Craters of the Moon/Yellowstone Trip?

[Cudedog]

Annie, I stayed at Grizzly RV Park too. Like Judy said,it is expensive but it is a beautiful park. I lucked out in that I was at the end of the row I was on and had a huge grassy area and a tree for Molly to enjoy laying under. The bathroom/showers/laundry were right behind me across the road and being nobody across from me on the one side, I could look out at the ridge that is the caldron of Yellowstone. The park was a couple blocks from West Yellowstone and just a mile from the west entrance to the park. Very quiet and peaceful. Plan your stay for a few days and break the park into sections, doing one section a day. It will mean driving, but no way around that. Plus you can see wildlife too if you are lucky. By then maybe you will have a new trailer and Grizzly can be your base. I also stayed at the Teton RV park that Sheila mentioned. It was a nice park, sites a little close but not bad. Would go there again. Used that as my base to explore Grand Teton NP. One word of advice. I drove Teton Pass which is the way the road from the park goes to Jackson a few times while going to and from the park. Do not take a trailer over that pass. The grades are at least 15% and curvy etc., needs downshifting. Okay in a vehicle, but white knuckle with an RV. There is another, bit longer route around the pass.

Thanks for the info, Sue!

Your campsite at Grizzly sounds just the kind I like, especially because I travel with my dog. I looked on Allstays, and then at the other rv parks/campgrounds in the area, and Grizzly looked the nicest. And wonderful amenities! I generally try to travel on the Poverty Plan, but a splurge once in a while is always do-able. Grizzly looks worth it!

Do you remember the number of the campsite that you stayed in? I also like to be close to the bathrooms and showers. I called to make a reservation this afternoon, but a recording said the campground was closed until May 1. Would like to score that site when the time comes.

I plan to stay five nights, or maybe even a week if they have weekly rates. Excellent suggestion to break the park into "sections" and drive a section each day. Hoping to have my trailer by then - after driving all day, it would be nice to come back to, sit down and relax. Grizzly really does sound like a good "home base" to drive from. Yes, it does mean a lot of driving - but I will be driving nearly 900 miles to get there, a few more (or a lot more) is nothing!!

Thanks also for the mention about Teton Pass. I am NOT a "white knuckle" driver, and avoid roads like the pass you describe when ever I am able to avoid them. I will probably go to Craters of the Moon after Yellowstone, so Jackson might have to wait until another trip.

Thanks again, Sue! Lots of good info in your post!! Would like to drive on to Michigan to visit with you, if only they would move Michigan closer to Yellowstone, I would do it!

Thanks again!

Anne

[Colliemom]

I don’t remember what the site number was, but it was in the Wolf Loop, Sites 1-95. Cost me a bit of green, but Yellowstone has been a dream of mine for a long time and after driving all that way. Figured it was time to splurge and enjoy myself. I stayed 7 days. Ask them when you make your reservations about the end site across from the restrooms etc. in the Wolf Loop. I don’t think you can pick your sites, but could mention it. I didn’t know what site I was going to have till I got there. I do remember Judy saying she had been on 115 And that was katty korner across from me. I figured a week was good as needed the first day to arrive, get settled in etc., and day before I left to do laundry and get ready to hit the road. You can do Jackson and I would since you are going to be so close. See the Grand Tetons. Stay at the Teton RV park, do the pass back and forth for a couple days and then head to Craters of the Moon. The thing to keep in mind is that Jackson being a bigger town has an awesome grocery store to restock before hitting the road again. And depending on when you go, get out early as by about 10 a.m. it seems like everybody heads into the park. Some of the sites have smaller parking lots and you may have to drive arond a bit to find a spot or park out on road. I was there in mid June before the summer crowds really hit.

[Cudedog]

I don’t remember what the site number was, but it was in the Wolf Loop, Sites 1-95. Cost me a bit of green, but Yellowstone has been a dream of mine for a long time and after driving all that way. Figured it was time to splurge and enjoy myself. I stayed 7 days. Ask them when you make your reservations about the end site across from the restrooms etc. in the Wolf Loop. I don’t think you can pick your sites, but could mention it. I didn’t know what site I was going to have till I got there. I do remember Judy saying she had been on 115 And that was katty korner across from me. I figured a week was good as needed the first day to arrive, get settled in etc., and day before I left to do laundry and get ready to hit the road. You can do Jackson and I would since you are going to be so close. See the Grand Tetons. Stay at the Teton RV park, do the pass back and forth for a couple days and then head to Craters of the Moon. The thing to keep in mind is that Jackson being a bigger town has an awesome grocery store to restock before hitting the road again. And depending on when you go, get out early as by about 10 a.m. it seems like everybody heads into the park. Some of the sites have smaller parking lots and you may have to drive arond a bit to find a spot or park out on road. I was there in mid June before the summer crowds really hit.

I will definitely keep that site info in mind, and will request it (if I am able to). I also like your thoughts about staying 7 days - I have never been to Yellowstone, this may be my first and only trip (hope not!) makes sense to be comfortable. Yellowstone has been a dream of mine for most of my life. The site you had sounds really awesome - and with a view!! - having traveled exclusively in the van for a bit, (although I carry a Thetford porta-potti in the van) I always seek out sites as near as possible to the rest rooms and showers. Just more convenient for me that way. This may change, if/when I "get to know" the wonderfulness of self-contained Trailer Life - but old habits die hard!

All right, I am now putting Jackson back on my list. Your info regarding a nice grocery store is good info also - I generally don't like restaurant or fast food, and mostly prepare all of my meals myself when at home. Away from home, especially if I have the convenience of a trailer kitchen, is generally no different. Will look into making reservations at the Teton RV park as well - it looks like a nice park also. You are right - being so close to the Tetons, and driving so far (I guesstimate it will take me four days driving to get there) it would be a mistake not to visit there.

So:

Yellowstone! [check!]
Tetons [check!]
Craters of the Moon [check!]



Actually, I have seen the Tetons - once, and from a distance. When I was in my mid-twenties I took a trip from California to Nebraska to buy a horse (long story - and not the smartest decision in the world!). There was a group of us in the van, and we took turns driving, and drove around the clock (another bad idea!!). I remember waking up early one morning, looking out the window as we motored along, and there they were, magnificent and glorious! And I didn't know what they were! I was spellbound, and only much later, after returning home (with a horse that later injured me!) did I finally find out what they were.

Doing laundry before hitting the road is a major bonus - is there laundry at Grizzly rv park? If not, West Yellowstone is a small town, so laundry can't be too far away.

I am tentatively planning my visit for late May. I have a friend who has visited Yellowstone many times, and she has always insisted that the best time to go is either before school lets out in the spring, or after school is back in session in the Autumn. The Craters of the Moon visitor's center doesn't open until May 28, and I definitely want to hit the visitor's center. I love autumn colors, and autumn is still an option for me - but with all of the fires that have burned in the West the last few years (and it being likely to be another fire year if past years are any indication) I want to go at a time I can see things other than smoke haze. If I go in May, some places will still have "off-season" rates. Grizzly being one of them.

Good info about mid-June before the crowds hit, if I can't make it mid-May.

Another "issue" I have (that I always hate to mention) is my sweet dog. One of the reasons (among many!) that I love the Oregon state campgrounds so much is because they all allow dogs, and have no breed restrictions as to breed of dog allowed. My dog is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier (a breed that I have owned and loved for nearly forty years!) and I am - a bit - concerned that he might not be allowed at some of the private parks I wish to stay at. Gads, I hope this is not true for Grizzly or Teton.

Do you know anything about dogs at Grizzly and Teton? That was one of my reasons for telephoning them yesterday, but all I got was a recording stating that they do not open until May 1.

Thanks SO VERY MUCH for all of your wonderful information, Sue! You, and others like you, and this forum itself, has really been a Godsend and a fountain of good information for me over the years, that would have been impossible to find elsewhere! Thanks, Beth!!

Anne

[Colliemom]

Grizzly allows pets, no problem. Yes, there is a laundry there. One thing to keep in mind about mid MAy, check the parks website for road closures. If they have had a snowy winter, the high passes may be closed till June 1st. This is especially true of Teton Pass. Sheila can probably give you more info on that.

[BirdbyBird]

Sue, her concerns are real. Yes, Many parks accept pets except.....and they list the breeds they do not accept. When you have a bully breed, or a Rotte, or a German Shepherd or a Dobe or Chow, etc....you learn to read the fine print carefully and ask questions before you pull in whenever you can.

[snowball]

Teton Pass is open year round with the exception of slides or can't keep up with the weather...I only heard of once that it was closed for several days due to weather this past winter...people commute from Idaho over to Jackson like they do from say can't think of an example....the campgrounds in Teton CT Idaho tend to be expensive due to the location....unless you can do the National Forest campground but pretty sure that the ones in Idaho Teton ct are not electrical Grand Teton National Park has some campgrounds one is huge again though I don't know the availability of electricity. there is no dry camping allowed within Jackson I don't believe..there is no wal mart there lol I know the parking lots say no overnight parking. how ever in the national forest you can boondock I don't know the town well enough but Dubois Wy is also not that far away oh forgot totally Signal Mt has campgrounds as well as Colter Bay I don't know if they are
park owned and operated with a concessionaire or leased from park and basically private..really don't know but awesome views and believe that there would be electrical there....if you look on a map they are both on Jackson Lake or close to it
I hope to see you sometime during your travels ...would love to take you around Jackson/GTNP I will be back to my summer are mid to late April babysitting gig in early May and of course Memorial day weekend is already spoken for
look forward to meeting you
sheila

[Cudedog]

Thanks to all who have replied on this thread. Sandi (please check your pm's!), Sue, Sheila, Ava, Judy, Rosemary, Louise, Birdy. All replies gratefully accepted, apologies if I have missed anyone.

I have more questions to ask, comments to make, and, perhaps, joys to share - but just having read of Martha's tragedy, I think I will suspend this thread for a bit. I cannot imagine what she must be going through at this time. My to-be-or-not-to-be pending travel adventures seem insignificant in the extreme and completely superfluous in the face of such terrible loss.

It leaves me speechless. I pray for Martha.

Thanks to all.

Anne

[Colliemom]

Tina, I am aware of many parks having dog breed restrictions, but in this case, I read Grizzly’s Pet policies before I posted that answer and there are no breed restrictions listed.

[BirdbyBird]

That’s great, Sue. The language was vague in the first comment. Other than state parks, I have come up to may exclusions in the fine print. And well there s New York State where Remi has to claim he lives with Thistle because I travel over the dog limit.

[Cudedog]

Sue and Birdy:

Thank you both so very much for taking the time to reply. I, too, always read the fine print - and then, if I am really interested in staying at a particular facility, I will call/email and ask these specific questions, just to be sure, anyway:

"Do you allow dogs at your facility? If yes, do you have any restrictions as to breed of dog?"

I have been emailing Grizzly back-and-forth over the last few days, and I am happy to report that Sue is 100% correct (THANK YOU, Sue!). This is the emailed reply I received:

"You can see our "Pet Policy" on our website under the "Policies" tab. We've tried to stay away from having to restrict the "type of breed of dog", on the assumption that we have responsible pet owners staying with us so we don't have any breed of dog restrictions."

I will print out this email and have it with me when I arrive. And I always ask in advance. I don't want to arrive with a confirmed reservation and be turned away. Have I ever had a problem at a campground (or anywhere else) with my dog? No. He is really is a pretty laid-back kind of dog.

And I am always alert and careful with him. Why? I can't count the time we (my dog and I) have been accosted by loose dogs at campgrounds (why do people let their dogs loose when the rules clearly state that this is forbidden?) I have even been approached by people with leashed dogs whose dogs are clearly exhibiting excitement or aggression (hackles up, tail up, rigid posture, lips partially peeled back from teeth) that ask me "Is it ok for them to sniff noses so they can get to know one another? My dog doesn't bite" (!) Of course, the answer is always "no" - and I am astonished that they would even ask (it is amazing how few people are able to read dog body language). At such times my Big Joe just stands calmly at my side looking at the other dog as if he thought that dog was nuts.

Ladies at the Eagle Lake GTG last year got to meet my sweet Big Joe.

Birdy is correct, also. I am an ex-dog-show competitor, so I sincerely understand, and appreciate, Birdy's breadth of experience in travelling with her dogs. THANK YOU, Birdy!

There are a great many places that do not allow specific breeds of dogs. Not only just campgrounds, but even some major U. S. Cities. Even some U. S. States. Although this is slowly changing. Over time, research has shown that dog-on-people aggression is not breed-specific, but has more to do with the human handler of the dog, or the temperament of the specific dog (of whatever breed).

Caveat here being (I'm sure Birdy understands this, but it is a difficult concept for the general public to grasp - I'll not go into a detailed discussion here) that most/all terrier breeds (and there are a great many, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is but one of them) that terriers can be dog aggressive to other dogs (many are feisty little buggers!) but should never be aggressive towards humans. It is difficult, and very often impossible, to explain this difference to people who are not fully versed on the ins-and-outs of dog temperament.

But it is true. Check out the many terrier breeds (be sure to hit the "load more" button on the page):

http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/groups/terrier/

My daughter lived for about a year in Denver, Colorado. I desperately wanted to visit her and her husband, and they had rented a two-bedroom condo so that the parents could come to visit. I knew that the entire city of Denver had breed specific laws against all of the so-called "bull breeds" (American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier) and maybe some other breeds as well, I forget. I figured that I could come to visit, and so long as I "stayed under the radar" I would be fine.

Then I looked up the actual statute online.

All such things can be interpreted in different ways, of course, but what the statute basically said is that if a law enforcement or animal control person encountered or observed a bull-breed dog within the city limits of Denver, that law enforcement or animal control person had the duty and the obligation to immediately seize the dog, immediately transport the dog to the nearest animal control facility, where said dog would be immediately euthanized.

Period. No recourse.

I never visited my daughter in Denver.

She returned to California from Denver in August of last year (thank goodness!); so far as I am aware these Denver laws are still in effect.

Last I looked (and it has been a while) the entire state of Ohio has breed bans against all of the bull breeds as well.

When one owns, and desperately loves, one of these wonderful and amazing bull-breed dogs, one becomes extremely cautious and careful as to where one travels with them. I have owned and loved my chosen breed of dog for nearly forty (40) years.

Thanks again!

Anne

[SoCalGalcas]

Yes, I met Joe last year at Eagle Lake. A very nice dog. My little Benji goes crazy when he sees a large dog. I have to keep him on a short leash as he acts like he will attack them. And yet, when meeting Sadie COQ’s dog, Benji was fine.
I knew a bull terrier at a dog park that was the most fun, nice dog one could ever meet. I ‘ve also known Rottweiler’s that are very calm nice dogs. I firmly believe it is the owner who is the problem. Or, the person who does not listen to, nor respect the owners instructions. Like “please don’t pet my dog”.
It’s possible I will not go to Rock Creek this year. Let me know what are your dates for travel.
Lyn