Yellowstone the fun way ‘round

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

By Marilyn J. Ellis

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-The road is a mess between Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone due to road construction. It will not be finished until late July or early August. Waiting in long lines is not what most people on vacation want to do.
For those of you new to the area or just visiting, here’s a guide to an alternative route to Yellowstone through Victor, Idaho.

South of Grand Teton National Park is Jackson Hole with its wooden sidewalks, art galleries, restaurants, and watering holes like the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. Western flair in clothing, motels, and gifts can all be found at this southern gateway to the Tetons.

South of Jackson, a right turn on Wyoming Hwy 22 leads to Wilson, a quaint town established in 1889 at the base of the Teton Range. Past Wilson, Hwy 22 is very steep with 10 percent grades but on top is a breathtaking view of the entire Jackson Hole area. For hikers and bikers, the Pass has many trailheads with both short and long hikes on both sides of the mountain. This pass is not for everyone, but tractor trailer trucks, RVs, and many other dubious vehicles make this trek – slowly.

Victor is the first small town in Idaho as WY 22 turns into Idaho 33, and it is the entry into the farming communities of Teton Valley, Idaho. Its relatively new claim to fame is backwards parking – that passed by one vote of Victor’s city council.
Eight miles north is Driggs, the county seat with many old buildings and one red light. A left turn at that light onto Ski Hill Road goes 12 miles to Grand Targhee Ski Resort, in Alta, WY, and makes a great side trip.

Targhee’s summer season began on Saturday. Avid mountain bikers can load specially rigged ski lifts and take their bikes to the top of the slopes, and enjoy downhill biking or trails beyond. Besides restaurants and lodging, the 6th annual Targhee Fest, 23rd Music Festival, a bluegrass music camp and live entertainment at the Trap Bar are all on the summer schedule.

Leaving Driggs, the ‘back side’ of the Teton mountain range stands out as what locals call the Four Peaks all the way to Tetonia, and farther north. Tetonia is a bustling metropolis of 248 citizens, and it used to be on a Union Pacific Railroad line no longer in existence, with grain elevators and a depot.

Past Tetonia, turning right on Hwy 32, an adventure deep into potato country awaits. The first little town is Felt, but don’t be deceived. Felt is a hub for harvesting potatoes. All along the route to Ashton there are roofs on the ground – with no building underneath – that protect potatoes from brutal 30-below winters.
On the way, fly fishermen might want to check out Bitch Creek, a lesser known fly-fishing haven.

Highway 32 ends east of Ashton, and Idaho 47 West connects with US 20. Just north of this town is a steep climb to a big plateau and the recreation area of Island Park, Idaho. Great fishing, hiking, camping and boating are available all around Island Park Reservoir.

Twenty-eight miles from Island Park is West Yellowstone, Mon., the Western gateway to Yellowstone National Park. In town, Yellowstone Bear World has live bears, and the IMAX Theatre shows informative movies on Yellowstone. Plenty of motels and restaurants, and grocery stores at West Yellowstone help the traveler stock up for Old Faithful, about an hour away.

If driven straight through, the ‘Fun Way ‘Round’ takes just under three hours, but who wouldn’t prefer a picturesque adventure into new territory to sitting in bumper to bumper traffic stuck between two national parks? JHW

photo by MARILYN ELLIS
Many people are not aware that the Teton mountain range can be viewed in a different state with a whole new perspective.

PERMALINK:
Yellowstone the fun way ‘round | Planet JH News Article: Sports & Recreation

Leave a Comment