As another installment of our Makin’ The Loop series, today’s loop is the longest yet. It can be done in one day, but you’ll have to keep moving. This loop goes from Island Park, to West Yellowstone, to Old Faithful, to the South Entrance of the park, to Jackson Hole, to Dirggs, to Tetonia, to Felt, to Ashton and back to Island Park.
This is a great loop. You’ll get to see some of the most beautiful features of the park and you’ll get to see the Grand Tetons from all four directions (basically you’re making a loop around the Tetons. There’s the old-west feel of Jackson and Victor, the natural beauty of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, and spectacular mountains and high-mountain valleys.
Things not to miss include fountain paint pots and Old Faithful in Yellowstone. Jackson lake and Jenny lake in Grand Teton national park (the fee to enter Yellowstone also allows free access in Grand Teton Park.) Then there’s the main square and shopping in Jackson hole. And during the summer there will be the wild-west shootout right in the street. By the time you get to Jackson you’ll be ready for lunch. Check out a Billy Burger at the little hole-in-the-wall diner next to the silver dollar bar on the square. I guarantee it’s the best burger you’ve ever eaten. Then over the hill to Driggs. If you take ski hill road toward Grand Targhee, you’ll be rewarded with the best view of the Tetons there is.
This is one giant photo op. Don’t forget your camera. There is gas and food available in West Yellowstone, Jackson, Driggs, Ashton and back here in Island Park, so no worries there. But always drive on the top half of the tank just to be sure. The park closes some time in October, so don’t wait too long.
See you there.
I was in the store the other day where a loud and boisterous conversation was going on. These were fishermen. True blue, through and through fishermen, extolling the virtues of the only true method of catching fish — fly fishing. It seems that anyone who might deign to use “worms” (this guy said “worm” like a nine year old little girl who’s been asked to eat one) is somehow inferior to the fishing elite.