Thanks for a great season!

We hope your summer was as much fun. We just took our final raft trip of the season, and now it's time to close up shop for the coming winter. We begin to focus on all of the phone calls, emails and planning for next summer. It does get a bit quieter, things slow down and we begin to relax from the busy summer months.

Rafting the Yellowstone

Then the phone rings, and there is an excited person on the other end trying to plan their trip for next year, and we are reminded. It doesn't stay quiet for long around here.

Planning for summer 2010 has already begun, and our vacation packages are already filling up. So if you are considering planning a trip to Yellowstone give Lauren or Wendy a call, they are happy to answer any questions you might have, and give you some good advice.

Our most popular trips are always the first to sell out (makes sense doesn't it?). We've already begun to take reservations for next season. Check them out, and if you are interested, give us a call today:

 •  Our Vacation Packages

 •  Staying in our Vacation Homes

Our 3-Day Yellowstone Trip

Our 7-Day Yellowstone Itinerary

Yellowstone Park Road Information

The fall season is a wonderful time of year to visit the park, but keep in mind of the upcoming road closure schedule.

Fall Color
Yellowstone National Park

Closing on October 13, 2009 at 8 a.m.:
Tower Falls to Canyon Junction and Long Lake via Beartooth Pass to the Montana Stateline.

Closing on November 2, 2009 at 8 a.m.:
All park roads close except from the North Entrance (Gardiner, MT) to Upper Mammoth Terrace, and Mammoth via Tower Junction to the Northeast Entrance (Sliver Gate and Cooke City, MT).

In addition to the upcoming closures, remember that the junction between Norris and Madison has been closed since August 17, and will remain closed until spring of 2010.

Keep in mind, our weather is very unpredictable and sometimes snow can force the roads to close temporarily even when they are said to be open.

Check these resources before traveling:

WYDOT Road Information

M-DOT Road Information

Elk Rut

in Yellowstone National Park

Although road closures and possibility of snow can be seen as a hassle, don't think that you shouldn't come to Yellowstone during the off-season!

Yellowstone Elk

There are so many benefits to coming to the park in late fall. There are less crowds, more visible wildlife and the beautiful changing colors of the trees. It's a truly peaceful and pristine time to visit the park.

Autumn visitors are here at the perfect time for the elk rut, or mating season. Mammoth Hot Springs is always a popular place to spot cow (female) elk and their calves all summer long but rarely will you see a bull (male) there.

However, between September and October the bull elk make an appearance. They certainly make themselves known by letting out the loud, indescribable bugle, and with their enormous 6 to 8 point racks you can't miss them.

During rut, the male elk gather a harem, which can consist of 20 to 30 cows. The bulls battle one another for dominance, and visitors can actually see racks clashing on the pristine grass at Mammoth. Just remember they are wild animals, so keep your distance!