Grand Teton, Yellowstone & Glacier National Park Road Trip

The Next Morning…

We got an early start the next morning and grabbed our hot chocolate from a roadside stand in West Yellowstone. Surprisingly, we are not big coffee drinkers. But, just as the sun was starting to peak over the mountain tops, we made it to Gibbon Falls.

It was apparent that it did indeed snow the night before, as the treetops and ground was still covered in light layers. Gibbon Falls has a parking lot close to the road and a paved pathway to make your way south of the lot to take a look at these beautiful views as shown in the photo above. Besides from the chatter of the early bird visitors, the park was quiet and peaceful. I think even the wildlife was a little shocked at the events that occured the night before.

Gibbon Falls is a great stop, with its easy access to view the falls and right off RT 89. I would give this stop a 8/10.

Paintpot Hill

The next stop was unplanned, Paintpot Hill. I know I’ve already said this but the snow made everything this morning magical. I felt like I was in the Disney movie Frozen. The park was covered in fresh powder and it gave you a totally different perspective of the landscape. For a few days we had been enjoying 70 degree days and sunshine. I guess it was such a change of pace, we welcomed it. If we were back home in Illinois, we’d be saying “Not this stuff again!”.

If you haven’t noticed by now, I love taking photos! Follow me on Instagram.

@Navigator.Nick

Artists’ Paintpots, located close to the road between Madison and Norris, is by far the most gorgeous and most popular thermal area of Gibbon Geyser Basin. A one mile loop trail, partly persisting of boardwalks, gives easy and secure access to all features. Artists’ Paintpots is divided into two sections, a ground level, where outstanding colorful hot springs can be found, and an elevated terrace alongside Paint pot Hill, where the mud pots or paint pots are located. Unfortunately, only two of all features, Blood Geyser and Flash Spring, do have official names.

The view from Paintpot Hill explains more than a thousand words why this area has been named Artists’ Paintpots. Because this hydrothermal area is built into a hillside, the highest ground has different features than the terrain below. As you rise above the boiling pools, the hydrothermal features have less water to work with and mudpots are created. Sulfuric acid derived from hydrogen sulfide gas that is emitted from an underground source, breaks down the surrounding rhyolite stone into grey clay.

The muddy pools bulge and burst as gas bubbles erupt on the surface. Mud can spit several feet up into the air. It is quite entertaining. I would give this stop a 7.5/10.

From one geyser basin to another….

Norris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest and most changeable thermal area in Yellowstone. We explored many of the features you would see if you walked the 2 1/4 miles (3.6 km) of trails. It’s here where many people sit and wait for the world’s tallest active geyser. You can again find colorful hot springs, and microscopic life in one of the most extreme environments on earth here. I loved this stop and enjoyed walking along the boardwalk through many of the geysers and bubbling landscape.

There wasn’t a lot of people at Porcelain Basin at the time we were there, mid-morning. And, the combination of smoke and wind and geysers hissing, the valley was very eerie at times. Check out the map below for the different areas you can explore.

We ended up venturing through the Porcelain Basin and Back Basin but nothing more. There were a few more stops we wanted to get in on this day as we prepared to leave Yellowstone behind. I would give this stop a 7.5/10 for its unique perspective of hot springs, easy boardwalk trails and the two different areas of hydrothermals and geysers.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone continued…

We circled back to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone to get a different perspective, without the snow blowing in our eyes. What a difference 18 hours makes…

Check out the Brink of Lower Falls

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, you guessed it, is where this area got it’s name. I would give this stop a 10/10. The scenery here is unbelievable, it’s a must-do!

We left the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and proceeded to Dunraven Pass. Dunraven Pass was closed so we couldn’t make it to Mt Washburn. So, we had to backtrack to RT 89 and headed north. We passed Bunsen Peak off Grand Loop Rd and started climbing in elevation. Snaking through the mountains, we found a great place to stop for lunch on the side of a cliff with a gorgeous view. Again, the freedom of having your own car (or rental car) really pays off when you’re seeking maximum adventure. The possibilities are endless!

After lunch we found this cool roundabout that sneaks between the cliff sides, check out the clip below.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Our last and final stop at Yellowstone was at Mammoth Hot Springs, at the very north entrance of the park.

The North Entrance Road up to Mammoth Hot Springs runs along the Gardner River. The road winds up the Gardner River canyon, past crumbling walls of sandstone and ancient mudflows. The vegetation is much thicker in the canyon than on the open prairie down below, the common trees being Rocky Mountain juniper, cottonwood, and Douglas-fir. Low-growing willows also crowd the river’s edge in the flatter, flood-prone sections of the canyon. We watched for wildlife, which varies by the season. Eagles, osprey, dippers, and kingfishers can be spotted along the river, while bighorn sheep climb along the steeper parts of the canyon.

You could spend ah hour or so at Mammoth Hot Springs, depending on the time of year. We happened to be there in late summer and most of the springs were dry so there was a bit less to see. For maximum flow, come in late Spring or early Summer! And, because of the lack of flow during this time of year, I would give this stop a 6/10.

Elk are common in the town of Mammoth Hot Springs, while bison can often been seen along the road out to Tower–Roosevelt. I quite enjoyed the tiny town and historic feel of Mammoth. If you have time, take a walk around and stop at the Yellowstone National Park Headquarters, the Ranger Station, and Yellowstone Wilderness Outfitters.

After Mammoth Hot Springs, and if you have a 4×4, a popular adventure is taking a scenic detour on Blacktail Plateau Drive. Once in Tower, see Tower Fall. It’s a bit mediocre, but since it’s a quick visit, it’s still worth it, if you find a parking space. Due to road construction, Tower Fall will only be open from June 5 to September 6, 2020 and June 4 to September 26, 2021. 

Traveler Tip: Why are the rocks so white? Limestone, a naturally white rock, underlies this area. Hot water dissolves the mineral calcium carbonate from the limestone, which is deposited at the surface to form travertine. Colors in the hot springs come from thermophiles.

As we approached golden hour, we followed Gardner River and giant yellow rolling hills. The drive from Mammoth Hot Springs to Gardiner was one of my favorite drives of the trip. It’s a short stretch but its beautiful. The river was gleaming, the light hitting the hills and mountainside just right. Elk and Bison off in the distance, it was picture perfect.

We made our way through and under the Teddy Roosevelt Arch at the very north of Yellowstone National Park. The arch was finished in 1903 and at the top of the arch, its inscribed with a quote from the Organic Act of 1872, the legislation which created Yellowstone, which reads: “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People”.

The town of Gardiner is small and quant. The few streets are lined with local shops, restaurants and gas stations. A quiet neighborhood is just to the Northeast. Before we left Gardiner in our rearview mirror, we stopped at the Gardiner Market to pick up groceries for the last leg of our trip. Most importantly, we needed dinner for that night as we had ate all the food we bought on the first day of our trip.

Tiny Town Campground

One of my top 10 favorite campgrounds, Tiny Town Campground in Emigrant, Montana was a delight. The minimalist A-frame cabin was just what we needed for the night. The only problem was, we weren’t staying here for the whole week!

Instagram – @Navigator.Nick

We reached the campground just before sunset and had enough time to unpack and get ready for the night.

A quick note on the check in process and campground procedures.

It was genius! Lock boxes to get into the cabins and key codes to get into the bathrooms and kitchen. Straight, genius. No waiting in line at a desk, no on-site attendant to try and upsell, no worries. It was great and we appreciated the easy no-thrills process.

The kitchen was well stocked with cookings supplies, utensils and featured industrial sinks, bartop counters and prep areas. Everything was new and in pristine condition. The bathroom was much of the same, super clean, organized and inviting. We took full advantage of the kitchen and made ourselves some spicy sausage with fresh bell peppers, rice and onions. The meal ended up being really good and not to mention, satisfying, to be able to cook the first home cooked meal in almost a week. Although we only stayed here for one night, I would give this tiny campground a 10/10. It’s unique, its accommodating and its in a great location on the way to Glacier National Park.