The Magic of Nature and YSNP
Image of Jenna Thu.
Copy by: Jenna Thu
Creative Direction: Catie Menke
Only in the last 7 to 10 years of my life have I truly been enjoying the magic of nature. I actually crave it deep in my bones now. When I step into nature I can feel my heartbeat slowing and my breathing deepening. It is where I feel most present and grounded, and that’s what makes nature magic to me. Besides the fact that our world is mind-blowingly interesting and jaw droppingly beautiful, it makes me feel calm and small.
When Covid-19 hit last spring I had to cancel a lot of my summer plans. I am a teacher, and since I’m off in the summer I use that time to fill my travel bucket with culture, adventure and fun. After teaching from home for the last few months of the school year, I was ready to get out. But where could I safely go?
I had read that Yellowstone National Park (YSNP) was opening the first week of June. I had never been before, and it’s a 13-hour road trip which is doable, so I started to plan. My mom had just retired and my dad did the year before, so they said they would happily join me.
I wanted to share some of my recommendations to inspire you to check out YSNP, even if only from the internet for the time being! Or perhaps you have visited and this will bring back some lovely memories.
Photograph by Jenna Thu.
Yellowstone National Park is on top of a supervolcano with over half of the world's active geysers! It is like stepping into a wild world of insane waterfalls, glorious canyons, boiling mud pots, mama grizzly bears with their cubs, windy scary roads, skyscraper steep mountains, and so much more.
The first thing to do before planning your trip is to join the Facebook group Yellowstone Up Close and Personal. It is filled with enthusiasts and great advice. There is also an app called NPS Yellowstone National Park that you should add to your phone. The app has a map that works without Wi-Fi and lets you know if roads are closed, as well as predictions for geyser eruption times.
Something to remember is that the size of the park is massive. From a map it looks like an easy drive to get around the main loop, but in reality it is complicated and would lead to a lot of time in the car. For this reason, I suggest staying near different areas in the park for 2 to 3 nights at a time.
For us, staying in the park was forbidden due to Covid-19, so we stayed at hotels just outside 3 of the 4 main entrances, and explored each area of the park that way. Our first stop was two nights at the super cute Park Hotel, near the north entrance in Gardiner, MT. Gardiner is fun to explore, and the north park entrance has the iconic brick arch with the quote “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People” by President Theodore Roosevelt.
In the north area of the park, we loved Mammoth Springs which is so unique and the Lamar Valley for all of its wildlife. Next, we went to the east entrance for 2 nights and stayed at the historic Pahaska Tepee Resort in an A-frame cabin that has Buffalo Bill’s original hunting lodge on the property. This is the place to really disconnect, as there is no cell service or tv. They have a restaurant on property with the best blueberry pancakes I’ve ever had.
My mom and I did a guided horseback tour while there. It was an adventure led by a real life cowboy who pointed out where Grizzly bears had been eating that morning. The east side of the park hosts beautiful YS lake and very high mountain roads. In June, it is still very cold in YSNP and one day it snowed enough that they closed the roads into the park; so we decided to drive into town.
The closest town we could find was Cody, WY, and over 50 miles away. The drive to Cody from YSNP is nicknamed the most scenic in the west, and the town has a fantastic museum called The Buffalo Bill Center of the West. You could easily spend two full days there if you had time. I highly recommend the Native American section of the museum, as well as the wildlife preservation area.
Image of Jenna Thu and her mother.
In the park we also went to Norris Geyser Basin, and Old Faithful, which is closest to the west entrance. Norris Geyser Basin was incredible. Staying on the paths is mandatory, as the ground is unstable. The colors, smells and sounds of the thermal activity are unforgettable.
Our favorite view in YSNP was the colossal canyon overlooking the powerful Lower Falls. The views go on for days, and there was even a bald eagle soaring above the bottom of the gorgeous waterfall. There are great hikes in that area too. We did get to see a lot of wildlife throughout the park, like buffalo, antelope, black bears, grizzly bears, eagles, and more.
We are not wildlife spotting experts, but many people in YSNP are. They bring top of the line scopes, and when you see people pulled off the road in one area you can join in and people will share what they are spotting. It was so incredible, and everyone was very kind to share.
Photograph by: Jenna Thu.
We exited the park from the south side and went on to stay in iconic Jackson, WY, to visit the Grand Tetons. This was the perfect place to end our amazing adventure. The Tetons are the most picturesque mountains I’ve ever seen, and in my opinion they are only comparable to the Swiss Alps. We were also able to white water raft in the Snake River through the mountains. It was a scenic blast.
On our final day we went up Rendezvous Peak by gondola to enjoy peanut butter bacon waffles from Corbet’s Cabin at 10,450ft. We had a long drive home that we broke into 2 days, and made some fun nature stops at Devil’s Tower and the Badlands to break up the sitting. This trip to YSNP was so memorable, especially experiencing it with my parents. We still talk about how magical it was.
Photograph by: Jenna Thu.
I know not everyone will be able to get to YSNP right now, but I hope someday you do. Even if you can’t, nature can be enjoyed in many ways from anywhere.
Here are a few ideas to get some fresh air and an instant mood lift:
Go on a walk outdoors over your lunch break, find a trail or park near you to go read, go on a picnic with friends, or rent a kayak or paddle board on the weekend.
There are female hiking groups on FB, for all skill levels, that you can join for inspo and to connect you to people to meet up with if you want to hike.
In your home, you can simply add plants, nature decor, or a bird feeder outside your window.
I also like to have Alexa play water and other nature sounds, or watch a Youtube reel of nature scenes with music to relax.
My favorite Covid-19 activity to get out of the house is to drive to a trail, wear a fanny pack to carry my items and listen to an audiobook while walking. I also take a grocery bag and pick up litter because I like to take care of Mother Nature while enjoying her.
I’d like to end with a sweet reminder to reduce, reuse, recycle and get out there to enjoy the magic of nature.
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