Yellowstone offers any off-roading?

[SamG]

I live 16 miles from Yellowstone Park.

No off road travel allowed inside the park boundaries. Outside the park boundary you have Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. Huge amounts of federal land that you do pretty much whatever you want on.

The park itself is unbelievably awesome. If you have never been, you should. The surrounding area is just as awesome, even though it does not have the prestige, or protection, of the park.

Remember, leave no trace. I recognize that I am very fortunate to live here, and I do not mind sharing it with others. But I do get enraged when I see litter, trash, and destruction of natural resources.

I've considered cutting the break lines of those who throw cigarette butts out of their car windows... and I live in Detroit.

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[395N]

Being from Michigan my knowledge of Yellowstone is practically zero - however, its a place I have always wanted to visit and camp at.

Is there any off-roading to be had there?

Check with John Dutton. He owns the place.

 

[Rick Astley]

Having just done two road trips these past two years to Glacier National Park and Yellowstone, I would suggest Glacier National Park over Yellowstone if you're at all fit and able to leave the vehicle for getting into actual nature.

Yellowstone is wonderful by car and really it's a "drive through" park. Of course there are tons of places to hike and see and stay a while, but Yellowstone is more focused on driving somewhere to see something. Glacier has less roadways and incredible views, plus mind blowing hiking. Their Red Bus Tours are also worth looking into the history of them and why they are a wonderful way to learn more about the park from their guides as a "rest day" between hikes if you reached your maximum hike difficulty/distance the day before (plan ahead, bus tours book up well in advance of summer!)

Picture taken along the upper Grinnell glacier trail. This ended up being the most beautiful hike we have ever been on. Yellowstone was unable to offer views and experiences to match. It was, however, a wonderful "car trip" and lovely.

http://www.hikinginglacier.com/grinnell-glacier.htm


View from the Red Bus on Going To The Sun road. The buses are phenomenal! (and powered by the old Ford v6's from their last generation)

 

[IDyeti]

Hey OP I'll show you around Yellowstone and we'll quickly get the f out there and hit the good stuff around the Tetons. But since you are from the cherry capitol gonna need you to bring some dark chocolate covered cherries and a six pack Faygo rock n rye. My fam is from Detroit and Glen Arbor, and my company has an office in Jackson that I visit regularly then explore after my work is done.

 

[@BadBlueBronco]

I’m on the east side of Yellowstone, no off-roading but I am near Morrison jeep trail which is pretty intense.
Lots of off road trails in the area and along chief Joseph highway.
I think Montana has a better Forest road network than Wyoming. Wyoming also has sooooo much wind.

 

[Montana Bronco]

Yellowstone is wonderful by car and really it's a "drive through" park. Of course there are tons of places to hike and see and stay a while, but Yellowstone is more focused on driving somewhere to see something.

IMHO you are wrong about this. Like really, really, really wrong.

Both parks are great. Both great by car. Both great by foot.

Next time you go to Yellowstone, get out of your car and start walking. It will blow your mind what’s out there.

 

[@BadBlueBronco]

IMHO you are wrong about this. Like really, really, really wrong.

Both parks are great. Both great by car. Both great by foot.

Next time you go to Yellowstone, get out of your car and start walking. It will blow your mind what’s out there.

I think he means that the park is so large you have to drive from attraction to attraction. But yes I agree the trails in Yellowstone are epic

 

[Rick Astley]

IMHO you are wrong about this. Like really, really, really wrong.

Both parks are great. Both great by car. Both great by foot.

Next time you go to Yellowstone, get out of your car and start walking. It will blow your mind what’s out there.

I think he means that the park is so large you have to drive from attraction to attraction. But yes I agree the trails in Yellowstone are epic

The trails were nice (in Yellowstone). We covered about 45 miles over 7 days including a few nights of backpacking, that also included ~200 miles of driving in/around the park over those days.

They just didn't compare to the views and topography of Glacier. Glacier had about 50 miles of driving and 60 miles of hiking (no backpacking, was recovering from a spinal injury). To compare the two directly on the hiking component, is to say Glacier was much more enjoyable.

I live in the PNW, if walking through a forest to see trees nonstop was my thing, I can do that at lunch about 30' from the office. If, however, I lived somewhere that didn't already have 200' tall pine trees a-plenty and underbrush as far as you can see then Yellowstone hiking would be even better. As-is, it was mostly hiking through forests with pocket views of some plains. The geology of Yellowstone was superb, but that isn't the hiking component, you can drive to the main attractions in Yellowstone and it's perfectly handicap accessible. Glacier is dramatically less accessible. You must get out of your vehicle to experience anything other than the Going To The Sun road and some cabins.

 

[WhiteMamba]

lol go do the avalanche peak hike and tell me how accessible it is lol, Glacier was so much less developed and crowded at least east glacier is and I liked it more than Yellowstone

 

[Montana Bronco]

I live in the PNW, if walking through a forest to see trees nonstop was my thing, I can do that at lunch about 30' from the office. If, however, I lived somewhere that didn't already have 200' tall pine trees a-plenty and underbrush as far as you can see then Yellowstone hiking would be even better. As-is, it was mostly hiking through forests with pocket views of some plains.

It’s too bad you chose hikes that were not to your liking in Yellowstone.

Plenty of hiking in Yellowstone that sound like exactly what you were were seeking.

example: it sounds like you enjoyed being up above treeline in Glacier Park with dramatic dropoffs in all directions. Then the Skyline Trail in the northwest corner of Yellowstone is a trail you would enjoy. High pucker factor as you walk along a knife edge ridge for miles.

another example: you mention not enjoying forested hikes with occasional glimpses of scenery. Then the Thorofare Trail in the southeast corner of Yellowstone is a place you should explore. Most remote spot in the continental United States with views for miles in every direction.

Not sure why we are talking hiking as the OP never mentioned it, OP also never brought up Glacier Park either, but as long as we are comparing Glacier vs Yellowstone, we should mention my favorite activity, fly fishing. In that comparison the winner is Yellowstone hands down. Place is absolute Nirvana if you fly fish.

OP: you will have fun out here. It’s awesome.

 

[Broncodave]

This going a bit off subject, but a neighbor near us has one of these Mercedes rigs parked on the street and it looks cool as shit! I'd love to do some on-roading through the national parks in one of these.

 

[dejones64]

Yellowstone and Glacier, both on my bucket list. Along with many others.

 

[Coloradonatives]

Being from Michigan my knowledge of Yellowstone is practically zerto take his 4rnnero - however, its a place I have always wanted to visit and camp at.

Is there any off-roading to be had there?

We live just down the road from Rocky Mountain National Park. A complete idiot decided to take his 4Runner off-road (in plain view) out into the pristine tundra at 11,000 ft. They caught him after he got back to the road, unfortunately, and fined him $25,000. Had they reached him while still off-road, they would have removed the truck with a Sky Crane, and made him pay for it. In National Parks that are designated wilderness areas stay on the damn road!!!

 

[ManOfValor]

Yellowstone NP only has one "dirt road" Blacktail Drive. It's not at all rough, I actually drove may smallish motorhome on it, it is one way. Nice scenery, usually Bison. The surrounding National Forests have plenty of 4x4 trails.

We love this drive. We just got back from Yellowstone. Saw a black bear down this 6-mile road.

 

[Los]

Was in Yellowstone June 2021 for 8 days, had s blast, but I wish I'd have had my Bronco WT, but it's coming very soon.
FYI. Follow the rules with the wild animals n you should be OK.

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