2017 Yellowstone Trip

Infographic

Apps
• Gypsy Guide- Yellowstone and Grand Teton Tour App (best $9 I’ve ever spent!)
• License plate game (we spotted 47 states)

Our route

Kids
• Free National Parks pass for 4th graders
• Junior Ranger Program (free at most parks, $3 at Yellowstone)

Parker and Bison

Camping Gear
• REI Kingdom 8 Tent
• Coleman Pack-Away Cot (adults)
• Regalo Portable Toddler Bed
• REI Kindercone 30 Sleeping Bag
• Coleman Propane Stove
• Stanley Base Camp cook set
• LED Lanterns
• Bear Spray

Grand Teton campsite

Camp Meals and Snacks
• Breakfast: yogurt, oatmeal, bagels, breakfast burritos, omelets/scrambled eggs, pancakes
• Lunch/Dinner: ham/turkey and cheese wraps/sandwiches, walking tacos, campfire pizza, hot dogs, grilled cheese, mac and cheese, sausage and potatoes skillet
• Snacks: fruit (apples, oranges, grapes, bananas), applesauce, carrots, granola bars, trail mix

Cooking over the campfire

Day 1- Sunday, July 30, 2017
Minneapolis, MN to Wall, SD (517 miles/7 hr 30 mins)
• Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store in Jordan, MN
• Lunch at All Day Café in Sioux Falls, SD
• Corn Palace, Mitchell, SD
• Badlands National Park- highlight: big horn sheep!
• Dinner at Cedar Pass Lodge
• Wall Drug, Wall, SD
• Overnight at Best Western Plains Motel, Wall SD

Amateur Ansel Adams

Day 2- Monday, July 31, 2017
Wall, SD to Casper, WY (303 miles/4 hr 30 mins)
• Mount Rushmore- highlight: Junior Ranger program (even Parker participated)
• Lunch and ice cream (based on Thomas Jefferson’s original recipe from 1780!) at Carvers Cafe
• Dinner Pizza Ranch delivered to the hotel
• Overnight at Mainstay Suites Casper, WY

Mt Rushmore

Day 3- Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Casper, WY to Moose, WY (320 miles/5 hr 40 mins)
• Picked up supplies at Walmart Riverton, WY
• Lunch at The Bunnery, Jackson, WY
• Explored Jackson, WY- highlights: Town Square with elk antler arches collected from the National Elk Refuge and lots of souvenir shops
• Grand Teton National Park- highlight: Junior Ranger program, Park Ranger pronghorn presentation
• Overnight at Colter Bay Tent Village (reservation)

Parker's collection of rocks

Day 4- Wednesday, August 2, 2017
• Set up tent at Colter Bay Campground (first come, first serve)
• Grand Teton National Park- highlights: Mormon Row, Chapel of the Transfiguration, Snake River Overlook (channeling Ansel Adams)
• Park Ranger horns vs antlers presentation

Junior Ranger badge

Day 5- Thursday, August 3, 2017
• Grand Teton National Park- highlights: Jackson Lake Lodge (gorgeous view and there’s a Starbucks coffee cart ☺), Jenny Lake Visitor Center, Jackson Lake trail hike
• Overnight at Colter Bay Campground

Grand Tetons

Day 5- Friday, August 4, 2017
• Packed up camp after breakfast
• Laundry and showers at Colter Bay Village
• Lunch at Leek’s Pizzeria, Moran, WY
• Yellowstone National Park- highlights: Kepler Cascades, Old Faithful, Junior Ranger program,
• Set up camp at Bridge Bay Campground (reservation)

Mormon Row, Grand Tetons

Day 6- Saturday, August 5, 2017
• Yellowstone National Park- highlights: Mud Volcano, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Upper Falls, Canyon Visitor Education Center, Tower Fall, Mammoth Hot Springs, Albright Visitor Center
• Overnight at Bridge Bay Campground

Sapphire Pool, Yellowstone

Day 7- Sunday, August 6, 2017
• Yellowstone National Park- highlights:  Biscuit Basin, Sapphire Pool, Midway Geyser Basin, Grand Prismatic Spring, Lower Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pot, Madison: Junior Ranger Station, Park Ranger wildflower presentation, Norris Geyser Basin, Park Ranger wildlife presentation, bison in Lamar Valley
• Overnight at Bridge Bay Campground

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone

Day 8- Monday, August 7, 2017
• Yellowstone National Park- highlights:  Fishing Bridge, Grant Visitor Center, Fairy Falls Trail, Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook (do not miss!), Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, Lake Village
• Dinner at Lake Lodge Cafeteria
• Overnight at Bridge Bay Campground

Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook, Yellowstone

Day 9- Tuesday August 8
Colter Bay Village, WY to Bozeman, MT (191 miles/4 hr 30 mins)
• Packed up camp after breakfast
• Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman MT (dinosaurs!)
• Dinner at Montana Ale Works, Bozeman, MT
• Overnight at My Place Hotel-Bozeman, MT

Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman, MT

Day 10- Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Bozeman, MT to Dickinson, ND (458 miles/6 hr 20 mins)
• Granny's Gourmet Donuts, Bozeman, MT
• Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Medora, ND- highlight: Junior Ranger program
• Bryan, Sophie and Jack- Medora Musical
• Overnight at La Quinta Inn and Suites Dickinson, ND

Junior Ranger

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Day 11- Thursday, August 10, 2017
Dickinson, ND to Fargo ND (292 miles/4 hr 15 mins)
• Overnight at a friend’s house

Day 12- Friday, August 11, 2017
Fargo, ND to Isle, MN (185 miles/3 hr 30 mins)
• Overnight at Father Hennepin State Park- camping with friends, highlight: Park Ranger amphitheater program

Camping with friends

Day 13- Saturday, August 12, 2017
• Overnight at Father Hennepin State Park- camping with friends
• DeCorsa Vineyard and Farm Winery, Isle, MN

Day 14- Sunday, August 13, 2017
Isle, MN to Minneapolis, MN (92 miles/1hr 40 mins)
• HOME SWEET HOME!