Island Park ID vs Jackson Hole WY to visit Yellowstone NP

[DaveNV]

So I have told her we will see moose at Yellowstone. If we don't then my credibility goes to zero. By staying in the park, we should have a better chance at seeing wildlife.

John, last time I was in Yellowstone (a trip in early June a few years ago) I saw bears along the roadway on the Upper Loop, not far from Tower Falls. Closer to Canyon, there was a lone moose way across a field, standing in a stream. If I didn't know what a moose in a stream looks like, I wouldn't have been able to identify it.

On the same trip, we also saw two moose outside of Jackson Hole, on a "scenic back road" from Wilson down to Jackson. They were grazing in a stream right along side the road. We took pictures from about 20 feet away without getting out of the car. (Sorry, I don't remember the name of the road, but there were lots of people there, so apparently it is a known viewing area.)

Although animals are everywhere in the park, by and large, the best animal viewing in Yellowstone was at Gibbon Meadow. We saw lots of the ubiquitous elk and bison, but we also saw a bobcat and a fox, and we stood for quite awhile and watched wolves hunting for burrowing critters. It was pretty great.

No guarantees, of course, but the critters are definitely there. You just have to keep your eyes open.

While you're in Jackson, be sure to spend a few hours at the National Museum of Wildlife Art. It's an incredible place. http://www.wildlifeart.org/

Dave

 

[John Cummings]

Dave,

Thanks for the info on wildlife. You have lifted my hopes.

 

[Laurie]

On the same trip, we also saw two moose outside of Jackson Hole, on a "scenic back road" from Wilson down to Jackson. They were grazing in a stream right along side the road. We took pictures from about 20 feet away without getting out of the car. (Sorry, I don't remember the name of the road, but there were lots of people there, so apparently it is a known viewing area.)

We saw several bears, however no moose in Yellowstone - but more than once saw a mama moose and her baby in a stream along Moose Wilson Road, the road between Teton Village and the SW back entrance to Grand Teton NP, which may be exactly where you're talking about, Dave - I can't remember whether it was within Grand Teton park boundaries or not - lots of people, we did get out of our car for photos as many others were. Dusk or at least late in the day seemed like the best time.

We saw other many animals - of course elk and bison, antelope and coyotes and I think a fox - but sadly never any wolves or bobcats, though I was particularly hoping to see wolves.

On the topic, an outstanding film on DVD is "Wolf Pack" about the historic Druid pack in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley - we bought this at the Wolf-Grizzly center there but you can probably get it from Netflix. I've watched it 3 or 4 times now, it won an Emmy, is an amazing story and really well done.

Edited to add: here's a website offering some likely places to look for each kind of wildlife:
http://www.yellowstonepark.com/Things/TopThingDetails.aspx?ttid=2

 

[DaveNV]

We saw several bears, however no moose in Yellowstone - but more than once saw a mama moose and her baby in a stream along Moose Wilson Road, the road between Teton Village and the SW back entrance to Grand Teton NP, which may be exactly where you're talking about, Dave - I can't remember whether it was within Grand Teton park boundaries or not - lots of people, we did get out of our car for photos as many others were. Dusk or at least late in the day seemed like the best time.

Laurie, I think that must be the place. Sounds very much like what I saw. It's been a few years, and I should have paid closer attention to things.

Dave

 

[Werner]

Dave,

Thanks for the info on wildlife. You have lifted my hopes.

We saw the same moose at the same stream along Moose - Wilson road last summer. The Chamber of Commerce must pay him to stand there.

We spend a full week last summer, mostly in Yellowstone, and a few days hiking and touring in Teton NP and Jackson. Just doing one of the major loop roads in Yellowstone and stopping and taking short hikes and doing the boardwalks is a day trip. You should also look into the timing of your trip for animal viewing. We were there in late June - early July. It was (accidentally) great timing for game viewing. We saw this grizzly

at Bridge Bay (that's Lake Yellowstone in the background). Later in the summer the grizzlies move into the high country where they are harder to see. We also saw one at the top of Dunraven Pass on the way to the Tower Junction.

Male bison are usually alone at this time of year

but the females are still in herds to protect the young calves.

We were stuck in a "bison jam" in Hayden Valley one morning. Several hundred females and calves were crossing the road.

The downside to early summer is mosquitoes. If you do any hiking, even short hikes, especially near the Lake, you will need serious mosquito repellent. But another upside beside animal viewing is that the rivers, streams and the spectacular Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls are all running at full force.

The Yellowstone River usually crests around the 4th of July. Everything is lush and springy green.

I think you are more likely to see moose in Teton National Park south to Jackson. The main highway passes through a wetlands area in Teton NP and the Jackson Hole (the valley) is good moose country. I believe the moose in Yellowstone are mostly in the backcountry. You will likely see elk anywhere in early summer but they also move to the high country in late summer. You might also tour the National Elk Refuge in Jackson.

Have a great trip.

More pix here:
http://wernerg.smugmug.com/Travel/Yellowstone-National-Park-Park/9672823_VBYs2#653178249_WSEka

 

[John Cummings]

Those are awesome pictures. I can't do any hiking so our sightseeing and picture taking is pretty well limited to what I can see from the road and lookout points. I can walk a few hundred yards if the terrain is pretty smooth and flat.

 

[Werner]

Those are awesome pictures. I can't do any hiking so our sightseeing and picture taking is pretty well limited to what I can see from the road and lookout points. I can walk a few hundred yards if the terrain is pretty smooth and flat.

The first two were taken from the car (no way was I getting out of the car with a bear that close), the wet bison was sitting in the rain conveniently located at a turn-out in Hayden Valley. I didn't even get wet; shot from the window. The bison calves were from outside of the car during the bison jam. Only the waterfall was taken from a long steep boardwalk/stairway down into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone but there are several other paved-trail accesses to various Upper and Lower Falls lookout sites. Most of the geyser areas have short and long loop boardwalks. Mammoth Springs has miles of boardwalks but you can access them from multiple places and do short loops. There is still lots to see from places with easy access. Yellowstone is still the jewell in the NPS's crown and they makes sure that there is good access for all the major sights.

 

[John Cummings]

The first two were taken from the car (no way was I getting out of the car with a bear that close), the wet bison was sitting in the rain conveniently located at a turn-out in Hayden Valley. I didn't even get wet; shot from the window. The bison calves were from outside of the car during the bison jam. Only the waterfall was taken from a long steep boardwalk/stairway down into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone but there are several other paved-trail accesses to various Upper and Lower Falls lookout sites. Most of the geyser areas have short and long loop boardwalks. Mammoth Springs has miles of boardwalks but you can access them from multiple places and do short loops. There is still lots to see from places with easy access. Yellowstone is still the jewell in the NPS's crown and they makes sure that there is good access for all the major sights.

I do have a 12X Optical zoom which makes getting closeups pretty easy. I have my eyes on the new Canon 20X with a wide angle lens. My daughter got one for Christmas and it is awesome.