Which direction for upper loop drive?

Sometime June 7, 8 or 9, our family will drive the upper loop from West Yellowstone (and back).

We plan to have already visited the Canyon area and Norris Geyser basin on our drive from Cody to West Yellowstone on June 6, so we will be able to bypass those areas on the upper loop drive.

Should we begin to head clockwise from Norris, go to Mammoth Hot Springs in the morning, then to Tower after lunch and be in Lamar Valley in late afternoon? Could we be back in West Y by 9:00 (before dark) if we were out of Lamar Valley by 6:00? Will the animals in Lamar Valley be active yet between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m.?

Or should we start out in the morning and drive counterclockwise and go to Lamar Valley first, then work our way to Tower, Mammoth Hot Springs and back to West Y? (It is doubtful I could cheerfully get my kids up and around before 7 or 8, so it would be hard to get to Lamar Valley very early.) How late in the morning are animals likely to be active in early June?

I will appreciate any insight anyone can give.

Which direction for upper loop drive?

tntands,

It has been suggested my many TA members to travel the NE entrance into YNP from Cody via Cooke City then go to Mammoth Hot Springs and on to West Yellowstone. Then travel another day from West Yellowstone to Old Faithful and make the grand loop thru West Thumb, Lake and Canyon and back to West Yellowstone. This seems like a good plan but I would like to hear other TA forum suggestions. We are staying in Gardiner. Day 1 we are touring the grand loop starting at Mammoth, Norris, Old Faithful, West Thumb, Lake, Canyon and Tower Falls. Day 2 we are leaving Gardiner and going out the NE entrance to Cooke City then to Cody for 2 days. We will then enter YNP again thru the eastern entrance and head to the GT on our way to Jackson Hole. Good luck with your plans!!

Which direction for upper loop drive?

CeCe,

I had thought about that option, but was afraid it would be too much driving on the day we enter the park. I will have to reconsider. We could probably have an easier time getting an early start from Cody because we should get to bed earlier the night we are there. If we could get out of Cody by 6:30 or so on the Chief Joseph Highway, we might be able to get to Lamar Valley before it gets too hot. I would guess it would take 2-3 hours to get to Cooke City. (However, there is always the chance of snow closing Chief Joseph or Dunraven pass for that matter) We could drive to Canyon and Hayden Valley from West Yellowstone on another day.

I will give your suggestion some more thought.

Tntands,

Both of us will have to check the NPS websites for updates on road closings, etc. YNP has gotten heavy snow this year. I have never been on the Beartooth Hwy but understand that it is the area between Red Lodge and Cooke City that closes because of snow. The NPS keeps the NE route open all year long. Or at least that is what I understand.

On the first question, I%26#39;d go to Norris, then Canyon and to Lamar Valley. It doesn%26#39;t really matter what time of day you go into Mammoth but Dunraven Pass and Lamar might be better in the morning. You normally see more wildlife early. Last June there were several bears with cubs visible from the road going the North side of Mt. Washburn.

It might be less important to be early in June since it shouldn%26#39;t get so hot during the day.

If it were me, I think I would head toward Canyon first. The Dunraven/Mt. Washburn area can be a good place to see bears and wolves in the morning. Then watch for black bears around the Tower/Roosevelt area. Then out the northeast entrance road and back. Stop at some of the pull-outs near the Yellowstone Institute and look around. In past years there has been a wolf pack in that area. Also try the Slough Creek Campground road to look for wolves.

Next, on the way to Mammoth, watch for the Hellroaring Creek overlook. Occasionally, some lucky person spots a mountain lion from there.

Now you have time in the afternoon to check out Mammoth Hot Springs. See the terraces, check out the Visitors Center, wave to the web cam, maybe have dinner. As you drive south from there in the evening you%26#39;re likely to see more wildlife.

Binoculars would be helpful for seeing more animals.

In early June, the sun rises very early and sets late. We have left West Yellowstone at 5:00 AM and have been sitting in Lamar at sunrise with our breakfast %26amp; coffee listening to the wolves howl. Conversely, we have eaten a picnic dinner at the Yellowstone Picnic area (up near Lamar), then gone into Lamar, watched the elk, bison and antelope, and also watched the grizzlies come down to the river for several hours and made it back to West Yellowstone before dark (leaving by 7:45 PM to return usually around 9:15). So, based on your family, I would plan the later.

The best part about early June is that the bears remain at lower altitudes throughout the day. During the first week of June last year, we spotted grizzlies and black bears near Dunraven and the Tower area from 9:30 - 1:00 PM.

Thanks for the advice Yellowstonefan. How far into the park from West Yellowstone would I need to drive to get to early morning prime wildlife viewing areas?

I will probably be awake an hour or two before my family each morning, so if I could drive 15-20 minutes and see wildlife, I may do that a few mornings. We will be in West for 4 nights.