With over 4 million visitors a year (2015-2017), there isn’t any
doubt that Yellowstone National Park is a popular destination.
Despite these high visitor numbers, there are some things you can do to get
away from the hustle and bustle found in the Park's congested areas.
The major attractions, are going to be busy and escaping the crowds
can be challenging. My best advice is to visit them early in the
morning or later in the afternoon – or how about winter in
Yellowstone! Mid-day seems to be the peak time for seeing these
popular places. That’s when we seek other areas of the park that
are less visited – like Fountain Flat Drive.
Fountain Flat Drive is located about 12 miles north of Old Faithful
on the west side of Grand Loop Road. I wouldn’t call it a scenic
drive (at least compared to other Yellowstone roads); but, it does
offer some hiking/biking opportunities (along the Fountain Freight
Road) where you can get away from the crowded areas of the park.
NPS Map
Near the beginning of the paved road, we cross Nez Perce Creek.
There is a picnic area here. So, pack a picnic and enjoy this
pleasant place prior to pedaling or hiking the trail. Restrooms are
located here too.
Nez Perce Creek
We watch for wildlife because elk and bison frequently travel through
this area. A short distance later, we see a herd of bison along the
Firehole River.
Bison along Firehole River
At the end of the Fountain Flat Drive is a parking area. A gate
prevents vehicular traffic from going any further. This is the
trailhead to destinations like Fairy Falls or Queen’s Laundry and
Sentinel Meadows. We’ve been to Fairy Falls (a link to that hike
follows this post). Today, we are doing the Sentinel Meadows trail
(2.8 miles round trip).
The trail begins on an old dirt road sometimes referred to as
Fountain Freight Road. This four mile long road roughly parallels
the Grand Loop Road. Shortly after we cross the Firehole River
bridge, we see Ojo Caliente. In Spanish, “Ojo” means “eye” and “Caliente” means “hot”. This hot spring discharges into the
Firehole River.
Ojo Caliente Spring
I first visited this area in 1987. I seem to recall the trail was
closer to the historic Queen’s Laundry bath house than it was
during our 2006 visit. I do not recommend off-trail hiking
especially in thermal areas. You do so at your own risk.
Queen's Laundry
I think it’s interesting to learn how places get their names. The
name “Queens Laundry” (aka Red Terrace Spring) was too intriguing
not to investigate its origins. In 1880, a park road was being
built. Members of the work crew discovered that the water in this
area was cool enough for bathing and doing laundry*. In 1881, the
Park Superintendent began building a two-room bathhouse. It was
never finished and the log building still stands among the swirling
mists of the thermal area. On July 25, 2001 these historic ruins
were added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Historic Queen's Laundry Bath House
*These destructive activities were discontinued and it is no longer
permitted to swim/bath in the thermals areas.
We continue walking the level trail through the open meadows. Once
we can see the Midway Geyser Basin, we decide to return the way we
came versus hiking the longer 7.8 mile loop trail that goes to
Imperial Geyser and Fairy Falls and then back to the Fountain Flat
Drive parking area.
View from Sentinel Meadows Trail
No matter how many times I visit Yellowstone, I never get tired of
seeing its ever-changing scenery. I invite you to view my other blog
posts on Yellowstone National Park by clicking on the following
links:
Yellowstone: Mud VOlcano - Stop and Smell the...Sulfur?
Hiking Yellowstone: Nw Corner - More Space; Less Crowded
Hiking Yellowstone: Nw Corner - More Space; Less Crowded
Planning a visit to Yellowstone? Food and lodging options are
available inside the park and in towns just outside the park (West
Yellowstone, Gardiner, and Cooke City/Silver Gate – all located in
Montana). I highly recommend making lodging reservations in advance.
Yellowstone is a popular destination and “No Vacancy” signs are
common especially during the peak summer months. Since opinions,
preferences, and budgets vary, I suggest checking a trusted travel
source for current reviews.
My best advice is this - don’t just drive through Yellowstone –
experience it!
The National Park Service has created a series of short videos titled
“Inside Yellowstone”. It’s a fast and fun way to learn about
the Park. Click on the following link to begin this Yellowstone
experience.
Family vacations created some of my favorite memories. To start
planning your memorable trip to Yellowstone, please click on the
following link:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for taking the time to comment on my travel blog. I review comments on a regular basis and appreciate any feedback offered.