MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR
YELLOWSTONE VISIT Courtesy of Yellowstone National Park
Experts say planning ahead makes all the difference By Jerry Painter After working for the past eight years in Yellowstone National Park, Linda Veress says exploring some of the park’s more than 900 miles of trails remains one of her favorite things to do. “I love hiking,” said Veress, who works in the park’s public communications office. “Pretty much any trail, if you walk a little ways, you won’t see anybody, and you’ll have that wilderness experience.” Veress recommends visitors to the world’s first national park plan ahead to have the best experience. Planning accommodations, activities and schedules can make a difference when it comes to fighting crowds and avoiding headaches. “Planning is very important when visiting Yellowstone, because we had a record-breaking visitation last year,” she said. Last year’s park visitor numbers topped 4.8 million — most came during the summer months. 20 • YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK • 150TH ANNIVERSARY
A good place to start planning is at the park’s website, by clicking on the “Plan Your Visit” button or going directly to www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit. Here, you’ll find information and videos on topics such as fees, services, camping, wildlife safety and things to do. “Yellowstone’s abundant wildlife is as famous as its geysers,” the park says in its planning information on viewing wildlife. “In the park, animals have over 3,000 square miles of habitat available to them, so seeing them usually involves both luck and timing. Check at visitor centers for information about recent sightings.” Veress recommends visitors download the Yellowstone app at www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/app.htm prior to coming to the park. “It’s really, really handy,” she said. “You’ll want to do that in advance, as well, because cell phone coverage is spotty (in the park). You get maps of the park, geyser eruption times, all kinds of useful information.” Whether you want to hike, bike, horseback ride, fish, watch
