5 Reasons to Visit Yellowstone in the Fall
It is usually the first question when planning a vacation, “when should we go?”. Believe me, Yellowstone is a special place all year long. But, before planning your summer vacation to Yellowstone in the summer, please consider some of these reasons to hold off for a fall vacation instead.
1. Mosquitos
In case you didn’t know, Yellowstone has a lot of water. It is home to the largest lake in the US above 7000 feet, and the beginning of five rivers that dump water into the Atlantic and Pacific. Yellowstone is a huge plateau that causes the clouds to dump water as they pass over the land. The result is beautiful lush landscapes and many mosquitos as well. The mosquitos are the most prominent during the spring and early summer when the mass amounts of winter snow start to melt and leave puddles and marsh across the land. Fortunately if one had the patience to wait until late summer to visit the park most of the puddles have dried up, the trails turn from mud to dirt, and the mosquitoes move on. I have literally run away from the mosquitos in the Yellowstone backcountry, they are no joke.
2. Crowds
“ Its summertime and that means summer vacation,” said everyone in the whole country. I don’t know about you but I hate crowds, and Yellowstone in the summer is full of them. Some tips to beat the crows include, hiking deep in the backcountry, get up with the sun, or simply visit during the fall. June to August is when all the kiddos are out of school and family vacations are in full bloom. The family vacationers are a huge demographic of National Park visitors. If you can wait for the youngins to head back to school before taking your turn, do it. Another quick tip for a secluded vacation is to camp where others can’t get to. Even if you’re not a backpacker you have options, check out https://montanaoverlanding.com/ for more info.
3. Colors
Let’s face it, we travel to get that #nature photo. We are all unique human beings and therefore we DO NOT want to have the same experiences and photos Jennifer across the hall got last month. The Rocky Mountains are not known for the fall colors like Vermont, but those Aspens! Wait for the fall when the Aspen trees are turning yellow and your photos will pop like no other. Jennifer will be so jealous that she didn’t wait an extra month for her trip.
4. The Rut
My favorite part of fall is the rut. Its mating season for the bighorn sheep and elk. This means we are more likely to see the big horns chasing the ladies and butting heads with the bros. The bighorn can be hard to spot most of the year but as their activity ramps up so are the chances of seeing a bighorn. The male elk become very vocal in the fall. At night their bugle can be heard for miles as they show dominance over the other bull elk and let the females know of their presence. Its a truly magical experience to lay in your tent and listen to the elk bugle in the woods surrounding your campsite.
5. Sleep
During peak summer in Yellowstone, the sun rises around 5:45 am and does not set until 9:45 pm. This is awesome for anyone wanting to put in long days recreating on the trails and rivers, but not for photographers and wildlife viewers. Photographers know that lighting is everything. So for the die-hard photographer visiting Yellowstone in the summer, this means very early mornings and late nights to get the shots without harsh overhead lighting. Plus animals generally are most active at dusk and dawn. It is so nice to sleep in on vacation, get the best chance of seeing wildlife, and witness the alpine glow, so visit in the fall.