Glacier, Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Park--Summer 2025 Trip Report

Pictured: The Johnson family on a hike near Many Glacier at Glacier National Park

This journey was over 365 days in the making. Actually, this trip was nearly 5 years in the making. During the summer of 2020, sitting at my mom's pool, my sister, my brothers, my mom and I dreamt of how wonderful it would be to go to Yellowstone National Park together when my youngest niece (who was barely 6 months old), turned five. The dream of the 16 of us going to spend time together in the nation's first national park became reality, as we worked out the logistics and drafted a loose itinerary. What we quickly realized was that trying to nail down dates, flight and driving logistics, as well as individual family needs posed what felt like sometimes insurmountable challenges; however, we persevered and ended up having an incredibly memorable week together in two of the most magical national parks.

And in true Johnson fashion, we decided that if we were already going to Yellowstone, Glacier was close enough to add on to our existing trip, thus the Johnson family added a week onto the trip on a solo excursion at Glacier National Park.

Day 1: Chicago to Wateron Lakes, Canada

We took an early morning flight out of Chicago to land in Kalispell near lunch time. Once we landed, we headed to Murdoch's Ranch and Home Supply in Columbia Falls, MT to purchase bear spray--an absolute necessity on a trip to all three (four) national parks we planned on visiting. It is important to note that you cannot fly with bear spray. And while it is possible to rent bear spray at many of the national parks we were visiting, because we would need the bear spray all along our journey, we opted to purchase bear spray and send it home with my brother's family at the end of our trip because they were driving.

After purchasing our bear spray (and scoring a Memorial Day teacher discount!), we grabbed lunch at Stageline Pizza of Columbia Falls. This place is carry out only, which I didn't realize when researching lunch options, but it was fast, and there was a table we were able to sit at while we waited for our food. We got a cheese bread and a pepperoni pizza to go. While pizza isn't necessarily car food, we still had over a 3 hour drive across the Canadian border, and the border closed at 6pm, so we ate our pizza in the car off of napkins!

We headed north, stopping in Browning, MT for bathrooms (just over an hour and a half from Columbia Falls), before crossing the Canadian border into Alberta at Chief Mountain. This drive, near East Glacier, was full of other-worldly beauty. The lonely highways skirting snow-capped mountains, through aspen glens, was jaw-droppingly beautiful. The beauty was not limited to the United States; however, the border was an arbitrary, man-made concrete structure that attempted to separate nations through the stunning, absolutely surreal, raw nature...if it weren't so sad, it would be laughable.

We did pull over at one pull out near the Alberta sign, but we didn't have far to drive before making it into Wateron Lakes National Park. We paid our entry fee ($22) and stopped along Waterton Lake, skipping rocks and enjoying the view of our hotel for the night: the famous Prince of Wales Hotel. This began our quest for the perfectly skipped rock, a skill we all honed over the course of the next two weeks. We pulled into our hotel for the night, well before our 6pm dinner reservation at the Royal Stewart Dining Room. This was a dinner we thoroughly enjoyed. Not only was the view absolutely stunning, but the food was a delicious array of delightful culinary treats, for adventurous palates for sure. Augie ordered the pork duo, Harper got the Kenow chicken, Toby got the Kale and Cabbage Salad, and I ordered the Mushroom and Grain Risotto. The flavors were sensational, and it was so fun to challenge our taste buds and experience such rich flavors.

We were able to catch the end of the bellhop story for the evening, and we played a few board games in the lobby, soaking in the views from the picture windows. The room was quaint, and while not necessarily roomy and well-appointed for a family with two teens, but it was an experience of a lifetime, and I'm forever grateful for having had the opportunity to stay the night in this historic hotel. We explored the entirety of the grounds, including taking a ride in the elevator, in addition to asking all the questions of every employee, ensuring we maximized our experience. I recall laying in bed, listening to the wind rush through our open window, knowing just how lucky we were to be spending the evening in such a majestic place.

Day 2: Wateron Lakes, Canada to Glacier National Park

We began our second day of our epic two-week adventure by stopping by the Waterton Lakes National Park Visitor Center. It was not nearly as impressive as its southern U.S. counterpart, but it still provided a little bit of education and a chance to talk to a ranger. We also picked up groceries at the Rocky Mountain General Store. The selection is minimal (especially as we were visiting in the off-season), and terribly expensive; however, we were living out of a cooler for the next two weeks with no refrigerator, and the cooler was small, so we had to make do with our options. We grabbed enough to get us breakfast and lunch the next week, allowing us to make PB&Js and lunchmeat sandwiches. The primitive lodging lineup meant no microwave, no fridge and no toaster. We had to plan accordingly and actually ended up making our favorite purchase of the trip: Bick's Garlic Baby Dill pickles. We loved them so much, we had to buy a second jar of pickles for our second week!

Once our pickles were purchased, we opted to hike Bear's Hump, a steep, 1.8 mile (out and back, total) hike with a major 847' elevation gain. This is a heavily traversed trail, and while it is possible to see bears, we only saw a lonely bighorn sheep. This was an exciting animal sighting, one we took for granted, as our time in the other national parks had limited wildlife interactions at such close range and on foot! While we had to take many breaks on our hike up, we did enjoy the (VERY windy) views from on top of Bear's Hump. We made some friends along the way, giving us lots of people who were willing to take our photo at the top. It was cold and windy, and it was shocking to experience that much wind the entirety of our time at Waterton Lakes. That is something to be prepared for when making this journey. The valley is significantly cooler as a result of the wind, and the wind at the top of Bear's Hump means securing all belongings, including hats, as they will be far, far away if not tightly fastened!

After our hike at Bear's Hump, it was time to depart Wateron Lakes. Because we were driving nearly 2 hours south to Many Glacier, I didn't want to be without a bathroom, so we utilized our Prince of Wales parking pass that was still good, and we stopped in to use the restrooms before heading south to the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park.

I was fully prepared to be met with a closed parking lot due to the construction occurring in the Many Glacier area; however, not only was the parking lot completely empty, save for a few cars, but the hotel still hadn't opened for the season, leaving pit toilets our only option for any sort of civilization! At this stop we saw mountain goats through our binoculars, and only because other travelers had spotted them first. We began our hike around the Many Glacier hotel (peeking in doors and windows), and then began a quick one mile out and back hike along Swiftcurrent Lake. This hike brought us face to face with a deer along the trail, as well as lots of grizzly bear scat. I was on high alert, but it was so peaceful, and the smell on this hike was only rivaled by our hike at Emerald Pools in Zion. The air was fresher than any air I have ever breathed, and this hike was my second favorite at Glacier. Both Toby and I agreed we needed to come back to Many Glacier and stay at the Many Glacier Hotel, a mini version of the Prince of Wales Hotel!

From the Many Glacier area, we had to make our first official Glacier National Park stop at the St. Mary Visitor Center, where we got our Junior Ranger booklets, stamped our passports, and generally took care of park business. We spent a little time at the Visitor Center before driving part of Going to the Sun Road toward Jackson Glacier Overlook (where the road was still closed for the season). Along the way, we stopped to hike to Baring Falls, a short 0.7mi out and back that brought me face to...body...(?) with a bear. Our hiking order was Toby, the kids, then me; however, on this short trail, that had lots of people on it, I ended up leading our hike back to the car. We were just near the foot of the stairs to go up to our car when a bear came tumbling down the hill toward the water, careening across our path; however, I was the ONLY one to see it. I doubted myself (and still do), but there is no other creature that large that could have run across our path. It was certainly a cinnamon black bear, and it wanted nothing to do with us. I am a loud hiker, chatting incessantly, head on a swivel, because I want nothing to do with scaring a bear!

We tried yelling up to the people on the bridge, just above us, but the roaring water meant there was no chance anyone could help us by telling us if the bear was nearby. There was so much vegetation, that it was impossible to see if there was anything close to us on the path. After some hemming and hawing, we opted to forge forward and sprinted up the steps toward our car. We couldn't believe what just happened (especially since I was the only one who saw the alleged bear), but we survived and were destined to enjoy the first views of an actual Glacier at Glacier National Park with a quick stop at the Jackson Glacier Overlook.

After driving as far as we could go on Going to the Sun Road, we headed east, ultimately deciding to skip Two Medicine, since it was getting late, and we wanted to be able to check in to our lodging at the Village Inn at Apgar before the lobby closed at 8pm. With a 2 hour drive yet to go, and dinnertime fast approaching, we opted to stop near Two Med at Serrano's Mexican Restaurant in East Glacier Park. When I tell you this short drive (that took what seemed like forever) brought me closer to Jesus, I mean that this drive had me questioning everything I ever knew. It was harrowing. Thank goodness Toby doesn't mind driving, but I thought I was going to lose it. This segment of road is not for the faint of heart. Those 13 miles along MT49 had me going gray and gripping the dashboard like my life depended on it. Was it a gorgeous drive? Absolutely. Would I do it again...I don't know!

We enjoyed a quick dinner at Serrano's and a bit of ice cream from the Glacier Park Trading Company before heading to our final stop for the next few nights: Village Inn at Apgar.

We settled into this absolutely adorable, and perfectly apportioned room, with the best views of Lake McDonald. This room actually had two rooms with three queen beds, as well as a bathroom and a kitchen table. The real winner, though, was the amazing view off the front porch, nestled against Lake McDonald. We sank into our beds, knowing that the next few days would hold bountiful adventures.

Day 3: Glacier National Park

Day three was reserved for a boat tour of Lake McDonald from the Glacier Park Boat Company. Ideally, we would have taken a tour of Swiftcurrent Lake at Many Glacier, but because we were visiting the park so early in the season, we had to make do with a tour of Lake McDonald, and this tour did NOT disappoint. Because we had to meet at the dock early, we opted to take a turn exploring Lake McDonald Lodge, playing a game of chess and checking out the gift shop. Lake McDonald Lodge is a great example of "parkitecture," much like Many Glacier Hotel or El Tovar at The Grand Canyon or The Ahwahnee at Yosemite, Lake McDonald Lodge feels like a national park.

After some exploring at the Lodge, it was time to board our boat, which was nearly 100 years old! We had a guide who pointed out the geologic history of the lake, as well as popular wildlife areas, including a bald eagle nesting site, in addition to stories about the park's history and the lake's impact on the development of the park. It was a lovely way to see the park, and I think ANY boat tour would be a fantastic way to not only learn about the park but also see the park from a different perspective.

After our hour-long boat tour, we ate a picnic lunch at the tables overlooking the lake outside the lodge, and then it was time to hike the Trail of Cedars and a bit of Avalanche Lake. Trail of Cedars is a 0.7mile boardwalk hike that is fairly accessible. The trail meets up with the trailhead to Avalanche Lake, and in order to not experience a mutiny by my family, I promised we'd only hike as much of the trail as they were willing to hike. We ended up hiking about 0.75 miles of the 3 miles out to the lake, enjoying the trail along the rushing water, and eyeing all of the bear scat. This trail is VERY popular and there is no shortage of hikers you'll share the trail with. It was the busiest trail that we hiked at Glacier, and I can only imagine how busy it must be at the height of summer vacation!

Our afternoon was slow and lovely, and the old growth cedars, reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest, was another reminder of just how varied and vast this national park is. After wrapping up our hike, we headed back to Apgar Village to explore the shops and check out all of the amenities we missed due to our late arrival. We indulged in an afternoon snack of huckleberry ice cream from the stand around the corner from the mercantile, in addition to earning our Junior Ranger badges. We ended up having dinner at Eddie's Cafe, where I indulged in the huckleberry lemonade and fish and chips, Augie had the cheeseburger, Harper had the Caesar Salad, and Toby ordered the bacon chicken wrap. There was no wait to be seated, and we enjoyed sitting on the deck, in full view of the lake and the surrounding mountains. It was a picturesque meal to be sure.

After dinner, we walked around the village and skipped rocks on Lake McDonald until calling it a day.

Day 4: Glacier National Park

My favorite part of these early mornings was enjoying reading my book on the deck overlooking Lake McDonald until my family was up and ready to explore. I was able to finish a second book in this manner! Day 4 was meant to be spent exploring all over Apgar Village. We began by hiking Oxbow Trail, an easy, relatively flat 1.5 mile loop. We ran into both birders and fishermen, enjoying brief conversations with both, learning a little bit more about the smaller animals that call this amazing park home.

After our hike, we ate a quick lunch in our room, and then we rented two kayaks from the Glacier Park Boat Company at the Apgar Village to kayak on Lake McDonald. We spent an hour tooling around the lake, visiting a little beach and exploring as much of the lake as we could. The water was frigid, so staying out of it was the goal, but the sun was warm, and being on the water, sitting right on top of it, was another amazing way to experience the park. After kayaking, I felt restless, having the urge to squeeze another hike in before dinner. I felt that part of the John's Lake Loop near Lake McDonald Lodge before dinner would be a great way to work up an appetite. Somehow, we must have missed a turn on the hike, and we ended up on Going to the Sun Road. It would have been way too far to walk back up the road, and quite dangerous, so I needed to find an alternate way to get back to our car without walking back the way we came.

Fortunately, my phone had just enough service to pull up Google Maps, and we hopped on Lake McDonald Road, leading us to the trail along Upper McDonald Creek, where we were able to walk across McDonald Creek cutoff, precisely where our car was parked! The kids weren't very happy with me, and it ended up adding about 0.4 miles to our 2 mile hike, but it actually allowed us to see a different part of the trail that we wouldn't have otherwise seen! I found it to be a happy little accident!

We ate our well-deserved dinner at Russell's Fireside Dining Room, in our hiking clothes, even though it was a nicer restaurant. The host giggled when I asked if there was a dress code! He asked if I was wearing shoes and pants, and because I had on both, he approved of my outfit and seated us right away. This meal was delicious as well. Harper ordered the creamy pesto pasta, I had the premium pork flat iron, Augie had the top sirloin, and Toby, once again, ordered the kale and quinoa salad, knowing that he would be able to share whatever the kids and I didn't finish. We enjoyed dinner and the views of Lake McDonald, before heading back to the Apgar Village, where we skipped more rocks and enjoyed our final evening at Glacier.

Day 5: Glacier National Park to Bozeman

Unfortunately, Day 5 of our journey meant it was time to say goodbye to this incredible national park unit. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast on our porch overlooking Lake McDonald, skipped a few more rocks, then hit the road for one of the most scenic drives I have ever experienced in my life.

We stopped in Seeley Lake (2 hours from Glacier) for gas and a snack, then Helena (1h 45m from Seeley Lake) for lunch at the Montana Nugget Casino...It was cheap and good food, but the ambiance was...questionable. It was a "casino" of sorts, and definitely a haunt for locals, but we were certainly NOT in the touristy side of Helena, but we didn't want to deviate too far from our path. It was memorable to be sure! We hit the road and only had 1.5 hours until we reached Bozeman, where we stayed at the Baymont by Wyndham, right off the interstate and close to the Super Walmart...and the homeless shelter. Again, it was another "experience." We picked the hotel because of the waterslides at the pool, knowing we were going to have to go to the laundromat and the kids would need something fun to do.

My sister-in-law and I went to The Clothesline, which was the PERFECT laundromat. It was cheap, fast, and had plenty of heavy duty, large capacity machines. I took $10 in quarters and still had money leftover! The kids enjoyed the aforementioned pool and waterslides, while we chatted up the laundry attendant about her recommendations for dinner. She suggested Mackenzie River Pizza Company, which suited us, as my brother requires gluten-free dining options, and this establishment offered GF pizza! We enjoyed dinner downtown, followed by ice cream at Sweet Peaks. We loved wandering downtown and could have definitely spent more time in Bozeman, but alas, it was time to turn in before meeting the rest of our party for lunch the next day for our adventure into Yellowstone National Park!

Day 6: Bozeman to Yellowstone National Park (Mammoth Hot Springs)

As morning broke on Day 6 of our journey, the reality of our 2020 dream was coming true! We indulged in our free (and terribly sparse) breakfast, then we headed to Walmart for a few items, and then it was time to hit up a few thrift stores before meeting up with the family for lunch. We visited some vintage stores ($$$) and enjoyed chatting up the owners, then we hit it big at a few thrift stores. If you don't visit thrift stores on vacation, you're missing out! It's the best place to buy local merch, and you may just find a gem or two! I got a free book at a free little library at one of the shops!

After our fun thrifting, it was time to meet the family at Roost Fried Chicken. It was the best parking lot reunion <3 All 16 of us, ready to enjoy a delicious lunch in Bozeman, MT before heading south to Yellowstone National Park. After lunch, we traipsed south toward Gardiner, where we stopped to take pictures at the Roosevelt Arch and the park sign. It was a hoot trying to get all 16 of us under the arch, and yet it was a joyful moment, watching the joy on my parents' faces as we all gaped in wonder at the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

The rest of the day was spent checking into the Mammoth Hot Springs Cabins, exploring the Albright Visitor Center, getting our Junior Ranger booklets, enjoying the taxidermy, grabbing a quick dinner at the Mammoth Terrace Grill, followed by a night hike along the Travertine Terraces. We were greeted by a bull bison as we entered the park and herds of elk at Mammoth Hot Springs. It required lots of careful navigating, as we didn't want to disturb the elk, but they were everywhere! The cabins at Mammoth Hot Springs are adorable, but they are not very roomy if you are traveling with teens. It would have been more appropriate to book two cabins or a room at the hotel. Additionally, there is no or limited cell service at the cabins, so in order for teens (and adults) to check texts and snaps, you need to visit the hotel lobby. This didn't deter us in our enjoyment of the Mammoth Hot Springs area, and we were plenty tired after traveling south from Glacier, so we slept well!

Day 7: Yellowstone National Park

(Mammoth Hot Springs)

Day 7 was going to be jam-packed. We had lots of goals, and so we began our ambitious day around 9:45am. We began with a short Wraith Falls hike. We wanted to hike Undine Falls first, but the trail was closed. From there, we visited the Petrified Tree and enjoyed a picnic lunch at Tower Junction, where we took a short walk to see Tower Falls. We were also able to refill our water bottles, grab some ice cream, and use the bathrooms.

After lunch, we took a drive to Lamar Valley to see the largest herd of bison in the park. It was a beautiful scenic drive, with lots of opportunities for pull outs and photos. We were determined to make it to Trout Lake, a hike with a quick 209' elevation gain. We started our hike around the lake, but it was thwarted by a juvenile moose! We enjoyed what little bit we did hike, and our close encounter with the moose was exciting to say the least!

We used Trout Lake as a turnaround to head back through Dunraven Pass, by Mount Washburn to stop at Artist's Point for photos at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. This was a treacherous drive, and the elevation was apparent, as there was still a significant amount of snow. I'm glad we made this drive, as it allowed us to see most of the park, but it was harrowing, and there were not bathrooms or many places to stop if you needed a car break! (although not as harrowing as that drive from St. Mary to Two Med!)

Our ultimate goal was dinner in Canyon Village at the Canyon General Store that featured a 50s themed diner, where we ordered burgers and milkshakes! It was a great place to find souvenirs and relax after exploring so much of the park. There is a visitor center here as well. We traveled home via Norris Canyon Road, which meant driving in the dark (AND RAIN!) over Golden Gate and through the hoodoos. The bull bison on the road in the dark and rain made for a slow and harrowing drive. However, seeing the lightning strike and coming up on the travertines from the south was a super cool experience!

Day 8: Yellowstone National Park

(Old Faithful)

Today our goal was to experience as many of the thermal features of Yellowstone as we could, on our way to the historic Old Faithful Inn. We began by driving through the hoodoos (that we completely missed the night before), with a stop at the Golden Gate overlook to read about how the road was built. But the real excitement was our first stop at the Norris Geyser Basin, where we explored the boardwalks and thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of the thermal features, the smells, and the hot, wet breeze that accompanied the geysers! I had in my notes the importance of wearing sunscreen in the geyser basins, and yet, I completely forgot about this detail, and several members of my party ended up quite sunburnt!

We were able to enjoy a picnic lunch at the Gibbon Meadows Picnic area, followed by a stop at Gibbon Falls. The parking lot at Artists Paint Pots was full, but we were determined to experience these. We also used this stop to split up: some of our party walked up the stairs to the paint pots at the top, and the others remained below, exploring the thermal features that didn't require stairs. It was also at this point that some of our party was ready to check into the hotel, but others were still hoping to catch a few more stops, so half of the group headed to Grand Prismatic Spring and the hotel to check in, whereas the other half did the drive through Firehole Falls, followed by a short hike around the Lower Geyser Basin (Red Spouter was our favorite)! Our group did make it to Grand Prismatic Spring, but one car had to park nearly 0.3 miles from the parking lot, and the other was able to score the PERFECT parking spot in the lot (which is good, because they had the youngest members of the party in their vehicle)!

After the stop at Grand Prismatic, the rest of the party checked into Old Faithful Inn, where my mom thoroughly enjoyed watching our faces as we entered the historic lodge. We opted for dinner at the Snow Lodge Cafeteria, with views of Old Faithful doing her thing! It was another moment, where I lay in bed, thankful for the opportunity to sleep in yet another historic hotel. The location of the lodge, and the age of the lodge, made this stay especially special.

Day 9: Yellowstone National Park

(Old Faithful)

Our final full day in the Old Faithful area began with an exploration of the Inn by taking a tour (offered at 9:30am), as well as watching the clock change in the lobby by the OFI staff to indicate the next predicted time Old Faithful will erupt. This allowed our group time to sleep in and explore the historic inn, as well as drive from West Yellowstone, where four of our party were spending the night. Once everyone was accounted for, we visited the Old Faithful Visitor Center, where we stamped our passports and earned our Junior Ranger badges.

We made a pit stop for lunch at Geyser Grill, which had incredible kids' meals. I would highly suggest you consider purchasing a children's meal, as the portions are significant, and the price better than the adult meals! At this time, Augie was exploring the geyser basin with his grandfather, and his grandma was keeping an eye on things at the Inn. The rest of us decided to shift gears for the afternoon and head toward West Thumb and the Fishing Bridge area to see the other parts of the park we hadn't yet seen. We grabbed Augie after lunch and checked out the West Thumb boardwalk and visitor center (you have to get that passport book stamped), and enjoyed that short walk on the boardwalk, nestled against Yellowstone Lake.

From there, we stopped at the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center and had the BEST interaction with a ranger there. She spent an extraordinary amount of time with the kids, exploring the taxidermy cases and teaching the kids about the birds found in each case. It was such a great experience, and one that makes our visits to the national parks so rich. At this point, it was time for an ice cream stop at the Fishing Bridge General Store, where my sister-in-law had been recommended the Graham Slam ice cream flavor. It did not disappoint. We very much enjoyed the ice cream, as well as the company of the ice cream clerk, a retired teacher, who was spending her summer working in Yellowstone with her husband. It gave me all kinds of ideas of how I could spend my retirement!

At this point, we said goodbye to four members of our party, who were hoping to return to West Yellowstone to visit the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. The final 8 of us trekked to see the Mud Volcano (so stinky, but oh so worth it), and Hayden Valley. We were hoping to see some bear or the elusive wolf, but we only managed to see bison, elk, and a bald eagle. We are glad we made it to this part of the park though, as it meant we had seen all sections of Yellowstone, however briefly.

From Hayden Valley, we returned to eat snack food at the bar at OFI. We munched on appetizers, followed by an evening eruption of Old Faithful, before settling in to play several games of dirty marbles with one another. My parents enjoyed people watching and listening to the live entertainment on the second floor; whereas my siblings and I played games and enjoyed each other's company after a long day exploring. There is something uniquely special about the Old Faithful Inn. Without TVs or wifi, travelers are forced to spend time in conversation or quiet solitude, and the second and third floor mezzanines offer plenty of seating and tables to be able to provide weary travelers with ample opportunity to do both. I can see why my mom loves this place so dearly. It is truly an honor to have stayed in such a special, historic, inn!

Day 10: Yellowstone to Grand Teton National Park

Day 10 meant it was time to begin the final leg of our journey. We didn't have to leave OFI until mid morning, so Augie decided that the four Johnsons were going to embark on the same hike he and his grandfather completed the day before to Observation Point; however, our hike was thwarted by a bull bison on the trail, so we decided to hike the boardwalks instead. It is for this very reason that you MUST carry bear spray on any hikes in and around the boardwalks at OFI. There are bull bison everywhere, and the bear spray can be effective in a chance encounter with these big boys as well.

After our short hike around the boardwalks, we headed south on the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Parkway with a quick stop at Lewis Lake for a picnic lunch. It was picturesque and had pit toilets. From there, we drove to Jackson Lake Overlook, where we couldn't stop taking pictures. The Tetons are truly spectacular. We had members of our party who needed another bathroom though, so our stop here was brief. We continued our journey south to the Colter Bay Visitor Center, where we took care of park business: stamp the passport, press the penny, grab the unigrid brochure (my favorite "maps"), and purchase souvenirs.

At this point, after spending so much time in the car, we were ready for a hike. We decided to hike the Jenny Lake trail to Hidden Falls, but only the first 1.25 miles or so. This gorgeous hike follows Jenny Lake, and intrepid travelers would be smart enough to pay to use the boat to cross the lake and shave off significant mileage from their hike. This was a beautiful hike with my family, and one I won't soon forget. While the Yellowstone hikes were gorgeous and fun, this one may have been my favorite!

From Jenny Lake, we headed to Mormon Row to see the historic barns. I was stoked for this leg of the journey and had hoped our sunset photos would do the barns justice. I'm no photographer, but the Tetons and the barns speak for themselves! We had a VERY late dinner at The Trapper Grill at Signal Mountain Lodge. I had the rainbow trout and zero regrets. I would highly recommend it for a light and satisfying dinner option!

We were so excited to tuck into our rustic cabins at Signal Mountain Lodge after our late dinner. Our family opted for the 2 bedroom cabin, which included 3 queen-sized beds and one bathroom. This was much better suited for our family's needs, coming hot off the heels of 4 nights of bed sharing for our teen and pre-teen! We had sweet dreams of running into Hollywood, the resident bull elk, and climbing those beautiful mountains.

Day 11: Grand Teton National Park

Our final full day of exploring meant wrapping up all the parts of Grand Teton we hadn't yet explored. We began at the Chapel of the Sacred Heart, where we took some time to reflect on our gratitude for being together in such a beautiful place. We drove on to Oxbow Bend, where we saw a moose on the side of the road and deer. This is a perfect place to capture the Tetons with a beautiful water reflection on a perfect day. We had fun exploring this photo stop and loved visiting with other travelers. Our next photo op was the Snake River Overlook, where Ansel Adams himself spent time photographing the elusively beautiful Tetons. We also had a lovely stop at Glacier View Turnout, where we saw a glacier nestled amidst the Teton range.

At this point, we were able to stop by the Discovery Visitor Center and become Junior Rangers (the most difficult badge to obtain on this trip, as these rangers were VERY particular). We learned a lot and then made lunch plans to visit Pica's Taqueria, our second Diner, Drive-In, and Dive of the trip. This was a delicious stop, and we all very much enjoyed our lunch (and most of us cleaned our plates).

However, after lunch we said goodbye to 4 members of our traveling group. They were beginning their trek home via car, and it was a bittersweet moment. We knew our time together was temporary, but to have the week pass by so quickly was still sad. We had a long goodbye in the parking lot, knowing that this journey together would remain in our hearts for a long time.

At this point, we peeled off and went our separate ways to explore. The Johnson family went to downtown Jackson Hole to take pictures with the antler arches on the square and pop into a few shops, including Menors Ferry and visited the Chapel of the Transfiguration. It is important to note that our driving party took our bear spray, leaving us with no bear spray or protection for hiking, meaning we had to utilize our afternoon in exploration that was safe and clear of any potential interactions with bear or bison.

We drove the one-way road to Jenny Lake Lodge and did a few pullouts/overlooks before finishing up at our cabin, where we all shared what we had left of our groceries for a final cooler dinner. We got to spend time with Hollywood, who graced us with his presence for our final evening. We watched him eating, while eating our dinner (and shooing away mosquitos). It truly was the best way to end our night at Grand Teton National Park.

Day 12: Grand Teton National Park

In order to get home, we had to fly out of Jackson. This small, regional airport makes for quick TSA lines and easy to navigate interior (the most un-airport-like airport I've been in); however, the takeoff was harrowing. Flying out of Jackson, between the mountains, meant more turbulence in a takeoff than I've ever had. The pilots warned us, but it didn't make it any less unsettling.

Final reflection--This trip was 5 years in the making, and it's amazing how quickly these 12 days passed us by. We filled every minute with moments to appreciate nature and the wonder of exploring our amazing planet. From mountains to lakes to thermal features to man-made structures within the parks like historic inns and chapels, I was awestruck nearly every step of the way. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to share this experience not only with my husband and my two children, but my parents, siblings and my nieces as well. It is no small feat for us to have coordinated this trip together, and it required a lot of careful communication, which we learned to navigate along the way. And while not every moment was sunshine and rainbows, we were able to weather storms together. I am so happy to have explored these beautiful places with my people, and I hope that they also cherish the memories we made.

Until next time...