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re: We are trying to decide between Yellowstone and North Cascades the 2nd week of July
Posted on 5/10/24 at 1:39 pm to AUFANATL
Posted on 5/10/24 at 1:39 pm to AUFANATL
quote:
Don't overlook Mt. Ranier either. That's the "prettiest" spot in the state in my opinion and easy to get to from Seattle.
You could easily do North Cascades, Mt Ranier, Mt Baker wilderness and Mt St Helens in a trip.
Most are never really crowded, unlike Yellowstone mid summer.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 3:49 pm to RogerTheShrubber
quote:
easily do North Cascades, Mt Ranier, Mt Baker wilderness and Mt St Helens in a trip.
Not sure I would call that easy to do in a week with 6 people. You'd need to be constantly moving.
quote:
Most are never really crowded
Paradise at Rainier will be Disney World type packed. Rainier all depends on the weather, has to be clear to see the mountain. We went first week of July two years ago. We arrived there at 8am and had a little trouble parking. When we left around noon there was about a 3 mile line waiting to enter the park and people circling the lot like vultures.
OP-you'll have a great time doing either trip. Yellowstone gets crowded but it is usually between 10-3 and only the popular spots. Hit those up early or late. Old Faithful at 8 am or 6pm will have about 30 people there, same for Artist Point or Grand Prismatic. Separate the park into quadrants and tackle it that way. Make sure you drive Bear Tooth Pass to Red Lodge one day. With 5/6 days you have plenty of time to see the park and not be in any sort of hurry. From Denver west is a pretty damn awesome part of the world.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 5:02 pm to Rep520
quote:
This is probably much easier for you to do Cascades this year, then set Yellowstone up for another trip when you have more pre-planning time and can look more at offseason (if you can).
Would a week be enough time for a day in Seattle, Cascades and Mt. Rainier?
Posted on 5/10/24 at 5:16 pm to tigertail34
quote:Yes.
Would a week be enough time for a day in Seattle, Cascades and Mt. Rainier?
After making my original comments and reading others, I think consensus for you is: pick a year in advance (2025 or even 2026) and really be deliberate with your Yellowstone planning.
Just do WA this year. There's plenty of other side things there I can suggest if need be.
Posted on 5/11/24 at 7:13 am to tigertail34
My dislike of crowds would keep me away from Yellowstone at that time.
Posted on 5/11/24 at 7:27 am to tigertail34
quote:
Would a week be enough time for a day in Seattle, Cascades and Mt. Rainier?
Depends. I say yes, if you dont spend a lot of time in Seattle.
There is also the Olympics, but I wouldnt combine them in a week with the more Eastern parks. I would do them separate.
Posted on 5/11/24 at 9:44 am to tigertail34
Another vote for the Cascades on short notice. Yellowstone is something everyone must see but July is very crowded and finding lodging on short notice may not be easy.
If you pick the Cascades, Leavenworth is a neat town to check out and stay a day or two. There’s also some pretty good rafting in the area. You could work in Mt Ranier, Seattle and even Olympic.
If you pick the Cascades, Leavenworth is a neat town to check out and stay a day or two. There’s also some pretty good rafting in the area. You could work in Mt Ranier, Seattle and even Olympic.
Posted on 5/12/24 at 9:46 am to tigertail34
quote:
Looking at the map...is it best to break park into areas/loops and plan a day for each?
Absolutely, if you don’t you will regret it. I usually spent 2 days in an area. Yellowstone is HUGE.
I move my lodging from area to area according to my itinerary as well.
Get started early and even on busy days you’ll get some relief. Everyone with kids starts later and finishes early.
I hit it early then deal with crowds then get dinner then go back out in the evening looking for bears when it’s less crowded.
Posted on 5/13/24 at 8:44 am to Tridentds
quote:when is best time in your opinion?
We love Yellowstone but don't go in the summer anymore.
Posted on 5/13/24 at 10:15 am to Saintsisit
quote:
If yall are in even descent shape, get out and hike. Just download All Trails and pick moderate, you see the absolute best scenery when hiking.
Use the NPS.gov website or official NPs App for your research about hiking and trails. Using AllTrails is not 100% accurate and the park service does not officially cooperate with the data on site so better to look at the NPS websites. After you get an idea of the area then go to trail apps and or books to gather additional information.
Posted on 5/13/24 at 11:23 am to tigerfoot
quote:
when is best time in your opinion?
I would say mid-May or better yet, September/early October
Less crowds, everything still open
Posted on 5/13/24 at 4:37 pm to slinger1317
quote:
September/early October
Yellowstone weather turns HARD and FAST, usually by mid-September, certainly by late. I can't imagine going in October.
Posted on 5/13/24 at 5:16 pm to Big Scrub TX
quote:
Yellowstone weather turns HARD and FAST, usually by mid-September, certainly by late. I can't imagine going in October.
Meh I hiked up and down Cascade Canyon in the Tetons late September. It was perfect.
But you’re right it can change fast. Once it hits it’s miserable.
Posted on 5/13/24 at 6:37 pm to slinger1317
quote:I'm not saying you can't get lucky, but sometimes it's well below freezing for the highs on like September 17th.
Meh I hiked up and down Cascade Canyon in the Tetons late September. It was perfect.
But you’re right it can change fast. Once it hits it’s miserable.
In any event, the average highs in October are in the mid 40s. That doesn't seem like what this cat wants.
This post was edited on 5/13/24 at 6:38 pm
Posted on 5/14/24 at 11:37 pm to tigertail34
Lived in Bellingham for 5 years and been in Spokane for a few more than that. I’ve got about 200 hiked miles in the Casades.
The only input I have about the Cascades (my 2nd favorite park behind the Hoh) would be:
1.) What will you be driving on the Mtn Hwy loop/forest roads? Some FR and a good portion of the loop will beat your arse to death with the washboard and/or potholes.
2.) Someone suggested downloading the AT app, and that’s great. But, if you’re going to be remote, get a Green Map of the area you’ll be in.
3.) If there hasn’t been a recent review on a trail that you find on AT, call the ranger station before you go and get info on conditions. There’s (most of the time) going to be a reason there’s no recent updates. Everyone and their fricking mother wants to log their shite on that app.
4.) There is real wildlife in that forest. And not the kind that you’ll see off in the distance. It’s nothing to be overly wary of, but it’s something that should be remembered. Ruby Mountain via 4th of July Pass is the only time I’ve ever been actually stalked by a cougar (the animal). I only knew about this one because my headlamp hit the eyes while I was setting out the bear can before bed.
5.) Rainy Pass (previously mentioned) is very close to Mazama. You can hike to Cutthroat Lake pretty easily from the trailhead and it’s a stunning (also very popular) hike. A few more miles to Granite Pass which is much more remote, but it would be an absolutely brutal out and back to Granite in one day. The Methow Valley is breathtaking.
6.) Get a Discover Pass. Don’t test your luck with the rangers. $30 for a year and it’s a much better deal than daily pass or a $100 ticket.
ETA:
It was a pretty low snowpack this year. The outlook for wildfires is pretty high. The Cascades may not burn that early but we often get smoke from Canada or elsewhere, depending on the wind direction.
When I’m planning a trip such as yours to backpack, I always have a backup plan in the opposite direction (in this case, Rainier/Gifford Pinchot/Peninsula) should my primary location get smoked out. It is absolutely miserable to be in even light wildfire smoke for days while you’re trying to recreate.
The only input I have about the Cascades (my 2nd favorite park behind the Hoh) would be:
1.) What will you be driving on the Mtn Hwy loop/forest roads? Some FR and a good portion of the loop will beat your arse to death with the washboard and/or potholes.
2.) Someone suggested downloading the AT app, and that’s great. But, if you’re going to be remote, get a Green Map of the area you’ll be in.
3.) If there hasn’t been a recent review on a trail that you find on AT, call the ranger station before you go and get info on conditions. There’s (most of the time) going to be a reason there’s no recent updates. Everyone and their fricking mother wants to log their shite on that app.
4.) There is real wildlife in that forest. And not the kind that you’ll see off in the distance. It’s nothing to be overly wary of, but it’s something that should be remembered. Ruby Mountain via 4th of July Pass is the only time I’ve ever been actually stalked by a cougar (the animal). I only knew about this one because my headlamp hit the eyes while I was setting out the bear can before bed.
5.) Rainy Pass (previously mentioned) is very close to Mazama. You can hike to Cutthroat Lake pretty easily from the trailhead and it’s a stunning (also very popular) hike. A few more miles to Granite Pass which is much more remote, but it would be an absolutely brutal out and back to Granite in one day. The Methow Valley is breathtaking.
6.) Get a Discover Pass. Don’t test your luck with the rangers. $30 for a year and it’s a much better deal than daily pass or a $100 ticket.
ETA:
It was a pretty low snowpack this year. The outlook for wildfires is pretty high. The Cascades may not burn that early but we often get smoke from Canada or elsewhere, depending on the wind direction.
When I’m planning a trip such as yours to backpack, I always have a backup plan in the opposite direction (in this case, Rainier/Gifford Pinchot/Peninsula) should my primary location get smoked out. It is absolutely miserable to be in even light wildfire smoke for days while you’re trying to recreate.
This post was edited on 5/15/24 at 12:28 am
Posted on 6/18/24 at 10:20 am to Aubie Spr96
Would the crowds have thinned out by late August? Figure with kids being back in school?
Posted on 6/18/24 at 10:42 am to tigertail34
quote:
rooms at the Lake Yellowstone Lodge can cost $550 or more.
Um, nope! I think we'll just RV or tent camp that vacation for much less.
You can't beat staying in the campgrounds, waking up, and there's a moose or elk standing outside your campsite.
Posted on 6/18/24 at 10:57 am to Shexter
quote:
The park, which forms a square-like rectangle with an irregular eastern side, is 63 miles (101 km) from north to south and 54 miles (87 km) from east to west at its widest point
Make somewhat of a square with the corners being Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, and Morgan.
That would be slightly smaller than the size of Yellowstone!
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