Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [414]
Snowmobile rentals are also available in the gateway communities of Gardiner and West Yellowstone, Montana, and at Flagg Ranch. Most rental shops accept reservations weeks in advance, so reserving at least a day to 2 weeks ahead of time is a good idea. Plan on making reservations for the week between Christmas and New Year's at least 6 months in advance.
Note: In 2003 snowmobiling was banned in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, but the ban was overturned in 2004 and limitations implemented through 2006, with a long-term plan in the works for 2007. If you are planning a snowmobiling adventure, you can get up-to-date information by calling ☎ 307/344-2580 or visiting www. nps.gov/yell.
Camping
There are 12 campgrounds in Yellowstone, 5 of them under the efficient management of Xanterra Parks & Resorts, the park concessionaire. The other 7 are smaller, less expensive, and often less crowded. The 7 campgrounds still run by the National Park Service are at Indian Creek, Lewis Lake, Mammoth, Norris, Pebble Creek, Slough Creek, and Tower Fall. They fill daily on a first-come, first-served basis. Our personal favorites are Slough Creek, in the Lamar Valley, and Norris, a shady riverside spot near the Norris Geyser Basin.
Xanterra runs the bigger campgrounds at Bridge Bay, Canyon, Grant Village, Madison, and Fishing Bridge. Same-day and advance reservations may be made by calling ☎ 307/344-7311 (TDD 307/344-5395); by writing to Yellowstone National Park Lodges, P.O. Box 165, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190; or online at www.travelyellow stone.com. The only campground equipped with RV hookups is at Fishing Bridge RV Park. It accepts hard-sided vehicles only (no tents or tent trailers) and has electrical, water, and sewer hookups. Though there are no hookups at the other campgrounds, they all accommodate RVs.
Camping is allowed only in designated areas and is limited to 14 days between June 15 and Labor Day, and to 30 days the rest of the year. Checkout time for all campgrounds is 10am. Quiet hours are enforced between 8pm and 8am, when no generators, radios, or other loud noises are allowed. See the accompanying chart for specific amenities and prices at each campground.
INSIDE THE PARK
The Tower Fall Campground, which has forested sites, is near a convenience store, restaurant, and gas station at Roosevelt Lodge. The campground is 19 miles north of Canyon Village and 18 miles east of Mammoth.
Slough Creek Campground is in the Lamar Valley, near the northeast entrance, where there are fewer people, good fishing, and the possibility of a wolf howl to stimulate your dreams; however, restroom facilities are in pit toilets.
Canyon Campground is the busiest in the park, with sites in a heavily wooded area. It has a store, restaurants, a visitor center, and laundry nearby at Canyon Center.
Fishing Bridge RV Park is somewhat controversial because of its location in an area where bears feed in the spring; only hard-sided camping vehicles are allowed.
Bridge Bay Campground, near the shores of Yellowstone Lake, offers tremendous views, especially at sunrise and sunset. Unfortunately, though surrounded by the forest, much of the area has been clear-cut, so there's not a whole lot of privacy. It's close to boat launching facilities and the boat rental operation.
The Madison Campground is in a wooded area just south of the river. It has good access to fishing and hiking, and the location is a short drive from the amenities of West Yellowstone.
The attractive, wooded sites at Norris Campground are in the heart of the park's east side, close to wildlife activity, geothermal areas, and the Gibbon River.
NEAR THE PARK
There are three National Forest Service campgrounds in the West Yellowstone area, all in the Gallatin National Forest. They accommodate both RVs and tents, but during some periods in late