Yellowstone crowds?

I've googled, and read a bit about the summer crowds at Yellowstone, but
does anybodyhave any first-hand experience? Is it THAT bad? Or are the
crowds confined to a few busy areas?

"Bowzah" wrote in message
news:5qq6c.36307$J05.227666@attbi_s01...
I've googled, and read a bit about the summer crowds at Yellowstone, but
does anybodyhave any first-hand experience? Is it THAT bad? Or are the
crowds confined to a few busy areas?


What do you mean by "that" bad? Crowds are confined to a few busy areas.
Otherwise they wouldn't be crowds and the area wouldn't be busy, would it?
Yes if you hike outside of the main attractions of the park you'd be all by
yourself, dancing with wolves.

In article 5qq6c.36307$J05.227666@attbi_s01, "Bowzah"
wrote:

I've googled, and read a bit about the summer crowds at Yellowstone, but
does anybodyhave any first-hand experience? Is it THAT bad? Or are the
crowds confined to a few busy areas?

Well, cars may slow down or stop to see wildlife off the side of the
road. Lots of cars around the geysers, etc.

Not to bad if you are on a bike and can squeeze through.

From: "Bowzah"

I've googled, and read a bit about the summer crowds at Yellowstone, but
does anybodyhave any first-hand experience? Is it THAT bad? Or are the
crowds confined to a few busy areas?

I worked there several summers, the roads, campground, restaurants, lodges,
visitor centers etc were packed from roughly the week prior to July 4th until
Labor Day. In particular if someone saw an animal near the road, like a bear,
you could hit a traffic jam ("bear jam" in local parlance) that backed things
up for miles.

On the other hand if you are willing to hike a bit you'll find few people since
most folks are scared to death of grizzly bears and avoid the backcountry.

Personally I prefer going the last two weeks of September when the fishing is
excellent, the antlered game animals are nearing the rut and more visible for
photography, and the crowds are greatly reduced. But July and August are the
most crowded times.

Bill

Bowzah wrote:

I've googled, and read a bit about the summer crowds at Yellowstone, but
does anybodyhave any first-hand experience? Is it THAT bad? Or are the
crowds confined to a few busy areas?

It depends what you mean by "crowds" and what you mean by "that bad".
You'll see the largest parking lots and the most people in the Old
Faithful area of the park -- at mid-day, maybe 2000 cars and 5,000 to
10,000 people in an area encompassing several hundred acres. Elsewhere,
as you drive the main loops of the park, you'll usually find yourself
where there are maybe a half dozen to 40 or 50 cars in the various
pull-outs/parking lots and anywhere from a handful to a few hundred
other people. Yeah, there are other people, but not what I would call
oppressive. If you hike up the right trailhead more than a half mile
away from the highway or parking lot, you could easily find yourself alone.

Car campgrounds range from small to ones with ones with several hundred
sites. Reserve ahead, as it is nigh impossible to just show up and find
a camping spot. However, if you are hiking overnight into the back
country, different story.

As you drive around the park, you might encounter the occasional traffic
back up, usually caused by wildlife on or near the road. Realize it
happens, and roll with it. We were there late July las summer and while
headed back to camp one evening we were stuck in a line of about 100
cars that had to wait about 40 minutes for a herd of about 1000 Buffalo
to meander across the road. Being a beautiful summer evening, we were
not inconvenienced in the least. It was a very nice time to watch the
wildlife, the sun reflecting on the hills, and the Yellowstone river
rolling by in the valley. That was the only real traffic snarl we
encountered in the four days we were there. Anything else was 10
minutes delay or less.

Yellowstone is a very beautiful place. Enjoy.

I'd read about traffic jams for miles, and impassable roads. I was wondering
if these stories were true, and if so if they were confined to the most
popular areas.

"Peter L" wrote in message
...

"Bowzah" wrote in message
news:5qq6c.36307$J05.227666@attbi_s01...
I've googled, and read a bit about the summer crowds at Yellowstone, but
does anybodyhave any first-hand experience? Is it THAT bad? Or are the
crowds confined to a few busy areas?


What do you mean by "that" bad? Crowds are confined to a few busy areas.
Otherwise they wouldn't be crowds and the area wouldn't be busy, would it?
Yes if you hike outside of the main attractions of the park you'd be all
by
yourself, dancing with wolves.

On Thursday 18 March 2004 03:38 pm, Bowzah wrote:

I've googled, and read a bit about the summer crowds at Yellowstone,
but does anybodyhave any first-hand experience? Is it THAT bad? Or are
the crowds confined to a few busy areas?

The two times I've been there -- first or second week of June and second
week of September -- I basically had the park to myself or, at least,
it seemed that way. There were people, but not crowds. No traffic
jams. Few cars on the roads. Plenty of parking. Immediate seating at
the restaurants, which weren't even half full.

And since you're going to Yellowstone, take the time the visit Grand
Teton Park just south of there and the town of Jackson Hole, WY. I
liked it much better than Yellowstone.

--
Stefan Patric

Unfortunately, the only week I have free is the last week in July. I've got
to either resign myself to the crowds or not go.

"Stefan Patric" wrote in message
news:gGv6c.3414$0h.297@okepread04...
On Thursday 18 March 2004 03:38 pm, Bowzah wrote:

I've googled, and read a bit about the summer crowds at Yellowstone,
but does anybodyhave any first-hand experience? Is it THAT bad? Or are
the crowds confined to a few busy areas?

The two times I've been there -- first or second week of June and second
week of September -- I basically had the park to myself or, at least,
it seemed that way. There were people, but not crowds. No traffic
jams. Few cars on the roads. Plenty of parking. Immediate seating at
the restaurants, which weren't even half full.

And since you're going to Yellowstone, take the time the visit Grand
Teton Park just south of there and the town of Jackson Hole, WY. I
liked it much better than Yellowstone.

--
Stefan Patric

I worked there one summer while in college...summer of
1962...it was very crowded at the Old Faithful area and it
snowed and stayed before Labor Day.

--

all messages scanned with Norton Antivirus 2003

"Bill Hilton" wrote in message
...
From: "Bowzah"

I've googled, and read a bit about the summer crowds at
Yellowstone, but
does anybodyhave any first-hand experience? Is it THAT
bad? Or are the
crowds confined to a few busy areas?

I worked there several summers, the roads, campground,
restaurants, lodges,
visitor centers etc were packed from roughly the week
prior to July 4th until
Labor Day. In particular if someone saw an animal near
the road, like a bear,
you could hit a traffic jam ("bear jam" in local parlance)
that backed things
up for miles.

On the other hand if you are willing to hike a bit you'll
find few people since
most folks are scared to death of grizzly bears and avoid
the backcountry.

Personally I prefer going the last two weeks of September
when the fishing is
excellent, the antlered game animals are nearing the rut
and more visible for
photography, and the crowds are greatly reduced. But July
and August are the
most crowded times.

Bill

On Friday 19 March 2004 06:43 am, Bowzah wrote:

Unfortunately, the only week I have free is the last week in July.
I've got to either resign myself to the crowds or not go.

Then, I guess, you're going to have to work on your
"getting-along-with-lots-of-people" skills. ;-)


"Stefan Patric" wrote in message
news:gGv6c.3414$0h.297@okepread04...
On Thursday 18 March 2004 03:38 pm, Bowzah wrote:

I've googled, and read a bit about the summer crowds at
Yellowstone, but does anybodyhave any first-hand experience? Is it
THAT bad? Or are the crowds confined to a few busy areas?

The two times I've been there -- first or second week of June and
second week of September -- I basically had the park to myself or, at
least,
it seemed that way. There were people, but not crowds. No traffic
jams. Few cars on the roads. Plenty of parking. Immediate seating
at the restaurants, which weren't even half full.

And since you're going to Yellowstone, take the time the visit Grand
Teton Park just south of there and the town of Jackson Hole, WY. I
liked it much better than Yellowstone.


--
Stefan Patric