Yellowstone Visit in spring (Page 2): He wants to go to Yellowstone, not Yosemite.

rcarol

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

Check the Yosemite Conservancy web site for local conditions. May in the western Sierras can be iffy in the higher elevations. You will definitely get to the Valley floor, but the road to Tolumue is usually closed then.

Whatever you do, make your reservations now, because there is no slack season.

He wants to go to Yellowstone, not Yosemite.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

joepeva wrote:

To those with experience at Yellowstone, we are considering a May trip to Yellowstone. What is your thought about a best time visit to avoid road closures and facilities are open. Would like to photograph the park in its spring beauty however we could wait until September

Hi, I've gone in June twice now and it's a wonderful time to be there as you can photograph the babies. No problems either time but this year could be different due to the bad weather all over.

DesignOrc

Middle two weeks of May; that avoids the big traffic and should probably be good weather. Although my wife and I went a few years ago and did run into a blizzard. We were staying in Jackson Hole where the weather was nice, but by the time we got to Yellowstone, snow hit hard. Roads were all open, we just weren't dressed for it. So if you are dressed for May, have the March clothes in the car just in case. While everything there will blow your eyes out, I liked the Lower Falls, and Mammoth Hot Springs. For the Lower Falls, we found a trail that goes down into the canyon to the river. The view of the falls from there is overwhelming.

R Dubs Loc: Linloln,Ne.

I have a son that lives in that area and they have more snow than they have had in many years and the animals are reacting in strange ways the elk are staying high above tree line and the moose are migrating down and the bison are in areas the rangers have never seen them before so it could be an interesting year you may want to consider june but that is the height of tourist season

Kuzano

Snow is not always the only problem. I tried to enter Yellowstone from the East Side a few years ago (cody?) and there was a closure at the gate, which I found out about at the town before the closure.

It took me the better part of a day to backtrack out and go around the North side of the Park to enter at the NorthWest entrance. By that time I needed to make time and I came out in Idaho, headed for Oregon.

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

joepeva wrote:

To those with experience at Yellowstone, we are considering a May trip to Yellowstone. What is your thought about a best time visit to avoid road closures and facilities are open. Would like to photograph the park in its spring beauty however we could wait until September

We almost always go to Jackson Hole in May with at least one or two trips to Yellowstone. This year we will be there from May 3 thru May 18 and then again from May 26 thru June 1. It is a beautiful time of year to go. It is not nearly as crowded as it gets from June thru August when kids are out of school and lots of family vacationers are there. Be aware that the south gate of Yellowstone typically does not open until the second weekend in May--probably May 10 or 11 this year. I have not checked but you should do so if your trip overlaps those dates. Last year Grizzly #399 and her two remaining cubs were often in full view around Pilgrim Creek. I think this year her cubs may be on their own and she won't be caring for them in the same way. Hope you have a great time. If our trips overlap, pm me and we will get together for breakfast or dinner sometime. Have fun.

bleirer

Be prepared for cold and wind even if it is a warm day. I remember starting stupidly in shirtsleeves to hike Mt. Washburn and facing 30 degrees cooler and a stuff wind by the time we reached the tower. Same with night temps, a 80 degree day can be a 39 degree night.

Beemerrt

I have heard to get great animal pics you should go in Feb or early Mar. The animals are sometimes in the park office areas.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

We were there late Aug 2018 and extensive road construction was being done on the West entrance. Open but was adding at least 30 extra minutes. Doubt if they got it done.

This link answers what/when roads are open:
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm

joepeva Loc: TN

Thank you for your comments, they are most welcomed.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

Stardust wrote:

...extensive road construction was being done on the West entrance. Open but was adding at least 30 extra minutes. Doubt if they got it done.

Duh, EAST gate. We stayed in Cody and brain fart was thinking West of there when I posted.

R Dubs Loc: Linloln,Ne.

We like to go in the fall because the major portion of large crowds are gone and youngsters are back in school. This doesn't fit your goal but hope for cloudy and cool that's when the animals come out, if the weather is hot they stay in the dark timber where it's shady and cool. Always be ready for a Bison jam

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

joepeva wrote:

To those with experience at Yellowstone, we are considering a May trip to Yellowstone. What is your thought about a best time visit to avoid road closures and facilities are open. Would like to photograph the park in its spring beauty however we could wait until September

We entered the park through Cody May 31, 2012 and were lucky to get in. We drove in after spending the night in Spearfish SD after a couple of days at Mt. Rushmore. The park entrance was closed about every other day then due to snow. We drove in on US-16 through Ten Sleep canyon and the drive was beautiful. It was cold and rainy part of the time in the park, cool and sunny the rest, so dress accordingly. It's a beautiful place.