Book Description
Wild, spectacular Yellowstone thrills visitors with gushing geysers and free-roaming wildlife. Grand Teton entices with jagged peaks and glacial lakes. Packed with information for everyone from families with small children to hardcore outdoor adventurers, this guide takes you there.
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Thermal Wonders: From world-famous Old Faithful to gem-colored hot springs, Yellowstone's wild thermal features.
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Wildlife: Bison, elk, bears, moose, wolves, bald eagles - this guide tells you where to spot them.
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Outdoor Fun: The best spots for hiking, camping, rock-climbing, skiing, fishing, boating, and more.
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Insider Tips: Hundreds of places to stay, eat, and play, as well as how to find a wealth of hidden treasures.
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Beyond the Parks: From the Wild West bluster of Cody to the exhilarating ski slopes of Jackson Hole.
Customer Reviews:
Most helpful guidebook.......2007-09-11
Before my Yellowstone trip, I had purchased many books and maps and visited websites-you know the drill. This book helped with many insider tips-when talking with other visitors, they had consistently asked me how I knew these things, and I told them-the Lonely Planet guide. Even two park rangers wanted to know how I knew these lesser known tips-and they were impressed with the information. My favorites: how to get the best view of the Grand Prismatic pool (I'm not going to give that one away) and how to avoid bears on trails-which I'll let out of the bag-sing show tunes! Yes that sounds ridiculous-but when I saw a bear about 150 ft ahead of me on a trail and started singing Ethel Merman, well, bears are smart enough not to stick around for the encore!
Not The Lonely Planet I've Come to Expect!.......2007-06-15
Maybe it's because the author admits that he ventured off to complete this project only a couple days after getting married, leaving his bride behind. Perhaps a publishing deadline loomed large. I'm not sure what Lonely Planet's excuse is, but this book is the most thrown together, unhelpful guide I've ever seen in their repertoire! I've appreciated their "secret" tips and organized guides for many of my world adventures, and this one is just way below par. Abyssmal on any scale.
I did tons better researching on the internet on my own, which might be the best approach to these parks anyway, so that you're sure to get up to date information. This guide doesn't even mention the great guest ranch outside the park at which I snagged six nights a few months before my visit, how to make sure that you get tickets for special ranger-led, half-day back-country adventure hikes with 15 person limits, or that there are boat and kayak rentals/tours in Yellowstone from concessionaires.
The book literally gives you a headache, trying to figure out how to make sense of the vast amount of listings presented. A menage of maps and thrown-together tidbits are pretty meaningless without the necessary organization to figure out an orderly travel plan. It would have been a lot better if the book took you around each of Yellowstone's loops and through Grand Teton in a more logical format.
I alos found much of the information to be grossly outdated and inaccurate, and so many basic outdoor activities weren't explored in depth, and no real useful information or how-tos were given. I was thoroughly disappointed with my selection. With the vast amount of knowledge that I've accumulated through my own research, I could certainly re-write this guide myself!
You'll be lost without it!.......2006-10-15
If it's your first time in Yellow Stone or the Grand Tetons this'll be your bible .. the hikes listed in both places are well presented and with the maps included will help you plan you time in this wonderful part of the world .. The information on where you are likely to spot animals is really useful - Elk, Bison, Moose and Bear ... all accurate! The highlights and intineraries suggested helped with planning the trip .. but in addition to the traditional 'must sees' the book also suggests some wonderful off the beaten track experiences as well. Has info on where to stay and eat ..I stayed outside the park and would recommend either Teton Village or Jackson Hole as a good base with lots of top class accomodation. For European travellers Jackson Hole was the only place that I could get a mobile phone signal!
A Guide To the Tetons and Yellowstone.......2005-10-26
For one contemplating a trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons this book will be a fine handbook and guide.It is very detailed in regards to information about the parks and offers the reader a fine source of information for things to do on your visit.
As a backup source.......2005-10-06
For general planning of our trip, this book provided some useful information but the book does not give enough detail for a day to day planner.
Book Description
"There are several very good guidebooks to the trails of Yellowstone. This one is great. It is the most accessible to the novice Yellowstone hiker, and the most useful for knowledgeable trekkers. -
Tim Cahill, author of Lost in My Own Backyard: A Walk in Yellowstone Park, Jaguars Ripped My Flesh, and Hold the Enlightenment
Hike, Backpack, Horseback
Whatever you're looking for, there's a trail for you in Yellowstone and the Tetons.
Make the most of a trip to
Yellowstone and
Grand Teton national parks by exploring the absolute best trails that the parks have to offer. The latest in the Top Trails series covers the most exciting dayhikes and overnight/backcountry trips in these two popular parks, from the roaring geysers of Yellowstone to the singular mountain scenery of Grand Teton. Top Trails Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks covers every corner of Yellowstone, including the Mammoth, Tower, Canyon, and Lake regions, and Old Faithful, plus Bechler and the Cascade Corner, as well as the premier trails throughout Grand Teton National Park.
Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks offer the ultimate in natural and geothermal wonders: untouched backcountry lakes, panoramic alpine summits. glacier-carved canyons, steaming geyser basins, and vast meadows teeming with charismatic wildlife.
With 45 "must-do" hikes from
Mammoth Hot Springs to
Old Faithful, from the
Absarokas to the
Gallatin Range, and from
Jackson Hole to the
Teton Crest Trail, this is your guide.
Whether you're a lucky year-round resident or a happy visitor for a day, week, or an entire season, in this guide you will find: "Don't get lost" trail milestones, innovative trail-feature tables and elevation profiles, a detailed map of every trail and region, and detailed driving directions to every trailhead.
Customer Reviews:
great hiking guide.......2007-09-27
We spent a week in the Yellowstone and hike everyday - this guide helps us as a lot to find what is the best for each day. We easily found the way how to get to the trails and we never lost our way. This book is definitely very useful for everybody going to the Yellowstone (or Grand Teton) not to stay on road but enjoy hiking.
Novice Trail Walker.......2007-03-09
I won't be traveling out west until this summer. I think this book does an excellent job in reviewing the trials in short order, from an experienced hiker. It gives you all of the information you need to decide on which trails you should plan on hiking if you do not know the area. Allows you to plan your trip for maximum effect.
The elevation guides and ratings guide allow you to make reasonable decisions about setting out on a hike based not only on mileage but also on the difficulty you can expect and practical decisions about parking and taking kids along.
I think it it will be very useful.
not enough Teton.......2006-12-28
First of all, this is a GREAT book.
I just want other readers to know that 3/4's of this book, if not more, is on Yellowstone hikes. I would have loved more hikes on Tetons - at least half and half...which is what I was expecting when buying this book.
Top Trails Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks: Must-Do Hikes for Everyone (Top Trails).......2006-08-25
very helpful
Perfect book for the LOCAL Idaho/Montana/Wyoming Regular.......2006-06-07
I live about 90 miles from Jackson and 100 from West Yellowstone, so I go to both parks a lot. As a teacher, I have my summers to go camp and hike from time to time, and I just got back from a trip today. While at Lake Hotel, I chanced on this book, and bought it. This was yesterday. The book has 45 different trails in it to hike in Yellowstone and the Tetons (though most are in Yellowstone). I went ahead and hiked one yesterday (Elephant Back) and got a great view of Yellowstone Lake. The directions were very clear and there were guide-points along the route in the book so I knew just where I was. The book even mentioned this is Grizzly habitat in the spring/early summer, and sure enough, when I got down from the hike, there was a bear. This kind of information could be a lifesaver to the inexperienced Yellowstone or Teton hiker. Today, I hiked two more hikes in the book, one short one at West Thumb and a longer one at Biscuit Basin up to a waterfall and overlook. This book is very easy to use, has great maps, grades the difficulty of each hike, and has a variety from hikes under a mile to hikes of over twenty that take several days. My goal, using this excellent book, is to hike them all in a year or so. Great photos, durable cover, great maps. This is the perfect book for locals or for tourists who come often or who are planning a two to three week stay. I would not think it would be good for someone visiting for a day or two, as you could not scratch the surface of this gold mine of information. Two thumbs up!
Book Description
Frommer's Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks is packed with all the facts, tips and descriptions you need to have perfect park.
Personally researched and meticulously updated, our author will guide you to the parks' most memorable experiences, from Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs, to Snake River rafting, and the most off-beat experiences from ranger-led interpretive walks to challenging backcountry overnights. Frommer's Yellowstone & Grand Teton also covers the attractions and dining near the parks: rodeos, chuckwagon feeds, IMAX nature films, an elk preserve, Jackson Hole’s bars and boutiques, and more. Get the low-down on all the best places to stay in and near the parks, ranging from historic lodges to family-friendly motels—plus a complete campground guide for each park. Also included are a fully illustrated nature guide and accurate park and trail maps, all in a pocket size guide!
Customer Reviews:
Not What I Expected.......2007-07-07
This book was not what I expected - I would not recommend it at all. It stayed in the car packed away. I also bought Scenic Driving Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, 2nd (Scenic Driving Series) and Outdoor Family Guide to Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks (Outdoor Family Guides) which were excellent.
We used a different guide.......2007-05-15
We bought this book, but ended up using other guides. It is a fine reference for some people, but I'd recommend:
Yellowstone Treasures: The Traveler's Companion to the National Park (Great for more in-depth research)
and
National Geographic Road Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (NG Road Guides) (Quick roadside reference)
instead.
Excellent guide with great suggestions.......2006-11-29
My family went to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks last June and this guide was a great resource. At the moment, I'm planning another national park trip and pulled the book off the shelf so I could get a guide by the same author.
He marked Signal Mountain Lodge in GT as a "** find" and was it ever! It's managed by a different vendor than the other lodges in the park and I'd stay there again if I return. I used his suggestions for "If you can only go on one hike, do this..." and the suggestions were awesome. The hike to the top of Signal Mountain (most people drive rather than take the 6 mile easy walk) was so beautiful and peaceful that I hiked it a second time before leaving.
This book gave suggestions that you'd expect to get from a friend who has just visited an area and says "Hey let me give you this great tip."
I would definitely recommend this book.
The info that was not there.......2006-09-25
I`ve always heard these were good books , after I purchased this I found I must have been lied to. I`ll never buy another Frommer`s anything.
Great All-Around Reference Manual.......2006-06-28
We just got back from our trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!). This book was GREAT! Everything stated was right on the money, and we loved the compactness of it. It was easy to just throw in a backpack or carry-on. We also liked how the book was set up. It was easy to understand and to navigate. If you're looking for a good general overall book, this is the one for you.
Along with this book, we also purchased the Outdoor Family Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park - it gave a really good and comprehensive explaination of the hikes found in each of the parks.
Recommendation: Don't be turned off by the idea of eating in a "cafeteria" within the park. We tried them twice while on vacation (both in Yellowstone) and were pleasantly surprised. The food was reasonable and quite good! The diningrooms were really nice as well - the one at Old Faithful overlooks the geyser!
If visiting the town of Jackson (which was a bit too riff-raffy for us), check out the Snake River Brewery. The food was reasonable and very good, the beer and service excellent and the best part - no line! Due to it being located "off the beaten track" a bit, though easily within walking distance from the town square, it doesn't get visited by a lot of tourists. If traveling with children (like us), try sitting upstairs. They have some old video games like Astoids and Pacman which allowed us to enjoy our meal and relax while the kids played the games.
Book Description
Intriguing stories of how people have died in Yellowstone warn about the many dangers that exist there and in wild areas in general.
Customer Reviews:
Starts off good.......2007-10-16
Book starts out great with an incredible story about a mishap in a hot spring, unfortunately most of the remaining stories of disaster are no where near as colorful. There are way to many names thrown around in the various stories for me to keep track of.
Not a long read, 200pgs but after about 150 I found myself just wishing I was done with it.
Great for kind of a historical document about deaths in the area, but since no maps of the area were provided it means almost nothing to me (I have never been to the park).
Average book, just not great like i was hoping.
The Park is not Disneyland .......2007-09-13
While we were in Yellowstone, there was a fellow in West Yellowstone who got clamped by a bear, a black bear. This guy will have quite a story to tell for the rest of his life. he got a slight bite from a black bear. He didn't get chomped or gnawed by a grizzly. His bear decided that he wasn't worth more than a taste and then moved on. Lee Whittlesey's message is clear in this book: accidents and foolhardiness do occur in America's first national park. Over 300 people have lost their lives. To use the words of the author: Yellowstone is not Disneyland; the park is raw nature ... and ... it can kill.
In 1981 two buddies from California parked their truck at the Fountain Paint Pot. While the men were looking at the hot springs, the dog belonging to one of them jumped out of the truck and rushed into the Celestine Pool which has a temperature of 202 degrees. The dog began yelping. The two buddies rushed to the edge of the spring. The dog's owner began to go into the pool. A bystander yelled, "Don't go in there!" But in dove the dog's owner. The dog never survived. The owner came out of the pool blinded. "That was a stupid thing that I did, " said the dog's owner. Within a few hours he would succumb to third degree burns over 100% of his body.
In 1975 a "savage" went "hot potting" near the Nez Perce Creek. A "savage" is a park employee. "Hot potting" is taking a dip into one of the park's hot springs. Some of Yellowstone's hot springs have tolerable temperatures. Unfortunately this park employee chose a pool whose temperature was 179 degrees. When his body was found, it had been *cooking* for two days.
Notices around Yellowstone warn against approaching any wildlife. One fellow was attempting to show his buddy how tame the buffalo/bison were. One Saturday morning while feeding his bison, one of them inexplicably became enraged. The bison gored him and tossed him into the air. Then when he came down, it tossed him into the air again. And again.
Do not feed the bears. They don't know when to quit and they get used to picnic baskets and the like. The park has relocated bears who got use to eating picnic baskets and brought in some who don't know the habit. Hikers and campers are encouraged to cover their food so that a bear does not get the scent. By all means, do not put your children on the backs of bears to have their picture taken. One fellow had his wife putting their child on the back of the bear so he could take a picture.
Accidents or bad judgment? Hot springs or animals or water falls or whatever. Yellowstone is a wildland and not just Disneyland
Well Researched and Colorful.......2007-08-23
The author has a long history with Yellowstone National Park, working initially for Yellowstone Park Company as a bus driver and tour guide in the early 1970s. He continues working in the Park today as the Yellowstone National Park historian. He has made the Park his life's work and has a great passion for it. I, too, worked for Yellowstone Park Company as a bus driver and tour guide during the 1970s. Lee describes deaths from many causes during the early days of the Park when it was administered by the United States Army all the way through the present. He gives detailed accounts of deaths that occurred while I worked in the Park although I learned from his book that the circumstances of several of the deaths were a little different from what workers in the Park heard by word of mouth. Everyone wants to hear about the deaths by bears and other large critters, but there have been only a few such instances. Many more people fell to their deaths or made spectacular exits from this life like the French lady who managed to fall over both the Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone during my time in the Park. His accounts of the many drowning deaths in the Park and the tales of the few survivors of such incidents were amazing. So many of the people who went boating and canoeing in Lake Yellowstone obviously had no idea how fast a sudden summer afternoon thunderstorm could turn a placid lake into very turbulent waters. And did they have any conception of how cold the water is even at the height of summer (mid 40 degrees)? It is inconceivable to me that anyone could survive as much as twenty or thirty minutes in these frigid waters and live to tell about it. But some did and Lee tells their stories in a very entertaining way. He also describes some of the frivolous litigation brought by survivors of some very foolhardy accident victims. This is a good summer read and good prepartion for anyone planning a wilderness experience in our first national park.
Must read for Parents Visiting Yellowstone with Kids.......2007-08-14
I bought this book called, DEATH IN YELLOWSTONE that EVERY parent should read before taking their kids to this national Park.
Yellowstone is NOT a theme park, and there have been over 300 deaths there that are documented by a former park ranger that have occurred through negligence of visitors. Do not let go of your childs hand for a second in Yellowstone, especially if they are a toddler...they could be inches from death in many places.
I read this entire book with the kids on the way out there during the lonely drive, and they were fascinated. It is amazing how dumb tourists can be, and if this book saves your childs life, you will be glad you read it. It is VERY interesting...
This should be required reading before rangers allow people into YNP.......2007-07-11
Like some of the others reviewing this book, I too worked and lived there in 1999, and saw people do things just as dumb as listed in this book, and they were lucky to have survived. I watched a co-worker (and I've got photos) go and climb Castle Geyser!
As to why I think this well written, well researched, cautionary tale should be required reading (complete with quizes) is that there shouldn't be a lot of the deaths related in this book. If people would just follow the rules and not pet the bison, go hot-potting, try to get closer to the rim of the canyon. climb over barracades, because they got a dose of the reality that is our country's first national park, there may not be enough incidents to fill several more volumes.
Speaking of several volumes, Mr. Whittlesey, if you read your Amazon reviews, is there any chance of a follow up? Possibly a More Death in Yellowstone?
Book Description
60 color photos throughout 3 maps 6 x 9
* Insider information on getting the best shots
* Illustrated with stunning Yellowstone and Tetons scenics
Photographers from around the world can find a wealth of wonderful images at Yellowstone and Grand Tetons national parks: dramatic geysers, glittering waterways, majestic mountains, unique wild animals. Now they can make the most of their visits to the parks with the help of the expert information in this first-ever guide to Yellowstone and the Tetons especially for photographers. Where and when to go, how to find the best shots, what equipment to take and techniques to use, park rules and regulations, how to avoid the crowds-all illustrated with brilliant color images. A must-have for anyone who wants to take great pictures in the parks.
Joseph K. Lange, author of Stackpole's How to Photograph Landscapes (0-8117-2456-5), has spent years taking pictures and offering workshops throughout the American West. He and his wife operate Dramatic Light Nature Photography in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Customer Reviews:
Lack of Index.......2007-08-23
I would have given the Photographers Guide to Yellowstone & the Titons a 5 Star Rating if there was an index in the back of the book for easy reference while out in the field. It is difficult trying to remember what page the subject that your looking at is on. That being said, it is still a good reference book on the area and I do not regret buying it.
Great for Novice Photographer.......2007-07-06
I bought this book to take along on a vacation trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons in mid-June 2007. I found it to be a great source to take photos of often photographed natural icons at different views and angles as well as some shots that the average traveler would not know about without this book. For instance I would not have known about the great shots that can be taken of the Mormon Row Barns with the Tetons in the background without this book. Perhaps more seasoned photographers may know about these different places but I for one would not have had a clue. I would have ended my vacation with the same shots of Yellowstone and the Tetons that everyone else has. The book took me off the beaten path where I got some great shots and expierenced the pleasures of getting away from the main road.
Other valuable information was the instructions on what time of day is best to shoot a certain shot, tips about exposure, and valuable tips about using filters that made my pictures stand out.
The book was concise, accurate, and very easy to follow and understand for an novice like me.
Right-on, comprehensive.......2007-05-29
A caveat: I am a total amateur who takes pictures only during the one or two annual vacations using very simple equipment!
I just came back after 5 days at YS and GT parks. I was very impressed by how accurate Joseph's suggestions were -- in terms of the preferred times, angles and such to take pictures from. For example, Joseph had suggested taking pictures of the Old Faithful NOT from the benches in front of the Inn, but from the lodge side or from another angle which would include some colorful runoffs in the picture. I managed to pick up a rainbow with the waterfall from Uncle Tom's trail in my video (my still camera did nt pick it up). Other suggetsions also turned out to be as accurate and useful. More importantly, it is absolutely free of fluff and hence you can read it in a 2 hours flight to YS!
When I first looked at Joseph's pictures, I felt like there was probably a tad excessive use of filters to exaggerate the contrasts (the blues appeared to me to be a bit more blue than what would have been real). I never got to verify this as the sky was grey in YS and GT when I was there! Anyways, it is just a matter of taste. If you like Joseph's results (they are stunning), you can use the detailed input he provides on the use of the polarizer and the filters. Even otherwise, his suggestions on just the spots and times to take pictures from make the book very valuable.
The book is organized based on features -- waterfalls, geysers, animals and so on. That is probably useful for many. However, for family vacationers, coverage by location (Norris, West Thumb,...) would probably have been easier to use. I had to correlate the suggested times for photography from Joseph with the info I got on how to cover each location from another excellent book (YS Treasures by J Chappel).
Overall, I strongly recommend the book.
A great guide.......2006-11-03
As a beginning photographer, I found this guide to be invaluable on our trip to Yellowstone this fall. It is clearly written and complete in its coverage of the park. I would recommend it for anyone from beginners to advanced intermediate photographers.
Excellent for planning a photo trip to the parks!.......2006-03-17
I have used his book to schedule what I will visit and photograph at different times of the day and marked the good locations he described. It will stay in the front seat of my car to check as I go from place to place. I even made a schedule of what to see at sunrise, morning, afternoon, and sunset. I would like to have a book like this for every natural area I plan to visit and photograph. But I basically ignored his suggestions for filters and what seems like an overuse of a polarizer. Otherwise it has been a great help to plan my trip.
Book Description
The first and oldest national park in the world can be appreciated and enjoyed mile-by-mile in this comprehensive travel guide. Along with fascinating facts and anecdotes, readers will learn of Yellowstone's geyser basins, out-of-the-way hikes, flora and fauna, and its mountains, rivers, and lakes. Easy-to-understand scientific explanations and diagrams complement detailed travel tips ranging from escaping and avoiding crowds to picking the right season to go camping. This revised edition includes 270 pages of road logs and enhanced information for senior and disabled visitors and tips for visiting the park with children. With fully revised geological, historical, and practical information, this guide is the perfect companion for anyone planning a visit to Yellowstone National Park. Further information can be found at http://www.yellowstonetreasures.com.
Customer Reviews:
If you go, buy this book first........2007-07-06
In one word - excellent! If you are going to Yellowstone this is the only book you will need. Heads above Fordor's or Frommer's travel books on Yellowstone. On our trip to Yellowstone in mid-June 2007 we also took along the Frommers guide to Yellowstone loaned to us by a friend. We never needed it because Yellowstone Treasures has it all and in an easy to follow comprehensive do everything and see everthing guide.
I bought this book from Amazon because of the positive reviews. I scanned the book before we left and as we approached the east entrance my wife started reading to me what we will see and learn as we drove. The author left nothing out and we could find no miscues. It was our "bible" that we never left our room without.
Many of the other reviews on Amazon give you details into how the book is setup and the general contents so I won't go into that. I just can't give this book enough kudo's. Five star rating for sure!
Outstanding in depth reference.......2007-05-15
We used this book in combination with a quick road guide (the National Geographic Road Guide) for a full-featured tour of Yellowstone National Park. This book is FULL of easy-to-read and detailed tidbits about every feature of the Park you'd want to know about. It includes things about geothermal features, wildlife, history, fires, hiking trails, and so much more!
It was fun to come across something in the Park, flip open this book, and be able to read more about what we were seeing. Very interesting and educational! We bought other guides, but THIS IS THE ONE WE USED.
Useful Companion.......2007-01-04
I found this to be a very useful reading companion on our 10 day trip to Yellowstone. I have some health issues that prevented me from always going on the walks around features. I stayed in the car and read from this book and relayed the info by walkie talkie.
I did find the organization of the book a bit unwieldy but the info in it was interesting.
The only guide you need.......2006-09-27
We recently returned from our first trip to YNP and this book not only helped in the planning process but was also a wonderful companion during our time in the park.
The road logs and maps are terrific. You don't just get a map of the whole park, you get maps of every leg of the roads that take you through the park as well as maps of the major stops like the Old Faithful area, all the geyser basins, Mammoth Hot Springs, etc. detailing each spring, pool, and geyser you will see on your walks. The road logs take you point by point through the park pointing out various sights of interest so you don't miss a thing.
The author also includes bits of history and science so you can learn more about the park and the features as you go. She highlights some of the not to be missed features and has a couple pages listing the shorter hikes/walks in the park which is helpful if your time in the park is limited.
Yellowstone is a very large park with more things to see than you could possibly fit into one visit, no matter how long it is. It's important to plan your trip before you go, have an idea of what you are interested in seeing so you can focus your time appropriately. Whether you are interested in seeing the geysers and thermal features, wildlife, short hikes or long hikes, this book will help you plan the trip of a lifetime.
Best guide book ever written.......2006-07-17
Of all the travel books I've ever used for sightseeing, this is by far the best of them all. All other travel books, especially the consistently mediocre Frommers and Fodors could learn a lot by Chapple's layout and content. We had several books with us for Yellowstone, but this was the only one we needed - every leg of Yellowstone is clearly laid out with mile markers regardless of which direction you are traveling, which is only one of the things that separates this book from the competition. It also covers surrounding areas (entrance cities) of the park, as well as maps, the animals, geography, geology and history, all in a compact fashion. It is extremely thorough and well written. Buy this book for your Yellowstone trip - you won't regret it.
Customer Reviews:
Not the best book, and there is an updated version available.......2006-07-17
Amazon is not so great about removing older versions of books and this is one example - if you are going to buy it, get the 2006 version. Now, about the 1999 version....I will agree that it is helpful for driving through the park, but it's only good if you are traveling in the direction she has written it in. For example, if you are traveling a particular leg from north to south but she has written the guide traveling south to north, it is really difficult to follow. The book Yellowstone Treasures by Janet Chapple is written with mile markers regardless of which direction you are traveling in, so I recommend it over this one. Chapple's book is also more comprehensive.
Scenic Driving: Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.......2006-02-28
I love the detailed descriptions she writes mile by mile which will be very helpful to have in the car as I drive through the parks myself. It has also prepared me for what to look for.
As a "map lover" I like the detailed maps of different sections of the park even more. But . . . I have two complaints: 1) Her maps do not include everything she describes. To me, that is the purpose of a zoomed in map of one section of the park! 2) In her written description she talks way too much about the fire of 1988! But overall I have found the book helpful in my preparation for a visit to both parks and plan to carry it with me.
Great reference and take along guide.......2005-10-06
I purchased many books as a reference for our first trip to Yellowstone, this is the one book I decided to take with us and we used it everyday, the information given was interesting and easy to follow. We felt like we had our own personal guide. Would recommend this book to anyone.
This is a great book!.......2005-08-10
My kids and I just got back from Yellowstone and Grand Teton, and this book made our trip even better than it would have been without it. The funny thing is that I almost didn't buy this book. I refused to be one of those people who experience Yellowstone from my car, so a book called "Scenic Driving" didn't appeal to me at first. But Yellowstone is so huge that even if you plan to hike every day you still need to drive between trailheads, and as a result, you spend a lot of time in the car. My 13-year-old son narrated the entire drive and we ended up seeing things and doing things that we wouldn't have otherwise done. This book helped us understand what we were seeing and led us down roads I would have passed up if it weren't for this book telling us what was around that corner. (By the way, "A Ranger's Guide to Yellowstone Day Hikes" was a great book too!) I can't recommend this book enough. It's a must!
Scenic Driving Yellowstone and Grand Teton national park.......2004-01-09
We used our copy of this book to plan our main drives around both parks. Except for a very few instances the scenes were exactly as described and exactly where they were supposed to be. The wildlife viewing recommendations for the most part were spot on. We recommend this a an invaluable resource for those planning to drive most of the roads and entrances to both parks. We lent our well beaten copy to other couples since our return and both couples raved about how useful this book was to their planning and daily events.
Customer Reviews:
A Must Have.......2007-09-11
The title says it all, if you are doing any kind of travel around the park past the major sites, you must have this map. It shows elevation changes, more details than the standard map given at the park entrance. It's as helpful as any guidebook. And made of a very durable and waterproof material.
A Must-Have Guide.......2007-07-21
I just returned from Yellowstone and the Tetons. I used this book throughout my trip. It is clear, easy to use and well-written. The left hand page is a map of a short distance, say 14 miles, the right hand tells you about the sights. I used it in conjunction with a more detailed book (Moon guide), and found both useful in tandem. The only drawback is that it assumes you are entering the park from the West Entrance, so I had to use stick on notes to guide myself backwards by numbering the stick-ons in the order of my route. It was no big deal and hardly a reason not to buy the book. Two thirds of the annual 3 million visitors enter via the west, so you can understand the authors' reasons.
Great for quick overview.......2007-05-15
We used this book quite frequently during our recent vacation to Yellowstone. It provided an excellent quick-reference to the roads and roadside attractions we were approaching.
First, we checked which section of road we were on from the map on the inside front cover. That led us to a couple of synopsis pages with brief, accurate highlights. It was very handy for quickly assessing roadside attractions, and identifying places we wanted to go.
For more in depth research, we used "Yellowstone Treasures", which we also HIGHLY recommend!
Book Description
Discover Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks—updated activities that everyone will enjoy! •More than 50 outings that the entire family will relish in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks •New features include PARC (Pretty Amazing Really Cool) fun facts to capture children's imaginations and a "Choose Your Adventure" chart that directs families to outings that perfectly suit their interests •Includes tips on biking, hiking, horseback riding, and paddling with children
From abundant wildlife to towering geysers, from deep canyons to 13,000-foot peaks, this updated guide will help your family discover the best that Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks have to offer. With water sports, biking, camping, and hiking, there are activities to suit families of all ages and interest levels. Outings new to this edition include cycling on the Moose-Wilson Bike Trail, kayaking around Jenny Lake, and hiking through secluded Granite Canyon. There are also new suggestions for visiting the parks in all four seasons, including winter adventures such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and dog sledding.
Customer Reviews:
Good Hiking guide for Families.......2006-06-28
We just got back from our trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. This and Frommer's Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons were the books we took with us.
We found this book to be right on target with each of the hikes we took. We appricated the overviews and descriptions of each of the hikes.
Traveling with small children can be a challenge, but this book did a good job at helping us choose which hikes would be enjoyed by all of us. I like how they had a chart of which hikes are good for animal sightings, which for historical value and which for exceptional beauty.
I was a bit disappointed that it didn't cover more aspects of each of the parks and things to do. Though it mentioned such things as horseback riding or rafting, it didn't offer any insight into what would be seen on a rafting trip or riding in the grand canyon of Yellowstone vs. in Roosevelt Lodge (for example). It stuck basically to the hiking trails, which was fine, but the title of the book would be more accurately called, "Hiking With The Family in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons".
I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a good over-all hiking reference for the parks (you certainly don't need kids to appriciate it). It was easy to read, easily formated and easy to throw in a backpack.
Outdoor family guide better.......2006-06-13
I was using an "Outdoor Family Guide to Yellowstone National Park" and "Top Trails" and I found Outdoor Family Guide to be much more up to date. Several of the trail guides in "Top Trails" were outdated when I actually arrived at the park. After several days in and around the park, my family and I left "Top Trails" in the car and only used the "Outdoor Family Guide." The family guide also proved more inclusive for other outdoor activities besides just hiking. It's a great all around book!
"Top Trails" book is better.......2006-03-08
I purchased this book as well as Top Trails' "Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park" by Andrew Dean Nystrom, and was disappointed with "Family Guide" as compared with "Top Trails". As I am using these books to plan a family vacation, I am especially interested in finding child-friendly hikes. The "Top Trails" book provides a good summary of the hikes (mileage, difficulty, terrain, and activities) at the beginning of the book, an overview missing from "Family Guide".
Book Description
With the ecological integrity of Yellowstone National Park in contention between developers and environmentalists, the events of its exploration and founding take on added interest. This Bison Books edition of Nathaniel P. Langford's journal brings back into print one of the principal sources of information on the exploration of the Yellowstone region and its establishment as America's first national park.
The findings of the 1870 Washburn expedition, of which Langford was a member, gave credence to the findings of the Folsom party of 1869 and resulted in the sending of a government survey party into the area in 1871. The culminating effect of the three expeditions was the federal legislation creating our first and largest national park and marking the beginning of the national concern for the preservation of America's heritage of wilderness beauty.
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Top Trails Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks: Must-Do Hikes for Everyone (Top Trails)
Frommer's Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks (Park Guides)
Photographer's Guide to Yellowstone and the Tetons
National Geographic Road Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (NG Road Guides)
Ranger's Guide to Yellowstone Day Hikes, A
