Yellowstone in Fall

Also might want to look at this if you haven't already. Looks like the road from Tower to Canyon will be closed to through traffic. This means if you are doing the Lamar Valley and the Canyon area the same day you have to back track through Mammoth.
Road closures and other info you might want to know.
 
We'll be heading into Yellowstone from Grand Teton on Friday. With some rain and snow in the forecast that day, would we be best to go to Canyon and check out the falls or go over towards Old Faithful and check out geysers? Or does it matter?
 
Doesn't matter. Canyon is higher in elevation though so if it's snowing you probably won't get any good shots and the trails/lookouts might be icy. Plus driving in heavy snow sucks as they don't really plow much. For beauty I'll take Canyon because you can do the Upper and Lower Falls and as a bonus you can see/stop at, Yellowstone River (LeHardy Rapids), Hayden Valley, Lake , Fishing Bridge all on the way there. If you go to Old Faithful you can see some cascades and a portion of lake on the way there. Then you have all the geysers basins after Old Faithful, Black Sand, Biscuit Basin (Mystic Falls), Fountain Paint Pots, Grand Prismatic Spring (Fairy Falls), Firehole River Drive. It's 30 miles to West Yellowstone, from Old Faithful and almost 50 from Canyon.
 
I'm not sure about fall fishing, but in the spring and early summer it's pretty good over most of the park. If you have waders I'd give it a try, if not I would pass. There is a fly shop in West Yellowstone that can give you a fishing report also what is workin. I'm not sure of the name though.
 
rainy weather and overcast sky should be perfect for waterfalls if the clouds are not too low.
I'm not sure how much rain and snow will affect the geysers with an increased amount of steam.
Don't forget to get up the hill for a great view down to Grand Prismatic Spring.
 
wes242, have any last minute recommendations or warnings since you've been up there?
Bring you coat! Today was COLD with a few tiny snow flakes, however I saw more animals today the I have the past 5 days.
There are tons of people fishing all over so you might get something, but don't forget your waders.
FYI the road from Canyon to Tower is closed about 9 miles north from canyon Jct. We went that way today and then drove the dirt road to Mt Washburn and saw the biggest grizzly I have ever seen. There is still some nice colors around Mammoth too.
There are a handfull of Bull Elk along the Madison, but get to them just before sunrise if you want pictures, or in the evening too.

We are heading home tomorrow and going to hit Mesa Falls on the way. If you go home through Island park you might as well take the scenic route to see the falls if you haven't.
 
The closest I ever came to hiking the great big trail in the sky was while driving in the snow in Yellowstone. And it was the first snow of the year, so I didn't quite have my "snow legs" on, yet, which contributed to the problem.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
isaac Yellowstone NP Campsite Reccs Trip Planning 3
Bob Island Park / Yellowstone Private Airport Development General Discussion 8
TheMountainRabbit News Release: Yellowstone National Park increases protection for bears and visitor safety by implementing changes to two bear management areas General Discussion 14
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Gallatin River -- September 7-9th 2023 Backpacking 12
wsp_scott Yellowstone Lake to Brooks Lake (Aug 2023) Backpacking 16
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Thorofare and the Teton Wilderness 08/09/2023 - 08/18/2023 Part Nine / Day Nine + Ten! Backpacking 20
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Thorofare and the Teton Wilderness 08/09/2023 - 08/18/2023 Part Eight / Day Eight Backpacking 14
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Thorofare and the Teton Wilderness 08/09/2023 - 08/18/2023 Part Seven / Day Seven Backpacking 13
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Thorofare and the Teton Wilderness 08/09/2023 - 08/18/2023 Part Six / Day Six Backpacking 28
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Thorofare and the Teton Wilderness 08/09/2023 - 08/18/2023 Part Five / Day Five Backpacking 16
LarryBoy Select Peaks of the Greater Yellowstone - Second Edition (coupon code for pre-order) General Discussion 12
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Thorofare and the Teton Wilderness 08/09/2023 - 08/18/2023 Part Four / Day Four Backpacking 15
scatman The Gallatin River, Bighorn and Fawn Passes, Yellowstone National Park - September 7, 2023 Backpacking 14
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Thorofare and the Teton Wilderness 08/09/2023 - 08/18/2023 Part Three / Day Three Backpacking 10
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Thorofare and the Teton Wilderness 08/09/2023 - 08/18/2023 -- Part Two / Day Two Backpacking 6
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Thorofare and the Teton Wilderness 08/09/2023 - 08/18/2023 --Part One / Day One Backpacking 10
scatman Yellowstone's Thorofare, Headwaters of Thorofare Creek, Majo Pass, Younts Peak, Bob's Canyon, and Cub Creek - August 9, 2023 - Days 7 through 10 Backpacking 34
scatman Yellowstone's Thorofare, Headwaters of Thorofare Creek, Majo Pass, Younts Peak, Bob's Canyon, and Cub Creek - August 9, 2023 - Days 1 through 6 Backpacking 56
F Hat Recovered-Yellowstone Backcountry General Discussion 0
J South Crandall Creek and the Hoodoos Wyoming and Yellowstone? Trip Planning 3
RockyMntCol Trip Planning Younts Peak / South Fork Yellowstone Trip Planning 12
F Shakedown - Yellowstone Thorofare Trip Planning 13
Rockskipper @Bob or anyone know why they closed down part of the forest near W. Yellowstone? General Discussion 6
I Rescue Creek - Yellowstone National Park - June 3, 2023 Backpacking 15
Bob Bear charge - Yellowstone General Discussion 1
scatman Rescue Creek - Yellowstone National Park - June 3, 2023 Backpacking 56
I Slough Creek - Yellowstone June 5 & 6 Meet Up (Members Only) 19
Bob Yellowstone 5/8/23 - UPDATE General Discussion 9
Parashakti Late July in Yellowstone Trip Planning 9
scatman Rescue Creek - Yellowstone National Park Meet Up (Members Only) 19
E Weeklong+ backpacking recs in Yellowstone NP? Trip Planning 11
Jackson Yellowstone Backcountry Lottery Results General Discussion 45
BobFink Yellowstone South Entrance to Fox Creek via Basin Creek Cutoff - Labor Day 2022 Trip Reports 4
Bob Snakes in Yellowstone General Discussion 11
shredhiker Yellowstone Heart Lake September 2022 Backpacking 9
Janice Yellowstone Yurt Camp - Feb. 19-23, 2023 Trip Reports 15
TheMountainRabbit Northern Yellowstone NP - January 2023 Winter Sports 6
Ymyr Suggestions in a Yellowstone and a Beartooth trip Trip Planning 29
scatman A Yellowstone Love Story (Bog Creek Euphoria) - September 12, 2022 Backpacking 28
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Wrangler Lake, Bog Creek, Joseph's Coat Springs, Broad Creek, Wapiti Lake, Hot Springs Basin, and Pelican Valley. The Second Half. Backpacking 15
Georgia Yankee Where to see/hear wolves Yellowstone NP backcountry in September? Trip Planning 16
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Wrangler Lake, Bog Creek, Joseph's Coat Springs, Broad Creek, Wapiti Lake, Hot Springs Basin, and Pelican Valley. Part One of Two. Backpacking 61
TractorDoc Yellowstone's Hayden Valley, Trout Creek, Beach Lake, and Arnica Creek Meadows. September 11, 2022. Hiking & Camping 7
TheMountainRabbit Pitchstone/Bechler Loop (Yellowstone NP) - September 2022 Backpacking 17
P Summer night in Yellowstone Backpacking 4
P Yellowstone, one night by a lake Backpacking 19
wsp_scott Yellowstone September 2021 Backpacking 6
P Shoshone Geyser Basin, Yellowstone, 2022 Backpacking 6
P Yellowstone--Heart Lake to South Entrance Backpacking 13
travel2walk Yellowstone: Bechler Canyon, Aug 12-15 2022 Backpacking 21

Similar threads

Back
Top