Yellowstone Natl. Park Page 4

Don't forget your fishing pole if you like to fish. You can buy a fishing license and try your luck catching one of the famous Cutthroat Trout of Yellowstone Lake. However, you must throw them back. If you get a Lake Trout they are trying to get rid of, you MUST keep it. The restaurants will cook it for you if you are staying in a motel. While you are there don't forget to look up in the sky for eagles & falcons. Yellowstone River watch for swans, beaver, etc.
While you stay at Canyon Village to see the Bison Nature Exhibit, Inspiration Point & Artist Point. At Norris Geyser Basin, a short distance west Don't miss the Ranger 1-1/2 hr. walk (10am-4:30pm?) check your Yellowstone Today paper for times. While at the park please don't do like one woman who sat her child on a buffalo that was walking by because she said, "The park wouldn't have animals in here that would hurt us." This is the wild animals home. This is their territory, we are just visitors, so treat them so. If a Ranger says stay back from a bear but you want to be closer to get a better picture, mind the Ranger!! Drive the speed limit posted!! Over 100 large animals are killed each year because of people in a hurry driving too fast. Again, this is their home, not ours. Be respectful of our National Parks.
ROOSEVELT if you didn't catch your own trout the restaurant here has the best trout in the park. It's the northeast corner of the park(upper right of the figure 8) and has rustic cabins (you may have to step out the door a few steps for a bathroom close by) & use the fireplace if you are chilly. But do make a reservation when you make your lodging reservations for the Covered Wagon ride with country western music, cowboys & steak cookout. It's near there. You just do not want to go there and not do that!! Reservations for that fills up fast. You can also pay to ride a horse or pet one that took you on your trip. FUN! It's a short drive from Roosevelt (east) through Slough Creek to Lamar Valley where the wolves come out in the evening. You will see Ranger's & alot of of people from the Yellowstone Assoc. Institute located there (studying wolves). Ask questions!! Driving on your way to Roosevelt is "Tower" which is another great stop for the best ice cream cones in the park and you can take a short walk there that is worth your time. When you leave there and are driving to the top of the figure 8 MAMMOTH keep your eyes watching the trees, etc. for black bear. They like this area and you might be lucky and see a couple cubs scampering up a tree with momma close by keeping watch. When you arrive at Mammoth don't miss the movie at the Ranger's Visitor's Center. If your child has their Jr. Ranger information filled out by then the Ranger will ask the child a few questions to make sure they (not mom & dad) really saw these things and give them their official Jr. Ranger's badge. If it isn't filled out yet a Ranger at one of your other stops can do it for you. If you choose to stay at Mammoth Hotel the cabins in back are better I think. The little squeaker mammals that have made dugouts under the cabins and in the area like people and come out in the yard in front of the cabins and put on a show. Little kids like to chase them but they'll never catch one. In the evening a large herd of elk like to come down from the hills and eat the bluegrass in the yard around the old military barracks by the visitors center. While in that area drive north to the beautiful stone old main entrance and on the way look up to the right on the rocks for Bighorn sheep & goats. I thought maybe I'd finish about Yellowstone park this morning but I have to go get breakfast again so tomorrow we will cover Madison, Old Faithful & the surrounding things to see around the park. Jeanette