yellowstone bear world
Located about 5 miles south of Rexburg off Highway 20, Yellowstone Bear World is a unique drive-through park where you can watch wildlife in their own habitats from your vehicle. The park is open seven days a week from mid-May to mid-October. Rates vary; full vehicles receive discounts.

fishing
Fly-fishing the South Fork of the Snake River, one of North America’s premier dry-fly fisheries, provides anglers opportunities to land trophy-size native Yellowstone cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout in a pristine setting. The season runs from June to September.

legacy flight museum
Brand-new to Rexburg, the Legacy Flight Museum offers tremendous insight into the history of flight, particularly war planes. At least 10 World War II, Korean War, and Cold War airplanes and memorabilia are displayed. These real, working planes include such models as the P-63 King Cobra (one of only three in the world that still fly), the P-51 Staggerwing Beech (two planes), the Sky Raider, and the L-39, among many others. Step into history and get a firsthand look at this amazing exhibit.

dance festivals
For more than 25 years, citizens of the world have come to Idaho to dance. Each summer in Rexburg and Burley, Idaho, folk dancers and musicians gather at the Idaho International Dance and Music Festival. More than 300 dancers perform in various venues, from the opening ceremonies to the parade, street festival, youth culture classes, performances, and other ceremonies. It’s also not unusual to see dancing and singing in the streets. In the past, performers have come from countries like China, Austria, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Senegal, and the U.S.; check the website below for this summer’s schedule. The Festival will celebrate its 27th season in 2012. The festival comes to Burley July 25-27, 2012 and to Rexburg July 28-Aug. 4, 2012. The Festival is presented by the Rexburg Area Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, call (208) 356-5700 or (800) 634-3246, go to rexcc.com or yellowstoneteton.org and see ad on this page.

Grizzly bears that live at the GWDC are animals that were unable to survive in the wild for various reasons. Many were orphaned when their mothers became accustomed to obtaining food from human areas. Others had been labeled “nuisance bears” because they were becoming dangerously comfortable around humans. These animals have a second chance at the Center. Their stories help share important lessons about living and recreating in bear country.

The wolves were all captive-born. The GWDC agreed to take pups from different litters, and have since formed two wolf packs. Wolves possess a dynamic and strong family structure that can be observed as these animals interact through their day. Watch for body posturing, ear and tail position, and each animal’s location in the habitat.

The Center’s main goal is to help guests gain knowledge about grizzly bears and wolves through educational programs. Not only can visitors spend time watching these magnificent animals interact in their outdoor habitats, they can also take advantage of a wide variety of programs and activities made available for the whole family. In Keeper Kids, children ages 5 to 12 learn what bears eat and help the naturalists hide food for the bears. In Bird-of-Prey demonstrators, visitors see non-releasable raptors up close. Two programs—Safety in Bear Country and Living with Bears—teach how wildlife pros manage bruins with the help of a live Karelian bear dog. Visit the Naturalist Cabin to see two separate wolf packs through floor-to-ceiling windows. Highlights in the cabin include daily “Pack Chats,” a National Geographic film on wolves, and a life-sized wolf model.

The center is open 365 days a year (GWDC bears do not hibernate). Admission is good for two consecutive days.

Wherever your travels take you, it’s worth the trip to discover and explore at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center.

Go to grizzlydiscoveryctr.org call (800) 257-2570 for more information, and see ad on this page.

Water races along the snow and ice covered boulders that dot Soda Butte Creek in Yellowstone National Park. Captured with a Canon 5D II and 70-200/2.8L IS II in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of + 4/3 at ISO50, f/16, and .6 seconds. The camera was mounted on an Induro CT214 tripod and Acratech GP 1 ball head, a 4 stop neutral density filer was used to allow a longer exposure and a Singh-Ray LB Polarizer was used to cut the reflection from the water.

Water races along the snow and ice covered boulders that dot Soda Butte Creek in Yellowstone National Park. Captured with a Canon 5D II and 70-200/2.8L IS II in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of + 4/3 at ISO50, f/16, and .8 seconds. The camera was mounted on an Induro CT214 tripod and Acratech GP 1 ball head, a 4 stop neutral density filer was used to allow a longer exposure and a Singh-Ray LB Polarizer was used to cut the reflection from the water.

Water races along the snow and ice covered boulders that dot Soda Butte Creek in Yellowstone National Park. Captured with a Canon 5D II and 70-200/2.8L IS II in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of + 4/3 at ISO50, f/16, and 1 second. The camera was mounted on an Induro CT214 tripod and Acratech GP 1 ball head, a 4 stop neutral density filer was used to allow a longer exposure and a Singh-Ray LB Polarizer was used to cut the reflection from the water.

Happy shooting

Photo by C.Sagan

The following is a summary of current Yellowstone road and entrance statuses and conditions.

Full closures:

-The Canyon to Tower Road is closed to traffic Sept 22, 2012 through May 23, 2013. The road will also be closed from the hours of 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. from July 5 to Sept. 22, 2012 from Chittenden Road to Tower Junction Gate.

-The Indian Creek Campground access road at Obsidian Bridge is likely to be closed to traffic 24-hours per day starting at noon, Sept. 4, 2012 through Nov 21, 2012.

Currently Operating Roads and Entrances:

-East Entrance, North Entrance, and South Entrance are all fully open an operating including access to Canyon, Madison, and the Old Faithful area.

-As of now, the roads leading from the Lake Area and to the Old Faithful from the south to West Thumb and Grant Village including the South Entrance are scheduled to be open to traffic May 11.

Current Projects and Recent Openings:

-Repairs are now complete on the section of road that was temporarily closed located south of Canyon Junction, allowing more streamlined access from the east to Fishing Bridge and Canyon.

-Crews have begun working on the snow and spring clearing of US-212 east of Cooke City, MT

-A section of road from the Northeast Entrance to WY-296 is now fully open.

-Crews from the National Park and MDOT currently are plowing and working to open the section from the junction of WY-296 at the Beartooth Pass through Red Lodge, MT. The section is scheduled to open May 25.

-Snow is still being cleared off the road between Canyon and Tower Fall at Dunraven Pass and the park expects to fully open the road May 25.

Seasonal Closures:

-Most Yellowstone roads are subject to annual winter closure to wheeled vehicles starting November through late April and into May due to winter conditions. This includes the road leading to the Old Faithful area and the Northeast Entrance near Cooke City east into Montana.

-The only roads that remain open in the winter are those between the North Entrance and Cooke City, MT as well as the road between Mammoth Hot Springs and the parking area Upper Terraces.

Visitors should expect delays of up to 30 minutes in most Yellowstone roads Memorial Day Weekend as well as Labor Day Weekend. For more traffic, construction and closures you can call the Yellowstone National Park 24-hour road condition hotline at (307) 344-2117. For seasonal closures and operating hours can be found here.

New signs in Yellowstone National Park will help visitors be bear aware. “Be Alert. Make Noise. Carry bear spray. Avoid hiking alone. Do not run,” read the yellow postings that will be hung 50 to 100 yards down assorted trails, instead of right at the trailhead where visitors tend to overlook them.

“People are becoming blasé and not taking it seriously,” Greg Losinski of the Idaho Game and Fish Department told Wyoming’s Trib.com.

Recent park surveys found out just how “blasé” people are. The survey reports that only 16 percent of day hikers carry bear spray, while 70 percent of backpackers do. Only 5 percent of visitors were stopping to read the old warning information posted at trailheads.

The new and simplified signs come in the wake of two bear-related deaths in Yellowstone last year—one because the person was hiking alone, the other because the individual ran when attacked. Neither person had been carrying bear spray.

Staff members from a range of agencies came up with the verbiage on the new, more succinct signs, and their placement was funded by a grant from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee of roughly $3,000.

To help encourage people to carry bear spray, a non-profit in the Yellowstone area is hoping to offer rental bear spray canisters, at a reduced cost, through a number of local retailers and outfitters

A Bighorn Sheep, ram, grazes far above the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park. Captured with a Canon 5D II and 70-200/2.8L IS II + 2.0TC III in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of + 2/3 at ISO400, f/6.3, and 1/250th of a second. The camera was handheld.

A Coyote licks its chops in Yellowstone National Park. Captured with a Canon 7D and 70-200/2.8L IS II in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of + 1 at ISO400, f/4.0, and 1/200th of a second. The camera was handheld.

A Coyote peers through the grass down at the Lamar River in Yellowstone National Park. Captured with a Canon 7D and 500/4.0L IS in aperture priority mode with an exposure bias of + 4/3 at ISO200, f/7.1, and 1/400th of a second. The camera was resting on a beanbag.

Happy shooting

Chromatic Pool. Photo by C. Sagan

Picture this: Rugged mountains, roaming wildlife, vast canyons, and maybe a geyser or two. Plus, as an added bonus: No entry fee! National Park Week 2012 is upon us, April 21 through 29, so get out and enjoy 84 million acres of beautiful terrain for free.

“National Park Week is the perfect time to experience all that our national parks have to offer,” Neil Mulholland, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation, said in a statement.

Special events will run in parks across the country in honor of the event. Near the Tetons? Check out a living history demonstration about mountain men. Hanging out by Yosemite? Go for an Earth Day bike ride or an Ansel Adams photography walk. Maybe you’re an upper East Coaster? Acadia will host a Geological Wonder Walk. Plus, April 28 is National Junior Ranger Day, where kids five to 12 years old are invited to explore, learn and protect the parks they visit.

“America’s national parks have something for everyone,” National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said in a news release. “And, since admission is free to all 397 parks, all week long, National Park Week is a great time to get up, get out and explore a park.”

Visit one of our five websites with national park vacation planning information, park maps, and things to do at:

Yellowstone National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park

Grand Canyon National Park

Yosemite National Park

Zion National Park

Or if you’re not sure which park is good for you, try out this handy “FindaPark” link.

Fun Park Stats

Hiking Trails: 18,600 miles

Shoreline: 43,000 miles

Underground passages: 900 miles

National Park Campsites: 12,000

This article was reported by Courtney Holden

The camera used to capture the footage. Courtesy Photo

At least once in a lifetime everyone should be able to see firsthand an Old Faithful eruption, the black obsidian sand beaches of Shoshone Lake, or the amazing Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. The three million annual visitors to Yellowstone have no doubt seen them, but that leaves the majority of the population who have still probably never seen these amazing sights. Thanks to Nature Valley, national park enthusiasts who have never seen these and many other breathtaking sites can get a front-row seat to some of the most spectacular natural wonders in Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and the Great Smoky Mountain National Parks.

A visit to the new Nature Valley Trail View website is a completely unique experience. The site is a portal to 300+ miles of trails in three national parks, complete with 360-degree, Google Street View style views of every step along the way. The project, conceived by McCann Erikson Worldwide, brings General Mill’s Nature Valley brand together with the National Parks Conservation Association in an effort to raise awareness and conservation for national parks.

For two weeks in each of the three parks, a crew of 8 to 12–including myself as a guide– hiked, and hiked, to capture 360-degree footage of trails in each of the parks covered. The camera used is the same type of camera that Google originally used for it’s Street View, except this one was modified to be carried like a backpack (all 40 pounds of it).  The resulting footage can now transport users to a virtual hands-on tour of the parks. From an interactive map of the park, users can see which trails were covered, each step along the way of those trails, and on some of the more spectacular trails, a high-definition 360-degree view of scenic overlooks.  The site also offers information about the trails, including elevation, distance, and points of interest along the way, making it a useful tool for scouting potential hikes as well.

Nature Valley plans to expand the project in the future, and are looking at other iconic parks as well as the possibility of user contributed footage.  Enjoy the amazing scenery of Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Great Smoky Mountain National Parks at naturevalleytrailview.com, and view a slideshow of images from the trails covered here.

Crystal Sagan
National Park Trips Web Producer

Photo by Steven Shankie

According to the National Park, Yellowstone grizzly bears have begun emerging from their dens in the park.

Yellowstone officials first reported grizzly activity this spring when employees observed a grizzly on March 12th in the north central area of the park. Shortly after the first spotting, fresh tracks were found near the main Old Faithful area. And just a week after, more activity was reported in Shoshone National Forest.

As the bears come out of their den, they immediately begin searching for food, which can lead to more aggressive behavior. Within the park, they are often known to look for carcases of bison who have died over the winter. Visitors and hikers are advised to continue to practice proper bear safety.

As the park requires, it is best to stay 100 yards away from both black and grizzly bears. When in the backcountry, hikers should be in groups of three or more and make noise as well as carry bear spray.

Yellowstone experienced two deaths from grizzly maulings this past summer. In both cases, a sow grizzly was linked to the incidents and was euthanized.