Took the family to Yellowstone Park Saturday and drove the Beartooth Highway. The Beartooth crosses from Montana to Wyoming and back then leads to Yellowstone’s northeast entrance. The highest point on the highway is 10,947 feet. As we got closer to the top the wind was blowing 40 to 50 mph and I was getting nervous being so close to the guardrail. The Jeep isn’t the most aerodynamic and a couple times I thought we were going to be pushed right over the edge.

When we got to the park entrance the ranger just kept grinning and looking at the Jeep as he was giving us our maps and such. Before we pulled away he said “Two more things before you go. One, be careful pulling way. I wouldn’t want you to hit my building and damage it. Second, make sure you look for the unpaved roads. There are a few around the park and most people don’t know they exist. The map will show you were they are. If you’re going to bring something fun like your Jeep you should take advantage.” So basically the ranger was encouraging me to go off-roading in the national park.

Anyway, a few scenery shots, the obligatory Jeep shots, and some of the wildlife that gathered to admire our Jeep.





















You'll notice a small sign in the background, next to a gravel road. That's one of the roads the ranger had suggested but it was closed. It's a five mile back country route to the north entrance but it had been washed out by a storm.

The elk in the photo are hanging out in Mammoth Hot Springs, a town inside the park. It's mating season so the one bull you see is keeping watch over his harem.


The same bull when he came closer to us, getting his ladies to move in a little closer to him. Apparently they were getting spread out and he didn't like it.





Beel

Doh! Forgot the bison, had to add that one in.

 

Great shots!!! Took one for my background.

 

Sweet Pics

 

I dont know how you fit that in between work and all!

 

Nice Pics!
Looks just as good in the winter on a snowmobile!

 

Great photos! Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks for the pics... we are planning on going next June. Any advice for a first timer out there? Any must sees or roads that must be taken?

 

That's awesome, BEEL! We have been planning this trip for a few years now, hopefully next year! Sadly, I probably won't bring the JK with me. Thanks for sharing the pics!

 

If you go out west, I HIGHLY recommend taking a Jeep. I see you live in Kentucky (Ohio here), and if in any way shape or form you can take a Jeep to Colorado or Wyoming do it. The air is clear, you can see for miles, and the sense of wide open free space is like nowhere in the eastern US.

 

There are a few things you probably don't want to miss, but the animals will always make some stops better. Overall, the park is just amazing and a great place to visit.

Lamar Valley is a great place to see lots of bison, and you have a chance of seeing the wolves or sometimes bears. (last year we had a young grizzly within 10 meters of the car)

Mammoth Hot Springs is a regular stop and you will almost always see elk.

If you have time the Beartooth Highway is an amazing drive. It's outside the park to the northeast but still worth the effort.

Of course heading down to Old Faithful and the Lodge is a bit touristy but still cool to actually witness it for yourself.

I have taken photos of some of our trips in the JK and they never seem to do justice to the environment so I never post them. I recently made a climb that scared the crap out of me. I know we were at the vertical climb limits and turning around was not an option. It was set the lockers and just keep pushing upward. When we reached the summit, and after the shakes stopped, I took some photos. Somehow the camera cannot capture the moment.

Can_Handle_the_Truth has it right, they don't call it the Big Sky Country for nothing.

Beel

Edit* I'm embarrassed to admit I have never been to the East or South entrance, which are both in Wyoming. Not that I don't want to, it's just a longer drive. Maybe my friends to the south can enlighten us about those drives.