Lonely Planet Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

 (21 customer reviews)

This is another one of their superlative guides. It is light on pictures of the National Parks (but you've seen them elsewhere, and intend to take your own anyhow, right?), but packed full of useful information. The book is in a convenient 7 ¾" by 5" format that will easily fit in the side pocket of your "cargo" pants; an indispensable companion as you hike.

The guide commences with the top 20 experiences in the area, some of which you probably had not envisioned (like the Museum of the Rockies, in nearby Bozeman, MT). This is followed by the nitty-gritty details in "need to know" sections: dates, weather, accommodations, pricing, et. al. In terms of activities, there are sections on hiking, cycling, horseback riding, rafting, canoeing, fishing, and for the winter, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. There are also sections on how to travel with children and pets.

So many hikes, so little time! There are numerous detailed descriptions of more...Read more

Since I live and work in Yellowstone, and have only done day trips to the Tetons, I concentrated on the Yellowstone portion of this book. I found this to be an excellent all-in-one guide, not only to the parks but to the area and towns surrounding the parks as well.

Even I learned some new things about lodging, campgrounds, and restaurants in the park. There are many maps and descriptions of the features along the roadways, an accurate section of day and backpacking hikes, lots of information about individual geysers, a section on wildlife and plants, and another with all the basic travel info for getting here, how to dress, and staying safe while hiking. There is also information on the park's geology and history, and a brief look at current controversial park issues.

There are also sections listing hotels, restaurants, and highlights in nearby towns such as Bozeman, Jackson, West Yellowstone, Gardiner, and several more. This is important because there are...Read more

I got this book because I am planning a trip to the Yellowstone/Grand Teton area in a couple months. I find it packed with information about things and places to see and do as well as many maps of the area. It has many hiking suggestions too. It tells what is and what is not open at varying times of the year. If you are wanting to see beautiful pictures of sights in Yellowstone you will be disappointed! This one doesn't have any but rather informs you of how to get there and see them firsthand. It also gives brief descriptions of the lodging and campgrounds in the area although I don't think it covers them all because the hotel I have a reservation at in Jackson Hole is not even listed! That has me a little worried! All in all I am now looking forward to my upcoming visit even more and believe I will find the book to be a very valuable aid in getting the maximum enjoyment out of the parks! My only complaint about the book is the exceedingly tiny print. I think they could have...Read more