We got to visit Yellowstone pretty early on in our trip and it was absolutely breathe taking. We stayed in Idaho, on Beautiful Henry’s Lake, and drove the short 30 minute drive into Yellowstone while we were there for the week. If you are RVing around the country and you don’t already have a National Parks pass, it’s worth the investment. Ours had paid for itself within our first 3 weeks on the road.
Henry’s Lake Idaho is worth a visit, even if Yellowstone isn’t your thing (there can’t really be anyone who doesn’t like Yellowstone, but you never know). While the lake wasn’t swimmable (leeches!) it is great for kayaking, fishing, and boating.
There is also a few great hiking and mountain biking trails around the campgrounds. The hike will take you through fields of grass, into a small pine forest, and then out onto an amazing view of the lake surrounded by wildflowers (if you’re visiting in the spring and summer).
We made the drive into Yellowstone, leaving Idaho and passing through Montana, into Wyoming, all within 30 minutes. We set out to see Old Faithful first, early in the morning to beat the heat and the crowds. We walked up to the predictable geyser right as it was about to erupt. Our timing could not have been better. Until Nikki decided to take the 20 minute hike up the Old Faithful observation point and we waited another 90 minutes up there. In the rain that arrived about an hour into waiting….It seems the geyser is predictable, but still can go up to 2 hours between eruptions. But, Hey! We got to see it from 2 different views!
Tip to those hoping to see wildlife, visit the park in the early morning or evening when animals are more active. Added bonus that the crowds are less as well.
Saturday afternoon we went back to Yellowstone, after most of the crowds had left again. This time went to see the Grand Prismatic Spring, the US’s largest Hot Spring, with its rainbow colors and hot humid vapour. The spring is a must see, and it’s blue sister pools are every bit as beautiful.
A short way up the road from the Grand Prismatic Spring is Biscuit Basin with a stunning, yet strenuous hike over to Mystic Falls. There are two ways to get to Mystic Falls, and if you don’t want to make the loop, go to the left at the fork and you won’t encounter much of any climb. Just a nice easy 1 mile in, 1 mile out hike. If you do make the loop, we would still suggest staying to the left, however, either way you take it, it will be tough.
The hike to the falls is amazing, you are on the edge of the hill for a majority of the time and it is one of the most beautiful hikes we’ve been on. We continued up the hill for the rest of the Biscuit Basin loop and got to the top just in time to see Old Faithful erupt again. We once again lucked out with the timing. There are also quite a few good lookout spots along the way for photos. For a very crowded park, we only passed a few fellow hikers on the trail.
Yellowstone, with it’s countless stunning views, buffalo disrupting traffic, and all it’s natural wonders, was worth the trip and we will definitely be back again.
