Yellowstone and Rushmore

I live in Boise, and my daughter prefers a suggestion to travel to Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore... last weekend of June through the next weekend.

She%26#39;ll be 10, and she won%26#39;t be into long hikes. It%26#39;s only been 27 years since I%26#39;ve been in the park, so I know something of what to expect... which, in this case, is to hit the main points of interest and move on. Still, any suggestions will be accepted. She wouldn%26#39;t mind a wildlife encounter... at safe distance.

(NOTE: She loved the tent cabins at Yosemite a couple years ago, and she%26#39;d probably prefer something similar in Yellowstone. I work for someone who has trailers positioned at Flagg Ranch just south of the park and by Hebgen Lake north of West Yellowstone. Would cabins within the park be booked by now? Would the trailer positions be preferable?)

From there... all those years ago, I DID take the highway over Beartooth Pass to Red Lodge (my father said he contributed drafting work to the project way back when). I%26#39;m weighing that vs going through Cody en route to Devils Tower and the Black Hills, since I%26#39;m more curious about Wyoming routes to Sheridan or Buffalo than Montana routes. Any recommendations in that regard?

Yellowstone and Rushmore

A short hike that you and your daughter might enjoy is the one that takes you north of Old Faithful Geyser up a hill to where you can look down on the geyser as it erupts. I believe you start out on a path by the lodge just to the east of Old Faithful Geyser, then follow it up the hillside. It gives you a great view of the whole Old Faithful area and it isn%26#39;t as crowded, so you can watch Old Faithful erupt in relative peace.

You might want to check on cabins inside the park now, as I have heard that they do book up quickly. Xanterra handles all park reservations, so you can call one number to find out. We%26#39;ve stayed in cabins at Canyon and Lake, and they are pretty much the same. You might have a buffalo encounter at the cabins, as they tend to roam around in both areas. If you can%26#39;t get a place in the park and go for the trailer option, you might find that the one at Hebgen Lake is better-located. Since it is closer to the west side of the park, you would come in at Madison Junction and be more centrally located to take either of the ';loop'; roads.

Yellowstone and Rushmore

For wildlife encounters try Hayden Valley between Canyon and Fishing Bridge and Lamar Valley along the northeast entrance road. Watch for pull-outs full of people with big cameras and scopes for a sure bet or empty pull-outs and your own binoculars for sighting all to yourselves. Of course early mornings and evenings are best for wildlife.

I don%26#39;t think there are any tent cabins in Yellowstone, but there are stand-alone and 4-plex cabins and motel style rooms. If you%26#39;re a little more adventurous there%26#39;s always tent camping. Reservations in the park may be hard to come by but keep in mind that there are cancellations throughout the season and you%26#39;ll have better luck catching one of these by calling rather than trying to book on-line.

In 2006 we took US 14 over the Big Horns from Sheridan to Greybull and it was a pretty drive. Last fall there was a wildfire that went through Shell Canyon so I%26#39;m sure the scenery has changed somewhat.

Have a good trip.

Try to get lodging in YS, visit www.travelyellowstone.com and also call them for cancellations that usually don%26#39;t show up online.

If you can%26#39;t get inside the park... there are some cabins in West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Silver Gate area (NE entrance) and outside of the East Entrance. Also tent camping is fun.

If you can get a spot at a trailer in Flagg Ranch, that would be good to see Tetons.

In Cody WY is are some great museums. Devils Tower is fun. Either drive through Sheridan or Buffalo. Either way is good. Black Hills, I would look at staying in Custer, Hill City or Keystone. Visit Jewel Cave Nat Mon, we liked this cave tour better than Wind Cave Nat Park.