Best way to T tour Yellowstone park?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Best way to T tour Yellowstone park?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Sunday, June 02, 2013 - 10:33 pm:

So I need advice from those who have done Jellystone in a T. If we trailer our T in, where is a good place to unload it and what is the best way to attack seeing yellowstone by model t ford? Not sure how many days we will be able to give it but it will be on the way home from Kanab at the end of July.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Paul Mikeska, Denver CO on Monday, June 03, 2013 - 01:44 am:

Erich,

I can't answer your question and hope someone else can. I have driven to Jackson Hole in the modern car for a base of operation and then driven to Jelleystone. That makes for a great day trip. That might work with a T. It would be better if I could camp out in the T in Jelleystone. My bucket list includes driving the 14 Touring through Jellystone and then maybe driving a little north of that to... say the Helena Montana area to visit a quiet, and soft spoken, T guy that lives there.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dale Peterson on Monday, June 03, 2013 - 01:51 am:

The general traffic moves at T speed, even slower when wildlife shows up. So touring Yellowstone by T should be better than by modern cars
It takes a minimum of 3 full days to see the park. One day for Norton geiser basin and Old Faithful, one for the canyon/Yellowstone Falls, and one for Mammoth Hot springs and Rosevelt. I would recommend staying in West Yellowstone and driving in each day. Expect to travel 100 or more miles a day. Enjoy!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dale Peterson on Monday, June 03, 2013 - 01:56 am:

Oh, yes, there is lots of places to park a trailer at the motels in West. Yellowstone, they are used to many snowmobile trailers in winter.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Paul Mikeska, Denver CO on Monday, June 03, 2013 - 01:57 am:

I think that touring Yellowstone in a T Touring or Roadster with the top down would beat looking at it through a modern car's windows by at least 10 times. Just my .02


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dare - Just a little South West . on Monday, June 03, 2013 - 03:00 am:

Ah yes, very good tour in a T in late summer, watch the bison just strolling down the middle of the road.
Ask Joss Sanderson, he organized a great 3 week T Tour inside and outside of the park.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Kable on Monday, June 03, 2013 - 04:38 am:

My wife and I toured Yellowstone and Glacier parks in 2011 on our way to Seattle via Pincher Creek Tour in our Lamseed Kampkar.

We were there in July and camped in the park, we were not allowed to camp in some areas as the Kamper has canvas sides and you have to be in a bear proof area. We entered from the east side and the roads had snow over 8 feet high on the side of the road in several places and a lot of the lakes were still frozen over.

It still was getting down to zero temperature at night. The camp sites were just areas scooped out of the snow which was 4 foot deep around the car.

No worry with speed around the park a lot of the tourists were traveling slower than us. Three days would be enough but you could stay a lot longer and, as we also did Glacier park after it and it also takes at least two or three days as well. When we were there the road to the Sun was closed with 20ft high snow blocking it. They thought it would be 3 weeks before it was open.
We had to travel to the north and south areas by the road outside the park. Both parks are completely different, if you have time do both they are so close together.

With so much snow there it was not good for the locals, numbers were down greatly because of the snow but it made it easier for us to get around and getting accommodation and camp sites was easy to get.

You will be slowed up by everyone stopping you to ask about the car.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Monday, June 03, 2013 - 04:49 am:

Yosemite is one of the few places in the world where you can rent a Model T (or a Model A) to drive in the area - at the Tin Lizzie inn: http://tinlizzieinn.com/
Costly for sure, but might be an option for those who have to drive or transport their T's over continent(s) to get there..


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Alexander in Albion, Maine on Monday, June 03, 2013 - 06:38 am:

The traffic in July in Yellowstone will be very T like. The roads are well paved but traffic moves slowly around the "tourist" areas. And, as mentioned above, when animals are along the road, traffic pretty much stops. There is good parking in a lot of places. Huge lots by Old Faithful, also at West Thumb and West Yellowstone. Plenty of others at the "pit stop" areas. I'd check with the National Park Service for details. If you are a "Senior" don't forget to get your Golden Passport which gives you free admission to all National Parks. Be aware that there will be some folks on the road with you who will not be pleased with your T slowing them down in their quest to see the park. Also, lots of big motor homes and tour buses in July as you can imagine. But, it is a great trip. Well worth the effort and the smell of the pine, fir and spruce forest is special.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Dupree on Monday, June 03, 2013 - 08:49 am:

We stayed in West Yellowstone when we visited the park several years ago with our sedan. This is a very stock, heavy, '24 sedan. The nice thing about West Yellowstone is that is is just a couple of miles to the west park entrance, and fairly close to Old Faithful. We did the south loop in the '24. The car didn't have much power left at the continental divide, but made the loop with no problems. We used the truck to make the north loop due to construction on that road.

When we would stop for animals, we would draw as much interest from the other tourists as the animals did....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, June 03, 2013 - 08:54 am:

I don't think I've ever seen a speed limit above 45mph in a national park, and in many places it's lower. Good T roads.

Yellowstone is great, and there are other, less famous, great places nearby. Grand Teton National Park, of course, and Red Rock Lakes NWR. Very scenic, beautiful country.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lance Sorenson, North Carolina on Monday, June 03, 2013 - 09:36 am:

Yellowstone was perfect for the T back in the day with over half of the cars registered being the Lizzie. The park was opened for automobile traffic in 1915. The first car in the north entrance was From Minnesota. The car bore Minnesota plate 60236 and had the serial #23863


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Walt Berdan, Bellevue, WA on Monday, June 03, 2013 - 01:48 pm:

My wife and I and another couple will be taking a tour of Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons parks in early September. We'll be towing to and from the parks but using our T speedsters as our sightseeing vehicles. We've never been to the Grand Tetons and it's been 50+ years since seeing Yellowstone. An open car just seems like the right way to see the sights. We are hoping for dry weather but always carry rain gear.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Bowker on Monday, June 03, 2013 - 02:38 pm:

We went to Glacier a couple of years ago in the 1914 Touring as part of the MMM tour. We drove right through the park in the T, over the pass and then back thru St Marys. Driving was at model T speeds but it was tough to see all the sights as you need to keep eyes on the road. Next day we went back and took the Red bus to the top, so I could see all the sights. Both great days.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By frank b on Monday, June 03, 2013 - 06:43 pm:

we stayed in oakhurst (sp)? some years ago. The drive into the park was very nice and traffic moved along close to "t speed".



The views and smells of the park are 100% better in an open car. Do it, or you will regret it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Robison on Monday, June 03, 2013 - 07:20 pm:

I've toured Glacier, Yellowstone, and the Tetons in a Open Model T. In Yellowstone in particular was Awesome... until traffic slowed to see a momma grizzly and her two cubs less than 25 yards from the edge of the road. I quickly realized that approaching cars had all the windows rolled up and my wife and I were well, out in the open, stuck in traffic. :-) Even if you don't get off the beaten path it is worth the drive. Coming into West Yellowstone there is plenty of parking for a trailer. I think I liked coming into Gardiner better. There is a great picture opportunity coming through the Roosevelt Arch. Gardiner is a smaller town so parking might be more difficult. You could also leave your trailer in Livingston and drive to Gardiner.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Tuesday, June 04, 2013 - 01:36 am:

You guys are fantastic. Now I am even more excited to do this "extra" side trip. Thanks again and tell me more if you have any experiences (or more photos) to share.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 01:08 pm:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClafYB9gt3U


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Warren Henderson on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 01:44 pm:

Lance, Seiler's Model T a "Dr.'s Ranabout?" lol

Happy Motoring, Warren


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dare - Just a little South West . on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 04:16 pm:

If you are in that part of the world, may l suggest the short drive ( NOT ) from Red Lodge up the Bear Tooth highway, which puts you at the top of Yellowstone Nat Park.... have a look on youtube, plenty of bikes travel that pass as a part of their "Bucket List".

David.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David C Jahnke on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 08:42 pm:

If it is an open Model T, you might want to have some bear spray along. And do not carry any food in the car (except yourself of course!)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 09:17 pm:

When we toured Yellowstone in 2010, there were rangers at the edge of the road everywhere there was a bear in sight.



I want my ashes dumped down Old Faithful. Then I'll do a gusher every 15 minutes.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dare - Just a little South West . on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 10:38 pm:

Ricks, those Y/S bus tours are pretty cool aren't they, we loved it in 2010 Sept too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 11:13 pm:

I hadn't thought of keeping food to a minimum in the touring car. No rolling up the bear proof windows. Can't just drive away if stuck in traffic. When a bear is close to the road, there is going to be traffic.

This would be a problem in the 26 touring.....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6BgkP65YBc


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David C Jahnke on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 11:53 pm:

Glad you found this video. Scary in an enclosed car, but extremely dangerous in a 26 touring. Now you know why I posted what I did.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - 12:27 am:

Be ready for cool weather if you take Bear Tooth Pass. I got snowed on in August on that road.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dare - Just a little South West . on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - 10:06 am:

bloody cold wind right thru the side of the car in September, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
My wife and kids had to leg it for about 2 miles up about 2/3 , the 12 touring didn't like it one bit... fuel/carbi problem...yes l had fuel.
What a great drive though.
There is a hotel over the top, it has a big lift in it, out in the middle of no where ... and a great bar too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - 10:26 am:

Dunno if it was your problem, David, but high altitude requires a leaner mixture.

I would not worry about bears in Yellowstone. They are tracked by the rangers who are present whenever bears are visible from the road.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian Sullivan, Powell WY on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - 11:42 am:

Buffalo can be as concerning; my wife+I+snowmobile+Buffalo one winter day got exciting for a few moments. Eric - PM me if you want my contact info for when you are near. Short version, I would find a place to secure the trailer somewhere east near Lake or Canyon, then T in a half circle from Canyon to Norris and back. Alternatively, the center at Moose WY would allow you to drop the trailer then T the Tetons to Old Faithful and back. Look at a map of the parks to see what I mean. You may be out of luck on booking accomodations in either park, so act fast if you are intending this. Big car show first weekend in Aug at West Yellowstone BTW

Yes, I know they are properly called Bison.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - 02:03 pm:

Brian, that is a great offer. I will look at it on my next day off. Will PM you later if it looks like we will be able to spend a few days there. I figured reservations would be a long shot at this point.....


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