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Winter in Yellowstone: Ranger Talks

Monday, January 9th, 2012

Yellowstone National Park is so vast and diverse that it would take many visits to the park in order to really see it all. This statement is not meant to discourage visitors to the park. On the contrary, this statement should inspire visitors to enjoy tours with the people who know Yellowstone National Park better than anyone else, Park Rangers. There are several exciting Ranger-led talks and programs in a handful of areas of Yellowstone National Park this winter.

Everyone who comes to Yellowstone National Park wants to see Old Faithful, and for good reason. There are plenty of self-guided pathways that have educational signs, but the Old Faithful area also offer ranger-guided tours of this hot spot in Yellowstone National Park. Just show up at the Old Faithful benches 20 minutes prior to the estimated eruption for a 15-20 minute talk providing inside information on this enigma. Also in the Old Faithful Snow Lodge area, at the Visitor Education Center, Park Rangers give free 45 minute slide show presentation that also highlights some of the little known facts and details about Yellowstone National Park.

West Yellowstoneis another popular spot for visitors to Yellowstone. Each Saturday, Park Rangers host a two-mile showshoe trek along the Riverside Trail inside the park. Just bring your snowshoes, water and a snack and meet the Park Ranger at the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center in West Yellowstone. All levels are welcome as the snow-shoe walk is not considered strenuous. On Sunday afternoons at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, join a Park Ranger for a free 45 minute slide-show presentation similar to the above mentioned in the Old Faithful Area. The presentation is free but there is a fee to enter the rest of the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center.

Snow-shoe Walk photo by glaciernps on Flickr

The Mammoth Hot Springs area is another fun region to visit in the wintertime. Showshoeing with a Park Ranger might be the highlight of your vacation. Check out the beauty of winter in Yellowstone with a showshoe adventure on Tuesadys and Thursdays. This walk takes about two hours and is considered monderately strenuous. Snowshoe rentals are available at the Bear Den Ski Shop near the Mammoth Hotel or bring your own. Keep in mind that this snowshoe trek will turn into a guided walk without any snow, so check with a ranger before you rent your snowshoes. A one hour evening program is offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:30 in the Mammoth Hotel Map Room. There is a special ranger talk about wolves on Monday and Wednesdays is featured at the Albright Visitor Center Theater. It lasts an hour and a half and includes both a 20 minute talk and a video.

Remember, winter in Yellowstone is inherently cold, but the weather can also change in a flash. Dress in layers and bring water and a snack. Taking a walk or listening to a presentation by a Park Ranger is one of the best ways to get acquainted with Yellowstone National Park. After listening to any of these talks, you will have a whole lot more to think about as you explore the park on your own. Winter in Yellowstone National Park is an exciting time of year. US Park Lodging provides hotel reservations for Yellowstone National Park both inside and outside the park. Call up these professionals today to book your stay in Yellowstone.

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Yellowstone National Park Lodge: Old Faithful Inn

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

The Old Faithful Inn is a marvel of early 19^th century architecture as well as being one of the most famous national park lodges still standing. This superstar Yellowstone National Park lodge also heralds as being the biggest log hotel on the planet. The Old Faithful Inn might even be the biggest log building in the world. This behemoth Yellowstone National Park lodge structure has seven stories, an open 65 foot high lobby and features an 85 foot rhyolite stone fireplace. Designed by the 29 year old Robert C. Reamer, who modeled this Yellowstone National Park lodge after nature’s asymmetrical chaos. It stands as one of the single-most influential architectural influences of national park service rustic style as well as American architecture. The Old Faithful Inn is the heart of the Old Faithful Historic District which includes many side buildings and structures, but none so grand as the Old Faithful Inn.

The first season the Old Faithful Inn was open for business was in 1904. At that time, steam heat and electric lights were considered advanced technology. Today, the ambiance is rustic and historic with much of the original fixtures and décor of it’s early beginnings. A craggy log staircase from the lobby invites guests to ascend to the upper, interior balcony where the structural feats are at eye level. What look like twigs from the lobby floor are realized to be mature logs, bound and bolted together in a assemblage of strength and wonder. It’s no surprise that the Old Faithful Inn is now a National Historic Landmark and the most requested Yellowstone National Park lodge.

Yellowstone National Park Lodge: Old Faithful Inn

Old Faithful Inn Photo by jinxmcc on Flickr

After a handful of wing additions and modifications, the Old Faithful Inn offers 327 rooms. Room types range from suites, semi-suites and premium rooms all with private bathrooms to Old House rooms with shared bathroom accommodations. Old Faithful Inn suites have comfortable renovated sitting rooms, refrigerators as well as two queen beds in a separate bedroom and a full private bathroom. Semi-suites at the Old Faithful Inn are over-sized rooms with two queen beds, sitting area, fridge and a full private bathroom. The east and west wings offer premium rooms with either one or two queens and a full private bathroom. Old House rooms refer to the original Old Faithful Inn rooms in the main building. Some of the Old House rooms have private bathrooms and some do not. These rooms have rustic ambiance yet offer the standard conveniences of a comfortable room. The Old House rooms that do not offer private bathrooms have sinks and access to shared bathrooms with individual private showers down the hall. All of these Yellowstone National Park lodge rooms are non-smoking and do not offer TV, AC, internet service or radios.

The Old Faithful Inn is a Yellowstone National Park lodge that non-guests often come have a meal in the famous Old Faithful Inn dining room. For those who are interested in seeing the splendor of this iconic Yellowstone National Park lodge, but are unable to stay here, a meal in the great dining room of the Old Faithful Inn is a great choice. The Old Faithful Inn dining room is a very popular place so reservations are suggested as far in advance as you know you want to eat there. Many people choose to make their dinner reservations when they book their Yellowstone National Park lodge rooms. Guests to the Old Faithful Inn also enjoy the on-site deli restaurant and the gift store. Interpretive tours are available on location as well.

The Old Faithful Inn is the first Yellowstone National Park lodge you come to from the west or south entrances within the park: 30 miles from the western entrance and 40 miles from the south gate. This makes the Old Faithful Inn a highly sought after and popular Yellowstone National Park lodge. Make your reservations for the Old Faithful Inn as soon as possible. This Yellowstone National Park lodge books up to a year in advance. Call up the professionals at US Park Lodging today to stay at the Old Faithful Inn.