Road Trip Route Planned - advice greatly appreciated!!

[Alvaradofamily]

We love caching! I was wondering how service will be to be able to use my phone gps .. I am really excited for that. The National Parks do? I know our State Parks here do, will have to check this out now. Thanks ..

I was looking at the Narrows, Didn't know if my 6 year old could handle it .. He does 4 mile cliffs, and caves around here in New England? .. What do you think?

Thanks so much!!

[Alvaradofamily]

What is the best (meaning the most interesting not too many hours added to the trip) way to go from the badlands, mount rushmore, etc area to Yellowstone? I would like to take the famous byway there .. what do you all think ..

Also .. I see Granite Hotsprings, can I hit that out of Yellowstone, by the Tetons where Jenny Lake is I believe .. Sorry, still trying to put this all together with the knowledge can gather :)

a little less then 4 weeks till we leave :) yah!

[AZBuck]

You would be hard pressed to do better than just using US-14 as your route of choice. It would take you close enough to visit to both Devils Tower and the Little Bighorn Battlefield, And although it's duplexed with I-90 for short stretches, it enters Yellowstone from Cody via the scenic North Fork Highway through Buffalo Bill State Park and Shoshone National Forest.

Whether or not to include Granite Hot5 Springs in your itinerary is entirely up to you, It's certainly on the way to Bear Lake, your next stop, but will eat up some time.

AZBuck

[Alvaradofamily]

Next stop meaning .. Bear Lake?

I am gonna go with US-14 then .. thanks :) Checking it out now ..

Don't know what I would do without this site .. Lot's of info on the net, too much!!

[Midwest Michael]

Oh my gosh! I have my annual state park pass .. never even thought! This is wonderful .. lil break in the cost ..

Just so you're clear, your state parks pass won't be valid for anything beyond the state parks in your state. It's not connected at all to the National Parks Pass.

We love caching! I was wondering how service will be to be able to use my phone gps .. I am really excited for that. The National Parks do? I know our State Parks here do, will have to check this out now.

You won't find any traditional Geocaches within National Parks, as the traditional containers are banned. You'll frequently find them in public lands just outside National Park boundaries however. You shouldn't need any sort of cell service to geocache with your phone, if you save the cache information onto your device before your trip.

[travelingman]

We love caching! I was wondering how service will be to be able to use my phone gps .. I am really excited for that. The National Parks do? I know our State Parks here do, will have to check this out now. Thanks ..

I was looking at the Narrows, Didn't know if my 6 year old could handle it .. He does 4 mile cliffs, and caves around here in New England? .. What do you think?

Thanks so much!!

Geocaching in the National Parks is limited to virtual and Earth caches, but they still take you to places you might otherwise bypass and the Earthcaches are very educational. Nonetheless, not all NPs allow any form of geocaching. I don't think Zion does. Also, I don't think I got a cell signal most of the time.

The approach to the narrows is a scenic one mile long paved trail that your six year old can surely walk. The trail actually ends in the river. That portion is usually shallow and you'll find kids of all ages there. Many people venture no further and still have a great time. Heading up river, you'll find alternating areas of shallower and deeper water. In low water periods, you can go a long way with the water below your mid thigh.

Of course, the rock bottom is slippery and the current can trip you up! That is why some people rent special shoes (never attempt this without wearing shoes!) that grip the rocks. I never have because I'm too cheap but sometimes wish I had. Also, rent or bring a hiking stick of some sort. It is very important. Usually, there will be an assortment of sticks that people left behind.

The good thing is that initially you are hiking upstream against the current. You don't have to worry about the current carrying you away. It can only take you back to where you were before. I've even seen people do this on purpose, drift until they met some shallows. However, the air might be 90 degrees but that river water is freezing!

DO NOT ATTEMPT in high fast water or when flash floods are likely. People have died.

Families hiking the Narrows during low water.

Here is one families adventure.

[Alvaradofamily]

Understood .. I will be doing whatever they offer .. The kids love the drive to walk .. Or I like to hike, and they like games :)

The narrows sounds amazing .. you pictured it perfectly for me! I just got everyone closed toe sandals for the water .. but we will check out the socks, although I am darn cheap myself! Speaking of that collapsible sticks at job lot were just five bucks.

Great tip .. don't need any deaths anytime soon, let's make it through vacation! Let's see these sites, Thanks!!

[DonnaR57]

Cell service in most of the national parks is pretty non-existent. For very good reason, too, as they don't want cell towers annoying beautiful scenery! The only places for cell service are usually at the lodges or visitor centers.

GPS, altimeters, and compasses will all work, because they are not dependent on a wifi or cell signal. Chimani apps for the various parks will also work, because they don't need cell or wifi to work, either. (I don't know about the other brands of national park apps, like REI, because I have no experience with them.) I was able to use all of these at Glacier NP this summer, but not my phone nor other apps that require wifi (like GasBuddy).

The annual national park pass is definitely separate from any state park passes you may have. You can buy one online, or just buy it at the first park you stop at. It's $80. Since Yellowstone/Grand Teton and Zion are both $30 parks, all you need is one more $20 park to make it pay for itself. It won't help you on camping fees, parking fees, or a national park cave tour. Those will all be separate charges.



Donna

[Mark Sedenquist]

I was looking at the Narrows, Didn't know if my 6 year old could handle it .. He does 4 mile cliffs, and caves around here in New England? .. What do you think

I just saw this. Your child sounds very capable, but I would not recommend the Narrows for anyone younger than 12 or so. Flash flooding is always possible in mid-summer to early fall.

That being said, if you look at the post above -- you can certainly see plenty of kids under 7 hiking the narrows -- but I would not recommend it -- unless you don't go very far up the river, of course,

Mark

[Alvaradofamily]

I was wondering about cell service .. For the last six months I have been collecting info and maps, in a binder .. My family is from Vermont, try to use the GPS and you will end up in Canada!

I have seen the apps, I will have to try em out and see what happens .. Maybe I will go to REI and see what they can help me with ..

Going to pick up a pass this weekend, we are gonna get the use out of em .. I did see a discount at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore for camping. May just be Indiana ..

Thank you so much!!