Posted by Matt Anderson on September 11, 2010 at 5:51 PM
I'm fairly sure I'll be making a trip to the GT's that week. First let me say, I know nothing of about them except the pictures and experiences I see and hear are amazing. I'm starting my scouting and information gathering now. A few questions for those in the know...
In your opinion, this year, is my timing a bit late for decent fall colors ?
Will the place be packed like Yosemite on an average July day ?
Is camping still a good possibility this time year; temperature/availability?
What are the to must see's ?
How do you prepare, or should I prepare for the possibilities of bears ? (no experience here)
Is there a must go to bar or restaurant ?
Is 5-10mph over the speed limit safe in Wyoming and the Dakota's ?
Thanks ahead of time for any answers to the above. I don't have a lot of experience in that part of the country. I sure am looking forward to making this trip. If you have any other info that helps, please pass it along! I'll gladly reward you with a shot and a beer ...
Keep your food and all smellables in the car when you're not using them and it never hurts to have bear spray.
No bar or restaurant suggestions from me as we mostly made our own meals.
I know 5 over is safe but I didn't try 10.
Posted by Arthur Lund on September 11, 2010 at 10:12 PM
Pickup a copy of Joseph Langes
"Photographers Guide to Yellowstone and the Tetons.
Posted by Kurt Rinne on September 12, 2010 at 2:22 AM
Jason is spot on with his words, you will be little late for fall colors but it's still an incredible time to go. Also if you don't want to camp and rough it, the hotels are very cheap the first couple of weeks in Oct. My first year up there a few years back it was snowing so hard in the tetons that I took a break at one of the gift shops and picked up one of those maps by bored feet and it has a lot of the iconic locations and a few not so iconic. I also concur with Arthur's recommendation it's a great book. One of the best forums in my opinion on Yellowstone and the Tetons is http://forums.yellowstone.net/
Great bunch of people on that site with tons of knowledge. If you like BBQ don't miss out on Bubba's in Jackson Hole, it's very good!
Posted by Mark Perry on September 12, 2010 at 3:55 AM
FWIW, I was in the Grand Tetons last year, 2009 the week of September 21-25 and missed the peak by 5 days or so which was around Oct 1. I think you will be OK but it will be close. I think the safest time is last week of Sept/first of October. The bulk of the Fall colors is in the Tetons not YNP. YNP has mostly conifers and some changing aspens though but the "color show" is in the Tetons.
Posted by Brett Deacon on September 12, 2010 at 11:38 AM
Hi Matt. The advice posted above is spot on. Last year fall colors peaked around October 1, at least at Oxbow Bend which is arguably the best fall color photography spot in the park. I also heard complaints from people who were there 2 or 3 days later and said a blizzard blew all the leaves off the aspen. With luck you might be able to catch the tail end of the good color.
The park will not be crowded at all with the exception of photographers at Oxbow Bend. There were at least 100 shooting sunrise there last fall! It can easily be 20 degrees (or even lower) at night with a decent chance of snow, so I'd second with the cheap hotel recommendation. If it's still open, Dornan's restaurant in the park near the Moose Visitor Center has good pizza and beer. Mountain High Pizza Pie has great pizzas in Jackson. 10 mph over the speed limit is pushing it, and I'd stay within 5 while driving through the park.
Aside from Oxbow Bend, the hiking trail behind Jackson Lake Lodge above Willow Flats is a great and underrated fall color spot for photography and you'd probably have it to yourself. The short and steep hike to Grand View Point in this same area is another great spot. Sunrise is good time to shoot, but the light is actually excellent mid-morning as well. Oxbow Bend looks great an hour or so after sunrise, and for several hours thereafter, after the light has made its way down to evenly illuminate the aspen stand along the Snake River.
I've never run into bear trouble in the park and have also never taken any special precautions like I would in Yellowstone. Aside from making noise when hiking I'm not sure you'll need to do much else to be prepared.
Have a great trip!
Posted by Ed Fuhr on September 12, 2010 at 7:53 PM
I am taking my first fall trip out there and am tentatively planning on arriving around October 1. A friend in the area who is leading some fall workshops is leaning toward thinking that will be the best week but at this point its still a guess, obviously. There are a lot of great restaurants in Jackson Hole from upscale (Blue Lion, Snake River something on the square) to more casual - Bubbas just west of town for BBQ, the steakhouse on the square, and for a great margarita, Merry Piglets on the square next to Mangelsen's gallery. If you go, check out that gallery and David Brookovers's, which I think is even better.
Posted by Matt Anderson on September 13, 2010 at 10:11 AM
Thanks for the great pointers guys !
I've got the two books on order from Amazon
Now, I need to find a good half way point to stop at for sleeping rest. It looks like somewhere in Western South Dakota would be a good spot.
Posted by James Walley on September 19, 2010 at 4:28 AM
10 mph over the speed limit is pushing it, and I'd stay within 5 while driving through the park.
Really? When I was there in August, 10 over (at least) was pretty much required. I once found myself going 10 over, through lack of attention to the speedometer, and was still getting passed by lots of cars.
BTW, I second the recommendation for Mountain High. OTOH, I found most of the food in Jackson (I was on a "family trip" as well as a photo expedition, so expected to be eating at pricier places than I would if I were by myself) to be not only overpriced, but quite mediocre compared to what I could find at home in a non-upscale Seattle exurb.
Discussion
8 repliesIn your opinion, this year, is my timing a bit late for decent fall colors ?
Will the place be packed like Yosemite on an average July day ?
Is camping still a good possibility this time year; temperature/availability?
What are the to must see's ?
How do you prepare, or should I prepare for the possibilities of bears ? (no experience here)
Is there a must go to bar or restaurant ?
Is 5-10mph over the speed limit safe in Wyoming and the Dakota's ?
Thanks ahead of time for any answers to the above. I don't have a lot of experience in that part of the country. I sure am looking forward to making this trip. If you have any other info that helps, please pass it along! I'll gladly reward you with a shot and a beer ...
Kind Regards,
Matt Anderson
It's pretty deserted in the fall as far as tourists go but expect a lot of photographers.
A couple campgrounds will still be open, temps will be 50/60s in the day, 20/30s at night.
This is the best source I've found for photo locations: http://www.boredfeet.com/mappages/map9780915749256.php
Keep your food and all smellables in the car when you're not using them and it never hurts to have bear spray.
No bar or restaurant suggestions from me as we mostly made our own meals.
I know 5 over is safe but I didn't try 10.
"Photographers Guide to Yellowstone and the Tetons.
Great bunch of people on that site with tons of knowledge. If you like BBQ don't miss out on Bubba's in Jackson Hole, it's very good!
The park will not be crowded at all with the exception of photographers at Oxbow Bend. There were at least 100 shooting sunrise there last fall! It can easily be 20 degrees (or even lower) at night with a decent chance of snow, so I'd second with the cheap hotel recommendation. If it's still open, Dornan's restaurant in the park near the Moose Visitor Center has good pizza and beer. Mountain High Pizza Pie has great pizzas in Jackson. 10 mph over the speed limit is pushing it, and I'd stay within 5 while driving through the park.
Aside from Oxbow Bend, the hiking trail behind Jackson Lake Lodge above Willow Flats is a great and underrated fall color spot for photography and you'd probably have it to yourself. The short and steep hike to Grand View Point in this same area is another great spot. Sunrise is good time to shoot, but the light is actually excellent mid-morning as well. Oxbow Bend looks great an hour or so after sunrise, and for several hours thereafter, after the light has made its way down to evenly illuminate the aspen stand along the Snake River.
I've never run into bear trouble in the park and have also never taken any special precautions like I would in Yellowstone. Aside from making noise when hiking I'm not sure you'll need to do much else to be prepared.
Have a great trip!
I've got the two books on order from Amazon
Now, I need to find a good half way point to stop at for sleeping rest. It looks like somewhere in Western South Dakota would be a good spot.
Really? When I was there in August, 10 over (at least) was pretty much required. I once found myself going 10 over, through lack of attention to the speedometer, and was still getting passed by lots of cars.
BTW, I second the recommendation for Mountain High. OTOH, I found most of the food in Jackson (I was on a "family trip" as well as a photo expedition, so expected to be eating at pricier places than I would if I were by myself) to be not only overpriced, but quite mediocre compared to what I could find at home in a non-upscale Seattle exurb.