Yellowstone & Grand Teton Travel Guide

The Yellowstone & Grand Teton Travel Guide is a resource for those planning to tour Yellowstone National Park and/or Grand Teton National Park. The adjacent national parks are typically visited at the same time and offer very different experiences. Yellowstone offers the world's largest concentration of thermal features such as geysers and hot pools. Grand Teton features one of the world's most spectacular mountain ranges. Both parks offer outstanding opportunities to view wildlife.

Using the Interactive Map

Place your mouse pointer on any KEY item or place name on the map. A brief description will appear. Click on the box for a link to detailed information. For easiest use, scroll map to top. Detailed Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Park Map in separate window.

Tower Fall - Roosevelt

Tower Fall is the most well-known natural feature in the area. The 132-foot drop of Tower Creek, framed by eroded volcanic pinnacles has been documented by park visitors from the earliest trips of explorers into the Yellowstone region. Its idyllic setting has inspired numerous artists, including Thomas Moran. His painting of Tower Fall played a crucial role in the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872.

Specimen Ridge, located along the Northeast Entrance Road east of Tower Junction, contains the largest concentration of petrified trees in the world. There are also excellent samples of petrified leaf impressions, conifer needles, and microscopic pollen from numerous species no longer growing in the park. The Petrified Tree, located near the Lost Lake trailhead, is an excellent example of an ancient redwood, similar to many found on Specimen Ridge.

The road between Tower Junction and Canyon Village (which opens late May or sooner if conditions allow) goes over Dunraven Pass, the highest road in the park at 8,859 feet (2700 m). Along the way you will find spectacular views of the Absaroka Mountains, the Yellowstone Caldera, and, on a clear day, the Teton Range to the south. This road also travels through areas where bighorn sheep, elk, black and grizzly bears are often seen.

The are numerous good hiking trails in the area, ranging from one to 10 miles. From the Tower Fall Overlook, The trail to the bottom is a one mile round trip. The trail descends about 300 feet in a half mile. Coming back out is steep and somewhat strenuous. The Lost Lake Loop Trail departs from behind Roosevelt Lodge and climbs 300 feet (91 m) onto the bench. Here the trail joins the Roosevelt horse trail and continues west to Lost Lake. (If you take the trail east, you loop back to the Roosevelt corrals on the horse trail or continue on to Tower Fall Campground.) From Lost Lake, the trail follows the contour around the hillside to the Petrified Tree parking area. Offers views of Lost Lake, waterfowl, wet meadows, sagebrush hilltops, wildflowers, and quite often black bears. A link to the Tower-Roosevelt hiking guide is provided below.

Lamar Valley

Wildlife is excellent in this area. Bison, elk, and coyote are readily seen. Early morning or at dusk provide the best opportunity to spot wolves or grizzly bear. The Lamar Valley has been a wolf watching mecca since the wolves were reintroduced in 1995.

Helpful links

 Detailed Map of Tower Fall-Roosevelt area.
 Interactive Road Map of Mammoth Hot Spring to Tower Fall-Roosevelt.
 Interactive Road Map of Tower Fall-Roosevelt to Northeast Entrance.
 Interactive Road Map of Tower Fall-Roosevelt to Canyon Village.
 Day Hikes in the Tower Fall-Roosevelt area.
 Inside Yellowstone Short Video: Tower Fall & Roosevelt Junction Area Overview .
 Inside Yellowstone Short Video: Lamar Valley & Wolves. The Lamar Valley has been a wolf watching mecca since the wolves were reintroduced in 1995.
 Inside Yellowstone Short Video: Lamar Buffalo Ranch. The ranch is in the heart of peaceful Lamar Valley where wildlife watching is extraordinary.

Services in area

Food and Lodging at Tower Fall & Roosevelt

 Roosevelt Lodge Cabins. Early June to early September. Located in north of park, mid-way between north and northeast entrances. Rustic cabins without bathrooms - very inexpensive. Motel-style cabin with bath - inexpensive. Very informal atmosphere: Family-style dining, Old West Dinner Cookout, large corral offering horseback programs. Close to Tower Fall and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Camping at Tower Fall & Roosevelt

 Tower Fall Campground. Mid-May to late September. Located at Tower Fall, about 3 miles south of Roosevelt which has full services. Small campground with 32 sites (under 30', tight curve into camp). Vault toilets. Campground away from developed areas. Store at Tower Fall parking area. Tower Fall hiking trail within walking distance of camp. Good opportunity to visit major site while in camp. Generators not allowed.

Nearest Visitor Center

The NPS operates three ranger stations in the Tower District. These are located at Tower Junction, the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, and the Northeast Entrance. The Tower Ranger Station issues backcountry and fishing permits.

The Lamar Ranger Station, located at the Buffalo Ranch in the Lamar Valley, provides emergency visitor services only.

Other services in area

Food services, ranger station, general stores, gas station, horseback riding (rentals), stagecoach tours, picnic areas.

Yellowstone National Park Guide Index

• Introduction & Index to Yellowstone National Park
• Mammoth Hot Springs
• Tower Fall & Roosevelt
• Canyon Village & Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
• Norris Area & Norris Geyer Basin
• Madison Junction
• Old Faithful, Lower & Upper Geyser Basin
• Lake Village, Bridge Bay, & Fishing Bridge
• Grant Village & West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake
• Camping in Yellowstone
• Park Lodging & Travel Services
• Where to View Wildlife
  
  
• Introduction to Grand Teton National Park
• Yellowstone & Grand Teton Guide Home Page
• Northern Rockies Travel Guide