If you still haven’t decided on a vacation destination, let me suggest a location that will be an adventure for the entire family.

If you and your family enjoy the outdoors, consider a trip to Yellowstone. Airfare is expensive, but once there, many of the activities don’t involve extra expense. Wildlife photography, fishing, rafting, scenic hikes, camping, and many other activities are available.

West Yellowstone is a small town in southwest Montana. It is located at the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. It offers excellent choices of lodging and dining, but is small enough to feel “homey” and allow you to enjoy the unique western culture. The Montana, Wyoming and Idaho borders converge near West Yellowstone.

The geological features of the area are unique. Yellowstone Park is the site of a vast caldera, with hot springs, steam vents, geysers and mud pots. The most famous is “Old Faithful Geyser” which erupts approximately every 90 minutes. It sprays boiling water 106 to 184 feet into the air for 1 and a half to 5 minutes at each eruption. Old Faithful is one of the most predictable large geysers, making it very popular.

Jackson Hole is a nice day trip, routing through Tetons National Park, passing beautiful overlooks of the Snake River and scenic Jackson Lake. A different return route will take you through Island Park, Idaho, which is only about 20 miles from West Yellowstone. Big Springs, headwaters of the Snake River is nearby and the crystal water is home to massive Rainbow Trout.

The Madison River flows 71 miles north from West Yellowstone to Ennis, Montana, which is a great fishing town with several nice lodges. Historic Virginia City is only 35 miles from Ennis and recreates the aura of the old west with many of the old buildings preserved, and “Boot Hill” looming in the background.

On the drive to Ennis, the highway borders beautiful Hebgen Lake, and then Earthquake Lake, which was created by a massive landslide on August 17, 1959. An earthquake of 7.5 on the Richter Scale caused a slide to deposit over 80 million tons of rock and debris in the Madison Valley, killing 28 people and creating a lake that is several miles long.

West Yellowstone allows quick access to Yellowstone Park. The entrance fee is $25 per private vehicle and is good for a week. Senior citizens can purchase a lifetime Golden Age Passport that allows access to all U. S. national parks.

Some of the premier trout streams of the west are located around West Yellowstone. The Gallatin, Madison, Yellowstone, Firehole, and Gibbon are just a short drive away.

The park holds some of the greatest herds of free-ranging bison in the world, as well as abundant elk, moose, deer, eagles, wolves, coyotes, black bear, grizzly bear, antelope and many other species. It is a photographer’s paradise.

You can get great wildlife photos, but should always respect the animal’s comfort zone. If the animals appear agitated, move away. Bears, moose and bison are the most dangerous and deserve great respect. Bison appear docile, but they injure more people yearly than the bear population. On June 28 of this year, a bison attacked a 10-year-old Pennsylvania boy when he and his family posed only a few feet from the bison for a photo.

Hayden Valley is a great place to observe bison. It borders the Yellowstone River and the open grasslands attract them.

Lamar Valley is home to a large wolf population. The restocking of wolves in Yellowstone has been so successful that they are no longer on the endangered species list. They are legal to hunt on a limited basis outside the park. Antelope are plentiful in Lamar Valley as well.

The Yellowstone River is a great place to fish. The Cutthroat trout average 16” to 18”, with an occasional larger trophy. The historic “Fishing Bridge” offers you an opportunity to view huge Cutthroats in the swift current below the bridge. This was once a popular fishing site, but is a spawning site for Cutthroats and is off limits for fishing today.

Yearly trips since 1996 has made Yellowstone one of our favorite places and going there is almost like going home. The “Big Sky” country grabs your heart and you never forget it.

Contact me at lross3871@charter.net or (864) 238-1944 with comments or questions.