Our main goal on this cross-country trip was to be comfortable and not rush. This trip would be a true test of our Wayfarer Van and our 9 month old puppy. We decided to divide our 27 hour trip into three 9-hour days with plenty of stops and walks along the way.
We departed home on May 25. We eased in to our journey with a pitstop in Chicago on the eve of my sister’s baby shower. We continued our first day of driving for a two night stay at a friend’s house just outside Sauk City on the Wisconsin River. Our stay in Sauk City was the perfect introduction to midwest summers: mosquitos.
Highlights of our stay in Wisconsin:
- A day-trip to Devil’s Lake State Park and a hike on the CCC trail
- Local brews from New Glarus
- Tunes around a fire
On Monday, May 27, we began our true journey out west with a stop in Sioux Falls at Family Park Dog Park. It was soggy and wet but Maple enjoyed every minute of it. There was rain when we arrived at the Badlands around 7 PM. The park was not busy due to the weather. Before arriving at the campground, we toured around a bit and walked a few trails. The landscape was lush with green grass and muddy streams that contrasted the carved eroded pinnacles. The rocks were painted shades of red, clay, black, brown with the smell of juniper all around.
Camped: Cedar Pass Campground
Site: 2
Cost: $22
Nights: 1
On Tuesday, May 28, we departed the Badlands it was an early departure due to the rain. We enjoyed a tourist breakfast at Wall Drug. The rain continued all day on our drive 90 W. We stopped in Casper Wyoming for a pitstop and a coffee at Metro and a walked along the North Platter River Trail. The rain finally stopped around 4 PM offering great views from Dubois, WY to the Tetons. Dubois is a nice, small mountain town. We had dinner at the Cowboy Cafe. Great food & friendly people. We had our first glance of the beautiful Grand Teton Range as we drove the Togwotee Pass. Near the pass, I had my first moose spotting. There was still a good deal of snow in parking lots and along the road. The skyline on the way to the Tetons was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. We grabbed a site at the Hatchet National Forest Campground . The site was a nicely wooded small site with water and toilets. Decent views of the sunset over the Teton Range from the road. The camp host reported a sighting of a grizzly bear near the campground.
Camped: Hatchet NF Campground
Cost: $12
Nights: 1
In the morning we enjoyed a walk along the forest road just outside of the campground. We drove into the Grand Teton National Park with amazing views of the Teton Range on the drive in from the Moran junction. Blue skies without a cloud in the sky. The road aligned perfectly with Grand Teton as we approached. We tried to get a campsite at Jenny Lake but we were denied as it is tent-only (camper vans prohibited) so we were directed to Signal Mountain Campground where got two great sites (47 and 48). One site had access to Jackson Lake and views of the Teton Range. The campground cost $33 per night but had lots of amenities available including showers, laundry, & a store with beer and lots of food options. We drove to the top of Signal Mountain. I highly recommend the String Lake Trail as it is easy and fairly accessible but it offers a good diversity of scenery. Walking the trail clockwise you approach the inlet from Jenny Lake after the inlet the trail veers into the woods and follows along the base of the mountains with views of peaks in the distance through the pine trees and sage brush with marmots sunning on rocks.
Camped: Signal Mountain Campground
Cost: $33
Nights: 3
Showers: $6
Highlights in the Tetons:
- String Lake Trail – Easy – 4 miles, 301 feet elevation gain
- Sunset over Jackson Lake
- The Grand Teton Ranged
- Moose sightings
On Friday, May 31 ,we followed the road north towards Yellowstone. We were greeted by the impressive views of the Lewis Canyon and the frozen Lewis Lake. Maple enjoy the numerous snow piles with pinecones. We stopped at the West Basin Geysers. The geological features are so unique and like nothing I’ve ever seen.
Camped: Canyon Campground
Cost: $31
Nights: 4
Elevation: 7, 900 ft
Scope rental available at Yellowstone Forever (Gardiner, MT) for $25 a day
Highlights in Yellowstone:
- Wolf watching at Slough Creek & the Hayden Valley
- Morning drive through the Lamar Valley
- Hike (Daisy Pass) and breakfast in Cooke City, MT
- Ribbon Trail along the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
- Wildlife
On Tuesday, June 4th, we headed out of the Gardiner exit of Yellowstone towards Livingston, MT. We found a National Forest campground about 15 minutes outside of Yellowstone: Pine Creek Campground. There is a nice hike to a giant waterfall off of the campground. We enjoyed dinner at Gil’s Goods in Livingston.
Camped: Pine Creek NF Campground
Cost: $20
Nights: 1
The next morning we reluntanly made our way east on 90 watching the mountains recede in the rear view mirror. We took a detour to the Beartooth Pass. We arrived late to a National Forest campground in the Black Hills about 30 minutes outside Spearfish, SD.
Camped: Rod & Gun NF Campground
Cost: $18
Nights: 1
On Thursday, June 6th, we continued homeward with a pitstop in Sauk City, WI for the night.
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