The I-15 via Idaho falls to West Yellowstone is probably one
of the quickest routes to the park, as you travel mostly along the highway. In
Idaho Falls (it’s actually a city, no Falls there really) we were surprised to
find an Indian restaurant called “Tandoori Oven”. The owner, a Punjabi, told us
that he moved from Salt Lake City a few years ago to start this venture. Like
most of the Indian restaurants in SLC, the patrons were local Americans. After
a sumptuous lunch, we proceeded further into rural territory. Rural Idaho is
potato country, producing a significant portion of high quality potatoes in the
US. The vast green fields are stretch for miles across the country side.
There are many hotels and other lodging options along the
entire periphery of Yellowstone. Summer being peak season for travel, the prices
can be very high, so it’s better to book in advance. Economic options like
motels are aplenty too, like the Inn we stayed at. Near the West Entrance, it
was a clean but basic motel going by a strange name. (http://www.lazygmotel.com/ ) .
From the West entrance you can divide Yellowstone park in
two convenient loops, one roughly towards the north and the other covering the
south, covering 2 days. If you have additional time on hand, it’s possible to
venture into Grand Teton national Park.
Volcanic activity and
Geysers
Being the largest volcanic system in North America,
Yellowstone has a huge number of geysers and other similar features.
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The most visited is probably the geyser that is most predictable,
hence called “Old faithful”. It throws off water and steam roughly every 90
minutes. You can know the time of the
next eruption at the Old faithful visitor center, and also over the internet,
and plan to be present accordingly.
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The reaction of bacteria and algae with the water and chemicals
of the geysers produces strange landscapes like Grand Prismatic Spring. Its
yellow and green/ blue colors are a sight to watch.
Walkways around the grand prismatic spring take you very
close to the water. Use caution while walking in Yellowstone as some of the
springs are extremely hot and acidic and can cause serious injuries if you step
in. More people have been harmed by the hot water than by bear or bison attacks
in Yellowstone.
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Artist Point
The yellow rock of the Yellowstone Canyon and the waterfall on
the Yellowstone river create a landscape that looks almost like a canvas painting,
hence the name “Artist point”. The point gives stunning views of the Grand
Canyon of the Yellowstone and the river flowing through it.
Artist Point
Wildlife
Yellowstone is home to a large number of bison, deer, moose,
wolves and elk. While bison and deer and common sightings, it takes a bit of
luck to see a wolf or a bear. We were lucky to see two black bears, on the
north-east side of the park, on the way from Mammoth Hot springs to the Artist
point. On a couple of occasions, we had bison stopping the traffic. Their sheer
size made us shiver a little when they passed close to our car!
Along the way
Mesa Falls
On the road from Idaho falls to West Yellowstone are beautiful
waterfalls called Upper and lower Mesa falls. It’s not much of a detour from
the main road, and therefore a must visit. The upper ones are more accessible
and you will find a visitor center and a path that takes you very close to the
falls.
Other more scenic routes
Although the route from I-15 via Idaho falls is the easiest
and quickest (325 miles, 5-6 hours), there are more scenic routes for the more
adventurous. Going via Evanston, one can cover Bear Lake, Afton, Jackson, and
the Grand Teton National park (more bears here than Yellowstone) on the way.
This route would probably take 8-12 hours, depending on the number of detours
made and the place you are staying in Yellowstone. If you go in Autumn, it may
even be worthwhile to go via Logan to Bear Lake and take in the sights at the
Logan Canyon. You can even stay in Jackson, and enter Yellowstone from the
South Entrance.
While returning from Yellowstone, we did not exactly take
this route for want of time, we skipped Jackson but covered Afton and Palisades
Reservoir on the way.
Afton
Afton is home to the world's largest arch made of elk
antlers, spanning 75 feet (23 m) across the four lanes of US Highway 89. There
are quite a few restaurants on the main street, including a Chinese one, and
can be a good place to take some rest and have food.
