Day five was another amazing travel day! We said goodbye to Jackson Hole, WY and started our journey to Billings, MT. Our journey took us back through Yellowstone as it was actually the fastest route to Montana. Instead of taking the west part of the loop toward Old Faithful like we did yesterday, we took the east loop toward Cody, WY. It was equally as beautiful, but it a completely different experience than the west side. The east loop hugs the shoreline of Yellowstone Lake for several miles. The kids were excited that we found another beach area to explore. However, they were a little disappointed when they realized it was too cold to swim…or even take off their jackets. There was a really great pull off area along the shoreline that leads to a sandbar area. We took a walk along the sandbar checking out the rocks and vegetation before heading back to the car.
We continued along the East Entrance Rd and ran across several other cool surprises. We finally saw an elk and a buffalo! The buffalo was really cool. When we first saw him, he was lying on the ground and started rolling around just like our farm animals do. When he stood up, we were amazed at how big he was! It would have been a little scary if he wasn’t completely disinterested in all of his human observers. He just stood there eating grass while we all gawked and took pictures.
Our next big surprise was finding snow as we crossed through the mountains. We left Jackson thinking we were heading somewhere warmer, so the kids were wearing flip flops and shorts. Imagine our surprise when we rounded the curve and found a huge snow bank by one of the pull off areas. Of course we had to pull in and check it out. The kids had a blast climbing up the snow bank and having a snowball fight. Having a snowball fight in July was definitely a first!
The last surprise wasn’t a very pleasant one. We were saddened to see all the burned trees from the previous wildfires. Acres and acres of charred trees all around. Most were still standing, but many had fallen and slid down the mountain side. You can tell the ground vegetation was coming back, but it will take years for the trees to regrow. I just hope this area is spared from any more fires so it can fully recover.
Just outside the Yellowstone East Entrance, we entered the Shoshone National Forest. The Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway runs from Yellowstone to Cody, WY. It was interesting how the mountains in the Shoshone National Forest were distinctly different from the mountains inside Yellowstone. Instead of the gray rocky and grassy mountains of Yellowstone, the mountains in Shoshone National Forest were red rocks, very canyon-like in structure and color. It was such a gorgeous drive! Along the way, we came across the Buffalo Bill Dam. This is a must see along this drive! First, it is a free tour with public restrooms, exhibits, and a gift shop. Second, visitors get an awesome view of both the reservoir side and the release side. As the the water is released from the reservoir into the river, the water sprays against the canyon walls. This spray combined with the perfect sunny weather caused the most beautiful rainbow over the river. Definitely a must see, but be careful for the strong winds as you are standing on the observation bridge. They can be pretty intense.
Our final stop on the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway was Cody, WY. Cody is a cute little town that has managed to hold onto its old west heritage. While driving through Cody, we stopped in to tour the Old Trail Town. This moderately priced tour ($9 for adults and $5 for kids) takes visitors back to the 1800’s. They have 20+ cabins that are authentic to WY. The workers are extremely knowledgable and happy to share the history of each cabin. Old Trail Town is located right next to the Cody Stampede Rodeo Arena and is right behind the location of the original town of Cody. If you like history, you’ll enjoy a visit to Cody.
By this time, we decided it was time to finish our journey to Billings, Montana. We took the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (Hwy 120) from Cody to just north of the Montana border. This was another gorgeous drive as the landscapes continued to change right before our eyes. While there were still mountains in the distance, they gave way to more flat lands in between. In fact, we came upon one stretch of land that was completely flat and straight for a full 10 miles. I have never seen a straight stretch that long before. It really felt like you could see forever in all directions.
We made it to Billings just ahead of a big storm. It was cool, and slightly unnerving, to watch it move across the sky as it got closer to Billings. We were glad we made it to the hotel before the severe thunderstorm hit the area. Of course the kids took this as the perfect excuse to hang out at the hotel’s indoor pool for the rest of the night. I guess we’ll continue the adventures tomorrow!
