What's happening at Yellowstone??

[knolltop314]

I'm on self-suported bicycling trip ... Portland/Eugene to Boston.
Yellowstone is next MAJOR destination.
Anybody been at Yellowstone recently and know condition of campgrounds?  Obviously I'm tenting and, with all the rain & snowmelt going on, am apprehensive about how camping is going to go at Yellowstone.

Any help/info is much appreciated!

[Mr Sunshine]

Yellowstone is a big place. What part?  Near Canyon Junction is all snow.  Towards West Yellowstone no snow but the rivers are very high.  Do you already have camping reservations?  It's usually important to do that at Yellowstone.  Also if you are going to try to stay at Cooke City there is no camping and the hotels are full.

[SalsaShark]

Just got back on Tuesday from a week in Yellowstone. Most of the campgrounds I saw were open but I was staying in Island Park, ID so I can't comment on the condition of the ground.

There is a lot of snow melt going on. Several of the major touristy areas were closed due to a elk calving areas being reduced because of the snow. the west and northern areas of the park that I was in were all pretty dry (from snow, not from rain... and it rained a lot last week), the further south I went, the snow really built up.

Definitely call ahead and make sure you have a place to stay. Even in Early June, the camp grounds looked fairly full.


...and the obligatory "keeping this motorcycle related" pic from Yellowstone


 

[expatbrit]

Hah! Salsa -- I had a white MTS (touring) in Yellowstone Tuesday/Wednesday of last week, though we left pretty early Wednesday AM in an attempt to beat the rain.

As others say, the rivers were high but not flooding when we were there (unlike Moab, where several of the BLM campgrounds were closed, leading us to hotel it) around the north and west side. We didn't get a chance to take the east side. Lots of snow in the south.

Boo on the crappy weather. Will have to do it again, with a better route home.

[Mr Sunshine]

I can now tell you that the connection from Mammoth to Silver Gate is in good shape.

[knolltop314]

Thanks, guys, for the info.
Am going for it.
Arrive Yellowstone Friday.  
Do Beartooth Thurs ... maybe earlier if Yellowstone is too crappy.

[Mr Sunshine]

Thanks, guys, for the info.
Am going for it.
Arrive Yellowstone Friday. 
Do Beartooth Thurs ... maybe earlier if Yellowstone is too crappy.

GL with Beartooth. That is one serious climb!!

[tomek]

Bigger campgrounds in Yellowstone have "hiker-bicyclist only " sites , I would not worry about reservations there .

I can`t pinpoint to exact date but about 4-5 years ego stoopid took over Y.P. . Traffic can is bad , entrance at West Yellowstone could be mistaken for rush hour traffic on I 290 in Chicago .

 All that could be easily avoided if all those hordes of fat , inconsiderate, lazy people  instead of  leaving their vehicles in the middle of the road and consequently  blocking the traffic , would just use pullouts to check out attractions, animals , etc .  

[bikerfish1100]

 All that could be easily avoided if all those hordes of fat , inconsiderate, lazy people  instead of  leaving their vehicles in the middle of the road and consequently  blocking the traffic , would just use pullouts to check out attractions, animals , etc .  

yeah, but that would require that they recognize and acknowledge that they are not the only ones of consequence on this planet. good luck with that!

i am both envious of your ride, and daunted by the prospect of tackling Beartooth on a 1/4 hp conveyance. my thighs are screaming at me, just thinking about it!!

[Mr Sunshine]

It wasn't 4-5 years ago people got stupid. They have been like that since I went there 25 years ago.

[SalsaShark]

Hah! Salsa -- I had a white MTS (touring) in Yellowstone Tuesday/Wednesday of last week, though we left pretty early Wednesday AM in an attempt to beat the rain.

As others say, the rivers were high but not flooding when we were there (unlike Moab, where several of the BLM campgrounds were closed, leading us to hotel it) around the north and west side. We didn't get a chance to take the east side. Lots of snow in the south.

Boo on the crappy weather. Will have to do it again, with a better route home.

Well, hopefully I didn't piss anybody off who then saw you!