Posted by Derek Sedillo on February 19, 2007 at 4:48 PM
I am thinking about going to Yellowstone this spring in the April/May time frame. I would like to beat the summer rush and be able to enjoy things like viewing Lower Falls. I'll probably stop by the Grand Tetons as well. I hear this is also a great time to catch newborn wildlife in the park.
In the winter the roads are closed but they open back up again sometime in the late spring. I know people snowcat into the park in the winter. But I would like to be able to drive thru weather permitting. I will probably camp in the park to be closer to photo ops.
I was wondering if anyone has gone during this time and what it was like for them?
Thanks,
- Derek
Posted by Les Barstow on February 19, 2007 at 11:42 PM
I drove through Yellowstone on my way back home from the PNW last year; the park had just opened all roads except the one over Dunraven Pass. Most of the roads don't open until May; they usually post a schedule online; in April, you'll still probably be stuck with the northern road and sno-cat.
Young Bison are definitely in residence in mid to late May. I was disappointed by the overall amount if visible wildlife as I drove through, but I didn't spend a lot of time looking. I saw no Moose, no Elk, no Antelope, and no predators, which I do usually see around the Labor Day weekend when I usually go.
One nice thing about the mid-May timeframe was that the Fountain Paintpot was much nicer than in Fall. On the downside, much of the park facilities are still closed for the season, and some trails were not yet open due to snow and ice. If you don't get a definitive answer here, I'd definitely call and check with the park; they can give you some idea on whether some of the sights you'd like to get to are open at that time of the year.
Posted by Les Barstow on February 20, 2007 at 1:09 AM
Just a follow-up - I just double-checked the dates on my trip. The park opened up most of the roads on May 20th last year - including the south entrance which would get you to the Tetons. Some roads opened the week before. Essentially, anything with a middling-high pass - Old Faithful East to West Thumb, the South Entrance, Norris to Canyon - all opened on the 20th. Mammoth to Old Faithful (and Roosevelt to Canyon or Lake ?) opened the 13th. Any earlier and it's only the Winter roads.
Posted by Derek Sedillo on February 20, 2007 at 1:21 AM
Thanks Les,
It sounds like late May would be a better bet for accessibility. Thats strange that you didn't see as much wildlife. Maybe it takes more work to find them this time of the year.
- Derek
Posted by Les Barstow on February 20, 2007 at 1:32 AM
I've been told that the wildlife is quite rich at that time of the year, but all I got to see was the Bison. Of course, I was just "driving through" (pretty much covered Mammoth to Norris to Canyon, down through Hayden Valley and around Lake, then up to the main geyser basins around Old Faithful, then back down through the South Entrance); while I looked for wildlife as I went, I only stopped at a few "wildlife" overlooks as I was on a time schedule.
It was just a bit odd to me. I'm used to being up there in the Fall, and I've kind of gotten to know some of the wildlife habits at that time of year; they obviously weren't true that day...
Posted by Derek Sedillo on February 20, 2007 at 11:29 AM
I was pretty amazed when looking at Jesse Lees images of Yellowstone from Spring 2005 here:
He is actually doing a spring workshop this year during the first week of June. I guess that is still 'technically' Spring
I would really like to see the young wildlife along with the waterfalls peaking and slightly lighter crowds.
- Derek
Posted by Les Barstow on February 20, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Those images are so not right, Derek. Mostly because none of them are mine. The Harlequin Ducks especially are depressing - they're impossible to find regardless of season.
I was there May 5-9 last year. You couldn't drive through to the Tetons, but we had very good access around Hayden Valley and the lake, and most points between. The snow was in retreat, but we did get a fresh one on the second day, which greatly improved the scenics.
Wildlife was in abundance, and we saw grizzlies in many locations between the Hayden Valey and the lake, as well as a pair of blackbear with love on their mind in Hayden. We also saw wolves from three packs on several occasions. In addition to buffalo and elk, we also saw beaver, sheep and no end of birds. You could pretty well zero in on the wolves by watching for the clustered wolfites, but we spotted some they missed. I'll attach a sheep shot I got at the river bridge on our way into Hayden with my 80-200 just for giggles.
Keep your eyes open, spend a lot of time outside your vehicle and glassing. Certainly watch for other watchers and their sightings, but don't get too hung up on waiting for them to find the game for you. There's lots in between!
Posted by Derek Sedillo on March 11, 2007 at 1:12 PM
Les,
I found a new set of Yellowstone images from last Spring that are just terrible
Discussion
8 repliesIn the winter the roads are closed but they open back up again sometime in the late spring. I know people snowcat into the park in the winter. But I would like to be able to drive thru weather permitting. I will probably camp in the park to be closer to photo ops.
I was wondering if anyone has gone during this time and what it was like for them?
Thanks,
- Derek
Young Bison are definitely in residence in mid to late May. I was disappointed by the overall amount if visible wildlife as I drove through, but I didn't spend a lot of time looking. I saw no Moose, no Elk, no Antelope, and no predators, which I do usually see around the Labor Day weekend when I usually go.
One nice thing about the mid-May timeframe was that the Fountain Paintpot was much nicer than in Fall. On the downside, much of the park facilities are still closed for the season, and some trails were not yet open due to snow and ice. If you don't get a definitive answer here, I'd definitely call and check with the park; they can give you some idea on whether some of the sights you'd like to get to are open at that time of the year.
It sounds like late May would be a better bet for accessibility. Thats strange that you didn't see as much wildlife. Maybe it takes more work to find them this time of the year.
- Derek
It was just a bit odd to me. I'm used to being up there in the Fall, and I've kind of gotten to know some of the wildlife habits at that time of year; they obviously weren't true that day...
http://www.jessleephotos.com/spring05/index.htm
He is actually doing a spring workshop this year during the first week of June. I guess that is still 'technically' Spring
I would really like to see the young wildlife along with the waterfalls peaking and slightly lighter crowds.
- Derek
Wildlife was in abundance, and we saw grizzlies in many locations between the Hayden Valey and the lake, as well as a pair of blackbear with love on their mind in Hayden. We also saw wolves from three packs on several occasions. In addition to buffalo and elk, we also saw beaver, sheep and no end of birds. You could pretty well zero in on the wolves by watching for the clustered wolfites, but we spotted some they missed. I'll attach a sheep shot I got at the river bridge on our way into Hayden with my 80-200 just for giggles.
Keep your eyes open, spend a lot of time outside your vehicle and glassing. Certainly watch for other watchers and their sightings, but don't get too hung up on waiting for them to find the game for you. There's lots in between!
I found a new set of Yellowstone images from last Spring that are just terrible
Check these photos out from Liz Bickels 'first' trip':
http://www.pbase.com/britestar/yellowstone_
Beginners luck or???