Yellowstone National Park
Sightseeing Tours
Various interpretive sightseeing tours and activities are offered. In 2007, over 20 new tours in refurbished Old Yellow Buses will be available. For reservations, contact Xanterra Parks & Resorts at (307) 344-7311 or (866) GEYSERLAND, check at any lodging front desks or activities desks in the park or visit www.TravelYellowstone.com for additional information.
Picture-Perfect Photo Safaris: Don't just take pictures, capture unforgettable images with the help of our photographer-guide. This morning trip will take you and your camera to where the wild things are. Whether it's wildlife, wildflowers or landscapes, we provide you with as much, or as little, help as you need. The Safaris are offered at Lake Yellowstone Hotel, Old Faithful Inn & Mammoth Hotel.
Guided Fishing Trips: Beneath the surface of the largest alpine lake in North America swim wild aquatic spirits, capable of taking a fishing pole and bending it like a twig. The spirits, known as cutthroat trout, are native to Yellowstone Lake and make for an exciting day of fishing. Our guides know all the hot spots and our charters are also available for pleasure and sightseeing jaunts on the lake. If you prefer to go on your own, rental boats are available. Offered at Bridge Bay Marina.
Yellowstone Lake "Historic" Sunset Tour, by 1937 Touring Bus: Enjoy the scenic shores of Yellowstone Lake and breathtaking views from the Lake Butte overlook on-board our 1937 touring bus. It's a ride through history and nature, as tales from the past are interwoven with sights of the present. Offered at Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Fishing Bridge RV Park.
Old West Cookouts: Smell the cowboy coffee brewing over a campfire and steaks sizzling on the grill. Feast on famous Roosevelt Baked Beans, potato salad, chuckwagon corn, coleslaw, corn muffins, watermelon and fruit crisp. It's all served up with music, storytelling, wranglers, horses and wagons. Offered at Roosevelt Lodge.
Stagecoach Adventures: The rattles and rumbles of the authentic stagecoach replica echo throughout Roosevelt Country, taking you back 100 years when park visitors made their way to Uncle John Yancey's Pleasant Valley Hotel. It's an experience that energizes your pioneer spirit. Offered at Roosevelt Lodge.
Horseback Trail Rides: Somehow, the sage-covered valleys and breathtaking canyons seem even more impressive on horseback. Mammoth Hot Springs, Canyon Village and Roosevelt Lodge offer one- or two-hour guided trail rides.
Interpretive Motorcoach Excursions: Haven't you driven enough? These full-day excursions will give you an excellent overview of the many facets of Yellowstone. Our knowledgeable guides are happy to share interesting information on everything from Yellowstone's colorful history to unique hydrothermal features. Choose from two tours: The Circle of Fire tour travels inside the caldera rim. You'll see the Upper and Lower Geyser Basin, Gibbon Falls, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Yellowstone Lake. The Yellowstone in a Day tour introduces you to Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone Lake and Yellowstone's Grand Canyon. (See activity rate card for departure times and locations.)
Firehole Basin Adventure: Let us take you on a three-hour afternoon exploration to the geyser basin just north of Old Faithful. We will offer interpretive guided walks through these fascinating areas, where you will see all four types of hydrothermal features—geysers, hot springs, fumaroles and mud pots—and leave with a new appreciation and understanding of these unique features. Departure is from the Old Faithful area.
Teton Vista Rendezvous: See Two of America's greatest national parks in one day! You'll enjoy spectacular vistas and wildlife viewing as our guide takes you on a full-day interpretive excursion through the southern section of Yellowstone (from Grant Village south on Hwy. 89) and into neighboring Grand Teton National Park. You'll be traveling the inner Teton Park Road. We will stop for scenic photos at the historic Menor's Ferry area, and by the Snake River at Dorman's for lunch. Please inquire upon arrival.
Washburn Expedition: Washburn Expedition (upper loop tour): The Northern portion of Yellowstone is known for its majectic mountains, the spectacular Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and abundant wildlife. Tour the upper loop and discover why the park is so large. This area, just like the Geyser Basins in the southern portion of the park had to be protected as a national treasure for its uniqueness.
Lamar Wildlife Expedition: The Lamar Valley is known as the Serengeti of North America. There are large grassy meadows surrounded by wooded mountains, with less snowfall than the southern portion of Yellowstone. This makes the Northern Range the perfect wildlife habitat for Bear, Wolves, Elk, Bison, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Lions—all of the large mammals that are associated with this portion of the country. Our knowledgeable, entertaining guides will enlighten you as to what makes this area so different and so popular with animals and people.
Picture-Perfect Photo Safaris: Shutterbugs, make sure the Photo Safari is the first thing you do on your Yellowstone visit. The photographer/guides will give you ideas where to go for the perfect sunrise/sunset, rainbow at the Lower Yellowstone Falls and let you know about any wildlife or wildflower hotspots! You may also learn how to make your pictures more than just tourist snapshots.
Beartooth Adventure: Charles Kuralt, CBS News and host of "On the Road" heralded the Beartooth Highway as "the most beautiful Road in America." See for yourself why there are many who agree with him. This is not a road for the faint of heart so let our guides do the driving while you sit back and gasp at the everchanging, rugged landscape that unfolds before your eyes.
Scenicruise on Yellowstone Lake: All Aboard the Lake Queen for a relaxing, entertaining 1-hour cruise. Sail out to Stevenson Island where you will see the remains of the EC Waters and hear her story and a bit about the "colorful" man who had her built and why.
Yellowstone In Depth
News from the Parks
Tauck Hosts its 10,000th Guest-Volunteer in Yellowstone National Park
September 4, 2008 - 4:32pm
Tauck World Discovery celebrated a unique milestone recently when it hosted the 10,000th participant in its award-winning guest-volunteer program in Yellowstone National Park. The 10,000th volunteer was in one of three Tauck tour groups working in the Park over the weekend of July 19 - 20. The volunteers each donated a portion of their vacation time with Tauck, an escorted tour operator, to work on preservation and beautification projects in Yellowstone National Park.
September 4, 2008 - 4:32pm
Tauck World Discovery celebrated a unique milestone recently when it hosted the 10,000th participant in its award-winning guest-volunteer program in Yellowstone National Park. The 10,000th volunteer was in one of three Tauck tour groups working in the Park over the weekend of July 19 - 20. The volunteers each donated a portion of their vacation time with Tauck, an escorted tour operator, to work on preservation and beautification projects in Yellowstone National Park.
Dupuyer Elementary School Offering Students Unique Learning Experiences
September 4, 2008 - 4:24pm
Dupuyer students started class Wednesday, Aug. 27, and though their numbers are way down from last year, teacher Lydia Mild has some special educational treats for her five students. To kick off the year, the Dupuyer students are doing a comparison unit between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. According to Mild, the unit will cover migratory trails, native tribes and many other aspects of the parks.
September 4, 2008 - 4:24pm
Dupuyer students started class Wednesday, Aug. 27, and though their numbers are way down from last year, teacher Lydia Mild has some special educational treats for her five students. To kick off the year, the Dupuyer students are doing a comparison unit between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. According to Mild, the unit will cover migratory trails, native tribes and many other aspects of the parks.
Boston Trustees Discuss Township Issues
September 4, 2008 - 3:52pm
Boston Township Trustee Gerald Ritch told board members at the Aug. 27 meeting that it appeared unlikely the township could obtain state Issue I grant money to repair or replace failed septic systems of some township businesses. Ritch said a Summit County official told him Coventry Township was able to obtain money in a similar situation, but septic systems are not considered infrastructure, making it unlikely township businesses would qualify.
September 4, 2008 - 3:52pm
Boston Township Trustee Gerald Ritch told board members at the Aug. 27 meeting that it appeared unlikely the township could obtain state Issue I grant money to repair or replace failed septic systems of some township businesses. Ritch said a Summit County official told him Coventry Township was able to obtain money in a similar situation, but septic systems are not considered infrastructure, making it unlikely township businesses would qualify.
Foreign Tourists Visit Park
September 4, 2008 - 3:44pm
Joy Mehrten's Kaweah Marina had a great spring, hosting droves of European tourists who stopped at the lake on their way to Sequoia National Park. As the weather warmed, Mehrten said, foreign visitation cooled. But business stayed strong.
September 4, 2008 - 3:44pm
Joy Mehrten's Kaweah Marina had a great spring, hosting droves of European tourists who stopped at the lake on their way to Sequoia National Park. As the weather warmed, Mehrten said, foreign visitation cooled. But business stayed strong.
September Featured Species: Zebra Mussels
September 4, 2008 - 11:39am
Mussels are a key part of our aquatic ecosystems. They’re filter feeders, meaning they filter the water as they eat the debris that floats in it. They also serve as a food source for birds, fish, small animals and even humans. Usually there’s not much more to say about these mollusks, but one particular species, the Zebra Mussel, has made a journey that highlights not only its hardiness, but also the vulnerable balance of native ecosystems. Zebra mussels are small, freshwater mollusk species named for the stripes that commonly line the outside of their shells. Their sizes and shapes range can vary – oblong to almost circular, measuring anywhere from the size of a fingernail to two inches long – so it can be tricky to identify at first. The species is native to the lakes of Southern Russia but has been introduced, and has since caused quite a stir, in North America, the British Isles, Spain and Sweden. In these places the species has overgrown, and while it filters the water and provides food for bottom feeders in waterways, it’s more of an unchecked pest than anything. Zebra mussels are prolific. An adult female can produce between 30,000 and a million eggs in a year, which are fertilized during spring spawning sessions. What’s more, there are too few predators to keep the species in check. Having so many mussels around may not seem like a big problem on its face, but it has proven to be quite costly not only to the other members of its ‘host’ ecosystem but to humans as well. Many native lakes in North American have seen their native mussel populations drop due to the invasion of the zebra. It tends to latch onto the hardest substrates in the watery environment. In silty sands, these objects are the native mussels themselves, which are then often killed by the attachment of the zebra. The US coastguard estimates the cost of economic losses and control measures around the zebra to be worth about 5 billion dollars each year! These are hearty creatures that can survive out of water for several days or weeks if the temperature and humidity allow for it. Since 1988 they’ve have reproduced and weathered their way to richly populate all of the great lakes and begin a sprawl into the major rivers in the US. Scientists predict that the zebra mussel will continue to spread its population range by riding along the bottoms of small vessels and tourist ships. Zebra mussels can disrupt the food chain in freshwater ecosystems, ruin facilities like docks and rams, clog pipelines and engines and litter beaches with their smelly shells. But you can help to stop this trend of their growth in the US. Before launching your boat, you can check it thoroughly. Remove all mud, plant and animal debris from the boat, trailer and other equipment to enter the water. When you’re out of the water, drain the boat, motor and live well so that it can dry out – the boat needs to be completely dry for at least five days before entering another body of water. Doing your part will help protect freshwater ecosystems around the US and in our national parks, as well as reduce the dollars spent to reduce the damage caused by this prolific species.
September 4, 2008 - 11:39am
Mussels are a key part of our aquatic ecosystems. They’re filter feeders, meaning they filter the water as they eat the debris that floats in it. They also serve as a food source for birds, fish, small animals and even humans. Usually there’s not much more to say about these mollusks, but one particular species, the Zebra Mussel, has made a journey that highlights not only its hardiness, but also the vulnerable balance of native ecosystems. Zebra mussels are small, freshwater mollusk species named for the stripes that commonly line the outside of their shells. Their sizes and shapes range can vary – oblong to almost circular, measuring anywhere from the size of a fingernail to two inches long – so it can be tricky to identify at first. The species is native to the lakes of Southern Russia but has been introduced, and has since caused quite a stir, in North America, the British Isles, Spain and Sweden. In these places the species has overgrown, and while it filters the water and provides food for bottom feeders in waterways, it’s more of an unchecked pest than anything. Zebra mussels are prolific. An adult female can produce between 30,000 and a million eggs in a year, which are fertilized during spring spawning sessions. What’s more, there are too few predators to keep the species in check. Having so many mussels around may not seem like a big problem on its face, but it has proven to be quite costly not only to the other members of its ‘host’ ecosystem but to humans as well. Many native lakes in North American have seen their native mussel populations drop due to the invasion of the zebra. It tends to latch onto the hardest substrates in the watery environment. In silty sands, these objects are the native mussels themselves, which are then often killed by the attachment of the zebra. The US coastguard estimates the cost of economic losses and control measures around the zebra to be worth about 5 billion dollars each year! These are hearty creatures that can survive out of water for several days or weeks if the temperature and humidity allow for it. Since 1988 they’ve have reproduced and weathered their way to richly populate all of the great lakes and begin a sprawl into the major rivers in the US. Scientists predict that the zebra mussel will continue to spread its population range by riding along the bottoms of small vessels and tourist ships. Zebra mussels can disrupt the food chain in freshwater ecosystems, ruin facilities like docks and rams, clog pipelines and engines and litter beaches with their smelly shells. But you can help to stop this trend of their growth in the US. Before launching your boat, you can check it thoroughly. Remove all mud, plant and animal debris from the boat, trailer and other equipment to enter the water. When you’re out of the water, drain the boat, motor and live well so that it can dry out – the boat needs to be completely dry for at least five days before entering another body of water. Doing your part will help protect freshwater ecosystems around the US and in our national parks, as well as reduce the dollars spent to reduce the damage caused by this prolific species.
