Indholdsfortegnelse for Yellowstone 2022 i National Park Journal

National Park Journal|Yellowstone 2022

Editor’s Note

When Yellowstone became a national park on March 1, 1872, it was the first of its kind in the world. The notion of setting aside wild land to protect it from development was alien to a lot of Americans back then. At the time, progress was often measured by how many towns and cities we could carve out of the land, land that was more often than not already occupied by Native American tribes and thousands of species of animals. In the name of progress, the park’s wolf, bison and grizzly bear populations dwindled over time. By 1916, the nation’s last 23 wild bison remained in Yellowstone’s Pelican Valley, and wolves were nonexistent. Yet, some of the nation’s first species recovery efforts began in Yellowstone, and today, you’re highly likely…

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National Park Journal|Yellowstone 2022

YELLOWSTONE’S TOP SIX

1 WAKE UP WITH THE WOLVES For your best chance of seeing a wolf, get up before sunrise and head to the Lamar Valley in the park’s northeast corner. 2 HIKE MOUNT WASHBURN It’s a great 6-mile round-trip hike to the 10,243-foot summit of Mount Washburn. Because of potential road closures, check with park staff to make sure you can access the Dunraven Pass Trailhead 4.5 miles north of Canyon Junction. 3 EAT AT ROOSEVELT LODGE* Built in 1920, this log cabin restaurant has a front porch with rocking chairs where you can have a drink and wait for a table to open up inside. 4 SEE MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS Walk on a mile-long boardwalk to see the colorful travertine terraces formed by hot springs rising to the surface and…

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National Park Journal|Yellowstone 2022

CHOOSE YOUR HIKE

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS The Mammoth Hot Springs 1.75-mile boardwalk trail enables you to see this iconic landmark up-close. It takes about an hour to explore the Upper and Lower terraces, home to about 50 hot springs. On the Lower Terrace, the Liberty Cap cone rises up 37 feet and allegedly got its name because of its resemblance to the peaked caps worn during the French Revolution. STORM POINT Enjoy incredible views of the enormous Yellowstone Lake during this 2.3-mile easy loop hike. The trail begins at a turnout at Indian Pond, 3 miles east of the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center. Hike along the shoreline, through a meadow and a lodgepole pine forest and look for bison, eagles and bears. Because of the extremely cold temperatures of the lake water, which…

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National Park Journal|Yellowstone 2022

FIVE BEAR TIPS

Nervous about hiking and camping in grizzly country? You’re not alone. We talked to Chuck Bartlebaugh of the Be Bear Aware Campaign who has traveled extensively across the U.S. and Canada studying bears and helping develop best practices for avoiding dangerous encounters with these awe-inspiring creatures. Here’s Bartebaugh’s five tips for safely navigating bear country. 1 Hike in a group. Bears are less likely to charge a group than an individual. Don’t let children lag behind or run ahead. 2 Remember the golden rules. Bears just want to be left alone. If you see a bear, let them know you’re there with a nonthreatening voice and look for an option to move out of the bear’s travel route. 3 Always carry a quality bear spray. Not all…

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National Park Journal|Yellowstone 2022

ROCKY’S Top Six

1 WATCH THE SUN RISE Wake up early to get to Bear Lake and hike 1.1 miles around the lake to catch the sun casting light over Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain. Arrive 30 minutes before dawn. 2 HIKE TO OUZEL FALLS To see three waterfalls, head to the Wild Basin area of the park. Along the Wild Basin Trail, you'll see Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls. It's a 5.4-mile out-and-back moderately rated trail. 3 GO HORSEBACK RIDING Saddle up at Glacier Creek stables, the only stables inside the park, which are run by Hi Country Stables. 4 WATCH WILDLIFE Spot moose in the Kawuneeche Valley along the Colorado River and in the willows west of the Continental Divide. Note: this area will be recovering this year since…

With overflowing flower baskets and gorgeously restored historic buildings lining its main street, Philipsburg is one of Montana’s most charming towns. Once a booming mining town, it’s the kind of place that makes you want to sit on one of its sidewalk benches and watch the world go by. But first, explore the town’s enormous handmade candy store, The Sweet Palace, which is a destination in its own right. Amid the Victorian-era decor, you’ll find 50 kinds of fudge, 20 types of caramel and incredible treats like Dark Chocolate Premium Moose Truffles made with Moose Drool Brown Ale by Big Sky Brewing Co. Next door is Sapphire Gallery where you can literally sift through dirt to find sapphires. When you buy a bag of gravel containing local sapphires, staff will…

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National Park Journal|Yellowstone 2022

INTO THE WILD

WOLF About 90 wolves roam in eight packs in Yellowstone, with about 450 wolves in the greater Yellowstone area. Highly social, they hunt elk, deer and bison. In 1995, the first 14 wolves from Canada were reintroduced. SEE THEM: In Yellowstone, wolf packs roam the Lamar Valley, Hayden Valley, Canyon area and Blacktail Deer Plateau. Dawn and dusk are the best times to look. In Grand Teton, see them in Willow Flats. ELK In summer about 10,000-20,000 elk live in Yellowstone. The population drops to 5,000 in winter. Many elk winter in the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, Wyo. Adult bull elk weigh up to 700 pounds, while adult females may weigh up to 500 pounds. SEE THEM: In Yellowstone go to Mammoth Hot Springs, Lamar Valley, Norris Junction, Gibbon…

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National Park Journal|Yellowstone 2022

WHERE TO STAY

OLD FAITHFUL INN Built in 1903-04, the Old Faithful Inn is arguably Yellowstone’s most iconic hotel. It’s a National Historic Landmark and the world’s largest log cabin structure. Its lobby was designed to create a sense of community, and you'll find people from all over the world gathering and listening to the live music in the lobby. It’s a two-minute stroll from Old Faithful. Make dinner reservations at Old Faithful Dining Room or eat breakfast or lunch there since those two meals are first-come, first-served. OLD FAITHFUL LODGE CABINS* Built during the 1920s, the Old Faithful Lodge Cabins offer great access to the iconic Old Faithful geyser. It’s about a two-minute stroll to Old Faithful from the cabins. Old Faithful Lodge Cabins should not be confused with its older neighbor,…

In 1896, this tiny town nestled into the folds of Montana’s gentle hillsides produced a quarter of the world’s supply of copper and half of the United States’ supply, according to the Mining History Association. Take a Butte Trolley Tour to learn about Butte’s colorful history and see the largest National Historic Landmark District in the West. Butte’s buildings have stunning architectural details that masons at the turn-of-the-century painstakingly created. The tour also brings you by the Copper King Mansion where you can spend the night. The 34-room abode was home to W.A. Clark, a Butte mining giant who was one of the world’s richest men in 1900. The house cost an estimated $500,000 to build, which represented a half-day’s income. Visit the Berkeley Pit, a one-mile-long and half-mile-wide open…

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