WEBVTT 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:03.000 From Yellowstone National Park where starting 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:05.919 Friday you'll be able to drive to Old Faithful 00:00:05.919 --> 00:00:08.259 and Canyon from Mammoth and West Yellowstone. 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:11.320 This is that Scott guy you know and love with 00:00:11.320 --> 00:00:14.439 a brand new episode of This Week in Yellowstone. 00:00:24.750 --> 00:00:27.070 What's up, everybody? This week in Yellowstone 00:00:27.070 --> 00:00:31.170 National Park from April 16th to April 22nd, 00:00:31.309 --> 00:00:34.549 2026, I'll tell you where to go and how to get 00:00:34.549 --> 00:00:37.490 there regarding the park's interior, let you 00:00:37.490 --> 00:00:39.770 know what to expect when you are visiting the 00:00:39.770 --> 00:00:42.049 park's interior. I'm also going to share the 00:00:42.049 --> 00:00:45.109 history of an old hotel in the geyser basin and 00:00:45.109 --> 00:00:48.090 recommend a scenic trek that I know you're going 00:00:48.090 --> 00:00:50.250 to love. I'm also going to give you the complete 00:00:50.250 --> 00:00:53.170 weather forecast, the snowpack update, the wildlife 00:00:53.170 --> 00:00:55.789 report, and everything else you need to have 00:00:55.789 --> 00:00:58.490 an incredible time this week in Yellowstone. 00:00:59.220 --> 00:01:01.500 Standard disclaimer, I'm going to miss a few 00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:03.359 details here and there, I'm trying to make this 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:05.980 short and concise, so if there's something you 00:01:05.980 --> 00:01:08.299 need clarification on, reach out to me, happy 00:01:08.299 --> 00:01:10.760 to answer those questions. I also mention park 00:01:10.760 --> 00:01:13.879 locations very casually, so if you're unfamiliar 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:16.180 with some place I'm talking about, a quick search 00:01:16.180 --> 00:01:18.760 online can help, or again, just reach out to 00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:21.980 me. Also know that this report only covers the 00:01:21.980 --> 00:01:25.400 drivable areas of the park. Finally, in this 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:28.439 long rambling intro, this podcast is a passion 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:31.140 project of mine. I'm not paid. I'm not sponsored. 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:33.379 I do this because I want you to have a good time 00:01:33.379 --> 00:01:36.219 in the park. If you enjoy this, I'd love a review 00:01:36.219 --> 00:01:38.819 or a quick email. If you want to support my work, 00:01:39.140 --> 00:01:41.219 you can check out my hiking and wildlife watching 00:01:41.219 --> 00:01:43.780 guidebooks, or you can join me for a guided hiking 00:01:43.780 --> 00:01:46.239 tour in Yellowstone's backcountry. Day hikes 00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:49.060 are what I do. I know the backcountry very well, 00:01:49.060 --> 00:01:51.260 and I think you're going to love it. The more 00:01:51.260 --> 00:01:52.739 you see of Yellowstone, the more you're going 00:01:52.739 --> 00:01:54.939 to love Yellowstone. For more information on 00:01:54.939 --> 00:01:58.799 all of that visit outdoor -society .com or again 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:01.980 contact me directly. This week's Yellowstone 00:02:01.980 --> 00:02:05.599 news, really not a lot. I mean there's a cool 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:10.939 year in review on the USGS Caldera report. Check 00:02:10.939 --> 00:02:13.759 that out, Caldera Chronicles, sorry about that. 00:02:14.360 --> 00:02:16.599 I'll provide a link in the show notes if I remember. 00:02:17.020 --> 00:02:19.419 It's really nice to see it kind of just recaps 00:02:19.419 --> 00:02:21.550 everything that happened in the park. the main 00:02:21.550 --> 00:02:24.069 news this week is obviously the interior roads 00:02:24.069 --> 00:02:25.990 opening from west yellowstone you're going to 00:02:25.990 --> 00:02:28.430 be able to drive up to mammoth out to old faithful 00:02:28.430 --> 00:02:31.620 and out to Canyon and then from Mammoth you're 00:02:31.620 --> 00:02:34.840 gonna drive to West Yellowstone Go through Norris. 00:02:34.860 --> 00:02:36.340 You're gonna get out to Canyon. You can go to 00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:39.180 Old Faithful So interior park roads are starting 00:02:39.180 --> 00:02:41.680 to open up. So that's the biggest news. There's 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:43.580 also some construction news I'm going to talk 00:02:43.580 --> 00:02:46.500 about in the road conditions part of this But 00:02:46.500 --> 00:02:48.539 it's nothing you need to be too concerned about 00:02:48.539 --> 00:02:50.800 there will just be some delays here and there 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:54.919 the other day I was in the park and at the junction 00:02:54.919 --> 00:02:59.169 at Roosevelt Junction there there's quite a bit 00:02:59.169 --> 00:03:01.610 of construction going on so there's a little 00:03:01.610 --> 00:03:03.909 bit of a delay but generally like it's not that 00:03:03.909 --> 00:03:06.009 bad they're also going to start that construction 00:03:06.009 --> 00:03:08.770 on the Gardner River Bridge but again going to 00:03:08.770 --> 00:03:10.909 talk about that slightly more in detail but other 00:03:10.909 --> 00:03:13.389 than that main news this week roads are opening 00:03:13.389 --> 00:03:18.430 which leads me to my experience of the week going 00:03:18.430 --> 00:03:20.770 into the interior what a shock right the roads 00:03:20.770 --> 00:03:23.849 are open and i'm telling you to go in uh roads 00:03:23.849 --> 00:03:27.449 are going to start to open up April 17th at 8 00:03:27.449 --> 00:03:29.949 a .m. That's when everything changes in Yellowstone 00:03:29.949 --> 00:03:32.569 National Park for the season. Roads are open 00:03:32.569 --> 00:03:34.789 from both West Yellowstone and Gardner, reconnecting 00:03:34.789 --> 00:03:37.129 the park through Madison Junction, North Geyser 00:03:37.129 --> 00:03:40.090 Basin, and Mammoth Hot Springs. For the first 00:03:40.090 --> 00:03:42.129 time since early November, you can once again 00:03:42.129 --> 00:03:44.189 drive into the park's interior with your own 00:03:44.189 --> 00:03:46.789 car. And that's going to link geothermal basins, 00:03:47.090 --> 00:03:49.969 waterfalls, prime wildlife habitat in a single 00:03:49.969 --> 00:03:52.819 day. National Park Service says that these spring 00:03:52.819 --> 00:03:55.439 openings are entirely dependent on weather and 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:58.340 snowpack, both of which still play a major role 00:03:58.340 --> 00:04:00.319 well into April when we get to the weather report. 00:04:01.060 --> 00:04:03.180 Yeah, we're gonna get some snow, very quickly. 00:04:04.419 --> 00:04:06.580 Coming in from West Yellowstone, the drive starts 00:04:06.580 --> 00:04:09.159 quietly along the Madison River. It's a gorgeous 00:04:09.159 --> 00:04:11.689 drive, if you've never done it. I highly recommend 00:04:11.689 --> 00:04:14.129 doing it. Sunrise, sunset, those are the best 00:04:14.129 --> 00:04:16.829 times to get through there. Steam rises in the 00:04:16.829 --> 00:04:18.730 distance, wildlife's moving through the open 00:04:18.730 --> 00:04:21.089 valleys in the early morning light. The stretch 00:04:21.089 --> 00:04:23.509 toward Madison Junction is easily one of the 00:04:23.509 --> 00:04:26.009 most scenic drives in the park. Spoiler alert, 00:04:26.269 --> 00:04:29.129 nearly every stretch of road is one of the most 00:04:29.129 --> 00:04:32.009 scenic drives in the park. There's elk, there's 00:04:32.009 --> 00:04:35.509 bison. there's coyotes you might even see a bear 00:04:35.509 --> 00:04:38.269 out there and it's not unusual spot bald eagles 00:04:38.269 --> 00:04:41.370 ducks sandhill cranes maybe some bluebirds things 00:04:41.370 --> 00:04:44.730 like that it's the kind of place that encourages 00:04:44.730 --> 00:04:46.810 you to slow down right away just make sure if 00:04:46.810 --> 00:04:48.910 you are slowing down if there's bison and stuff 00:04:48.910 --> 00:04:52.170 don't stop in the road pull off to a pullout 00:04:52.170 --> 00:04:53.389 this is the time of the year where i'm going 00:04:53.389 --> 00:04:55.930 to talk about this way too much but always use 00:04:55.930 --> 00:04:58.269 the pullouts don't just stop in the road the 00:04:58.269 --> 00:04:59.850 longer you stop in the road the worse you're 00:04:59.850 --> 00:05:02.649 just making traffic for everybody. Talk about 00:05:02.649 --> 00:05:05.790 that much later in the year though. So for Madison, 00:05:06.430 --> 00:05:08.569 if you head south, it takes you straight into 00:05:08.569 --> 00:05:11.129 Yellowstone's geothermal core. The park contains 00:05:11.129 --> 00:05:14.149 more than 10 ,000 hydrothermal features, including 00:05:14.149 --> 00:05:16.870 roughly half of the world's geysers. As you move 00:05:16.870 --> 00:05:19.790 through the lower, midway, and upper geyser basins, 00:05:20.129 --> 00:05:22.810 steam rises through lingering snow, creating 00:05:22.810 --> 00:05:26.089 a striking contrast. Now the snow, I wrote this 00:05:26.089 --> 00:05:27.970 a while ago, the snow isn't probably going to 00:05:27.970 --> 00:05:30.449 be there so it's it's been a year but if there 00:05:30.449 --> 00:05:33.129 is snow it's kind of cool the nice thing is the 00:05:33.129 --> 00:05:35.610 ground is still pretty saturated in certain places 00:05:35.610 --> 00:05:38.050 so the mud pot should be really good right now 00:05:38.050 --> 00:05:39.550 all of those things and I'll talk about those 00:05:39.550 --> 00:05:42.269 more in the coming weeks by the time you reach 00:05:42.269 --> 00:05:45.250 old faithful the experience feels entirely different 00:05:45.250 --> 00:05:47.569 from the summer there's fewer people there's 00:05:47.569 --> 00:05:50.310 colder air and a quieter atmosphere that makes 00:05:50.310 --> 00:05:53.689 it feel far more personal There will be people 00:05:53.689 --> 00:05:55.509 coming into the park. You're not going to be 00:05:55.509 --> 00:05:59.670 alone there, but it's going to feel very alone, 00:05:59.970 --> 00:06:01.889 especially if you're there sunrise or sunset. 00:06:02.990 --> 00:06:05.410 If you head north from Madison toward Mammoth, 00:06:05.449 --> 00:06:07.350 that offers a completely different landscape. 00:06:07.649 --> 00:06:10.329 The road follows a given river through the forest 00:06:10.329 --> 00:06:13.689 before opening in small geothermal areas. One 00:06:13.689 --> 00:06:16.889 of the best stops is Gibbon Falls. I love stopping 00:06:16.889 --> 00:06:19.610 there. That's when the spring runoff is going 00:06:19.610 --> 00:06:22.089 to make that waterfall look great. It's an 80 00:06:22.089 --> 00:06:25.970 foot cascade waterfall and 80 feet may not sound 00:06:25.970 --> 00:06:28.149 like a lot, but it's wide and it's huge and it's 00:06:28.149 --> 00:06:30.490 great. Farther along, Norris stands out as one 00:06:30.490 --> 00:06:33.370 of the most dynamic places in the park. Norris 00:06:33.370 --> 00:06:36.209 is constantly changing and is home to Steamboat 00:06:36.209 --> 00:06:38.509 Geyser, the tallest active geyser in the world. 00:06:38.970 --> 00:06:41.860 Even in April, Know that the boardwalk still 00:06:41.860 --> 00:06:43.939 may be icy in the morning, even though like this 00:06:43.939 --> 00:06:47.819 winter wasn't that much. There's also going to 00:06:47.819 --> 00:06:49.600 be a lot of steam early in the morning, later 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:52.060 in the evening. If it's not a warm day, expect 00:06:52.060 --> 00:06:54.980 steam anywhere that there is a small thermal 00:06:54.980 --> 00:06:58.399 area, which makes you appreciate just how active 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:01.300 of a geothermal region Yellowstone is to drive 00:07:01.300 --> 00:07:04.480 in the spring and see all of these areas of steam 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:07.480 rising up. As you approach Mammoth, the train 00:07:07.480 --> 00:07:09.680 opens up and the focus shifts to wildlife and 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:12.240 the mountains. The hills around Mammoth and nearby 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:14.160 Swan Lake Flats are some of the best places to 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:17.220 watch for elk, bison, and even bears emerging 00:07:17.220 --> 00:07:19.220 in the early spring. I've had some of my best 00:07:19.220 --> 00:07:22.139 bear experiences in Swan Lake Flats, so maybe 00:07:22.139 --> 00:07:24.300 it'll happen this year, maybe it won't. And again, 00:07:24.420 --> 00:07:26.579 with fewer visitors than in the summer, it's 00:07:26.579 --> 00:07:28.779 super easy to find a pullout, and you can just 00:07:28.779 --> 00:07:33.310 stop and take it all in. There are a few underrated 00:07:33.310 --> 00:07:36.990 moments that define a spring visit. Obviously 00:07:36.990 --> 00:07:39.329 the small pullouts along the given river are 00:07:39.329 --> 00:07:42.170 fantastic. Walking near sheep eater cliffs is 00:07:42.170 --> 00:07:45.170 a personal favorite of mine. Not just to the 00:07:45.170 --> 00:07:48.550 little picnic area, but walk downstream and there's 00:07:48.550 --> 00:07:51.269 this box canyon. I love that. I highly recommend 00:07:51.269 --> 00:07:53.370 it this time of the year. Always have bear spray. 00:07:54.790 --> 00:07:58.000 Also, Walking Firehole Canyon Drive before it 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:00.620 opens to vehicles? Super underrated, Jim. Might 00:08:00.620 --> 00:08:02.639 talk about that in a hiking section later in 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:04.540 the year, but maybe not, so I'm just going to 00:08:04.540 --> 00:08:07.699 recommend it now. Another highlight that is accessible 00:08:07.699 --> 00:08:10.180 with these road openings is the Grand Canyon 00:08:10.180 --> 00:08:13.040 of the Yellowstone. In April, the canyon feels 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:16.100 completely different. Snow may be lingering along 00:08:16.100 --> 00:08:19.379 the rim or down in the canyon itself. And while 00:08:19.379 --> 00:08:21.279 some trails like Red Rock Point or the brink 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:24.100 of the lower falls will still be closed, key 00:08:24.100 --> 00:08:27.360 viewpoints begin to open. The waterfalls, especially 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:30.100 the lower falls, grow stronger every day with 00:08:30.100 --> 00:08:32.659 snowmelt, and it creates a powerful and constantly 00:08:32.659 --> 00:08:36.840 changing scene. Also, the lighting there? Midday? 00:08:36.980 --> 00:08:39.659 Eh, it's fine. Okay, even in the worst light, 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:41.659 it's amazing. I shouldn't say it's just fine. 00:08:41.980 --> 00:08:45.559 But like, early morning light, sunset light in 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:48.500 the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Absolutely 00:08:48.500 --> 00:08:50.940 wonderful. Now what makes this time of the year 00:08:50.940 --> 00:08:53.879 so compelling is this balance. You have access 00:08:53.879 --> 00:08:57.879 to Yellowstone's most iconic features, but without 00:08:57.879 --> 00:09:00.399 the intensity of the summer crowds or fully open 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:04.139 amenities. The lack of infrastructure keeps visitation 00:09:04.139 --> 00:09:07.419 lower, creating a quieter, more personal experience 00:09:07.419 --> 00:09:10.299 of places that are soon going to be packed. At 00:09:10.299 --> 00:09:13.220 the same time, conditions still could feel like 00:09:13.220 --> 00:09:16.080 late winter. Snow may line the road in places, 00:09:16.419 --> 00:09:18.840 temperatures might stay cool, and steam is visible, 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:20.720 like I said, everywhere in the thermal laces. 00:09:20.980 --> 00:09:24.019 It's so cool to see. The weather this time of 00:09:24.019 --> 00:09:26.399 the year can change quickly, and snow is still 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:29.379 common. National Park always wants you to know 00:09:29.379 --> 00:09:32.080 that spring storms can lead to temporary closures 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:35.059 even after the roads open. The roads opening 00:09:35.059 --> 00:09:38.200 on April 17th aren't just about access. It's 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:40.480 about timing. It's about the experience. It's 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:43.120 about stepping into Yellowstone right as it opens. 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:46.080 And when wildlife is active, landscapes are shifting 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:48.259 and the park is still holding onto that little 00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:51.120 bit of quiet. From West Yellowstone to Mammoth 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:53.980 out to Canyon, this is the moment where everything 00:09:53.980 --> 00:09:56.820 starts to come back to life just before the main 00:09:56.820 --> 00:10:01.159 rush of the summer season begins. My tip of the 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:05.049 week. Don't expect real spring weather or many 00:10:05.049 --> 00:10:07.929 open amenities right now. If you've been paying 00:10:07.929 --> 00:10:10.769 attention to the weather across most of the western 00:10:10.769 --> 00:10:13.070 United States, you're probably aware of how much 00:10:13.070 --> 00:10:15.669 of the region is in drought and how dismal the 00:10:15.669 --> 00:10:18.370 snowpack is throughout western states. While 00:10:18.370 --> 00:10:20.450 it is true that areas in and around the park 00:10:20.450 --> 00:10:23.090 are starting to green up a little, we're still 00:10:23.090 --> 00:10:25.529 a ways off from a feeling like spring for visitors 00:10:25.529 --> 00:10:27.889 who come out here from elsewhere in the country. 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:30.940 Where you live there may be cherry blossoms and 00:10:30.940 --> 00:10:34.419 wildflowers blooming But it isn't gonna be like 00:10:34.419 --> 00:10:36.220 that here in Yellowstone for another month or 00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:38.960 two Yellowstone will still feel like winter for 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:42.620 many of you for another month or so even in June 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:45.059 even in early July I've seen people that are 00:10:45.059 --> 00:10:47.120 cold, but that's you know, that's because they 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:49.039 come from someplace very warm and very humid 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:51.539 It's just important that when you're visiting 00:10:51.539 --> 00:10:54.039 Yellowstone, especially right now prepare for 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:56.539 cooler weather Morning temperatures can be in 00:10:56.539 --> 00:11:00.200 the 30s and 20s, maybe even the teens, depending 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:03.200 on where you are. Highs may hit the 60s, but 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:06.980 could also hover in the 30s or 40s. We just won't 00:11:06.980 --> 00:11:10.139 know what to expect from day in and day out, 00:11:10.460 --> 00:11:12.980 so expect a little of everything when you visit. 00:11:13.379 --> 00:11:15.700 Prepare for cold weather, and if it's warm, great. 00:11:16.139 --> 00:11:18.580 Just layer well and know that the mornings and 00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:20.779 evenings are going to be the coolest. I know 00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:23.379 it sounds simple and self -explanatory, but trust 00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:26.139 me when I say that every single year, visitors 00:11:26.139 --> 00:11:28.440 to the park are shocked at the weather in April 00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:31.980 and May. So amenity -wise, do not expect much 00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:34.299 right now. While the roads are opening up, it's 00:11:34.299 --> 00:11:36.279 important to understand that Yellowstone is not 00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:39.379 fully up and running yet. This is still very 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:42.100 much the shoulder season, and a lot of the infrastructure 00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:45.759 that visitors rely on simply isn't open. Lodges, 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:47.779 campgrounds, restaurants, and general stores 00:11:47.779 --> 00:11:50.860 don't really begin opening until May. with some 00:11:50.860 --> 00:11:53.799 not coming online until June. Even in popular 00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:56.200 areas like Old Faithful and Mammoth, services 00:11:56.200 --> 00:11:59.580 can be limited or inconsistent. Fuel is another 00:11:59.580 --> 00:12:02.399 thing to think about. While most interior gas 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:04.899 stations inside the park should be open, it's 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:06.960 still a good idea to fill up before entering 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:08.879 from places like West Yellowstone or Gardiner, 00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:10.960 just because it's better to have a full tank 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:13.759 of gas when you start out than having to worry 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:16.610 about finding gas. Plus, gas is a little cheaper 00:12:16.610 --> 00:12:18.889 outside the park than inside the park. So one 00:12:18.889 --> 00:12:20.769 other amenity thing that catches a lot of people 00:12:20.769 --> 00:12:24.450 off guard is the lack of open bathrooms. Many 00:12:24.450 --> 00:12:27.409 restrooms across the park are still closed or 00:12:27.409 --> 00:12:29.830 only just beginning to open for the season, especially 00:12:29.830 --> 00:12:32.350 in these less trafficked areas. That means you 00:12:32.350 --> 00:12:34.750 really need to plan ahead. And if there's an 00:12:34.750 --> 00:12:36.830 open bathroom, use it because you don't know 00:12:36.830 --> 00:12:39.759 when the next one may be open. When there is 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:41.940 an updated map or I have updated information 00:12:41.940 --> 00:12:43.919 of which restrooms are open I'll let you know 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:47.299 on here as best I can but for now I am going 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:52.340 to provide a link in my show notes that has a 00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:54.620 List of opening dates for the entire park, which 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:56.740 should help you plan ahead for some things Just 00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:59.179 know that this doesn't include restrooms But 00:12:59.179 --> 00:13:01.960 I'm gonna work on that as fast as I can and get 00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:06.250 that up online or something This list that I'm 00:13:06.250 --> 00:13:08.690 giving can feel a little bare bones and hard 00:13:08.690 --> 00:13:12.169 to read, but it's gonna be much better than anything 00:13:12.169 --> 00:13:14.210 else. Just know that if you're visiting this 00:13:14.210 --> 00:13:16.970 week, it's not summer yet, but the trade -off 00:13:16.970 --> 00:13:20.789 is there's fewer crowds and a chance to experience 00:13:20.789 --> 00:13:23.330 Yellowstone in a quieter, more self -reliant 00:13:23.330 --> 00:13:26.129 way. So be prepared, be self -reliant, and it's 00:13:26.129 --> 00:13:29.629 gonna be awesome. My random Yellowstone fact 00:13:29.629 --> 00:13:33.639 of the week. The Fountain Hotel. Long before 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:36.399 modern lodges and packed parking lots, one of 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:38.519 the most impressive places to stay in Yellowstone 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:40.879 National Park sat right in the middle of the 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:43.539 geyser basin. The Fountain Hotel wasn't just 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:46.480 a place to sleep. It was an experience, and for 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:49.000 a time, it was one of the most important stops 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:53.320 in the entire park. Built in 1891 by Yellowstone 00:13:53.320 --> 00:13:56.340 Park Association, the hotel marked a major shift 00:13:56.340 --> 00:13:59.379 in how people visited Yellowstone. Up to that 00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:01.769 point, Travel through the park was rugged and 00:14:01.769 --> 00:14:04.750 slow, mostly by stagecoach. The Fountain Hotel 00:14:04.750 --> 00:14:07.250 changed that by offering something unexpected 00:14:07.250 --> 00:14:11.070 in such a remote place. Comfort. It was a large 00:14:11.070 --> 00:14:13.149 three -story structure that could accommodate 00:14:13.149 --> 00:14:16.389 about 350 guests, and it reportedly cost about 00:14:16.389 --> 00:14:19.490 $100 ,000 in the time to build. A significant 00:14:19.490 --> 00:14:22.460 investment. Sitting near what is now the Lower 00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:25.360 Geyser Basin, not far from today's Fountain Paintpots, 00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:28.019 the hotel was surrounded by geothermal features 00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:30.919 and wide open views of the Firehole River area. 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:34.080 Getting there was part of the adventure. Visitors 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:36.799 would spend long days traveling by stagecoach 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:39.519 before arriving at the hotel, often dusty and 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:42.250 exhausted. Then suddenly, They were stepping 00:14:42.250 --> 00:14:44.509 into a place with electric lights, steam heat, 00:14:44.809 --> 00:14:47.710 and even hot water piped in using nearby geothermal 00:14:47.710 --> 00:14:50.370 features, something that felt remarkably modern 00:14:50.370 --> 00:14:53.870 for the late 1800s. Evenings were a big part 00:14:53.870 --> 00:14:56.149 of the experience too. Guests would dress up 00:14:56.149 --> 00:14:59.009 for dinner, socialize, and sometimes attend dances, 00:14:59.549 --> 00:15:02.389 bringing a level of refinement that more than 00:15:02.389 --> 00:15:04.590 likely felt very out of place in such a wild 00:15:04.590 --> 00:15:07.549 setting. The location made it even more special. 00:15:07.710 --> 00:15:10.090 Before the construction of the famous Old Faithful 00:15:10.090 --> 00:15:13.110 Inn in 1904, the Fountain Hotel was considered 00:15:13.110 --> 00:15:15.049 one of the best places to stay on the west side 00:15:15.049 --> 00:15:17.870 of the park. From here, visitors could easily 00:15:17.870 --> 00:15:20.509 explore geysers, hot springs, and mudpots all 00:15:20.509 --> 00:15:23.309 within a short distance. It served as a hub for 00:15:23.309 --> 00:15:26.129 exploring what we now call the Lower Geyser Basin. 00:15:27.230 --> 00:15:29.129 Some aspects of the experience though wouldn't 00:15:29.129 --> 00:15:32.190 fly today. One of the most popular nightly activities 00:15:32.190 --> 00:15:35.279 was bear feeding. Staff would dump scraps behind 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:37.639 the hotel, attracting bears while guests watched 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:40.840 from nearby. At the time, this was seen as entertainment, 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:44.240 not a safety issue. So it's a reminder of how 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:46.679 different wildlife management used to be, and 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:49.419 when people say, the park has never been worse 00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:51.960 than it is today, no, they used to feed bears 00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:55.919 for fun. It was way worse. Despite the popularity 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:58.440 of the Fountain Hotel, the spotlight didn't last 00:15:58.440 --> 00:16:01.620 very long. The opening of Old Faithful in 1904 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:03.980 shifted attention to the Upper Geyser Basin, 00:16:04.419 --> 00:16:07.159 and improvements in road systems made travel 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:09.559 throughout the park more efficient. But the real 00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:12.559 turning point came in 1915, when automobiles 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:15.899 were allowed into Yellowstone. That one change 00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:18.919 reshaped everything. What used to take days by 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:21.259 stagecoach to go around the park could suddenly 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:24.240 be done in hours. Overnight stops became less 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:26.639 necessary, and places like the Fountain Hotel, 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:29.299 which depended on that slower pace of travel, 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:33.460 quickly lost their importance. By 1916, the hotel 00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:36.440 had closed. For about a decade, the building 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:40.279 sat unused, slowly fading into landscape. There 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:42.820 were discussions about salvaging materials, and 00:16:42.820 --> 00:16:46.360 eventually in 1927, the structure was torn down 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:49.840 entirely. Today, there's very little left. Just 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:52.460 subtle traces on the landscape for those who 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:55.000 know where to look. You can actually see the 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:57.080 piping where they used to run the water from 00:16:57.080 --> 00:17:00.240 the geyser basin to the hotel. The story of the 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:02.340 Fountain Hotel is really a snapshot of a different 00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:05.140 era in Yellowstone. It reflects a time when visiting 00:17:05.140 --> 00:17:08.140 the park was slower, more deliberate, and centered 00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:11.279 as much on the journey as the destination. It 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:13.829 also shows how quickly things can change. In 00:17:13.829 --> 00:17:16.549 just a few decades, one of the park's most important 00:17:16.549 --> 00:17:19.470 and luxurious hotels went from being a centerpiece 00:17:19.470 --> 00:17:21.769 of the Yellowstone experience to disappearing 00:17:21.769 --> 00:17:24.789 almost entirely. When you find yourself in the 00:17:24.789 --> 00:17:27.029 lower geyser basin today, it's really hard to 00:17:27.029 --> 00:17:29.210 picture a grand hotel rising above the steam 00:17:29.210 --> 00:17:32.069 and open meadows, but for a brief time in Yellowstone's 00:17:32.069 --> 00:17:34.950 history, that's exactly what stood there. Well, 00:17:35.029 --> 00:17:36.950 it would be nice to kind of say, oh, if it was 00:17:36.950 --> 00:17:39.569 still there, that'd be amazing. I personally 00:17:39.569 --> 00:17:42.569 am happy that the park is rewilding and we've 00:17:42.569 --> 00:17:44.910 gotten rid of a lot of those things so we can 00:17:44.910 --> 00:17:47.269 see the landscape for what the landscape truly 00:17:47.269 --> 00:17:50.930 is but it also would be pretty cool to stay in 00:17:50.930 --> 00:17:53.730 that hotel so next time you drive through there 00:17:53.730 --> 00:17:56.410 look for the little bits of piping you may be 00:17:56.410 --> 00:17:58.789 able to see and just know hey there used to be 00:17:58.789 --> 00:18:02.190 a hotel here the weather for the coming week 00:18:02.190 --> 00:18:04.930 as always this is the best forecast for the week 00:18:04.930 --> 00:18:07.230 at the time of the recording Thursday Friday 00:18:07.230 --> 00:18:10.089 Saturday Sunday should be pretty spot -on from 00:18:10.089 --> 00:18:12.769 there who really knows this is a good just ballpark 00:18:12.769 --> 00:18:16.269 So let's start with Lamar Valley on Thursday 00:18:16.269 --> 00:18:19.650 a high of 32 and a low of 16 with about one inch 00:18:19.650 --> 00:18:24.170 of snow in Lamar Friday cloudy high of 32 low 00:18:24.170 --> 00:18:29.549 of 12 Saturday high of 44 low of 18 Sunday high 00:18:29.549 --> 00:18:34.230 of 55 low of 28 Monday, high of 60, low of 35. 00:18:34.650 --> 00:18:38.289 Tuesday, high of 62, low of 34. And then Wednesday, 00:18:38.730 --> 00:18:41.109 high of 48, low of 30, and there is a chance 00:18:41.109 --> 00:18:45.650 of snow. So that is Lamar Valley. In Gardner, 00:18:45.710 --> 00:18:48.950 Montana, Thursday will have a high of 34, a low 00:18:48.950 --> 00:18:51.690 of 18, with about two inches of snow. Friday 00:18:51.690 --> 00:18:54.500 should be pretty decent, partly cloudy. High 00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:58.759 of 37, low of 17. Saturday, high of 49, low of 00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:02.779 25 and sunny. Sunday, high of 59, low of 33. 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:08.079 Monday, high of 65, low of 39. Tuesday, 67 and 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:10.640 39 with some rain in the evening. And Wednesday, 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:14.539 high of 53, low of 34 with about a quarter of 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:18.200 an inch of rain expected. Welcome back West Yellowstone 00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:22.339 to the weather report. Thursday, high of 30, 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:26.549 low of 11. 78 % chance of 2 inches of snow Friday 00:19:26.549 --> 00:19:30.490 high of 33 low of 11 Saturday high of 44 low 00:19:30.490 --> 00:19:35.529 of 17 Sunday high of 55 low of 28 Monday high 00:19:35.529 --> 00:19:40.210 of 61 low of 35 Tuesday high of 62 low of 33 00:19:40.210 --> 00:19:42.950 with some rain in the late afternoon early evening 00:19:42.950 --> 00:19:45.410 Maybe a quarter inch and then Wednesday high 00:19:45.410 --> 00:19:49.430 of 46 low of 29 could see an inch of snow could 00:19:49.430 --> 00:19:53.700 see quarter half inch of rain Finally Cook City 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:58.119 So Thursday high of 31 low of 12 about 2 inches 00:19:58.119 --> 00:20:02.759 of snow Friday 28 and 11 with a 35 % chance of 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:05.619 some snow maybe about a half inch Saturday high 00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:10.819 of 41 low of 17 Sunday high of 51 low of 31 Monday 00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:15.349 high of 56 low of 36 Tuesday, high of 59, low 00:20:15.349 --> 00:20:18.250 of 33, with a 50 % chance of some rain developing 00:20:18.250 --> 00:20:20.250 in the afternoon and evening. Shouldn't be too 00:20:20.250 --> 00:20:23.250 much on Tuesday. But then Wednesday, high of 00:20:23.250 --> 00:20:27.089 47, low of 28, 60 % chance of at least an inch 00:20:27.089 --> 00:20:31.890 of snow. The snowpack update. As of April 16th, 00:20:31.910 --> 00:20:34.630 the snowpack is around 75 % and normal for this 00:20:34.630 --> 00:20:37.519 time of year. The eastern and northern ranges 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:40.400 of the park are about 84 % of normal. The western 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:43.119 and southern sides are 64 % of normal. So that's 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:46.299 the worst area of snowpack. Last year on this 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:48.900 date, we were averaging around 97 % of our normal 00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:52.480 level. I think this incoming snow will keep us 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:55.220 steady. I don't expect these numbers to rise. 00:20:56.539 --> 00:21:00.619 Road conditions. So I have written down, I forgot 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:03.799 to update this, but the roads that are open starting 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:08.160 on Friday. will be from the north entrance all 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:10.299 the way down to old faithful the west entrance 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:13.359 down to old faithful from norris geyser basin 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:15.980 out to canyon and of course the entire northern 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:21.000 range from mammoth to cook city now last i heard 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:23.700 the plug beyond cook city still closed don't 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:26.240 expect that to open anytime soon but if it does 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:28.480 you'll find out by doing the following you can 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:31.799 sign up for road alerts on your cell phone by 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:38.539 texting the number 82190 to 888 -777 or you can 00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:43.220 call 307 -344 -2117 for recorded information. 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:46.640 Again, roads are starting to open up. You can 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:48.500 go all the way down to Old Faithful as far as 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:50.680 the south goes, and the only entrances you can 00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:54.359 drive into from outside the park are West Yellowstone 00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:58.180 and Gardner. Yes, you can enter the park from 00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:59.900 Cook City, but you have to drive through the 00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:02.339 park to get to Cook City to come back out. So 00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:05.619 that entrance is Open but it's not staffed or 00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:09.140 anything because there's no other way in so We 00:22:09.140 --> 00:22:11.039 will update this as much as we can. Oh, yeah, 00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:12.880 the other road conditions I knew I was rambling 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:15.440 because I forgot something there will be construction 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:18.289 here and there There's gonna be construction 00:22:18.289 --> 00:22:20.950 at the Gardiner River Bridge starting this week 00:22:20.950 --> 00:22:24.089 more than likely and at Roosevelt Junction There's 00:22:24.089 --> 00:22:26.529 gonna be construction delays there, too There 00:22:26.529 --> 00:22:28.829 could be other construction delays here and there, 00:22:28.849 --> 00:22:31.630 but I doubt it if I hear of anything I'll update 00:22:31.630 --> 00:22:33.829 you next week, but no of those two in the northern 00:22:33.829 --> 00:22:38.410 range for sure Camping information so while things 00:22:38.410 --> 00:22:41.720 are opening They're still not a lot of camping 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:43.740 options. The only campground that's open in the 00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:45.740 park right now is the Mammoth campground and 00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:48.579 that's open year -round. Any other campsite isn't 00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:50.079 going to be opening up for a couple more weeks 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:51.880 so I'm not going to address that until later 00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:55.279 on. The wildlife watching update so this is gonna 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:58.519 be very northern range centric as nobody's really 00:22:58.519 --> 00:23:00.599 gone into the interior yet So I don't have any 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:02.200 reports and I haven't been down there either. 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:05.079 I'm going in Friday So I'll have things for next 00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:07.400 week, but this week I can tell you what's going 00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:09.579 on in the northern range and maybe give you a 00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:12.819 few tips of where to go in the interior to see 00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:15.640 things but generally like that interior trip 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:17.700 this weekend, it's going to kind of be dumb luck. 00:23:18.539 --> 00:23:20.140 If you are headed to the park this weekend and 00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:21.980 want to reach out to me like Saturday morning, 00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:24.640 feel free and I'll tell you what I saw. But other 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:28.059 than that, again, northern range centric. So 00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:30.859 I was in the park the other day and I saw my 00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:34.440 first red dogs, baby bison of the year. There 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:36.299 are a couple around. There's going to be more 00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:39.299 and more every week. So you're going to probably 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:42.259 see them. Keep an eye out. It's not super easy 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:45.890 to see them, but they will be more prevalent. 00:23:46.430 --> 00:23:48.549 Right now for bears and wolves, there are some 00:23:48.549 --> 00:23:51.069 grizzlies out in Lamar, there is a couple black 00:23:51.069 --> 00:23:54.569 bears in Lamar Canyon and out in Lamar Proper 00:23:54.569 --> 00:23:57.369 as well. I saw a black bear way off in the distance 00:23:57.369 --> 00:23:59.910 my first bear sighting of the year, so that was 00:23:59.910 --> 00:24:02.809 great. There's tons of pronghorn, there's tons 00:24:02.809 --> 00:24:06.049 of bison moving around, lots of elk as well. 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:09.680 Saw a ton of elk around mammoth and then a lot 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:11.920 obviously out the north entrance I didn't see 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:14.000 any bighorn sheep out the north entrance, but 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:15.859 I also wasn't looking too hard. It was pretty 00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:19.259 early in the morning So generally if you're going 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:22.339 in as soon as you get to Gardner, you're gonna 00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:24.660 start seeing lots of wildlife You're gonna see 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:27.579 a lot of wildlife from mammoth up to blacktail 00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:29.880 plateau You're gonna see some bison out there. 00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:32.420 Then you could see some bears. You may see a 00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:35.349 moose you If you drive out, you might see wolves. 00:24:35.549 --> 00:24:37.930 If you see people that are stopped, stop and 00:24:37.930 --> 00:24:40.269 look. People are really looking and they're seeing 00:24:40.269 --> 00:24:43.329 really cool things. So don't just blow by. This 00:24:43.329 --> 00:24:45.849 always happens. I was watching a black bear. 00:24:46.230 --> 00:24:48.950 I was the only one at a pullout watching it and 00:24:48.950 --> 00:24:51.930 multiple cars drove by and looked. They didn't 00:24:51.930 --> 00:24:53.670 see what I was looking at. So they kept driving. 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:56.480 Now, maybe they'd seen a bear earlier, but I 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:58.779 doubt it. So if you see somebody stopping and 00:24:58.779 --> 00:25:00.839 they're trying to get your attention, stop, because 00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:02.480 they're trying to get your attention for a reason. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:05.559 I know it goes against, like, common thinking 00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:07.440 of somebody's waving you down on the side of 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:09.319 a road, stop and see what they're doing, but 00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:11.319 in Yellowstone, that's one of the few places 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:16.279 where 99 .99999999 % of the time, everything's 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:20.150 gonna go very, very well. So... do that. If you're 00:25:20.150 --> 00:25:22.589 driving in the interior, Swan Lake Flats could 00:25:22.589 --> 00:25:25.769 be pretty good. Check out the ponds and see if 00:25:25.769 --> 00:25:27.609 there's any swans because they like to hang out 00:25:27.609 --> 00:25:29.029 there. There's also going to be a lot of migratory 00:25:29.029 --> 00:25:32.529 birds. As you get down toward the geyser area, 00:25:32.769 --> 00:25:34.410 there'll be some bison, there'll be some coyotes, 00:25:34.490 --> 00:25:37.089 some sandhill cranes, and maybe some bears. Again, 00:25:37.150 --> 00:25:38.849 I wish I could tell you more of what you're going 00:25:38.849 --> 00:25:42.529 to see down there, but until we get eyes in the 00:25:42.529 --> 00:25:44.970 interior of the park, it's all a guessing game. 00:25:45.890 --> 00:25:50.089 Don't expect a lot. Between Norris and Canyon 00:25:50.089 --> 00:25:52.890 really ever that's not a great spot for wildlife 00:25:52.890 --> 00:25:55.549 watching Especially as soon as you get past like 00:25:55.549 --> 00:25:58.809 the Virginia Cascades Turnoff, which is closed, 00:25:58.809 --> 00:26:01.369 but don't expect a lot there until you get to 00:26:01.369 --> 00:26:03.430 Canyon again I don't know what the snowpack look 00:26:03.430 --> 00:26:07.049 looks like in Canyon so there could be very active 00:26:07.049 --> 00:26:09.609 wildlife out there or it could be too snow -covered 00:26:09.609 --> 00:26:12.220 for much of anything, but And I will tell you 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:14.579 next week, other than that, Northern Range Wildlife 00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:16.779 Watching, very good. Wolves have been sighted. 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:19.059 Grizzlies have been sighted. It's awesome. It's 00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:22.559 a great time. And Baby Bison are out. All right, 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:24.339 changing gears real quick. I've been told that 00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:26.900 I'm terrible at hyping up my own products and 00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:29.059 businesses and tours and books and all of that. 00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:32.039 So. If you like what you hear on this podcast 00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:33.700 know that I have guidebooks that have all of 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:36.359 this information and more in it that are very 00:26:36.359 --> 00:26:38.759 useful to have. There's a hiking guidebook for 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:41.079 the region and a wildlife watching guidebook 00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:45.220 that I wrote out of out of love because I want 00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.700 other people to have the knowledge that's in 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:49.160 my head and I wrote those before I had the podcast 00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:51.819 so everything I felt like saying is in those 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:55.099 books. Also if you are coming to the park and 00:26:55.099 --> 00:26:57.640 you want to see the park in a way that very few 00:26:57.640 --> 00:27:00.819 do Come on a hiking tour with me. I know the 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:02.619 driving tours. You're gonna see all the wildlife 00:27:02.619 --> 00:27:05.079 They kind of don't promise you but they promise 00:27:05.079 --> 00:27:07.539 you that they're gonna like get you wolves and 00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:10.960 see bears but there is something about Being 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:13.200 out in wild and seeing what you're seeing and 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:15.720 having the day that you're gonna have Just enjoying 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:18.519 the landscape away from the roads away from the 00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:21.599 boardwalks away from all other people and just 00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:25.319 being out in Yellowstone That is what I do I 00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:27.779 love the backcountry of Yellowstone, and I want 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:30.740 more people to see it because Yellowstone really 00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:34.000 isn't known as a hiking destination, and as a 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:37.519 person who has hiked all over the West, I am 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:39.519 not tired of hiking in Yellowstone and the greater 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:41.980 Yellowstone ecosystem. I probably never will 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:44.279 be tired of it because there is so much to see 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:46.660 and do. I want to share that passion with you, 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:49.160 so if you're coming to the park, consider picking 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:52.720 up a guidebook or book a tour. I would love to 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:56.970 show you around. Trail alerts and updates. There 00:27:56.970 --> 00:27:59.430 are still no official trail alerts. We're waiting 00:27:59.430 --> 00:28:01.849 for the park to open up more and full staffing 00:28:01.849 --> 00:28:04.309 to occur, and then we'll get better park updates. 00:28:04.829 --> 00:28:07.849 If you're gonna go hiking, expect mud here and 00:28:07.849 --> 00:28:10.910 there, especially where snow has been lingering. 00:28:12.029 --> 00:28:14.910 Also, know that wildlife is out there. Be ready 00:28:14.910 --> 00:28:17.410 for wildlife on every single trail, even the 00:28:17.410 --> 00:28:20.670 boardwalks. Even the trail I'm gonna recommend 00:28:20.670 --> 00:28:22.589 just second the Fairy Falls and Grand Prismatic 00:28:22.589 --> 00:28:25.779 Overlook. This time of the year is when grizzlies 00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:28.279 are on that trail. People are like, I never see 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:31.640 anything there. A few years ago, a grizzly murdered 00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:34.319 an elk on the bridge that you walk across to 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:36.680 get on the old road to get to the Grand Prismatic 00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:40.599 Overlook in April. So know that this happens. 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:44.180 Be prepared. Have bear spray. Have it readily 00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:47.220 accessible. Know how to use it. Never keep it 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:49.359 buried in your backpack. Always have it on your 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:52.059 person. I will have better trail alerts soon. 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:56.000 So that leads me to my truck of the week, Ferry 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:58.680 Falls and Grand Prismatic Overlook. So with the 00:28:58.680 --> 00:29:00.579 roads opening this week, there should be no surprise 00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:02.660 that I'm recommending a trail on the park's interior. 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:05.339 While the hikes in the Northern Range are awesome 00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:08.079 right now, there's a path for you to wander that 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:10.119 perfectly encapsulates the gorgeousness of the 00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:13.000 geyser basins. That trail is of course the Grand 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:16.579 Prismatic Overlook and Ferry Falls Trail. In 00:29:16.579 --> 00:29:18.759 previous years, this area would be closed still, 00:29:19.059 --> 00:29:21.039 despite the roads being open, due to it being 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:24.049 in a bare management area. A year or two ago, 00:29:24.250 --> 00:29:26.069 the park shifted the bear management area away 00:29:26.069 --> 00:29:29.329 from here, and now the area is hikeable. Before 00:29:29.329 --> 00:29:31.470 I jump into the trail review, please know that 00:29:31.470 --> 00:29:33.609 I'm writing and recording this before the roads 00:29:33.609 --> 00:29:36.349 open. There is a very, very, very small chance 00:29:36.349 --> 00:29:37.869 that the Grand Prismatic Overlook trail will 00:29:37.869 --> 00:29:40.349 be closed. But based on the snowpack this year, 00:29:40.470 --> 00:29:43.309 and the fact that I saw an interior season employee 00:29:43.309 --> 00:29:45.329 posting pictures from the overlook a few days 00:29:45.329 --> 00:29:48.269 ago, I'm operating under the assumption that 00:29:48.269 --> 00:29:51.650 it's going to be open. Begin by crossing the 00:29:51.650 --> 00:29:53.750 Firehole River Bridge and following the historic 00:29:53.750 --> 00:29:56.210 Fountain Freight Road, once known as National 00:29:56.210 --> 00:29:59.109 Park Avenue, tracing the southern edge of Midway 00:29:59.109 --> 00:30:02.490 Geyser Basin. Almost immediately, look to your 00:30:02.490 --> 00:30:04.470 right for one of Yellowstone's crown jewels, 00:30:04.890 --> 00:30:07.509 Grand Prismatic Spring. Now this enormous hot 00:30:07.509 --> 00:30:11.089 spring spans more than 370 feet across and plunges 00:30:11.089 --> 00:30:14.210 to a depth of 120 feet, making it the largest 00:30:14.210 --> 00:30:17.160 in the US and the second largest worldwide. It's 00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:20.140 vivid colors from a deep blue center fading outwards 00:30:20.140 --> 00:30:22.980 into fiery orange, red, and lush green steamed 00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:26.119 from heat -loving bacteria that thrive in temperatures 00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:30.160 as high as 167 degrees Fahrenheit. Early park 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:32.599 visitors described its brilliance as so dazzling 00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:36.859 that the eye cannot endure it. Now while you're 00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:39.900 walking you're gonna see that steam but you're 00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:43.220 not really gonna see Grand Prismatic itself. 00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:45.779 Even if you walk the boardwalk, you're not going 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:49.079 to get a full view of it. The boardwalk is gorgeous, 00:30:49.640 --> 00:30:52.920 but it's not the overlook, and you really need 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:55.559 to go to the overlook to understand how amazing 00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:58.579 Grand Prismatic is. To reach the overlook it's 00:30:58.579 --> 00:31:01.160 pretty simple you walk that old road there's 00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:03.740 some signs and a hill on the left side to go 00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:06.640 up walk up that hill and you're going to be at 00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:08.799 the overlook the hill is a little steep and those 00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:11.500 not used to the elevation in the park or hiking 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:15.640 may struggle a bit just keep going however i 00:31:15.640 --> 00:31:18.779 do have one little bit or one little tip it's 00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:20.519 going to be tempting to kind of sneak a peek 00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:22.599 off to your right as you're climbing that hill 00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:26.579 don't do it Avoid looking at Grand Prismatic 00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:30.259 until you're all the way at the top into that 00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:32.460 overlook area and then you get to see the whole 00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:34.680 thing for the first time from the overlook that 00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:38.079 was designed by the park for like maximum awesomeness. 00:31:38.339 --> 00:31:41.779 Do that. The view from the overlook is worth 00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:44.640 it alone. Like, if you only go up to the overlooking 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:49.019 back, that is fantastic and great. and honestly, 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:51.339 like, it's one of my favorite viewpoints. Another 00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:53.279 thing I do recommend doing, I know I'm just kind 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:56.460 of ranting here, is the average visitor, I sat 00:31:56.460 --> 00:31:59.079 up here for an hour once and timed people, the 00:31:59.079 --> 00:32:02.039 average visitor spends about 35 seconds at the 00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:04.559 Grand Prismatic Overlook, turns around and leaves. 00:32:05.380 --> 00:32:09.599 Spend longer than that. I can't stress this enough. 00:32:09.859 --> 00:32:12.940 It's not enough time to walk up to some place, 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:15.000 look at it for a couple seconds, then turn around 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:17.299 and leave. Really stay there and appreciate it. 00:32:17.470 --> 00:32:19.670 look around do you see any animals and trees 00:32:19.670 --> 00:32:22.930 do you see you know any birds flying how is the 00:32:22.930 --> 00:32:25.630 steam how are the clouds take some time and appreciate 00:32:25.630 --> 00:32:27.130 it because you never know when you're going to 00:32:27.130 --> 00:32:31.269 get back so once you're done hike down the other 00:32:31.269 --> 00:32:33.750 side of the trail and get back on the road and 00:32:33.750 --> 00:32:36.250 continue away from where you parked at about 00:32:36.250 --> 00:32:38.930 one mile from where you parked or from the trailhead 00:32:38.930 --> 00:32:42.250 the trail veers left from the old road and slips 00:32:42.250 --> 00:32:44.849 into a forest that tells a dramatic story of 00:32:44.849 --> 00:32:47.730 renewal For the next mile or so, you're going 00:32:47.730 --> 00:32:50.309 to be walking through the old burn scar from 00:32:50.309 --> 00:32:53.509 the 1988 fire that burned a huge amount of the 00:32:53.509 --> 00:32:56.369 park. Today, you can hardly tell that something 00:32:56.369 --> 00:32:58.529 happened there aside from the uniformity of the 00:32:58.529 --> 00:33:01.869 trees, but keep an eye out for the rustles of 00:33:01.869 --> 00:33:04.569 animals here. You're going to maybe see... I've 00:33:04.569 --> 00:33:07.309 seen a moose here. It's crazy. I know people 00:33:07.309 --> 00:33:10.309 have seen bears. So keep an eye out and just 00:33:10.309 --> 00:33:11.990 enjoy this section. It's going to be in the woods 00:33:11.990 --> 00:33:15.220 and it's great. You're gonna reach the waterfall 00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:19.440 about a mile and a half from where you turned 00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:23.019 onto this trail, and that is Fairy Falls. Water 00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:26.420 from Fairy Creek cascades nearly 200 feet off 00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:29.440 the Madison Plateau into a serene pool below. 00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:33.480 Named during the 1871 Hayden survey for its graceful 00:33:33.480 --> 00:33:36.559 descent, Fairy Falls is a picture -perfect display 00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:40.130 of nature's delicate yet powerful force. Just 00:33:40.130 --> 00:33:42.430 a half mile from Ferry Falls is a place that 00:33:42.430 --> 00:33:45.930 few people go to comparatively when looking at 00:33:45.930 --> 00:33:48.930 the overlook or even Ferry Falls, and this is 00:33:48.930 --> 00:33:51.849 the Imperial Geyser Basin. To reach the Imperial 00:33:51.849 --> 00:33:54.650 Geyser Basin, follow a sometimes swampy, sometimes 00:33:54.650 --> 00:33:57.789 muddy trail away from the falls and creek. It 00:33:57.789 --> 00:34:01.329 leads to Imperial Geyser. In the 1920s, Imperial 00:34:01.329 --> 00:34:05.109 Geyser had 80 -foot eruptions that came from 00:34:05.109 --> 00:34:07.170 a hundred foot crater that captivated visitors 00:34:07.170 --> 00:34:10.510 and even inspired a naming contest. Although 00:34:10.510 --> 00:34:13.170 Imperial Geyser now simmers quietly, its bubbling 00:34:13.170 --> 00:34:16.590 overflow still commands attention. The short 00:34:16.590 --> 00:34:19.750 walk along the runoff channel leads you to Spray 00:34:19.750 --> 00:34:22.530 Geyser, which is a smaller yet consistently active 00:34:22.530 --> 00:34:24.949 wonder that shoots up to six feet in the air 00:34:24.949 --> 00:34:28.130 through multiple vents. For those feeling adventurous, 00:34:28.570 --> 00:34:31.250 wander around it there's also some like mud pots 00:34:31.250 --> 00:34:33.949 that are bubbling it's great and for even more 00:34:33.949 --> 00:34:36.250 adventure consider hiking up the steep trail 00:34:36.250 --> 00:34:38.269 that ascends from the base of imperial geyser 00:34:38.269 --> 00:34:41.769 basin and then you have this like bird's eye 00:34:41.769 --> 00:34:45.489 view of imperial out to fairy falls and all around 00:34:45.489 --> 00:34:48.989 it's a little slick as far as like loose dirt 00:34:48.989 --> 00:34:52.349 and rock but it's really worth it now this hike 00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:55.539 offers a front -row seat to Yellowstone's dynamic 00:34:55.539 --> 00:34:59.019 contrast from boiling colorful springs and steaming 00:34:59.019 --> 00:35:01.840 overlooks to fire -forged forests reborn with 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:05.880 life and waterfalls and mud pots and water just 00:35:05.880 --> 00:35:07.559 spraying out of the ground and scenic views. 00:35:08.179 --> 00:35:11.059 Every twist and turn here reveals another chapter 00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:13.780 in this ever -changing natural masterpiece that 00:35:13.780 --> 00:35:16.440 we know as Yellowstone. The total distance to 00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:19.300 Imperial and back is about seven miles and roughly 00:35:19.300 --> 00:35:23.179 400 feet of elevation gain. That's it for this 00:35:23.179 --> 00:35:25.980 week in the next episode next week I'll return 00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:28.019 with all the information you need to have a good 00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:30.619 week in the park that includes the wildlife weather 00:35:30.619 --> 00:35:33.820 and trail updates Until then book a tour with 00:35:33.820 --> 00:35:37.800 me pick up a guidebook of mine and happy trails 00:35:37.800 --> 00:35:50.539 Abrupt ending This week in Yellowstone is brought 00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:52.900 to you by the Outdoor Society, that's my company. 00:35:53.300 --> 00:35:55.579 It's just me, I do this, it's a labor of love. 00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:58.219 If you like it, tell your friends, rate and review 00:35:58.219 --> 00:36:01.519 it. Shoot me a message. Otherwise, keep listening 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:04.360 and I hope to see you in Yellowstone. Copyright 00:36:04.360 --> 00:36:05.880 2026, baby!