Mountain Mom and Tots

Get Off the Beaten Path in Yellowstone

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For most of the parks we visit on the National Park to Park Highway I will be posting our top ten picks of kids activities, but Yellowstone is a special case. The first National Park is so huge and so popular (especially on Independence Day weekend when we visited) that instead of a top ten list I decided to share some off-the-beaten-path adventures with you instead. As always, follow @mountainmomtots on instagram for daily updates and to see what park we’re visiting right now.

First some tips:

If you’re traveling to Yellowstone save your gas money and choose just one area a day to focus on in the park. Whether it’s Old Faithful, Mammoth or Canyon areas, it’s more fun to get out and explore than hurry back to your car.

Get out of your car and onto a hiking trail. There’s a statistic out there that more than 90% of visitors to Yellowstone never go farther than a boardwalk, road or visitors center. Even if it’s just half a mile off the road, you can find solitude and nature away from the crowds.

Try less well known areas like the ones we visited here:

Firehole Lake Drive – Between Old Faithful and Madison Junction

This short, one way drive off the main road offers great geyser and hot springs viewing, not to mention a surprise spring. The features are similar to other geothermal areas in the park but the crowds are minimal.

Bike off of Fountain Flat Drive –Between Old Faithful and Madison Junction

Fountain Flat Drive is a short road that dead ends at the trail head for a primitive bike trail and hiking area. This gravel bike path is flat and easy to maneuver (except when your son gets a flat tire in the parking lot). Features to see along the 9 mile path include Ojo Caliente Spring, Goose Lake, Sentinel Meadow Trail, Fairy Falls Trail, and the Firehole River Crossing.

Ojo Caliente – 0.3 miles from the end of Fountain Flat Drive

We loved this little hidden hot spring not only for its secluded, off the beaten path location, but also because the hot water empties into the Firehole River. Touching water in the hot springs is not allowed (not to mention its a terrible idea) but you can swim in the river downstream from the spring. Can I just say, it was like sitting in a hot tub in the most beautiful place on earth.

Junior Ranger Station – Madison Junction

We loved this little gift shop and information station. The hands on exhibits of animal furs, skulls, antlers and horns are great for little (and big) explorers plus you can look for wildlife with their spotting scope. Stay for a ranger talk which happen every half hour throughout the day and enjoy the beautiful views.

Beaver Ponds Trail – Mammoth

Because the Mammoth area of the park is so much further north than the rest of the park fewer people are on the roads to get there so pull over at some scenic overlooks. Once you’re at Mammoth try hiking to the Beaver Ponds Trail to get a view of the hot springs from behind.

Swim the Boiling River – Mammoth

This is a popular swim spot since the hot springs empty into the river. It is not off-the-beaten path but it is still worth visiting, especially if you can catch a glimpse of elk munching across the river like we did.

Do you have any favorite off-the-beaten-path locations in Yellowstone? Share them here.

What is Home?

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We are in the midst of our long anticipated National Park to Park Highway tour. Being away from home on this extended adventure has brought up the question “What is home?” Many phrases talk about it – Home sweet home, There’s no place like home, Home is where the heart is – but what is it?

Is home a feeling or a place? As we’ve been traveling from park to park this last week Little G will often say things like “When we get home can I go to Eden’s house?” or “When we get home can we watch Kung Fu Panda?”

To her home is a physical place, our house that we won’t be seeing for another month and a half as we travel along the National Park to Park Highway. But home is more than a house, more than a place to sleep, eat and rest.

Is home a feeling? When you’re in a place that feels ‘homey’ you know you can kick off you shoes and relax, you don’t have to worry about who you impress or offend.

To me home is both a place and a feeling. It’s somewhere you feel safe and comfortable, where you know what to expect and what is expected of you.

We’ve already had several homes on this trip. We carry the main one on our truck like a turtle shell. The Ultimate Adventure Vehicle holds our things, both the essentials and luxuries. It’s where we eat, sleep, travel and spend time together. Compared to our house back in Sundance, Utah it’s cramped, disorganized and requires constant shuffling of things, but it’s a place we can be where we feel safe, can sleep and know what to expect.

We’ve stayed in other people’s homes and will again on our National Park to Park Highway tour. This trip includes two family reunions, one near Yellowstone and the other in Southern California. For those gatherings our family rented other people’s homes. I like renting a home when we’re traveling for the luxury of hot water, a comfy bed, laundry and a kitchen. Since Big E is allergic to wheat, eggs and nuts we make a lot of our own food on the road. It’s just easier than custom ordering baked potatoes from Wendy’s for every meal.

The final home away from home we’ve had on this trip is Togwotee Mountain Lodge. Located 16 miles east of Moran Wyoming, Togwotee Mountain Lodge is close to Gand Teton National Park but far enough away to avoid the crowds. It’s secluded, which is good for feeling connected to nature, but bad if you want quick access to Grand Teton or Yellowstone. Driving to and from the park each day required an extra 40 minutes, which feels extra long after driving hours to get there, but it’s comparable to other lodging options in the area.

What I loved about Togwotee was the private family cabin with sleeping for six. The beds were comfy, the stovetop, microwave and fridge in the kitchen handy and they had an on site gas station, restaurant, convenience store and laundry. Plus they offer horse rides and snowmobile rentals on site (Mountain Dad’s already interested in a winter trip).

Although the cabins feel like a home away from home with all of the luxuries of a hotel, there are still reminders that you’re in the middle of Targhee National Forest. One night of our stay a lightening strike in Moran, Wyoming knocked out power to the resort for several hours.

At first I was annoyed. I was staying in a hotel and as such had certain expectations, like being able to turn the lights on when I wanted. But then I stopped my mental complaining by reminding myself that this entire National Park toPark Highway tour is essentially an extended campout. Instead of feeling annoyed, I dug through our Ultimate Adventure Vehicle for flashlights. It’s not like Togwotee controls the weather anyway.

On this adventure the concept of home is important. For me, home is a feeling of safety and peace. A place I can relax and sleep. Whether that is in the back of our truck, in a rented home or at Togwotee Mountain Lodge, it all feels like home.

Togwotee Mountain Lodge is a National Park to Park Highway tour sponsor. Visit our sponsor page to see more.

Yellowstone National Park Photo Journal

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Yellowstone was the second park on our National Park to Park Highway tour, but the first National Park ever created. On this Independence Day I wanted to share some of our favorite photos from this large and beautiful park. For daily updates follow @mountainmomtots on Instagram.

Getting on a trail and away from crowds.

Little G loves hiking about as much as I love listening to her complain.

This hot spring was visible from our hike. So cool.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Falls in the Firehole River

Enjoying a soak down stream from a hot spring.

Ojo Caliente

Firehole River

Firehole Lake

I thought these globby things looked like Ursula’s garden.

Big E on the boardwalk

Grand Prismatic Springs

10 Things to Do with Kids in Grand Teton National Park

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There is so much to do at Grand Teton National Park. Here are our top picks for kids. Make sure to check our instagram for daily updates from our National Park to Park Highway trip.

Bike to Jenny Lake The paved bike path from Jackson to Grand Teton is a 26 mile scenic trail through some of the prettiest scenery on earth. Obviously 26 miles is way more than me and my tots can handle but the path joins the multi use path at the Moose Entrance inside Grand Teton National Park. There it crosses several pullouts and parking areas, allowing for an adjustable length adventure. We took a ranger’s advice and drove to Windy Lakes pullout just past the Moose Entrance to avoid the steepest hill.

Boat on Jenny Lake A shuttle boat takes hikers across Jenny Lake to Inspiration Point trailhead every 10-15 minutes in the summer for $15.00 per adult round trip. In addition you can rent canoes, kayaks or take a 1 hour scenic boat ride to explore this beautiful glacier lake.

Swim in String Lake Just north of Jenny Lake is a great picnic area surrounded by tall pines. Enjoy your meal then head to the water to splash. The shallow water is great for swimming, paddle boards, or canoes. Keep all your food locked up to be Bear Aware.

Visit the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve This modern style museum is beautifully situated at the base of the Tetons. Parking is limited so it’s best to plan your visit to arrive before 10 am or after 3 pm. Several beautiful hikes start from here including my favorite the Woodland Trail to Phelps Lake.

Hike to Phelps Lake This 3 mile round trip hike walks along a river to Phelps Lake. We loved swimming in the clear water, but especially loved the scenery. It’s hard to beat the pine trees and mountains around the lake.

Enjoy Inspiration Point Take the ferry across Jenny Lake and then enjoy the less than a mile long hike up to Inspiration Point. The views are amazing, but so are the crowds. This is one of the most popular hikes in Grand Teton National Park so don’t go expecting solitude. You can also explore hidden falls, the trails connect.

Check out a Naturalist Backpack At the Craig Thomas Discovery Center and Laurence S Rockefeller Preserve you can check out a naturalist backpack complete with nature journal, drawing materials and everything you need to make a plaster cast of an animal track.

Take a Scenic Drive Teton Park road passes alpine lakes and offers great views of the Teton mountain range. For another good scenic drive try the Moose-Wilson road toward the south of the park. Parts of this road is not appropriate for RV, Truck or Trailer use.

Travel Back in Time The Historic District at Grand Teton National Park has several wild west buildings still in use. A chapel built in the early 1900s, Menors Ferry and General Store and a little further on Murie Ranch. If you’re a history buff you won’t want to miss this.

Watch for Wildlife You drive through the Elk Refuge when you approach Grand Tetons from Jackson. Watch for wildlife including bison and elk especially in the mornings and evenings. Be aware that the speed limit is 55 during the day and 45 at night.

Raft the Snake River Okay so this one might be easier just outside of Grand Teton National Park but the Snake River has some great whitewater rapids and makes for a fun day trip or leisurely float. Several rafting companies are based in nearby Jackson Hole, WY.

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