These are some individual suggestions while traveling from Rexburg north to West Yellowstone after visiting Bear World: 

1.        Stay on Highway 20 thru Rexburg heading toward St. Anthony and then Ashton.

2.       At Ashton there is an awesome place called Frost Top Drive Inn;  their Huckleberry Shakes are superb (if you like huckleberries) and also there is a reason their sign is a huge root beer float. Plus this is the place where you can get ranch and/or FRY SAUCE, try it on your fries or tots.

3.       Directly across from Frost Top is the Scenic Byway heading to Lower and then Upper Mesa Falls.  Upper Mesa Falls is a must stop if your time permits.  Feed the large trout just prior to crossing over Warm River (bring a loaf of bread).  There is a wooden dock just before crossing the River.  It puts you at a beautiful Falls on the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River. From there, continue the same way and that puts you back on Highway 20 thru Island Park, Pond’s Lodge, Macks Inn, and then about 20 more miles to West Yellowstone and the entrance to the Park.  At the first traffic light when entering West, turn right for that road and then a left at the 2nd light – that takes you directly to the Park Entrance.

4.       Entrance to Madison Junction is 14 miles and hopefully you will see buffalo and their calves.

5.       Decision time at Madison Junction: a.  Turning right takes you towards Old Faithful and b. Turning left takes you towards Norris Basin Geysers and then Canyon Village.

6.       Heading towards Old Faithful:

a.       Cross over the River and then about ½ mile take Firehole Canyon Drive.  Short one way drive and you will view beauty of the Canyon and then stop at the pretty waterfall on the Firehole Rive, then proceed on to the vault toilets (on your left); stop here and view the beautiful swimming Hole; we go there and then partially down the stairs and then along the trail, cross over river, up the wall and then jump into the rapids and float down to swimming hole (I think this will be closed right now – if not, take water shoes, and do this fun float.

b.       Continue on until back to main highway; turn right and next stop is Midway Basin Geyser (and the Grand Prismatic Geyser – probably most beautiful in Park). Park in Lot and then across river to the Geyser and Prismatic.

c.       Proceed from here to the next pullout which is the trailhead for Fairy Falls and more important on your trip the Observation Deck to get an aerial view of Grand Prismatic. After crossing over the River (walking) turn right and your time to Observation is about 20 minutes on flat trail each way.

d.       Continue from here to Biscuit Basin Geyser.  At backside of Geyser is a trailhead to go to Mystic Falls (the actual sign was down when I went in May/21).  It’s a mile hike and well worth it. There is one choice to make and you go left and down to the River/creek (can’t see it when you go left) for a short distance and then head up stream to Mystic Falls.  Mostly an easy 1 mile hike).

e.       From here head to Old Faithful and see it erupt.  You can go on line and find approximate times of eruption.  If Hotel is open, fun to wander in the old Hotel and they have public toilets with running water!!

f.        Time permitting, head from Old Faithful towards West Thumb (less than 4 miles) and stop for a short time at Kepler Cascades

7.       Heading to Grand Canyon of Yellowstone:

a.       Same route to Madison Junction

b.       Then turn right towards Norris Geyser Basin (14 miles from Junction)

c.       Stop at Gibbon Falls; nice parking lot – plenty of parking and Falls is very pretty

d.       Then proceed to Norris Geyser Basin.  At 4 way stop, you turn left and then good luck in finding parking.  There is an excellent path to follow around the Geysers and it’s and easy walk.  I think time is less than an hour.

e.       After Geyser, then proceed to the original 4 way stop.  Go directly thru that stop and proceed to Canyon.  At Canyon, take a right and stay on that road until you see a sign indicating  Upper Brink of the Yellowstone River.  This is new and you park and walk (less than 100 yards) down a path and then steps and you are on top of the Brink of Upper Yellowstone River.  It is awesome.

f.        From there, continue towards Yellowstone Lake for less than a mile and you will see signs of Artist Point and Uncle Tom’s Cabin.  Turn left and you cross over the Yellowstone River.  There is a very nice and wooden picnic area on your right side just after crossing River.  Good place for picnic lunch.  (shaded).  Continuing on, you will turn into the parking lot for Uncle Tom’s cabin.  You get a very nice view from here of  Brink of Upper Falls (opposite side and more distance away).

g.       Continue from there to Artist’s Point; further up that same main road.  Artist’s Point is well named.  It is spectacular and the views awesome of colors of the Grand Canyon of  Yellowstone.  Great photos here.

h.       Proceed back across Yellowstone River; turn left and head to Hayden Valley.  Almost always I have seen buffalo heading towards Hayden Valley.  It is very picturesque with River.  I have seen wolves there on a couple occasions (that’s all).

i.         Maybe proceed on to Yellowstone Lake and the beauty of the Old Hotel.

j.         Time will dictate; but I’d turn around at Hayden Valley or Yellowstone Lodge and same route back to West Yellowstone.

k.       Time permitting on way back, do the Artists Paintpots (I’d never done until 5/21) and it is a very nice short and interesting view/hike of the Paintpots.

• Love,

  Grandpa