2019-10-01 Wanderlust

YELLOWSTONE NP, USA

wanderlust.co.uk October 2019 53

Footnotes

YELLOWSTONE

NATIONAL PARK

THETRIP

Theauthortravelled

withGrandAmerican

Adventures(0333 060 9716,

grandamericanadventures.

com)onthecompany’s

YellowstoneWinterWildlife

In-Depthtour.Theseven-

daytripbeginsandendsin

Bozeman,Montanaandcosts

£2,349perperson,including

alltransport,parkfees,expert

guidingandactivities,six

nights’accommodation,

breakfastsandthreedinners.

Thenextdeparturesarein

January2020.

Vitalstatistics

StateCapitals:Cheyenne

(Wyoming),Helena(Montana),

Boise(Idaho)

Population:577,000million

(Wyoming),1.06million(Montana),

1.7million(Idaho)

Languages:English

Time:GMT-6/-7

Internationaldiallingcode:+1

Visa:ToentertheUSA,UKpassport

holdersneedtoapplyforanESTA

(ElectronicSystemforTravel

Authorisation)throughtheVisa

waiverprogrammeonlineathttps://

esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/.TheESTA

anddespitetheirweightarethree

timesfasterthanhumans.

Gettingthere&around

UnitedAirlines(united.com)™lies

fromHeathrowtoBozemanvia

Chicagofrom£811;traveltime

isaround 16 hours.Independent

travelinwinterispossibleinthe

northernsectionofthepark,via

theNorthEntranceatGardinerin

Montana,withaprivatevehicle.

ThewaytoreachtheUpperGeyser

Basinistojoinatourandtravelby

snowcoachorsnowmobile.

Accommodation

ChicoHotSpringsResort

(chicohotsprings.com)ispositioned

fortheLamarValley,nearthenorth

entrancebutoutsidethenational

park.Thereareroomsinthemain

lodgeorluxuriousindividual

cabins.Thepoolsare™illedwith

geothermically-heatedwater.Soak

andrelaxbydayornighteven

whenitissnowing.Twodoubles

fromUS$120(£100).

OldFaithfulSnowLodge

(usparklodging.com)wastheonly

accommodationopenwithin

Yellowstonelastwinter.Right

TOP TIP

If you’re wanting to

spot wildlife or visit

the Old Faithful

geyser, try going

out early in the

morning or in the

evenings to avoid

the crowds and for

a more intimate

experience.

costs $14 (£11.53) and is valid for

multiple entries over 24 months.

Money: US dollar ($), currently

$0.82 to the UK£. Credit cards are

accepted in visitor centres and at

the park’s lodges, where there are

also ATMs to withdraw cash.

When to go

April to May: Spring is a good time

for spotting wildlife, particularly

bears. However, road and

accommodation opening dates

vary depending on the snow.

June to August: The warmer months

are most popular – and busiest.

September to October:

Autumn is quieter and less

crowded, with milder weather.

November to March: Freezing

temperatures and road and park

closures – check in advance. The

intrepid are rewarded with snowy

scenery and willdife spots.

Health & safety
Come prepared for cold, as
temperatures can drop to 5§C in
the summer and below freezing in
the winter. Always exercise caution
when around wildlife. Bison
Naturepl; Alamy especially can be unpredictable 

Making tracks

Winter visitors to

Yellowstone can beat

the closed roads with

snow vehicles