Thursday, July 9 to Saturday, July 11
Part of the drive to Yellowstone went through Shoshone National Forest. That part of the drive was gorgeous. The highway roughly follows the North Fork Shoshone River with red rock mountains on both sides. The mountains have a good number of evergreens growing on them and the trees and plants along the river are nice and green. It is quite a contrast to the dry prairie and sage brush that you drive through before getting to Shoshoe National Forest.
Yet another drive I wish I had captured on the GoPro. I would definitely like to go back and spend a few days there.
I entered Yellowstone through the East Entrance, which I hadn’t been through before. The beginning of that drive is pretty dramatic – driving up large green mountains. It’s what I imagine Glacier National Park might look like.
After spending 3 full days in Yellowstone, I was ready to get away from the crowds. I did much less on this trip to Yellowstone than I have done in the past, mostly to avoid traffic. Each day I picked a destination (Old Faithful, Canyon Village & Tower Falls, and Mammoth Hot Springs) and then worked my way back to Madison Campground. In the past, I would do all that in one day. The traffic didn’t feel bad doing that.
Here are some pictures I got during my visit:
My next big stop will probably be Crates of the Moon National Monument since the Tetons campgrounds are booked up. Hitting smaller campgrounds along the way.
Right now, I’m in Caribou-Targhee National Forest at the Kelly Island Campground. The campground is right on the Snake River, so I was hoping it would be more lush. But it is typical arid Idaho country.
