Latest / This Week in Yellowstone National Park / This Week in Yellowstone: June 25th to July 1st, 2026

Transcript

This Week in Yellowstone: June 25th to July 1st, 2026 · This Week in Yellowstone National Park

0:00
From Yellowstone National Park, where the clouds
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have been dramatic, and the badgers have been
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running around the prairies, and those two things
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probably aren't related, this is that Scott guy
0:09
you know and love with a brand new episode of
0:12
This Week in Yellowstone. What's up everybody
0:25
this week in Yellowstone National Park from June
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25th to July 1st, 2026. I'll encourage you to
0:31
catch sunrises and sunsets, tell you about bison
0:35
funeral processions, and give some tips on dealing
0:37
with warm weather at elevation. I'll also give
0:40
you the complete weather forecast, a cool trail
0:42
to hike, the wildlife report, and everything
0:45
else you need to have an incredible time this
0:48
week in Yellowstone. Standard disclaimer, I'm
0:51
gonna miss a few details here and there, so if
0:53
you are curious about something, reach out to
0:56
me. Also, if you're unfamiliar with a place that
0:59
I'm talking about, please know that I mention
1:01
park locations very casually. So if you need
1:04
anything, reach out to me. You can send me an
1:06
email, or you can just shoot me a text at 406
1:09
-589 -1873. Also, please know that this podcast
1:14
is a passion project of mine. I am not paid,
1:18
I am not sponsored, so if you enjoy it, I'd love
1:20
a review or a quick email to let me know that
1:22
you like what you hear. If you want to support
1:25
my work more, you can check out my hiking and
1:27
wildlife watching guidebooks, or join me for
1:29
a guided hiking tour in Yellowstone's backcountry.
1:32
For more information on all of that, shoot me
1:34
a text, or visit outdoor -society .com. This
1:39
week's Yellowstone news. so honestly it's been
1:42
a really slow news week there hasn't been much
1:44
going on the thermal area at biscuit basin erupted
1:48
again but that's not really news at this point
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it's been doing that quite a bit the thing that
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i do want to talk about with that is there are
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some i was going to say news agencies not really
1:58
any news agencies just some youtubers people
2:01
on social media really freaking out about this
2:03
Perfectly normal there is no elevated eruption
2:06
cycle. There's no imminent danger There's nothing
2:09
like that if there was you'd hear about it from
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from more reputable sources again, this is perfectly
2:16
normal and I have to say that every so often
2:19
because People love anytime something happens
2:22
in Yellowstone with the thermal areas to jump
2:24
to the you know logical conclusion that Well,
2:28
not logical, but they think it is that the whole
2:30
thing is going to erupt like it may someday but
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not anytime soon so don't worry about it it's
2:36
perfectly fine and I know like that would be
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what someone from the inside would say don't
2:40
worry about it but really like it's fine other
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than that no real news to speak of um I've been
2:47
doing a lot of tours the last week so I'm pretty
2:49
exhausted and tired so I'm just gonna jump right
2:52
into this I wrote this a little while ago so
2:55
then I could just sit and record it after I get
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back from a tour and it is currently, you know,
3:00
I think this is going to be dropping in less
3:03
than 12 hours. So here we go. My experience of
3:07
the week. Sunrises and sunsets. Now some of you
3:11
may be thinking, you've talked about this before,
3:13
but right now there is something special going
3:17
on with sunrises and sunsets. And that is because
3:21
we just had the summer solstice. Summer is officially
3:23
here and our days are very long. Sunrises are
3:27
very early, sunsets are very late. So I'm going
3:30
to talk about that a little bit. One of the most
3:32
overlooked parts of visiting Yellowstone National
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Park is just how much daylight you have available
3:37
in late June and early July. Many visitors spend
3:41
months planning their trip, carefully mapping
3:43
out geysers, waterfalls, wildlife viewing areas,
3:46
and hiking trails. Then they arrive and unknowingly
3:48
miss some of the most beautiful hours of the
3:50
day because they're sleeping through sunrise
3:52
or heading back to their hotel before sunset.
3:55
The final week of June offers some of the longest
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days of the entire year in Yellowstone. During
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this period, sunrise occurs at approximately
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5 .35 a .m. with sunset taking place around 9
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.10 p .m. That obviously depends on your exact
4:10
location within the park, so times may vary here
4:12
and there, but generally that's about when it
4:14
is. And the days all change, but generally 5
4:18
.30 after 9. That's what you need to know. Now
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those are the sunrise and sunsets. The actual
4:25
times when Yellowstone starts to brighten up
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starts around 5 a .m. And retains usable light
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long after 9 30 p .m. many visitors simply don't
4:35
take advantage of this incredible gift of long
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days a Surprising number of people begin their
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day when they're visiting the parks at 8 or 9
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Which seems early and they finish sightseeing
4:45
around dinnertime But that means that you're
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missing out on some of the best hours that the
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park has to offer By the time many visitors are
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pouring their first cup of coffee, the park has
4:54
already been awake for several hours. Those early
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morning hours are special. The roads are quieter,
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parking lots are emptier, and the entire park
5:03
feels calmer. Steam rises dramatically from the
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geyser basins and the cool morning air, and that
5:09
helps to create this scene that looks completely
5:11
different from what most people see during the
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middle of the day. The last few days I've had
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early morning tours and I've been getting into
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the park around 5 .30 and honestly that is the
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best time. From 5 .30 to 6 .15 or so the light
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is just perfect and it's absolutely gorgeous.
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Today on Wednesday the 24th there were some thunderstorms
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with the bubbly clouds, the mammatus clouds right
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over Electric Peak that you could see from the
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Arch in Gardener and that was amazing. That is
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actually the cover image of this week's episode,
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if I remember to do that. And it was really cool.
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The day before, Sunrise was also absolutely gorgeous.
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Just the light was hitting electric peaks so
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it was kind of pinkish and everything else was
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dark and there was fog all around. It was fantastic.
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And Sunrises do that, which is why waking up
6:01
for these is so important. I know you're on vacation,
6:05
but catching a sunrise in the park is something
6:07
you really should do at least once. Whether it's
6:10
just from Gardiner and you're by the arch, or
6:13
you drive to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
6:14
and catch it there, go to Lamar or Hayden, or
6:17
anywhere really. It doesn't matter. Anywhere
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is pretty, especially if it's really open. Swan
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Lake flat south of Mammoth, underrated area for
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sunrises. Highly recommend it. It's also a great
6:27
area for sunsets, but we'll talk about that in
6:29
a little bit. But if you are in the park right
6:31
now, sunrises are very early, but please try
6:35
and make this something that you do once. If
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you don't like it, fine. But you have to try
6:41
because you don't know what you're going to enjoy
6:43
until you try it. That's kind of why I'm against
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the like, I'm going to make a list of everything
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I need to experience in the park, and that's
6:51
all I'm going to do. Branch out from that. Maybe
6:54
you add sunrise and sunsets on your list. That's
6:56
great. But Make sure that you kind of just allow
6:59
the days to happen and go with the flow. Yellowstone
7:01
has some secrets and some magic to it that when
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you're too rigid and too stuck to structure you
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may miss out on something truly great. Now the
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mornings are wonderful in the park. The wildlife
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agrees with this early morning schedule. Most
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of the animals are active during the cool parts
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of the day and that includes early morning. Every
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day I've driven in the park in the last week
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I've seen at least three bears. I see the bison
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starting to wake up and roam around, heard wolves
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howl, I see coyotes out in the distance, the
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badgers are running around as I mentioned off
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the top of this episode. It is a wonderful time,
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early morning hours, really the best, especially
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because the cold temperatures are only in the
7:43
40s right now. And you may come from someplace
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really warm and 40s are cold, but 40s here, absolutely
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perfect, great way to start the day. Your hands
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may be a little chilly, but you're gonna get
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very warm by the end of the day. So sunrise also
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comes with a few other major benefits. There's
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fewer crowds. It's not gonna be empty We are
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in peak tourist season Every place is going to
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be crowded. I had a line of eight cars ahead
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of me in Gardiner this morning at 545 so Expect
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that but that was eight cars right and then we
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got in Lamar Valley That area Little America
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was absolutely packed this morning by 6 45 7
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o 'clock and that's going to happen because that's
8:23
the best time for wildlife So know that but also
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know that when you go to popular spots this early
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in the morning It's not going to be too crowded
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boardwalks and traffic and all of that really
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starts getting More crowded more busy around
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8 9 o 'clock. So the earlier you're there the
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better it's going to be and the quieter it's
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going to be especially if you decide to go on
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a hike once there's full light and you're able
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to see things go hiking it's a great time in
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the morning it's funny to talk about sunrises
8:55
because sunrises are hard not everybody's a morning
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person and especially when it's light at 530
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that's hard to do but sunsets are also overlooked
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to the park it blows me away how many people
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exit the park way before sunset it's a little
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harder yeah it's gonna be 9 15 when it's sunset
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right but stay in the park for sunset at least
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once one of my favorite very easy things to do
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hang out around old faithful around sunset every
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so often it will time so old faithful will erupt
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right at sunset and it's not crowded it's pretty
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empty and it's wonderful and then you have like
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brilliant colors off the clouds it is so great
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Sunset here is beautiful. Swan Lake Flats that
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I mentioned earlier, absolutely gorgeous for
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sunset. Mammoth, the terraces at sunset, truly
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spectacular. Hayden, Lamar, Little America, Round
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Prairie, even up in the Beartooth area at sunset,
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really cool. So, don't sleep on sunsets, haha.
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And when I talk about sunsets, I don't just mean
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like right at sunset watching the sun plunge.
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Those final two hours before sunset are often
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the most productive times for wildlife watching.
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Hayden Valley, Lamar Valley, they come alive
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again as temperatures cool. Bison are starting
10:13
to gather for the rut, which takes place July
10:16
and August. And that is something you should
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go and see. And they're moving around the grasslands.
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You're going to start seeing some elk. Predators
10:23
are preparing for the night of hunting. It is
10:25
just great. Once the sun sets, Wolves might howl,
10:29
coyotes are going to howl if you're in the valleys.
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It's truly fantastic. Also, if you're a big fan
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of photography, lighting in the morning and evenings,
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amazing. This is when you really want to get
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some good shots. Yeah, if you have wildlife in
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the close by or in the distance, you're not going
10:46
to get the best pictures, but getting those landscape
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pictures of Yellowstone's mountains, lakes, rivers,
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thermal areas and those shades of gold and then
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maybe oranges and pinks. That is, you know, chef's
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kiss emoji is great. So check that out. Do sunrises
11:02
and sunsets because you never know. It's going
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to be something that could make you a morning
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person. I am not a morning person at all, but
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I will be a morning person if it means that I
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get to go into the park and have a sunrise in
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the park and then see the animals moving around.
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One quick thing, if you're getting into the park
11:22
before sunrise or leaving the park after sunset,
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Driving at night requires extra caution. Wildlife
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vehicle collisions are a significant issue both
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inside and around outside the park. A long -term
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study found that 939 large mammals were killed
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by vehicles on Yellowstone roads between 1989
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and 1996. That includes elk, deer, bison, moose,
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bears, wolves, and other species. Researchers
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concluded that vehicle speed was the primary
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factor in these collisions. In 2022, the park
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saw a total of 56 known vehicle collisions with
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large mammals, which included 20 mule deer, 14
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elk, 10 bison, and 6 black bears. Know that bison
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in the park are really hard to see at night because
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their dark coloration blends into the road. And
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unlike deer and elk, bison lack a well -developed
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reflective tissue in their eyes, and this causes
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their dark eyes to absorb light rather than bounce
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it back. So if you're driving and looking for
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your light hitting eyeballs, you're not going
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to see a bison. So if you drive at night, slow
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down, be safe. Don't take any risks that are
12:51
unnecessary, but also don't let this stop you
12:54
from enjoying a sunrise or a sunset. You can
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do it closer to where you're camping or staying,
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but do it, please. I highly recommend it. This
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is the time of the year to do it. Also, this
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is kind of the thunderstorm time of the year,
13:06
so you might have a really good sunset and then
13:08
off in the distance there's going to be a thunderstorm
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and you're going to watch the cloud illuminate
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with lightning as you're out in the valleys.
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It's awesome. Please do it. My tip of the week
13:20
managing heat and elevation Many first -time
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visitors arrive in Yellowstone National Park
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expecting cool mountain weather After all the
13:28
park sits at high elevation and snow can linger
13:30
well into summer and it can snow throughout the
13:33
summer too Photos if you see people around often
13:36
show them wearing jackets near geysers and waterfalls
13:39
Or you know, you may see them watching wolves
13:41
and they're bundled up That's morning something
13:46
happens later. By midday, visitors find themselves
13:49
searching for shade, drinking water as fast as
13:51
they can, and wondering why 70 degree weather
13:54
feels so much hotter than it does back home.
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I've talked about this a lot, and there's a reason.
13:59
This is very important. I hear about it all the
14:01
time, and I want everybody to know. This will
14:03
be the last time I talk about it for the summer,
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so if you're tired of this, no, this is the last
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time I'm talking about it this year. But, I do
14:10
want to remind you that it will be warm and you
14:14
need to make sure that you are prepared for this.
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The reason why it's warm, as you've heard me
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say before, if this isn't your first episode,
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Yellowstone's elevation. A lot of the park sits
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between 7 ,000 and 8 ,000 feet above sea level,
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and Yellowstone Lake, here's a fun fact, rests
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at 7 ,733 feet above sea level. Many of the popular
14:35
viewpoints and trailheads are even higher. Even
14:38
Lamar Valley, which is over 6 ,000 feet, gets
14:41
very hot. That means that visitors are dealing
14:43
with thinner air, stronger sunlight, and a drier
14:46
climate than you're probably accustomed to. The
14:49
stronger sunlight often catches people off guard.
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At higher elevations there is less atmosphere
14:53
to filter the sun's radiation, and as a result
14:56
direct sunlight feels noticeably more intense
14:59
in the same temperature than when you're at sea
15:02
level. A sunny 70 degree afternoon in Yellowstone
15:05
can feel surprisingly warm, especially when you're
15:08
walking boardwalks, climbing trails, or spending
15:11
hours outside. Visitors from Texas Florida Louisiana
15:15
Georgia and southern states that really talk
15:18
to me a lot about being so used to the warm weather
15:21
are surprised at how hot it gets out here in
15:24
the summer. While they may be accustomed to hotter
15:26
temperatures they're not accustomed to experiencing
15:29
those temperatures at 8 ,000 feet with intense
15:32
mountain sunshine overhead. The dry air is another
15:36
layer that you need to pay attention to. In humid
15:39
climates your sweat tends to remain on your skin
15:41
making it obvious when your body is working to
15:43
cool itself. Yellowstone's mountain air is much
15:46
drier so sweat evaporates quickly which means
15:49
you may not realize how much water you're losing.
15:52
Many visitors become mildly dehydrated before
15:55
they even recognize that they're thirsty. This
15:58
is one reason that during my tours and even when
16:01
I am consulting people on their trips I consistently
16:04
encourage visitors to drink water throughout
16:06
the day, not just during hikes and periods of
16:08
physical activity. Elevation itself can also
16:11
affect how your body performs. Some visitors
16:13
experience symptoms with altitude like headaches,
16:16
dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and
16:18
nausea. And even healthy, physically fit people
16:21
can feel these effects. I like to share this
16:23
story. In college, I ran track and cross country.
16:26
I was in great shape. I came out here. I went
16:29
running. And I thought I was going to die. It
16:32
was the start of summer. went for a run outside
16:35
at 7 ,000 feet and it was 65 degrees outside
16:39
and it was so hot I got done with my run and
16:42
I stopped and was talking to some people by where
16:45
I was staying and they asked me if I was okay
16:47
because I was beet red and looked like I was
16:50
close to death. I felt okay but then an hour
16:55
later I started getting headaches and then I
16:57
realized oh I haven't been drinking enough water
16:59
so even if you are in great health and you are
17:01
physically fit Drink a lot of water, take care
17:04
of yourself, and really pay attention to what's
17:06
going on. One of the things to really pay attention
17:09
to, I mentioned it earlier, is that a lot of
17:11
people only focus on the afternoon temperatures.
17:13
Yellowstone is famous for dramatic temperature
17:15
swings during the summer. Nighttime temperatures
17:18
can be in the 30s and then daytime temperatures
17:20
can get into 70s and 80s. That is a big temperature
17:23
change and you need to properly layer. It is
17:27
very important you can bring a change of clothes
17:29
and change into that But do not assume that what
17:32
you're wearing in the morning will be good to
17:34
wear in the afternoon By the afternoon you are
17:37
going to be way too hot in anything. You are
17:40
wearing in the morning We are approaching the
17:42
holiday weekend, and that's why I'm talking about
17:44
this now. Just know that hydration is super important
17:47
I've talked about a little bit, but stay hydrated
17:50
drink more water also one thing to do take breaks
17:53
during the day sit in the shade rest It's hard
17:57
to rest on vacation for a lot of us, but rest.
18:00
Also avoid over exertion during the first day
18:02
or two if you can. If you're here for a week,
18:05
don't do the hardest hike on day one. Get acclimatized
18:08
a bit, get used to how much water you need to
18:10
drink throughout the day to stay hydrated, and
18:12
then do that hard day. That's gonna make all
18:15
the difference in having a very enjoyable visit
18:17
versus one that's really not gonna be as fun.
18:21
One last thing, if you are going to drink alcohol
18:24
when you're out here, Know that it's going to
18:28
dehydrate you or hit you a little harder Also,
18:31
if you plan on doing something that is physically
18:33
active don't drink the night before you will
18:36
get more dehydrated Some tours I've had years
18:39
ago people decided they were going to drink and
18:42
then Yeah, that did not go well because we did
18:46
a very hard hike and they were drinking the night
18:48
before and they were very very dehydrated and
18:51
battling heat exhaustion the entire day So be
18:54
smart, take care of yourself, know that you're
18:56
at elevation and it's okay to be tired and take
18:58
breaks. That's probably the number one takeaway
19:00
from here is you're going to be fine. Just relax.
19:04
It's Yellowstone. It's going to be here. And
19:06
when you feel good, you're going to enjoy the
19:08
park more. My random Yellowstone fact of the
19:12
week, bison funerals. If you spend enough time
19:15
watching bison in Yellowstone National Park,
19:17
you begin to notice that there's far more happening
19:20
within a herd than most people realize. People
19:23
often stop to admire the massive animals grazing
19:25
in a meadow, crossing the road, or resting near
19:27
a thermal area and then they just kind of move
19:30
on. What many never witnessed is a behavior that
19:33
has fascinated wildlife watchers for years. The
19:36
tendency of bison to remain with and pay close
19:38
attention to deceased members of their herd.
19:41
Some observers have even referred to these gatherings
19:43
as bison funerals. The phrase is not a scientific
19:47
term at all, please don't think it is, and researchers
19:50
are careful about assigning human emotions or
19:53
motivations to animals. Still, numerous observations
19:57
from Yellowstone suggest that bison often react
20:00
in unusual ways when a member of the herd dies.
20:04
These behaviors have been documented by park
20:06
visitors, wildlife photographers, guides, and
20:08
researchers alike. While scientists debate what
20:11
these actions may mean, there's little question
20:14
that the animals show a remarkable interest in
20:16
their dead. Part of the reason this behavior
20:19
stands out is that bison are highly social animals.
20:22
Yellowstone's bison live in herds that are often
20:24
led by experienced females. During parts of the
20:27
year these groups can number in the hundreds.
20:30
Herd members can spend much of their lives together,
20:32
traveling, feeding, and raising calves across
20:34
the vast landscapes of Yellowstone. The social
20:37
structure of a herd is far more complex than
20:40
many realize. When a bison dies, herd members
20:50
sometimes gather around the carcass and remain
20:53
there for extended periods. Rather than immediately
20:55
moving away, they repeatedly approach the body,
20:59
sniff it, nudge it with their noses, or simply
21:01
stand nearby. Wildlife observers have reported
21:04
seeing groups of bison linger around a deceased
21:05
herd member long after there are any obvious
21:08
reasons to stay. In some cases, the animals have
21:11
even appeared to position themselves between
21:12
the carcass and potential scavengers. Now one
21:16
time, I love just starting stories with one time,
21:19
but one time I was in the park, I was hanging
21:21
out in Lamar Valley, and there was a bison carcass
21:24
that I knew about and I wanted to go see if anything
21:26
would feed on it. So I sat there with you know
21:29
70 of my closest strangers and we were all waiting
21:33
and the bison were hanging out around there and
21:36
there's a dead bison laying in the middle of
21:38
the prairie right it's perfectly normal that
21:40
happens but what i didn't expect to see was a
21:44
bison funeral procession after sitting there
21:47
for about five to ten minutes the bison nearby
21:52
started to congregate a bit and then they circled
21:56
the bison and walked away Not one, not two, but
22:01
50 to 70 bison circled the dead bison and walked
22:04
away. A little bit later, a lone wolf came and
22:09
decided that it was going to try and get a free
22:11
meal. Hey, there's a dead bison there. That's
22:13
easy food. I don't have to exert much energy.
22:16
Great. Bison didn't take too kindly to that and
22:19
decided to chase that lone wolf away. all the
22:24
way through the prairie and made sure that it
22:27
was not going to get a free meal later i guess
22:30
after i left grizzly bear came in and was eating
22:32
the bison carcass but they protected their dead
22:35
and they had a little circle around it and then
22:38
they left this is one of those things that i
22:41
didn't believe until i saw it in person One of
22:45
the most commonly observed examples of this involves
22:48
mothers and calves, so each spring Yellowstone's
22:51
famous reddish -orange calves, called red dogs,
22:54
are born throughout the park. Not every calf
22:56
survives, and due to predators, harsh weather,
23:00
accidents, and illness, and when a calf dies,
23:04
mothers have been sometimes observed remaining
23:06
nearby for hours or days. They may continue nudging
23:10
their calf, standing guard, or attempting to
23:12
encourage it to rise. Similar behaviors have
23:14
been documented in other highly social animals,
23:17
including elephants, whales, and certain primates.
23:20
Again, scientists remain cautious when interpreting
23:22
these observations. It's impossible to know exactly
23:25
what the animal understands about death, and
23:27
researchers generally focus on observable behavior
23:30
rather than assumptions about emotions. However,
23:34
for the rest of us it's really easy to watch
23:37
something and come up with our own story. What
23:40
can be said about all of this is certainty is
23:42
that Yellowstone's bison often behave differently
23:45
around a dead herd member than they do during
23:48
normal activities. Whether that behavior reflects
23:51
grief, confusion, curiosity, social attachment,
23:54
or some combination that remains an open question.
23:59
Coming to Yellowstone provides a unique opportunity
24:02
to witness these moments because death remains
24:04
a natural and visible part of the ecosystem.
24:07
Wolves and grizzly bears prey on bison and elk.
24:09
Severe winters claim lives. Accidents occasionally
24:12
occur. Bison carcasses are an important food
24:16
source for wolves, bears, coyotes, ravens, eagles,
24:18
and countless other small scavengers. In many
24:21
ways, the death of this one animal helps sustain
24:23
dozens of others. But before the scavengers arrive,
24:27
there is this period that's sometimes a reflective
24:30
moment by the bison. You're not supposed to humanize
24:35
animals, but when you see a mother that remains
24:39
beside her calf long after it's died, when you
24:41
see a herd that delays its movement across the
24:43
landscape because they're not entirely understanding
24:47
why one of their friends has died, this is something
24:50
that we watch and we can relate to. Whether we
24:54
choose to call these gatherings funerals, vigils,
24:56
or simply social behavior, they remind us that
24:58
bison are more complex than many people assume.
25:02
Yellowstone's largest land mammal is not merely
25:04
a symbol of the American West. It's a social
25:06
species with relationships and behaviors that
25:09
scientists continue to study. The next time you
25:12
encounter a bison herd in Yellowstone, it may
25:14
be worth spending a little extra time watching.
25:17
You might witness a side of these remarkable
25:19
animals that few people ever see. The weather
25:23
for the coming week. On Thursday in Lamar Valley,
25:27
the high will be 64, the low will be 46 there's
25:31
a 65 percent chance of thunderstorms and rain
25:33
with about a quarter inch of rain expected on
25:35
Friday 68 and 44 42 percent chance about a point
25:40
one four inches of rain Saturday 56 and 38 71
25:45
percent chance of three tenths of an inch of
25:47
rain Sunday 55 and 36 43 percent chance of a
25:52
tenth of an inch of rain Monday 49 and 36 chance
25:55
of snow late at night early in the morning 54
25:58
percent chance of a tenth of an inch of rain
26:01
Tuesday 61 and 37 rain should be diminishing
26:04
throughout the day and then Wednesday 68 and
26:07
38 9 percent chance of precipitation Gardner,
26:12
Montana Thursday Highest 68 Low of 50 68 percent
26:15
chance of a quarter inch rain Friday 73 and 48
26:19
some rain showers likely in the late morning
26:23
early afternoon 25 % chance of those Saturday
26:26
thunderstorms high of 59 low of 41 65 % chance
26:31
of a third of an inch of rain Sunday 58 and 39
26:35
50 % chance of a quarter inch of rain Monday
26:38
52 and 40 with a 56 % chance about a tenth of
26:42
an inch of rain Tuesday 64 and 40 maybe some
26:45
light showers only a 14 % chance and Wednesday
26:48
72 and 42 10 % chance. West Yellowstone. Thursday,
26:54
high as 66, low of 45, 57 % chance of some rain,
26:58
maybe about a tenth of an inch. Friday, 69 and
27:01
42, 64 % chance about a tenth of an inch of rain.
27:04
Saturday, 53 and 35, 81 % chance about a half
27:09
inch of rain. Sunday, 52 and 34, 50 % chance
27:13
of a quarter inch of rain. Monday, 48 and 34,
27:16
54 % chance of a tenth of an inch of rain. Tuesday
27:20
60 and 35 with a 15 % chance of some rain Wednesday
27:24
68 and 37 9 % chance of rain Cody Wyoming Thursday
27:29
73 and 54 33 % chance of some thunderstorms Friday
27:34
79 and 55 42 % chance of some rain in the afternoon
27:38
with some thunderstorms Maybe about a tenth of
27:40
an inch of rain Saturday 70 and 49 34 % chance
27:44
of about three tenths or three hundredths of
27:48
an inch of rain sorry misread that so not a ton
27:51
of rain probably Saturday Sunday 68 and 47 24
27:55
percent chance of precipitation Monday 65 and
27:58
48 22 percent chance precipitation Tuesday 74
28:01
and 50 5 percent chance of rain and Finally for
28:05
the weather Cook City, Montana Thursday high
28:08
of 59 low of 46 63 percent chance of a quarter
28:12
inch of rain Friday 64 and 43 40 percent chance
28:16
of two tenths of an inch of rain Saturday 52
28:19
and 36 78 percent chance of three quarters of
28:22
or one third of an inch of rain Sunday 52 and
28:26
34 with a 50 percent chance of about a tenth
28:30
of an inch of rain we'll say then Sunday night
28:33
into Monday chance of rain or snow and Monday
28:37
46 and 36 61 percent chance about a quarter inch
28:41
of rain Tuesday 57 and 38 16 % chance of rain
28:46
Wednesday 64 and 40 9 % chance as always these
28:50
are the best forecasts I can do they're better
28:53
the closer days and as we get in through the
28:56
weekend and in the next week They could be slightly
28:59
wrong, but you know I do my best and so do The
29:04
sites that I use to check the weather Road conditions.
29:08
No main park roads are closed right now, and
29:11
while unlikely, be aware that roads can close
29:13
at any time due to inclement weather. Again,
29:16
not expecting it, but if the temperature gets
29:18
a little colder and snow falls, then they might
29:20
close some roads or the rain may cause some rocks
29:23
to fall and might have temporary road closures.
29:26
Just know that things can happen. For up -to
29:28
-date information on the roads, you can call
29:30
307 -344 -2117 for recorded information, or you
29:35
can sign up to receive Yellowstone Road Alerts
29:37
on your cell phone by texting the number 82190
29:41
to the number 888777. Camping information. All
29:48
the campgrounds are open. Enjoy! I mean, it's
29:50
going to rain, so I don't know how much you're
29:52
going to enjoy it, but enjoy! The Wildlife Watching
29:56
Update. So wildlife watching right now still
29:59
remains great this week with the weather being
30:02
iffy people might think oh It's not gonna be
30:04
as good animals still move around Rain doesn't
30:07
really stop them snow doesn't really stop them
30:09
So wildlife watching could be really good because
30:11
it's going to be cooler Obviously you're gonna
30:13
have to drive around in worse weather and standing
30:15
outside and visibility may be impacted But that
30:18
doesn't mean that the animals aren't out there
30:19
and are moving around Right now Hayden Valley
30:22
has been pretty good. It really picked up the
30:25
last few days Wolves have been sighted wolf pups
30:28
have been sighted grizzly bears have been hanging
30:30
out near the wolves and getting chased away The
30:33
bison are starting to congregate up in Lamar
30:35
Valley for the rut I haven't heard much about
30:37
the bison in Hayden Valley yet. I just didn't
30:40
get a chance to go down there today I was a little
30:42
busy, but all the bison are gathering right now.
30:45
The rut is starting in Lamar Valley today There
30:49
were probably a thousand bison Yesterday was
30:52
kind of the same. It was kind of chaotic. It
30:55
was great It was wonderful lots of bison all
30:57
over the place the grunting is starting The males
31:00
are starting to like roll around and make dust
31:02
clouds. It's pretty cool. So check that out Alright
31:05
now I'm just gonna run through quickly where
31:07
you're probably gonna see some stuff I've heard
31:09
some good bear sightings between mammoth and
31:11
Norris and then between Norris and Madison There's
31:14
bears and bison and everything everywhere, so
31:16
you don't necessarily know where you're going
31:18
to see them. Blacktail Plateau is going to be
31:20
really good, but if it rains heavy they're going
31:21
to close that road. Just be aware of that. Probably
31:25
should have mentioned that in the road closures,
31:26
but you're listening so now you hear it. Also,
31:29
I've seen a lot of bears driving between Mammoth
31:33
and Lamar Valley. up to calcite springs and tower
31:37
fall there's been bears up there there's been
31:40
bears on washburn bighorn sheep are hanging out
31:43
a lot near the calcite spring area and then the
31:47
other side of the road a lot of black bears around
31:50
there too and like i said bison are just kind
31:52
of everywhere in those main valleys if you want
31:55
to see bison go there they are really congregating
31:58
a lot like i said lamar valley was really good
32:01
Also, one thing to mention is last week I talked
32:03
about Trout Lake and the spawning cutthroat trout.
32:06
It is popping off up there. It's wonderful. Go
32:09
up there even if it's raining. It's still fun
32:12
to watch. I haven't heard of any otters there.
32:14
Osprey have been fishing. But yeah, if it's raining,
32:16
don't stop because fish live underwater, so they
32:19
don't care about getting wet. Other than that,
32:22
There have been some moose spotted out by floating
32:25
island lake off and on and that's in the northern
32:27
section then out toward Cook City. I also saw
32:30
a couple coyotes today out in Lamar Valley. And
32:33
then the bears are still being spotted out that
32:35
East entrance road, especially between Fishing
32:37
Bridge and Sylvan Pass. So check that out. Wildlife
32:42
watching is very good. I imagine it will be pretty
32:45
good, especially in between rain storms this
32:48
coming week. So if you're in the park, don't
32:50
let this rain dampen your spirits. Again, no
32:53
pun intended. I am just that good with words
32:55
or I didn't mean upon. I don't know your call,
32:58
but don't. Let the rain stop you from going and
33:01
looking at wildlife. It will be very good. You
33:03
just might not be able to stand out there and
33:05
watch it as well, or visibility might not be
33:07
good all the time. While I could talk about wildlife
33:11
this entire time, I do want to let you know that
33:14
I wrote a guidebook specifically for wildlife
33:17
watching in Yellowstone based on my lifetime
33:18
of experience. It's available on my website,
33:21
outdoor -society .com. You can get a paperback
33:23
format, you can get an ebook format. If you want
33:26
the link, just message me as well. That's 406
33:29
-589 -1873 is my cell number. And shoot me a
33:33
text and say, hey, I want the link to your guidebooks.
33:35
I also have a hiking guidebook that I think if
33:37
you are into hiking, you will absolutely love.
33:42
Trail alerts and updates. So once again, I'm
33:44
just referring you to the Backcountry Conditions
33:46
page. They've been updating it really well. That
33:49
is in the show notes. Check that out. Before
33:51
you go hiking, go on the Backcountry Conditions
33:53
page. Things change all the time. The information
33:56
I can tell you today may not be accurate tomorrow.
33:59
So go there. That is the best thing. Just know
34:02
very quickly, a lot of people have been messaging
34:05
me and being like, I don't really want to hike
34:06
and be around bears. Bears can and will be on
34:10
every trail. They live here. You can't really
34:13
dictate where they're going to be. I've seen
34:15
them in the geyser basins. I've seen them in
34:16
the mountains. I've seen them in the prairies.
34:18
They're everywhere. I've seen bears walking.
34:21
I've been at calcite springs and I looked down
34:23
by the river along the steep steep very like
34:27
rugged terrain and there's been bears walking
34:29
by the river down there. Bears are going to be
34:31
everywhere. Just make sure you carry bear spray,
34:34
have it readily accessible and not in a backpack,
34:36
and know how to use it. Also, hike in groups,
34:40
be loud, use your voice, not bare bells, things
34:43
like that. I've talked about that previous weeks.
34:45
Alright, my Trek of the Week. My Trek of the
34:48
Week is Avalanche Peak, and I know you're saying,
34:51
well, the weather's going to be terrible. I love
34:54
Avalanche Peak, and while the weather may not
34:56
be great for this hike right now, once this rainstorm
34:59
passes, which should be late Sunday, Monday,
35:02
you could be able to go up there and have a really
35:04
good time. If you're looking for a hike that
35:07
will make you feel like you have truly earned
35:09
your views and exhausted your legs, Avalanche
35:11
Peak is that hike. Located along the East Entrance
35:15
Road near Eleanor Lake, this trail is one of
35:17
the park's classic mountain hikes. It's not especially
35:20
long, it's about 4 .2 miles round trip, but what
35:23
it lacks in distance, it more than makes up for
35:26
in elevation gain. National Park Service says
35:28
that this climbs roughly 2 ,100 feet, my watch
35:31
is read up to 2 ,600 feet, and it makes Avalanche
35:34
Peak one of the steepest maintained trails in
35:37
Yellowstone. This is not for beginning hikers
35:40
at all. If you want an easier mountain with great
35:42
views, hit up Mount Washburn, maybe Bunsen Peak,
35:46
or reach out to me, I can recommend some things.
35:48
The avalanche peak climb begins almost immediately.
35:51
There's no leisurely stroll to warm up your legs.
35:54
Within a few steps of the trailhead, you're heading
35:56
uphill through lodgepole pines. The trees provide
35:59
welcome shade during the morning hours, and if
36:03
you get an early start, the cool mountain air
36:05
makes this initial climb feel surprisingly comfortable.
36:08
Just do not expect this feeling to last. The
36:11
trail wastes very little time gaining elevation,
36:13
and most hikers, no matter how in shape they
36:15
are, find themselves stopping occasionally to
36:17
catch their breath and enjoy the growing views
36:19
behind them. As the forest begins to thin, Yellowstone
36:23
starts putting on a show. Openings in the trees
36:26
reveal Yellowstone lakes shimmering in the distance,
36:28
while the rugged peaks of the Bzurka Mountains
36:30
rise dramatically around the eastern skyline.
36:34
Wildflowers are beginning to pop off right now,
36:37
and you're getting splashes of color all around
36:39
you, making the landscape even more beautiful.
36:42
Every switchback seems to reveal another reason
36:45
to, you know, take a breath and blame it on you
36:48
wanting to take a picture. I love that. That's
36:50
my best excuse is like, oh, I really want to
36:52
take a picture here, and then I stand there for
36:54
three or four minutes and catch my breath. Once
36:57
the rain has passed in this coming week and you're
36:59
planning to hike Avalanche Peak, know that it's
37:01
important to remember that summer arrives slowly
37:02
in Yellowstone's high country. Lower elevations
37:05
are enjoying warm days and green meadows, but
37:08
Avalanche Peak still holds onto winter. Expect
37:11
the encounters near the top to have patches of
37:14
snow, especially on the shaded slopes in the
37:17
north facing areas and the upper portions of
37:20
the trail. Most of these areas are not really
37:23
that difficult, but they can be slippery especially
37:25
if they're icy in the morning or very loose snow
37:28
once it warms up. The effects of elevation as
37:32
you keep hiking really become noticeable. The
37:35
summit sits at 10 ,568 feet above sea level and
37:39
the thinner air can catch visitors by surprise.
37:42
Like I said earlier, Yellowstone's average elevation
37:45
is already around 8 ,000 feet and Avalanche Peak
37:47
takes you higher. Definitely stay hydrated, pace
37:51
yourself at elevation, and if you've arrived
37:53
in the park hours before maybe don't do this
37:56
wait until you're used to it. Know that even
37:59
strong hikers from lower elevations notice themselves
38:02
breathing harder than they expect. Eventually
38:05
on this trail the trees disappear and the landscape
38:07
opens into a broad alpine slope. This is where
38:10
Avalanche Peak starts to feel less like a Yellowstone
38:13
hike and more like a mountain climb. The views
38:15
expand dramatically, and so does the exposure.
38:18
Know that wind is common here, and it's sometimes
38:20
strong enough to make you glad that you packed
38:22
an extra layer. Pack an extra layer. Even on
38:25
days when the temperature reaches 70s in the
38:27
valley, conditions near the summit can feel much
38:29
colder. The final ascent of this is what most
38:33
hikers remember long after the hike is over.
38:36
Loose scree and large chunks of talus, big chunks
38:38
of rock. and the footing can be frustrating at
38:40
times. Every step forward may seem to result
38:43
in a little bit of a slide backwards. Trucking
38:46
poles can be extremely helpful during this section,
38:48
especially on the descent, but going up it just
38:51
feels better because then you can dig them in
38:53
and kind of push up and take that next step.
38:55
While this route is not technical, it does require
38:58
careful footing and patience. From the summit,
39:02
Yellowstone seems to stretch forever. Yellowstone
39:04
Lake dominates the view to the south, with glimpses
39:06
of the Tetons also possible if the sky is clear.
39:09
Sylvan Pass and the Absaroka Mountains of Wyoming
39:11
fill the eastern horizon, and this is one of
39:14
the most expansive views in Yellowstone, and
39:17
it's a reminder of just how vast the Greater
39:19
Yellowstone ecosystem really is. Many hikers
39:22
arrive at the summit expecting to spend just
39:24
a few minutes before heading down. They usually
39:27
end up staying much longer because it's difficult
39:30
to leave the views from the top. The combination
39:33
of mountain peaks, forests, lakes, and open sky
39:36
creates one of the most memorable panoramas anywhere
39:39
in the park. When you're done, do not rush down.
39:44
Take your time. Enjoy the views, bask in the
39:48
glory of hiking up this mountain. Remember that
39:51
Avalanche Peak is located in prime bear habitat,
39:53
so always carry bear spray and know how to use
39:55
it, make noise while hiking, and remain very
39:58
alert. Also know that afternoon thunderstorms
40:00
are very common in late June and early July,
40:03
especially at these higher elevations. A very
40:05
early start not only improves your chance of
40:07
finding a parking spot and enjoying cooler temperatures,
40:10
but also helps you avoid being exposed above
40:12
tree line during lightning producing storms.
40:16
If you are hiking this, and you hear thunder,
40:19
turn around. do not go up to the top unless you
40:22
know that that storm is way in the distance.
40:25
Avalanche Peak is not an easy hike, and it's
40:27
not meant to be. The steep climb, lingering snow,
40:30
sometimes muddy sections, loose rock and high
40:32
elevation, and strong winds all add to that challenge.
40:35
Yet, those are the same elements that make this
40:39
so rewarding when you do it. For experienced
40:42
hikers willing to put in the effort, Avalanche
40:44
Peak is one of Yellowstone's finest mountain
40:47
adventures, and some of the most spectacular
40:49
summit views in the entire park. Next week. In
40:54
the next episode, I'll return with all the information
40:56
you need to have a good week in the park, including
40:59
the wildlife, weather, and trail updates. Until
41:01
then, pick up a guidebook of mine, shoot me a
41:04
message, tell your friends about this podcast.
41:07
Thank you so much for listening, and happy trails.
41:20
Abrupt ending! This week in Yellowstone is brought
41:23
to you by The Outdoor Society. That's my company.
41:26
It's just me. I do this. It's a labor of love.
41:29
If you like it, tell your friends. Rate and review
41:31
it. Shoot me a message. Otherwise, keep listening,
41:34
and I hope to see you in Yellowstone. Copyright
41:37
2026, baby!