SFR: Yellowstone Roadtrip questions from Vancouver BC

1288 Views 14 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Last Action Freddie, Jul 22, 2016

TexBC

Discussion Starter · Jul 17, 2016

Hello all,

The lovely lady and I leave for Yellowstone from Vancouver, BC, next Saturday morning, bright and early. We've even got a house-sitter lined up!

Here is our current plan:

Day 1) Loooooooong drive from Vancouver to Missoula and crash in a motel that night (already reserved)
Day 2) Drive from Missoula to Yellowstone and set up camp - tent and tarp - at Canyon Campground (reserved for 5 nights) in the NW quadrant of the park
Days 3-6) Explore the park! This will mainly be hiking and fishing, though we'll probably do some touristy stuff too. We may try and find a better "first-come-first-served" campsite as well (maybe Slough Creek?). I've been told to hit the road early and late to avoid crowds and maximize animal sightings, so that will be our plan.

Days 7-10) Pack up camp and drive back over 4 days / 3 nights, hopefully sightseeing and camping along the way.

We would love any advice or suggestions from those that have gone before. Thanks to those I've already spoken with that have offered their thoughts.

Specifically I'm wondering about:
- fishing suggestions for our trip - both in Yellowstone and on our way home (end of July timeframe)
- off-the-beaten-path suggestions in Yellowstone (we are both fit and like a good challenge/hike/etc)
- places to see, and places to stay for our drive home from YNP to Vancouver

Thanks in advance for any thoughts. PMs are also always welcome.

Cheers,
Spence & Tiff

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

TexBC

Discussion Starter · #2 · Jul 17, 2016

And for context, this is the sort of adventure we like to go on - last year's trip kayaking for a week in Clayoquot Sound, near Tofino BC:

Tacoma Red

· #3 · Jul 17, 2016

Wonderful video, beautiful couple. Thanks for sharing and Stay Golden Pony Boy!

Reactions: 1

FishlessinSeattle

· #4 · Jul 18, 2016

You didn't mention the route you plan to take, but if you haven't considered it I would take a look at spending some time in Glacier NP

Reactions: 1

GelJockey

· #5 · Jul 18, 2016

That was a super video! Thanks for sharing. On the touristy side of things, I loved checking out the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, especially upper and lower Yellowstone Falls.

Reactions: 1

TexBC

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 20, 2016

Tacoma Red - thank you, you're gonna make us blush! LOL

FiS - don't have a set route home yet, open to suggestions. Glacier NP sounds amazing now that I'm taking a look at it. Plus it would allow us to cut into BC early and visit the Kootenays, which might be nice!

Bruce - thank you! Grand Canyon of YNP is DEFINITELY on our list. We are staying at Canyon Campground and will be making at least one trip into the canyon itself.

Thanks all! Open to more suggestions - especially for the drive home.

Nooksack Mac

· #7 · Jul 20, 2016

A hike down into the canyon section of the Yellowstone River is definitely recommended, for those who are able. That water is not accessable by boat or road, so, depending on how high or colored the river is, and what's hatching, you get to fish from shore over relatively unpressured trout in a splendid section of one of the greatest rivers in the West. A little west of Canyon, you can do an easy, level three mile hike into Grebe Lake and fish for grayling.

A great companion piece is Silver Creek near Picabo, Idaho, about a hundred miles s.w. from West Yellowstone, justly the most famous spring creek in America. Free camping at Hayspur Hatchery, a half mile from the creek.

G

· #8 · Jul 20, 2016

Take a detour into Bozeman and eat crawfish etouffe (or catfish tchopatoulas) at Cafe Zydeco.

TexBC

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jul 21, 2016

Fishing for grayling would be super cool. Might have to make that hike, thanks Nooksack Mac!

And dld - crawfish etouffe? I don't know what that is but it sounds amazing. LOL

Robert Engleheart

· #10 · Jul 21, 2016

I don't know anything about Montana but if it were me I'd check out the eastslope streams in western Alberta and the Elk and other streams around Fernie.

Reactions: 1

1morecast

· #11 · Jul 21, 2016

Head north west of YS and fish the Missouri, keep going and you can come into Glacier through the east side.

Salmo_g

· #12 · Jul 21, 2016

Just returned home last night from that general area. Fished the Lamar in YNP Tuesday, which reminds me why I don't like visiting YNP in July. The speed limit is 45 mph, and the tourons (contraction of tourist and moron) can't drive faster than 30 or 35, even slower if an animal jam is spotted. The fishing, however, reminded me of what I like most about YNP - wilderness and wilderness fishing. However, I did see two anglers, neither of whom was me, but everyone kept their distance, and the relative solitude was maintained.

Sg

Reactions: 1

creekx

· #13 · Jul 21, 2016

Salmo_g said:
Just returned home last night from that general area. Fished the Lamar in YNP Tuesday, which reminds me why I don't like visiting YNP in July. The speed limit is 45 mph, and the tourons (contraction of tourist and moron) can't drive faster than 30 or 35, even slower if an animal jam is spotted. The fishing, however, reminded me of what I like most about YNP - wilderness and wilderness fishing. However, I did see two anglers, neither of whom was me, but everyone kept their distance, and the relative solitude was maintained.

Sg

Funny, we fished Soda Butte and the Lamar above the confluence on Tuesday. We first drove to our favorite spot on Soda, where there is usually 1 or none cars parked - there were 5 already there! Packed with fisherman all the way to Pebble Cr. We expect Soda Butte to be crowded because the road follows it, but holy hell it looked like an FFF Conclave! Interestingly, we drove back down and saw that nobody was on the water above the confluence with the Lamar. So we fished up Soda a ways and then climbed the bench and hoofed it cross country to the Lamar. Had a blast in relative solitude and caught dozens of cutts.

As for the tourons (I like that) we always pause and take a deep breath before entering the park, knowing what we are about to face. You can either relax and change attitude or risk heart-attack. It is that bad at times.

Reactions: 1

bakerite

· #14 · Jul 22, 2016

I would second the trip to GNP and Fernie on the way home. There is some good fishing in the park if you like Stillwater.

Last Action Freddie

· #15 · Jul 22, 2016

I've fished Slough Creek first meadow a couple of times. Beautiful meadow and views. Just a 45 minute (less?) hike. I hear second meadow is even better. One time the fishing was smoking hot on hoppers - nice sized cutts. The other time kinda dead.

Also backpacked into the Black Canyon. Didn't see a single person over 3 days. Fishing was decent to very good - for both cutts and rainbows. mostly cutts. Solitude gives it that "wilderness feel". Even though we're just a short hike away from mobs and traffic jams.

There are some really remote areas of that park where your only competition for fish and solitude will be bears ... but the two above places are as "remote" as I've been there.

Reactions: 1

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