Heading East to Yellowstone: July 8 - 13

Sunday, July 8th
252 miles
We'll leave Eugene heading straight east along Hwy 126 which is supposed to be a beautiful drive in the mountains.  We'll pass over the Crest of the Pacific Cascade Mountains and go through the Three Sisters Wilderness Area.  These three peaks have 15 named glaciers among them and are volcanic peaks which are part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc in the Cascade Range.

North Sister 10,085 ft (aka Faith)
Middle Sister 10,047 ft (aka Hope)
South Sister 10,358 ft (aka Charity)

It is estimated that this was an explosively active volcanic center with eruptions from 700,000-170,000 years ago.


courtesy of Wikipedia

Our ultimate destination is Clyde Holliday State Park in central Oregon where we'll spend the night in a real TEPEE!  It sleeps 8 so if any of you are in the area, please do join us, it will probably help us to keep warm :)


Monday, July 9th
265 miles
Into Idaho and Three Island Crossing State Park for camping in our own tent once again.  This was one of the most famous river crossings on the historic trail and there is an Oregon Trail History & Education Center.    Pioneer travelers used the three-island crossing until 1869, when Gus Glenn constructed a ferry about 2 miles upstream.  Lo and behold, on the map of Idaho the nearest town is named Glenns Ferry :)  So sensible.

Tuesday, July 10th
326 miles
Continue through Idaho, a tish into Montana and into the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park!  Where the first thing on our list is to buy Bear Spray.  Becky doesn't carry this at Just Goods, although I did buy a lot of her natural Mosquito Repellant and a great hiking hat!


We may stop in Blackfoot at the Idaho Potato Museum & Gift shop, hopefully they are still giving hash browns to Out-of-Staters like us!

"We give taters to Out-Of-Staters" With each paid adult admission, you will receive a box of yummy hash browns to take home with you!

We are camping three nights in Yellowstone at the Madison Campground which is along the Madison River, 14 miles inside the West entrance of the park.  No showers at this campground, but it was the smallest one that took reservations and has trail heads from the campground so we don't have to actually drive to find a place to hike.

Yellowstone contains approximately one-half of the world’s hydrothermal features. There are over 10,000 hydrothermal features, including over 300 geysers, in the park.
Old Faithful is the most consistent geyser, but there are larger and more dramatic geysers if you happen to see them :)


Amazing canyons, waterfalls and wildlife.  I'm hoping that we spend little time in the car, but we'll see.  My parents are staying just north of Yellowstone in Montana and if we all have cell service we should be able to meet up.  I'm planning to have at least one meal at one of the beautiful lodges in the park, we'll definitely have to drive to one of those!
Old Faithful Lodge has a Bakery.  In case anyone was wondering.  And therefore you can sit in the lobby and watch Old Faithful erupt, while eating a fresh baked muffin!