FAMILY TRIPS TO YELLOWSTONE CONTINUE TO DELIGHT ALL AGES
Safe seflies in Norris Geyser Basin near Constant Geyser. Photo by Jacob W. Frank, courtesy of National Park Service.
By Carrie Haderlie Visitors of all ages are invited this summer to reflect on the past, present and future of Yellowstone National Park while also experiencing the wonders of the landscape. Yellowstone is a place that can be enjoyed by the young and old alike, from the accomplished outdoors person to the novice. Whether driving the famous upper and lower loop roads or hiking into the backcountry, a visit to the park can be tailor-made to any family’s needs. “For nearly seven generations now, the American people and our guests have been able to experience the beauty and majesty of Old Faithful, Minerva Terrace, Morning Glory Pool, the Grand Prismatic Spring and the Yellowstone River, and marvel at the bison, wolves, elk, wildflowers and many other breathtaking sites,” Chuck Sams, director of the National Park Service said in a letter commemorating the March 1 anniversary of the park.
Yellowstone offers 12 campgrounds with more than 2,000 sites, and during the park’s busy season, from the beginning of May through the fall, all campsites can be reserved. Arriving without a reservation, though, means the chances of finding a campsite in the park are slim to none, according to the National Park Service. Yellowstone National Park Lodges operates nine lodges, both hotel- and cabin-style, in the park, with more than 2,000 rooms. All are open from late spring through fall, but only two are open in the winter: Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. Children are encouraged to explore the park by becoming a Junior Ranger through a self-guided program that will introduce kids to the park and their role in preservation. Booklets are available at park visitor centers, as are National Parks passport stamps. Joshua Mahan, who runs Yellowstone Hiking Guides with his wife, Emily Jo, leads three guided hikes a day. He anticipates this summer will be a busy one. 150TH ANNIVERSARY • YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK • 25
