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We are trying to decide between Yellowstone and North Cascades the 2nd week of July
Posted on 5/9/24 at 5:14 pm
Posted on 5/9/24 at 5:14 pm
Planning on going July 7 - 13 this year.
6 people total - kids ages 20/18/15/11
Have been looking at flying in to Bozeman for Yellowstone and staying in West Yellowstone or flying to Seattle and staying around Mazama for Cascades.
Looking for advice.
So far we have been to Everglades/Teton and Zion National Parks. Tetons are the furthest north we have ever been!
Looking for suggestions
6 people total - kids ages 20/18/15/11
Have been looking at flying in to Bozeman for Yellowstone and staying in West Yellowstone or flying to Seattle and staying around Mazama for Cascades.
Looking for advice.
So far we have been to Everglades/Teton and Zion National Parks. Tetons are the furthest north we have ever been!
Looking for suggestions
This post was edited on 5/9/24 at 5:15 pm
10
Posted on 5/9/24 at 5:26 pm to tigertail34
quote:Despite North Cascades being perfectly breathtaking, Yellowstone just has vastly more to do (and I would argue is equally or more breathtaking).
Planning on going July 7 - 13 this year.
6 people total - kids ages 20/18/15/11
Have been looking at flying in to Bozeman for Yellowstone and staying in West Yellowstone or flying to Seattle and staying around Mazama for Cascades.
Looking for advice.
So far we have been to Everglades/Teton and Zion National Parks. Tetons are the furthest north we have ever been!
Looking for suggestions
The primary variable here, IMO, is crowds. Yellowstone is and will be crowded as shite. To the point where I would maybe see about trying to stay in the actual hotel at Old Faithful (which presumably sells out years in advance) so you are quasi-centrally located and not having to make long treks in and out of the park.
quote:I would personally prefer to stay on the west side of the park. It's likely to be cooler and you can also go see some of the more coastal attractions on that side.
Mazama
TL;DR - 2 great locations with a lean to Yellowstone, but crowds are a problem.
Posted on 5/9/24 at 6:33 pm to tigertail34
Lodging this late in the game might be an issue with Yellowstone. Both places are somewhere everyone should see in their lifetime. If I had to pick I’d say Yellowstone.
If you do Cascades you could add Olympic and see two parks. On the other hand, the east side of the Cascades has been on my list of places to spend some time for a while.
If you do Cascades you could add Olympic and see two parks. On the other hand, the east side of the Cascades has been on my list of places to spend some time for a while.
Posted on 5/9/24 at 6:45 pm to tigertail34
I'd go north cascades. July is the best month of the year to visit WA- great weather, sunny skies, and no fires/smoke yet. Highway 20 is awesome to roll through. Likely to be less crowds than Yellowstone
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:12 am to tigertail34
Mid July, I would choose North Cascades over the crowds at Yellowstone.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:56 am to tigertail34
Just to piggyback on what everyone else is saying- for the trip being this close I would choose Cascades. I've never been there but I have been to Yellowstone.
We spent a week in the Yellowstone/Teton/Jackson area a few years ago. We went as soon as the kids got out of school in May. That year it was actually the week before Memorial Day so we were fortunate that it wasn't too crowded. Even then, there were several spots we would arrive at only to circle the parking lot for 10 minutes waiting for a spot. I would not want to do this in peak summer crowds.
The best advice I can give you for Yellowstone is to stay inside the park and move around every night or 2. We spent 4 nights in the park at 4 different hotels. This allows you to get up early and start your day before the droves of people begin entering the park. I think having to drive into the park every day would severely impact your enjoyment. Traffic in the park is a nightmare, as well as parking at the popular sights/trails. Just because Google maps says a destination in the park is 45 mins away, in reality it could be double that. The figure 8 loop moves slow and there are always animal crossings that will slow you down
There are some decent hikes in Yellowstone, but the main attraction is the wildlife. The Tetons are more suited for hiking/scenery.
We thoroughly enjoyed Yellowstone, and I think every American should see it. But being that your trip is 2 months away, I would punt until next year so you have time to properly plan and get lodging. This way you will be able to maximize your trip, and not leave the park feeling like you were rushed. We came in from the south and our lodgings were- Old Faithful Inn, Canyon Lodge, Mammoth Lodge, and back to Canyon.
We spent a week in the Yellowstone/Teton/Jackson area a few years ago. We went as soon as the kids got out of school in May. That year it was actually the week before Memorial Day so we were fortunate that it wasn't too crowded. Even then, there were several spots we would arrive at only to circle the parking lot for 10 minutes waiting for a spot. I would not want to do this in peak summer crowds.
The best advice I can give you for Yellowstone is to stay inside the park and move around every night or 2. We spent 4 nights in the park at 4 different hotels. This allows you to get up early and start your day before the droves of people begin entering the park. I think having to drive into the park every day would severely impact your enjoyment. Traffic in the park is a nightmare, as well as parking at the popular sights/trails. Just because Google maps says a destination in the park is 45 mins away, in reality it could be double that. The figure 8 loop moves slow and there are always animal crossings that will slow you down
There are some decent hikes in Yellowstone, but the main attraction is the wildlife. The Tetons are more suited for hiking/scenery.
We thoroughly enjoyed Yellowstone, and I think every American should see it. But being that your trip is 2 months away, I would punt until next year so you have time to properly plan and get lodging. This way you will be able to maximize your trip, and not leave the park feeling like you were rushed. We came in from the south and our lodgings were- Old Faithful Inn, Canyon Lodge, Mammoth Lodge, and back to Canyon.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 10:48 am to tigertail34
We love Yellowstone but don't go in the summer anymore. If you go to Yellowstone in July pack 3 bags of patience if you go into the park.
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 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 5/14/24 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 10:42 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.
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