NATIONAL PARKS INSIDER TIPS. Avoid the Crowds Take a Connectivity Break Late June through late August tends to be a very busy time at the parks. Visit during the shoulder season in early June and September for a quieter retreat. Arrive Early (or Late) Getting an early start maximizes your chances of finding parking, quieter trails and clear waters. During the peak season, there’s often daylight until 9 p.m. or later, and many portions of the park clear out substantially by 4 or 5 p.m. Practice Wildlife Safety While there is some cell service in Yellowstone and Grand Teton’s developed areas — as well as Wi-Fi for purchase in select hotel rooms — connections to the outside world are fairly limited. On your way in, pick up a map at one of the visitor centers to find your way around, even without a signal. Book Guided Excursions TOP PLACES TO STAY From scenic campsites to luxe lodges, we’ve got you covered no matter what you’re into. Grand Teton Lodge Company offers nearly 800 individual and group campsites with picnic tables, fire pits and nearby flush toilets. If roughing it isn’t quite your style, reserve one of the rustic log cabins at Colter Bay Village or a well-equipped cabin at Jenny Lake Lodge, which come with amenities like private bathrooms and wood-burning stoves. For the ultimate retreat, stay at the luxurious Snake River Lodge & Spa at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Learn more at TravelWyoming.com/ places-to-stay or p. 84. Be sure to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards away from other animals. Learn more about bear safety at wgfd.wyo.gov. Let the experts show you around with one of the many guided experiences available, from ranger-led wildlife strolls to horseback riding through wildflower meadows to whitewater trips offered by professional rafting companies. WY Indeed The best part about working for the National Park Service in a place like Yellowstone is that I have the responsibility and opportunity to protect the country’s greatest resources so that they can be experienced in the same way for years to come. When I read about the early explorers, the history of Yellowstone and the transcending emotions that the national parks inspire, I am proud to follow in the footsteps of some of the great minds that blazed the trail for preservation and conservation. — RACHEL CUDMORE Commercial Film Permits Coordinator for Yellowstone National Park ALASKA BASIN 54 TravelWyoming.com GREG VONDOERSTEN.
Wyoming Official Travel Guide 2019 Wyoming Official Travel Guide: Page 54
