Latest / This Week in Yellowstone National Park / This Week in Yellowstone: May 22nd to May 28th, 2025

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This Week in Yellowstone: May 22nd to May 28th, 2025 · This Week in Yellowstone National Park

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from Yellowstone National Park where the snow
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is melting when it's not still falling and where
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I've seen seven bears a day over ten wolves in
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a single viewing and Witnessed the roaring of
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the river as that snow melt is actually happening
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off and on This is that Scott guy, you know in
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love with another episode of this week in Yellowstone
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What's up everybody! This week in Yellowstone
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National Park from May 22nd to May 28th, I will
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talk about the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone,
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tell you about a cool trek to take when you're
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there, share some tips about staying safe in
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bear country in Yellowstone National Park, and
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I'll let you know of a few scenic roads that
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are scheduled to open this Friday. I'll also
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give you the weather forecast, wildlife report,
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and everything else you need to have an incredible
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time this week in Yellowstone. standard disclaimer
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I'm gonna miss a few details so feel free to
1:06
reach out with questions I also mentioned park
1:08
locations very casually so if you're unfamiliar
1:11
with the region a quick search can help if you
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need to know a name of a place reach out to me
1:17
like I said very happy to help and this report
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only covers the drivable areas of the park which
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I will stop saying next week because everywhere
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in the park will be drivable until November Basically,
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so also this podcast is a passion project I'm
1:35
not paid or sponsored if you're enjoying it reach
1:38
out to me Send me a quick review quick email
1:41
or message however you want. I've been getting
1:44
a lot of messages from you all and honestly they
1:47
are awesome. Thank you all for listening. Like
1:49
those of you who have reached out every morning
1:51
when I get up and I have another message it is
1:53
the absolute best and it makes me very happy
1:56
I'm doing this. If you'd like to support my work
1:59
you can also check out my guidebooks on hiking
2:02
and wildlife watching or you can join me directly
2:05
with a guided Yellowstone hiking tour. For details
2:08
on that you can visit Alright, this week's Yellowstone
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news. This week, again, things have been pretty
2:19
slow in the park. Obviously, the biggest news
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of the week was from last week, and that was
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the grizzly bear that had to be put down by the
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park. Between early April and mid -May, the 400
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-pound grizzly bear overturned several 800 -pound
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dumpsters and tore smaller trash cans from their
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concrete bases in pursuit of an easy meal. The
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bears' activities were documented near Old Faithful,
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the Nez Perce Picnic Area, and the Midway Geyser
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Basin parking lot, some of the most visited locations
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in the park. Despite Yellowstone's extensive
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efforts to deter wildlife from human food sources,
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the bear's persistence and ingenuity raise serious
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safety concerns. Over time, it became food conditioned,
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a behavior that often leads to repeated and increasingly
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bold attempts to obtain human food and a higher
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risk to visitors, which means that if there's
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a higher risk to visitors, then the bear might
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have had to be put down anyway. So it's unfortunate
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that this bear Begin regularly seeking out garbage
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and was able to defeat the park's bear resistant
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infrastructure said bear management biologist
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Carrie Gunther We had to go to great length to
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protect bears and prevent them from becoming
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conditioned to human foods But occasionally a
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bear out smarts us or overcomes our defenses
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Officials say the decision to trap and euthanize
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the animal on May 14th was made in alignment
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with the park's bear management plan, which seeks
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to prevent dangerous human -bear encounters and
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stop problematic behavior from spreading to other
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bears. The last grizzly euthanized under similar
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circumstances in Yellowstone was in 2017, after
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a bear damaged tents and repeatedly accessed
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food in remote backcountry campsites. Now, for
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those asking Why not relocate the bear or send
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the bear to a zoo? Yellowstone National Park
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officials answered this. The short answer is
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it doesn't work. bears exhibit strong fidelity
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to their established home ranges where they are
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familiar with seasonal food availability and
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their position within the local social hierarchy.
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In Yellowstone relocating bears is not an effective
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long -term solution as it's not possible to move
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them far enough away to prevent their return
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to the original conflict site or to ensure they
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won't encounter similar conflict opportunities
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in the relocation area. The park's long -term
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monitoring of relocated bears confirms very low
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success rates in the park. Since the 1970s, 54
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% of grizzly bears that were involved in conflicts
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and relocated in Yellowstone caused more conflicts
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after their relocation. In rare cases, young
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bears that are still dependent on their mothers
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can be sent to a zoo, but the wild adult bears
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are not candidates for rehoming in a zoo. Probably
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more cruel than being euthanized as to take a
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wild adult bear and then put it in a small cage
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So very sad, but make sure you pick up your garbage
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over the last week I was in the park a couple
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days, and I was driving along the road between
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Norris and Canyon and somebody had just left
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orange peels all over a pullout now some people
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think oh orange peels They'll just naturally
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you know Fade away into the environment. That
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is not how that works. Pick up every scrap of
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garbage you see, whether or not it's your own.
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We need to make the park safe for all animals.
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Alright, other news. Tourism season officially
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kicks off this weekend, with visitation growing
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every week for the next few months. Expect wait
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times to be long at West Yellowstone, especially
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after 8am until around 10 or 11am. Traffic around
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the popular spots will also be increasing with
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parking harder to find and bison and bear jams
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slowing down travel times throughout the park.
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Next week I'm going to talk about the travel
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times and lines at West Yellowstone and kind
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of how to avoid that, but that's for next week.
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Alright the last bit of news I have isn't really
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news, it's just a reminder that the appropriate
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viewing distance from bears is 100 yards. In
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the last week, I've seen plenty of bears along
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the side of the road and nearly every single
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time people are getting much closer than a hundred
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yards. People are also exiting their vehicles
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in the middle of the road and running toward
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the bears. I get the excitement, but we need
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to be better about this. Rangers can't be everywhere
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all at once. We will never have enough Rangers.
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So we need to all kind of be excited, take a
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deep breath, and remember this is a bear. Even
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if it's a black bear, which some people say,
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oh, black bears are just like large raccoons.
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No, a black bear will kill you. Bears can kill
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you. They may not. But we don't want them to.
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If a bear attacks a person, the bear immediately
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dies. I said this last week. I'm not going to
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go on the same rant. So 100 yards from bear,
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even if it's along the side of the road. My experience
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of the week. So this week I'm going to say that
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the experience you should have, if you're able
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to, is going down to the brink of the lower falls.
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If you're visiting Yellowstone and looking for
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a short hike with a huge payoff, the brink of
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the lower falls trail should be at the top of
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your list. This quick descent brings you face
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to face with one of the park's most iconic and
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powerful sights, the lower falls of the Yellowstone
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River, which crashes down more than 300 feet
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into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone below.
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Standing at the very edge of the falls, you'll
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feel the ground tremble beneath your feet and
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you'll hear the roar of water plunging into the
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canyon with an unforgettable force. The trail
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starts just off of North Rim Drive near Canyon
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Village. From the parking area, you'll follow
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a well -maintained paved path that drops steeply
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through a series of tight switchbacks. It's not
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a long hike, less than a mile round trip, but
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it's a steady climb down, so be ready for a workout
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on the return hike up. The ascent is surprisingly
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quick, and the sound of the falls grows louder
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with each step, building anticipation as you
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approach the overlook. When you reach the bottom,
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you'll step onto a viewing platform that sits
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right at the brink of the falls. From here, you
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can watch more than 600 ,000 gallons of water
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per second. rush past and drop into the canyon.
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The mist, the wind, and the thundering sound
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all combine to make it one of the most immersive
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and exhilarating experiences in the park. Looking
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downstream, you'll see the Yellowstone River
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winding its way through the colorful walls of
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the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, a view that's
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equally stunning in its own way. Although the
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trail is short, the steep incline on the way
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back up can be challenging for many, especially
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in the heat and for those who live at a lower
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elevation. It's a good idea to take your time,
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rest when you need to, and bring some water even
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if you're just planning a quick stop. This trail
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is usually open from late spring through fall.
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It's open right now and depending on the weather
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and snowpack it could be closed but right now
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it's open so you should go. If you can, try to
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hike it in the morning or later in the day not
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only to avoid crowds but to catch better light
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in the canyon. So what makes this hike special
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isn't just the view, it's the feeling of being
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right there, at the edge of something immense
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and impossibly powerful. While over looks like
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Artist Point give you that classic postcard view
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from afar, the brink of the lower falls lets
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you experience the falls up close in full sensory
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detail. It's a perspective you can't get anywhere
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else in the park and one that many visitors say
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is a highlight of their Yellowstone trip. I'm
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going to talk more about the canning in a minute,
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but first my tip of the week. Beginning safety
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information for hiking in bear territory. When
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you're hiking in areas where bears live, like
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Yellowstone, Glacier, or other national parks
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in the West, it's essential to stay alert and
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take specific precautions. One of the most important
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things to do is watch for signs that bears are
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nearby. These signs can include freshly made
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tracks in the dirt, piles of bear scat, which
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are droppings, logs or stumps that have been
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torn apart often from bears foraging for insects,
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trees marked with fresh claw scratches dug up
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ground, and even animal carcasses that may be
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serving as a food source for a bear. So some
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of these things, if there's a carcass near a
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trail in Yellowstone, 99 .9 % of the time the
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park officials are going to close that. But if
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you come across one in the backcountry, leave
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immediately. And if you come across the other
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signs, increase your vigilance and consider turning
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back or taking another route. So before setting
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out on your hike, take time to gather information
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about the area you'll be hiking. Contact the
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park's visitor center or speak with a ranger
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to find out what types of bears inhabit the region.
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Here you'll have black bears and grizzly bears,
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but sometimes on trails it's more black bears
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than grizzlies. And these bears behave differently.
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You should also ask whether there are any trail
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closures or restricted zones due to bear activity
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or ongoing bear management efforts. These closures
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are not suggestions. They're implemented for
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the safety of both people and wildlife, and you
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should always be respectful. Being well informed
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before you hit the trail ensures you're not walking
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into a situation unprepared. You also need to
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understand bear habitat, so knowing what kind
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of terrain and vegetation bears prefer can help
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you stay safe. Now, bears tend to frequent habitats,
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and this makes me laugh. Everything I'm reading
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right now is pretty much through the National
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Park Service. Bear with me, no pun intended.
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Bears tend to frequent habitats where they can
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easily find food, water, shelter, and security.
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This means thick underbrush, forests with dense
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tree cover, and areas filled with berry -producing
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plants are all high -probability bear zones.
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Bears also favor natural features like gullies,
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riverbanks, tall grasses, ridgelines, and other
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areas that allow them to move without being easily
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seen. So pretty much everywhere. If you're headed
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to the park, everywhere is a bear area. If it's
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a boardwalk trail, bear area. Backcountry trail,
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bear area. Does not matter. Everywhere you could
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see a bear. So during the late summer and fall,
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bears become especially active as they search
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for high calorie foods, and if you're here then
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I will be talking about that a little later,
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talking about hyperphasia, but that's for a later
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realm. So... When you're hiking, there's a few
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things you need to do. The first, always carry
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bear spray. I don't care if it's a half mile
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trail or you're going to do the 17 mile specimen
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ridge trail. Always have bear spray. Always know
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how to use it. You can rent it from places in
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and out of the park. If you need a list of those
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locations, message me or just do a quick Google
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search. You'll find it. Also, the park recommends
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that you Hike smart by going together and not
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alone. Now this is true, hiking in groups is
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one of the most effective ways to avoid a bear
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encounter. Groups of three or more people are
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significantly less likely to surprise a bear
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than someone hiking alone or in pairs. The combined
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sound, scent, and visibility of a group alerts
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bears to your presence from farther away, giving
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them time to move off before you get close. In
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the rare event of a bear encounter having multiple
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people also improves the group's ability to respond
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appropriately and look out for one another It's
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also worth noting that While this is very true
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advice and hiking in groups is important It does
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not mean that if you are hiking by yourself or
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with one other person that you should not hike.
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I see this a lot online in forums and people
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are like I'm traveling with my partner and we
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want to go on a hike but I see everything else
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and says hikes hiking groups three or more. How
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can I find another person? You don't need another
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person. What you need to do is make noise. One
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of the simplest and most effective ways to avoid
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surprising a bear is to make consistent noise
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as you hike. This lets bears know you're coming
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and gives them a chance to avoid you. Talking
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loudly to your hiking companions, occasionally
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singing, or calling out phrases like hey bear
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or coming through at regular intervals can all
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serve this purpose. You can also clap your hands
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or bang your trekking poles together when visibility
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is limited. In areas near noisy creeks or waterfalls
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or on windy days, your voice is not going to
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carry as far, so it's important to increase your
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volume and frequency. Be particularly vocal when
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approaching blind corners, hill crests, or dense
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brush where bears might not see or hear you until
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you're too close. Now while many hikers are going
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to purchase bear bells and clip it on their pack,
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research and experience shows that bear bells
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are generally ineffective, they are too quiet
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to serve as a warning system, and more than likely
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a bear is going to hear that and interpret it
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more as a bird sound than anything else. Same
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with playing music. Your voice is your best tool
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here. So if you see a bear... If you see a bear
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before it notices you, stay calm and do not try
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to get closer. Instead, begin backing away slowly
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and quietly while keeping your eyes on the bear.
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Talk to it in a calm, steady tone so it knows
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you're human and not a threat. Never turn your
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back or run. Running can trigger a bear's chase
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instinct even if it initially was not interested
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in you. Also, avoid hiking during times of day
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when bears are most active, which is dawn and
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dusk and nighttime. Now, obviously, this is not
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always going to be easy, so you need to be loud.
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The darker it is, the louder you need to be.
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You need to make sure that anything around hears
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you. Yeah, you're going to scare away wildlife.
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Good. Bears tend to forage, hunt or move more
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during the cooler hours of the day, and your
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chance of crossing paths with them is significantly
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higher. So if it's super hot, less likely to
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see a bear. Still might, though. Obviously, one
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thing to do is be extra cautious around sows
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and cubs. Mother bears or sows are known for
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their fierce and protective behavior toward their
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cubs. If you encounter bear cubs, whether alone
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or with the mother visible nearby, your first
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and only priority should be to leave the area
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calmly and immediately. If you don't see the
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sow, she is likely close and will interpret any
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approach as a threat to her young. Never position
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yourself between a sow and her cubs. If you find
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yourself in this dangerous position, move slowly
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and deliberately to a safe distance while keeping
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an eye on the mother. Speak in a soft, non -threatening
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voice, avoid sudden movements, and be prepared
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to use bear spray if the situation escalates.
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Do not run or make loud noises, as this may provoke
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a charge. So hiking in bear country demands a
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heightened level of awareness and preparation,
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but it doesn't have to be intimidating. By learning
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to recognize bear signs, understanding their
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habitats and behaviors, making noise, and traveling
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in groups, you significantly reduce your chances
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of a negative encounter. Stay informed, follow
17:44
park guidelines, and respect wildlife from a
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safe distance to ensure your outdoor adventure
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is not only safe, but memorable for all the right
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reasons. Alright, random Yellowstone Fact of
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the Week. Tucked deep within Yellowstone National
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Park lies one of the most dramatic and awe -inspiring
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natural wonders, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
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River. Stretching approximately 20 miles in length
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and reaching depths of 800 to 1200 feet and measuring
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between 1 ,500 and 4 ,000 feet wide, this canyon
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is not only a visual spectacle but also a profound
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geological storybook shaped by fire, water, and
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time. Unlike the more widely known Grand Canyon
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in Arizona, which was primarily carved by the
18:28
Colorado River over millions of years, the Grand
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Canyon of the Yellowstone owes much of its existence
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to volcanic and hydrothermal forces. Roughly
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640 ,000 years ago, a cataclysmic volcanic eruption
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created the Yellowstone caldera, a 30 by 45 mile
18:45
collapsed volcanic depression that today underlies
18:48
much of the park. In the tens of thousands of
18:51
years that followed, subsequent volcanic activity
18:54
filled the caldera with rhyolite lava flows.
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This silica -rich volcanic rock forms the bedrock
19:00
of the canyon area. What makes the Yellowstone
19:04
Canyon unique is the influence of hydrothermal
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alteration of this rhyolithic rock. Superheated
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water, steam, and acidic gases from underground
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geothermal systems interacted with the rock,
19:21
chemically weakening and staining it. Over time,
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the weakened rock became far more susceptible
19:27
to erosion by the Yellowstone River, which began
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carving the canyon approximately 160 ,000 to
19:33
140 ,000 years ago, with the additional incision
19:37
likely continuing to the present day. One of
19:40
the most iconic and visual interesting aspects
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of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is its
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vivid color. The canning walls shimmer in shades
19:48
of yellow, orange, red, pink, and even white.
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These colors are not due to mineral deposits
19:53
like copper or sulfur, but rather the oxidation
19:56
of iron compounds in the altered rhyolite. When
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iron in the rock is exposed to oxygen, specifically
20:03
through hydrothermal fluids, it rusts, just like
20:06
iron metal does when left out in the rain. The
20:09
resulting pallet gives the canning its name and
20:11
contributes to its striking, almost surreal appearance.
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The yellow hues are primarily from limonite,
20:20
a type of iron oxide hydroxide, while the reds
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and pinks indicate a higher degree of oxidation.
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Yellowstone River, which remains undammed along
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its entire 692 -mile course, drops dramatically
20:42
into the canyon through two major waterfalls,
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the Upper Falls and Lower Falls, both captivate
20:48
visitors and photographers alike. The Upper Falls
20:51
plunges 109 feet and can be viewed up close from
20:54
a short trail near the canyon village, while
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smaller than its downstream sibling. It offers
21:01
a thunderous prelude to what follows. Lower Falls,
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the canyon's centerpiece, is the tallest waterfall
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in the park at 308 feet, nearly twice the height
21:10
of Niagara Falls. Now you can hike from each
21:14
of them and then there's a hidden falls in between.
21:17
So if you park at the upper falls and then go
21:20
look at it, then hike downstream to the lower
21:23
falls and go like to the brink of the lower falls,
21:25
that is an absolute wonderful hike. On sunny
21:28
days, especially in the early morning or late
21:30
afternoon, visitors may be treated to rainbows
21:33
dancing in the mist rising from the lower falls,
21:36
an effect that only adds to the grandeur of the
21:38
scene. Though the canyon may appear timeless,
21:41
it remains geologically active. The region's
21:44
hydrothermal systems continue to operate beneath
21:47
the surface, subtly altering and weakening the
21:49
bedrock. These forces, combined with weathering
21:53
and seasonal freeze -thaw cycles, result in frequent
21:56
rockfalls and landslides. The canyon is very
21:59
much a dynamic evolving landscape and a rare
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window into the intersection of volcanic and
22:04
erosional processes. Visitors can see the canyon
22:08
via the north and south rim drives, both of which
22:11
offer multiple viewpoints. You need to do both,
22:14
don't just do one. There's also several hiking
22:17
trails that you can get different perspectives
22:19
of it. I mentioned one earlier. There's another
22:22
one, Red Rock Point, also on that North Rim.
22:25
Absolutely beautiful. When you're there, stay
22:28
on the designated trails and obey closure signs.
22:32
There have been people that have said, I'm going
22:34
to climb up and take a picture, and then they
22:36
fall. They don't live. So the Grand Canyon of
22:40
the Yellowstone is more than just a pretty vista.
22:42
It's a geological masterpiece. forged by fire
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eruptions, sculpted by persistent rivers, and
22:48
painted by the hand of chemical transformation.
22:51
Whether you're a casual traveler or a serious
22:54
geology buff, the canyon offers not just views,
22:57
but an insight into the Earth's powerful and
23:00
ongoing story of creation and change. Alright,
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the weather for the week. Lamar Valley. After
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a rainy Thursday afternoon and evening, the rest
23:10
of the week looks pretty good for Lamar. Friday
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and Saturday and Sunday will have highs in the
23:15
upper 50s and lower 60s with lows in the mid
23:18
30s and a slight chance of rain Monday Tuesday
23:22
and Wednesday will be warmer with a high in the
23:24
upper 60s and a low in the upper 30s with around
23:27
a 25 % chance of rain each day Gardner Gardner
23:32
is gonna see some rain on Thursday. There's also
23:36
gonna have a high around 60 and a low and 30
23:38
that chance of rain On Thursday is going to develop
23:41
in the afternoon and early evening hours. Friday
23:44
through Sunday will be partly to mostly sunny.
23:47
And then highs are going to be in the 60s and
23:49
lows in the upper 30s. There's also a 24 % chance
23:52
of rain on Saturday and a slight chance of rain
23:55
every day. Monday through Wednesday will see
23:58
temperatures climb into the 70s as highs and
24:02
40s as lows. There's a slight chance of rain
24:04
each day. West Yellowstone. Also very similar.
24:08
You're gonna have a cloudy Thursday with a chance
24:10
of rain in the evening. Weekend looks good. Friday
24:13
through Sunday will be sunny and cloudy. It's
24:15
gonna have a high in the low 60s and a low in
24:17
the low 30s. There's a slight chance of rain
24:20
each day. Same with everywhere else. Monday through
24:22
Wednesday you're gonna have highs in the upper
24:24
60s and low 70s and lows in the upper 30s. Also
24:29
a small chance of rain every day. And for Old
24:31
Faithful, Old Faithful is going to be similar
24:33
to West Yellowstone, probably around 5 degrees
24:36
cooler and an increased chance of rain each day.
24:39
Not a huge increase, but just a little bit. The
24:43
snowpack update. The snowpack as of May 21, 2025
24:47
is fine. Could be better, but it could be a lot
24:50
worse. The interior of the park is around 83
24:53
% of normal, and that's up from 68 % of normal
24:56
from last week. The mountains surrounding the
24:58
park are faring better, with the numbers in the
25:01
high 80s and 90 % of normal range. Road conditions
25:06
for the week. After an exciting day of snow on
25:09
Tuesday, which led to some overnight road closures,
25:12
this coming week looks to be much calmer. I don't
25:15
anticipate any major issues this week in the
25:17
park. The most exciting news for roads is that
25:20
weather permitting Dunraven Pass connecting tower
25:23
to canyon is going to open on the 23rd of May.
25:26
It could open slightly earlier. because they've
25:29
opened it a day or two earlier the last few years.
25:31
But I have no idea if that's going to happen.
25:34
It either will or it won't. But don't count on
25:36
it. Also, Beartooth Highway scheduled to open
25:39
on the 23rd as well. Weather dependent. The plug
25:43
east of Cook City has also been open for a week.
25:46
I forgot to mention it last week. I'm so sorry
25:48
about that. It's been open next week. I'll talk
25:51
about the Beartooth Highway and it's just really
25:55
the most beautiful road maybe in the country.
25:58
Now for up -to -date information on the roads,
26:00
you can call 307 -344 -2117 for recorded information,
26:06
or you can sign up to receive Yellowstone Road
26:08
Alerts on your cell phone by texting 82190 to
26:13
the number 888 -777. Camping Information As always,
26:20
Mammoth Hot Springs Campground is open. Madison
26:22
campground near West Yellowstone entrance is
26:24
open fishing bridge RV park and bridge bear open
26:27
and Tower is also said to be opening on the 23rd
26:31
of May. So that's exciting Okay, probably what
26:34
everybody's listen listening for waiting for
26:37
the wildlife watching update Wildlife watching
26:40
this last week has been ridiculously good I mentioned
26:45
off the bat that I'd seen multiple bears every
26:48
day Yesterday as in the park saw ten bears Wasn't
26:51
even trying to see bears also saw some fresh
26:54
bear trail some fresh bear prints on trails So
26:59
probably could have seen more if I really wanted
27:01
to go do more the weather also wasn't that great
27:03
yesterday Before that a couple days before that
27:07
I was out at Slough Creek bunch of wolves out
27:10
there There was also a wolf near Canyon chasing
27:12
some elk yesterday There are some wolves out
27:15
in Lamar out by Soda Butte Cone It is there's
27:19
bears everywhere There were seven bears just
27:24
north of Norris yesterday. That is the 20th of
27:29
May. And apparently I missed a bunch, too. Like
27:34
it is just if you put in miles and you have some
27:37
good luck, you're going to see bears. There's
27:39
baby bison all over the place. There's a lot
27:41
of good birds. I'd mentioned the. The harlequin
27:45
ducks I'd mentioned like hey swing by the hearty
27:48
rapids. They have that closed off right now They
27:50
might reopen it in a day or two, but currently
27:52
that area is closed off for everybody So you
27:55
can't swing there and see the harlequin ducks,
27:57
but there's lots of birds out. There's lots of
28:00
everything. This is honestly the best time yes,
28:04
I did see a grizzly and a black bear and a couple
28:06
bison out in Hayden Valley, but Hayden Valley
28:10
is not it right now. It's picking up but it's
28:13
not where the wildlife is. If you want the best
28:15
wildlife, drive the northern range, especially
28:19
if they're opening Dunraven Pass. Drive from
28:22
tower or drive from canyon to tower from tower
28:25
down to the junction and then go out toward Pebble
28:30
Creek Campground and back. If you don't see anything,
28:33
that's just bad luck. There is a ton of wildlife
28:37
out there. Other than that, there's been a couple
28:39
of moose out in the northern range as well. If
28:43
you want to see wildlife, go to the Northern
28:44
Range still. Hayden is picking up. Geyser Basins
28:48
are picking up. But the most dependable wildlife
28:51
watching is, say it with me, the Northern Range.
28:55
I don't know how you would have known to say
28:57
it with me. So sorry about that. All right. very
29:01
quick plug if you love what you heard on this
29:04
podcast and Want more information on wildlife
29:06
watching I do have a wildlife watching guidebook
29:09
that I wrote to Yellowstone National Park It's
29:11
available in both ebook and paperback formats
29:13
and this book is going to help you spot wildlife
29:17
It's broken down Region by region of the park
29:20
telling you what you're gonna see when you're
29:21
gonna see it how best to see it also please consider
29:24
buying the book directly from me as I make nothing
29:27
when they're sold on Amazon and You know, I don't
29:31
think billionaires need more money in anything.
29:34
I am selling it directly through my site. I don't
29:36
need Amazon. So order it from me and I will happily
29:40
get you a copy of either the ebook or the paperback.
29:43
And you can do that at outdoor society dot com.
29:47
Hiking news and updates. Every day more trails
29:50
in the park open. The general rule of thumb right
29:53
now is expect mud on the trails and be happy
29:55
when there isn't any. The lower elevation trails,
29:58
not the mountain trails, are mostly snow free
30:00
and ready to rock. Higher elevation trails will
30:02
have some snow. Even Bunsen Peak is still not
30:05
fully melted out yet, but it's doable if you
30:07
don't mind hiking straight up the scree field
30:09
near the top. Also check with Rangers about bear
30:12
conditions on trails. Trails are opening and
30:15
closing right now faster than the backcountry
30:17
situation report is updating. I had an issue
30:19
with a trail that it kind of said it was open
30:23
but then there were signs saying it was closed
30:25
on part of the side of the trail but not on the
30:28
main trail and it was very confusing and I couldn't
30:30
find a Ranger so I just didn't hike it. So I
30:34
don't want you to have that same level of like
30:35
I don't know what to do so when you can talk
30:39
to a Ranger. Even as you're entering the park
30:42
like at the gate Maybe you could ask there and
30:44
they'd either tell you where to go to find somebody
30:46
or they might actually know All right my truck
30:49
of the week Today, I'm recommending the storm
30:52
point trail near fishing bridge It's considered
30:55
to be a very easy hike coming in at under three
30:57
miles in length with around a hundred feet of
30:59
elevation gain The trail starts by skirting the
31:02
shoreline of Indian pond a spot. That's rich
31:05
in history and quiet beauty The name comes from
31:08
the Native American artifacts uncovered there
31:10
in the 1880s, including remnants of wiki -ups
31:15
and animal corrals. An early geologist once observed
31:18
that Indian ponds seemed to be a preferred site
31:21
for crafting tools, thanks to its location near
31:24
stone quarries. Also, it was close to the game
31:27
-rich Pelican Valley and the abundant waters
31:29
of the Yellowstone Lake. It's just a great spot.
31:32
As you hike here, you'll more than likely catch
31:34
sight of bison lounging around in the grass or
31:36
grazing nearby. These powerful creatures once
31:39
dominated the plains. There were some 60 million
31:41
of them at one point. And then there were only
31:45
20 -something in Yellowstone. Not more than 100
31:49
-something years ago. So Yellowstone is the only
31:52
place where wild bison have lived continuously
31:54
since westward expansion. And although they may
31:58
seem slow and unbothered, bison are unpredictable
32:01
and can be extremely dangerous. So give them
32:03
space and observe them from afar. This spot that
32:06
I'm recommending is a place where people have
32:08
been gored or charged by bison pretty commonly.
32:13
So obviously be alert if there's a bison blocking
32:15
the trail. Don't go. Very simple. it's blocking
32:19
the trail on the way back go clear around it
32:22
go overly around it like To the point that you're
32:26
like, this is this is a bit silly. We're too
32:29
far away. That's the right distance Now bison
32:32
aren't the only wildlife to be aware of here
32:34
Bears in the spring are very common and it isn't
32:37
uncommon to see the trail closed due to bear
32:39
activity I hiked out here recently and saw fresh
32:42
bear tracks and bear scat all over Do not hike
32:46
here without bear spray and a knowledge of how
32:48
to stay safe in bear country This is while a
32:52
good family -friendly happy easy trail is still
32:55
a potentially dangerous trail So the trail continues
32:59
onward past the lake Past the Indian pond and
33:03
then toward the lake, which is Yellowstone Lake
33:06
and you veer right Right to the shoreline and
33:09
follow it for a while and then near storm point
33:11
the landscape comes alive with yellow -bellied
33:14
marmots right now They're stocky golden brown
33:16
rodents and they're often mistaken for oversized
33:19
squirrels and they can grow up to be two feet
33:21
tall including their tail you'll likely hear
33:24
their piercing chirps before you spot them and
33:27
Fun thing i've heard this i'm pretty sure it's
33:29
true Marmots are the largest mammal to truly
33:33
hibernate in yellowstone bears enter torpor i
33:37
will say that every every few weeks bears do
33:40
not fully hibernate they enter torpor marmots
33:43
hibernate and you might see them out here now
33:46
storm point offers more than just dramatic views
33:48
it's a haven for bird life too so if you're a
33:51
birder this is a great spot watch for mallards
33:54
uh barrows golden eyes calmer ganzers There are,
33:58
uh, I saw a ruddy duck there, even though I'd
34:00
never seen one before. I've seen white pelicans,
34:03
blue herons, osprey, eagles, and even Canadian
34:07
geese, but they're all over and who cares about
34:10
Canadian geese. Um, true to its name, Storm Point
34:12
is no stranger to wild weather. Afternoon winds
34:15
from the southwest often whip across the lake,
34:17
sending waves crashing against this rocky shoreline.
34:20
The effect can be Pretty cool, so check that
34:23
out. It's also a great place just to get away
34:25
from it all and reconnect with the power of Yellowstone's
34:28
natural beauty. And you're still close to Fishing
34:31
Bridge and so it's a really cool place. Then
34:33
after soaking in the views of Storm Point, the
34:35
trail winds gently along the lakeshore for curving
34:38
back into the forest. Eventually the path emerges
34:40
from some trees, reconnects with the main trail
34:43
near the starting point, and you complete a loop
34:46
through one of Yellowstone's most captivating
34:48
landscapes. Alright, this one went long. I apologize,
34:52
but I had a lot to say and a lot of cool experiences
34:55
and things So thank you all for listening in
34:58
next week's episode I'm gonna return with all
35:00
the information you need to have a good week
35:02
in the park including the wildlife weather and
35:04
trail updates and also talking about the Beartooth
35:06
Highway and How to potentially beat the crowds
35:10
at West Yellowstone, so stay tuned until then
35:14
happy trails This week in Yellowstone is brought
35:27
to you by the Outdoor Society because that's
35:29
my company and that's where this is hosted. There
35:32
are no sponsors. This is a labor of love, so
35:34
thank you all for listening. Copyright 2025,
35:38
baby!