How late is too late for Yellowstone/Grand Teton?

I just moved out to Casper WY and am without family for another 5 weeks or so. One of my goals before winter settles in is to revisit the Tetons and hit Yellowstone. I know there are road closures due to winter weather in Yellowstone, not sure about the Tetons. With a long weekend looming (Labor Day), I was thinking of making my run then. Pretty sure I won't have any closures to worry with, although last minute travelers is a different story. The Tetons are about 4.5 hours from Casper and would be my starting point, probably heading that way Friday after work, using Saturday to revisit and head into Yellowstone. Wildlife is the target.

Too early to miss a lot of the traffic?

huntersdad wrote in post #17679278
With a long weekend looming (Labor Day), I was thinking of making my run then. Wildlife is the target.

Labor Day weekend is not too late at all. In fact, for wildlife opportunities I would say you have up thru the first few days of October, when there will still be a little bit of rutting activity among the elk.

After the first week of Oct, the elk rut shuts down completely and you really have very little to photograph, as far as wildlife is concerned. I mean, you may get some portraits of stuff just standing there looking bored, but there usually aren't many good "peak activity" types of images available after the first week of October.

You may very well find bears, both black and grizzly, but as late as October they are very serious in their gathering of Whitebark Pine seeds, and they usually don't do anything playful or particularly interesting that will make for fun photos. They just want the food, as they sense the fact that winter is almost upon them and that this is their last chance to add some more fat.

Even the Pika have pretty much shut down by then, as they have usually already gathered all the hay they need for the coming winter.

Of course, exceptions do occur, but generally speaking it will be "too late" for dynamic wildlife images after October's first week.

I agree. First week of October is about the time things tend to slow in the Park. I live 2 hours away and I spend many days off there. I am going into Yellowstone for 3 days over Labor Day Weekend. The elk rut in the Park peaked last year around the 3rd week of September and the bulls were everywhere. Early AM on the Cody gate is good for bear, as well as Early AM on Dunraven Pass. The Buffalo Rut is slowing down but still might be able to see a few bulls doing their thing. Also, the antelope rut is starting and some of the bigger bucks are more apt to be out. Good luck, and have fun.

I hope all the cool stuff lasts through the first week of Oct as that is when I am visiting! Though with this crazy early summer/early fall, getting slightly worried...

I know, we had snow here in Montana a few days ago. Then two nights its ago, it frosted. lost most of the Garden. Could be an interesting fall/winter!

Following. Have a few days off and want to come up to glacier from October 14-18th. Want to photograph grizzyls and goats so heading to high country....Suggestions please

umphotography wrote in post #17689048
Following. Have a few days off and want to come up to glacier from October 14-18th. Want to photograph grizzyls and goats so heading to high country....Suggestions please

Hi, Mike!
If Grizzlies and Goats are your primary targets, you could have a tough time of it in Glacier that late in the fall. Logistics will be working against you.

The area in the park where Grizzlies are most effectively photographed is the Many Glacier area, which is in the northeast corner of the park. The area where Mountain Goats are most effectively photographed in the fall is at Logan Pass (in spring, Goat Lick is pretty good).

Earlier in the season, this would not be a problem for you. However, on September 21, they will be closing a portion of the Going To The Sun Road........the part they are closing is the section between St. Mary's and Logan Pass:
http://www.nps.gov …lanyourvisit/gt​tsrfaq.htm

This means that you will not be able to drive from the Grizzly area to the Mountain Goat area in 60-90 minutes, as you would normally be able to do. Instead you will have to drive all the way around the southern boundary of the park and travel the western slope of the Going To The Sun Road. This takes about 4 1/2 hours, and almost all of it is tedious driving in twisty turny mountain roads.

Add to this the fact that mid-late October Grizzlies in Glacier have already either entered into hibernation or are very sluggish, and not as likely to be seen as they are in September. Goat behavior can be good in October, if you can find them. Unfortunately, by this late in the season they have normally left their summertime haunts and moved on to different areas. Finding a goat to photograph could be difficult in mid-October. Not impossible by any means, but just not as likely as it would be in September, when it's pretty much a guarantee.

Tom. Thanks for this. I may have to go up on 9-14 through 9-17. Really want to go on the going to the sun road. That means I will be on a goldwig motorcycle. Might be cold

On the plus side, late October may be good for Teton scenery with the aspens presumably in full fall foliage. If you are into landscapes, that is.

umphotography wrote in post #17690016
Tom. Thanks for this. I may have to go up on 9-14 through 9-17.

The middle of September - that is the best time to go there. I mean, the absolute best time of the entire year.

I really suggest that if you are at Logan Pass, you hike the trail to Hidden Lake. That's the main trail that goes up from the visitor's center - the trail with all of the boardwalk sections on it. Between Logan Pass and the Hidden Lake overlook is the most reliable place to find Mountain Goats. There are also usually quite a few Bighorn Sheep along the trail. You will also find other alpine mammalian species, including Pika, Hoary Marmots, and Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels. Uinta Ground Squirrels are also common. None of these species are in hibernation in mid-late September, so you should have opportunities for all of them - even Pika, if you're willing to invest an hour or three sitting still near a rock pile.

Another really great subject to be on the lookout for are Ptarmigan. In mid-September, they will be changing plumage, and most birds encountered will be somewhere between summer's brown and winter's white. The trail to Hidden Lake is a great place to find them, as are some of the slopes along trails to the north of the Many Glacier area.

On that trail to Hidden Lake, sometimes the Bighorns and Mountain Goats walk right down the trail next to the people. Be sure to take a normal/wide angle lens along for those opportunities. It is really frustrating trying to photograph a goat with a 300mm or 400mm lens when the goat is only a few feet away and keeps walking toward you. A 24-105mm or 70-200mm should suffice for Logan Pass goats and sheep. The attached photo (below) shows a typical Logan Pass goat opportunity. These are the types of opportunities that you should find there on a daily basis:

I agree with Tom regarding the Hidden Lake Trail at Logan Pass -- it is one of the best wildlife encounter areas you will find in a national park. The mountain goats will roam all around you.

OK guys im going. It will take me a day to drive there from Seattle. I can spend Tuesday and Wednesday shooting and I have to drive back on Thursday. Logan pass and the hike for sure. Any other spots you would suggest. was hoping to hit medicine lakes and drive the road as well

Although wildlife habits may make photo opportunities less predictable in October, the reduced crowds make late trips more enjoyable. I live one hour from West Yellowstone and definitely prefer the early (May) and late (late September-October) seasons for visiting the park. Crowds during the Summer tourist season make the trips to the park less than enjoyable. Maybe I'm just a grumpy old man?

Mel-S wrote in post #17785132
Maybe I'm just a grumpy old man?

I don't think so. The summer crowds can be crazy... and 90+ degree weather is brutal as well.

Hey Guys. I forgot to post to this thread.

Success from our trip