Yellowstone Road and Highway Information May 4 2015

do something exhilarating today... May 2015 -  Rafting, Horseback riding and Zipline Adventures are in full swing here at Geyser Whitewater!  We are rafting the Gallatin River in Big Sky Montana everyday.  The closest rafting to West Yellowstone.   The Zipline Adventure Park in West Yellowstone is open on weekends and daily beginning May 9th. raftmontana.com Here is a quick update for Yellowstone Road and Highway Information  Have a great visit! Yellowstone Park Construction: Norris to Golden Gate: Expect traffic delays up to 30 minutes through Oct. 1. The entrance to Norris Campground will be closed, April 18-May 10 for construction activities. Zipline Park  in West Yellowstone Isa Lake Bridge Replacement Bridge: Closed until June 11 at 7:00 a.m. June 11 through September 10: expect traffic delays up to 30 minutes. Call 307-344-2117 for road updates. Yellowstone Road Status: Open: Mammoth to Old Faithful; Madison to West Entrance; Norris to Canyon. Open: Canyon Junction to Lake; Lake to East Entrance (Sylvan Pass). May 8: Lake to South Entrance; Tower Junction to Tower Fall. May 22: Tower Fall to Canyon Junction (Dunraven Pass); Beartooth Highway. June 11: Old Faithful to West Thumb (Craig Pass). For More info visit: http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm Spending time in West Yellowstone?  Watch this fun video of the brand new Zipline Adventure Park.

Best Family Day in Yellowstone!

http:/www.yellowstoneparkzipline.com

The number one comment we hear about visiting Yellowstone is "too much driving..." Well ,we agree! Fear not however, Yellowstone is awesome and you don't have to spend the day driving all over.  With kids or teens in tow especially, make it fun, not a chore.  We know how confusing it is trying to plan a Yellowstone vacation sifting through endless information about the area online.  Take our advise though and use the suggested itinerary below to plan your visit.  The kids will love it so much you might get a parent of the day award!

Day 1: From Big Sky or West Yellowstone:

Grand Prismatic Spring. If you are heading south down the main loop road, just look for a turn off/parking area on the right hand side of the road, just south of Midway geyser basin 

Use this day to see the Old Faithful area and get a lay of the land.  Old Faithful is a mere 30 miles from West Yellowstone and an hour and half from Big Sky.  Highlights include Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, swimming in the Firehole river (bring swimsuits and a towel) and a stop at the coolest zipline adventure park around. On your way to and from Old Faithful you will also see enough mud pots, geyser's, waterfalls and animals to make the vacation.  Throw in a stop at the zipline adventure park in West Yellowstone and you have a day every family will love.  Use the suggestions below as a guideline, mix up the order,
do them backwards, whatever seems right to you but we'll guarantee some hassle free fun!

Drive from West Yellowstone to Old Faithful: 
MAP

On the way stop at Midway Geyser Basin and Biscuit Basin to check out the thermal features.   Midway basin is the start of the walk to Grand Prismatic.  Find the high ground for a nice view of Grand Prismatic.

Drive to Old Faithful and do the walk along the boardwalks around the back side of Old Faithful. Observation Point is a short, moderate side hike here that affords you some cool views of the Old Faithful area.

Grab Lunch and an ice cream at the Old Faithful Inn.

Swimming in the Firehole River!

Head back towards West Yellowstone.  It's the heat of the day now and the kids might enjoy a dip in the Firehole River.  There is a designated swim area here and it's fun with families.

Return to West Yellowstone and head to the Zipline Adventure Park in West Yellowstone. You will have several hours of fun here and it could easily end up being the highlight.  You will also find food here for a late snack or dinner, known to be the most economical and less busy than anywhere else.

Day 2: From Big Sky or West Yellowstone:
It's nice to mix things up a bit.  Use this day to go whitewater rafting on the Gallatin River in Big Sky, go zipline, take a horseback ride or hike.  Other activities include renting stand up boards or canoes on the Lake in Big Sky.  One call to Geyser Whitewater and you can arrange every activity in Big Sky or West Yellowstone and get the best value on adventure packages in the area. 800.914.9031

Day 3: From Big Sky or West Yellowstone:

Let's head back to Yellowstone today.  Drive from West Yellowstone to Yellowstone Falls.

Check out the Uncle Tom Trail.  After you have explored the Canyon area head back towards West Yellowstone and stop at the Norris Geyser Basin or any of the other sights that look interesting on the way.  This is about 4 hours of driving round trip from Big Sky and 2 and half hours from West Yellowstone. You will get back to West Yellowstone in the mid afternoon having seen a plethora of Yellowstone Sights.  If you have it in you, I would recommend a stop at the Playmill Theater in West Yellowstone. 

West Yellowstone dinner tip:  The Taco Bus. 

Rafting the Gallatin River in Big Sky Montana

This is the start of our favorite time of the year for family rafting.  The high water of early spring is finally receding and the Gallatin is becoming the  super fun class III adventure it is so famous for.  Most people book the Lower Whitewater trip offered by Geyser Whitewater Expeditions.  It takes about 3 hours round trip and is typically the high point of many Yellowstone Vacations in Montana.  Popular vacation packages include combining your rafting trip with a Zipline Tour or Horseback ride.  These packages are really convenient because they include lunch and you save a few bucks too! Visit Website

Helpful Yellowstone Information on Pinterest

     We'll admit it, last nights enchilada recipe came from Pinterest but we've also found it as a great source for travelers no matter where the destination.  Last winter we began our own Pinterest site with the goal of providing Yellowstone visitors a handy place to find quick ideas for lodging, dining and great family activities.  You'll find a variety of links from some of the other awesome companies in the area, our favorite restaurants, hotels, gadgets and more.  We've also included plenty of photos and links to our rafting and zipline activities in the area.  So stop on over to our Pinterest page and share some of our thoughts.