PICTURE YOURSELF IN…

Yellowstone

BY BREKKE FLETCHER

I find anniversaries hilarious. I mean, as markers of time they're all right, but unless it's yours, it's kind of hard to get terribly excited. What's absolutely hilarious about the whole "150 Years of Yellowstone" moment is that its history dates back to, well, the beginning of time?

Yes, I know, we're talking about two different things, but are we? Because in the absence of specificity and context, I fear that some may fail to appreciate the monumental importance of Yellowstone National Park as not only a playground for families on summer vacation and outdoor enthusiasts.

Yellowstone, from its waterfalls to its wildlife, represents universal ideas, about the permanence and impermanence of life, danger, vulnerability, perseverance, preservation and spell-binding, inestimable, mind-blowing natural grandeur.

It shows us how small and insignificant we are, which is probably why some people are all, "Look! A geyser!" Because who wants to think about "in life, we are in death," while fly-fishing? I mean, I do.

So it's that unfathomable enormity of time thing that gets me fired up about Yellowstone, though I'm hardly an expert. But guess what? I know one! And I questioned him. Or more accurately, I Zoomed with him.

Sean Jansen is a tour guide in Yellowstone National Park, a Montana-based Lonely Planet writer, a photographer, an avid hiker, fly-fisherman and a person who grew up going to the park every year with his family, from when he was 8-years-old.

At 33, Sean hasn't missed a season at the park. It remains a major part of his life. And his passion is infectious. To know him is to be filled with bitter jealousy. Because Sean's the guy who does the thing that we all said we're gonna do: He does what he loves.
And he knows his stuff.

I will not visit the park without consulting him again. And since I, too, do what I love (#sorrynotsorry), I may even meet him IRL and have him show me some of his favorite spots.

Until then, I think you should start planning your trip to Yellowstone National Park, if not this year for the 150th, maybe for the 13,437,922nd, which honestly may have already come and gone.

Q. When did you first visit Yellowstone National Park?

A. In 1996, I was eight years old. Until I was 18, we visited only on family trips, because we lived in California. My dad loved fly-fishing so much that we always came to Montana or Wyoming for vacation. Every single summer we went into the park. And I now live in Bozeman and work in the park

Q. What do you do?

I'm a private tour guide with Natural Retreats. I customize tours based on what the people are looking for, so no two tours are the same.

Yellowstone, for people who don't know, is massive. You cannot see it in one day.

So, one day I'll take them fly-fishing. One day I'll take people hiking. One day we'll spend the whole day looking at all the thermal features. One day we could just break out binoculars and spotting scopes and look at wildlife all day.

Q. What do you love about it?

A. The serendipity of it. You never know what you're going to get. I've been going to the park for 25 years, and I have not seen it all.

The best wildlife sightings are in the Lamar Valley.

Q. Where do you most like to take people?

A. Up to the Lamar Valley, which is aptly known as the Serengheti of North America. And for good reason. It's not if we see a bison up there, it's how many. I could promise thousands. When we see bears in the park, 90% of the time they are up in that part of Yellowstone.

Q. Where do you least like to take people?

A. I have probably seen Old Faithful a thousand times. I appreciate the thermal features, I feel like if you've seen them once, you're good. I'm more of a guy who likes to look at wildlife all day, though I do understand fully why people want to see them. To be completely honest, I'm bored with them. I wanna see the animals!

Q. Where do people stay, usually?

A. There are five entrances to Yellowstone, and just outside each one, there are towns with campgrounds, hotels, Airbnbs, National Forest-operated campgrounds. But you can stay inside in the park, there are lodges and campgrounds available, but you have to reserve those in advance. I really want people to go camping in the park. That way you can maximize your time and avoid the traffic coming in and going out. The roads in summer are a nightmare.

Q. So is the park insane during the summer?

A. If you do not need to descend on the park in July and August, I can't emphasize enough how beautiful it is in late May, early June. And September and October are unreal.

Go in May or in the fall to avoid the crowds.

US national parks will be free to enter on April 16 to kick off National Park Week

Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 16, 2022. On that day, the National Park Service (NPS) will waive entrance fees at every site in the country as a kick-off to the start of National Park Week.

Find out more

DOS & DONT'S

Make your trip to Yellowstone National Park both awesome and unforgettable with these additional tips from Lonely Planet's resident guide, Sean Jansen.

DO: GET UP EARLY:

Yellowstone is pure magic at any time of day, but it feels like it's yours alone when you're up before the sun.

DON'T: USE THE WEST ENTRANCE:

Unless you want to sit in traffic. Use one of the others for a less-trafficked entry point.

DO: TAKE PHOTOS:

This place is the epitome of picturesque, so shoot video, take pictures until you're out of memory (or if you're old school, film).

DON'T: TRY TO UPLOAD OR SHARE THEM:

There is no cell service in the park, which is great, because that reduces distractions and prevents you from missing any of the beauty.

DO: KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN:

The park is chock-a-block with glorious sites, breath-taking scenery and copious animals – but you need to have your wits about you.

DON'T: TOUCH THE ANIMALS:

This just in: If you attempt to "pet" a wild animal, you will likely be gravely injured. If it's a squirrel or a bear, don't touch it.

DO: SLEEP IN THE PARK:

There is no better way to experience the park than by staying in it. Sleep under the stars in your own private quiet place.

DON'T: WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE:

Reservations for camping and lodging inside the park are hard to come by, so make your plans well in advance.

DO: BE PREPARED:

Hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, water and supportive footwear are all important to have on hand if you want to brave the elements without discomfort or worse, injury.

DON'T: MISTAKE A HOT SPRING FOR A HOT TUB:

If you even dip a toe in, you'll get a third degree burn. People die thinking they're some kind of jacuzzi.

Build your best Yellowstone experience

Three expertly-crafted Lonely Planet itineraries take you to the otherworldly ends of the park to see wildlife and geysers

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LP's National Park Playlist

Take your hike, walk or run to the next level with this selection of National Park-worthy songs, perfect for enriching your outdoor experiences at Yellowstone and beyond.