Wyoming 2014 Reviews: Activities, Attractions, Lodging and Dining.
The following is the list of reviews for the hikes and other
activities we did, and the places we stayed and dined during our 2014 trip to
Wyoming. The reviews for the hikes and
other activities/attractions are linked from the list while the lodging and
dining reviews are provided below. Links
to the reviews on Trip Advisor and hike reviews on EveryTrail. Note that there is a photo gallery at the end of the reviews for the hikes, activities and attractions; just click on one of the images to get a larger view of the image in a slideshow format.
Hiking Trails:
Grand Teton National Park: Yellowstone National Park:
|
Activities and Attractions:
|
Lodging and Dining Reviews from our Wyoming 2014 Trip.
Listed below are the reviews for the reviews for the lodging and dining during our 2014 trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Links to these reviews on Trip Advisor are also provided. The reviews are listed by area (Jackson, Grand Teton or Yellowstone) then alphabetically within each area.
Jackson Dining Reviews
Merry Piglets Mexican Grill: Our "go to" place when in Jackson
Ate here on Monday, July 14, and Wednesday, July 23, 2014; reviewed December 7, 2014 See this review on Trip Advisor.
Lynn and I ate at the Merry Piglets twice for lunch during our July 2014 trip to Wyoming. We had eaten here when we visited in 2011 and enjoyed it so much that we wanted to try it again during our return trip. We ate there on our arrival day and again on our last day after spending all of the rest of the time in the National Parks. We really enjoyed the southwestern fare at Merry Piglets (we just cannot find good southwest food at home, so we tend to favor it while on travel).
While we visited during the height of the lunch rush, we were immediately seated for both visits (there is a new gourmet burger joint next door, so I think a lot of folks were trying it out). The service was stellar. The serving staff is very friendly and quite knowledgeable about the menu so they can provide good advice about the selections. The food was outstanding. We both had the mango shrimp wrap on our first visit and it was excellent; not a huge food but just right after traveling all day. On our second visit I had shrimp roll-up which was good size and very tasty and Lynn had the asada burrito which was huge, so I got some of that as well. It was also very good.
The atmosphere is cheery with the very bright colors and southwest inspired décor. The dining area is fairly open and there is a large skylight in the main dining area which helps to make the place very bright and inviting. Oddly, the credit card system was down during both of our visits this past trip, so it was a cash-only operation (which might have impacted the size of the lunchtime crowd a bit), but the management had signs posted about the credit card situation, so there were no surprises.
I know we’ll be going back to Wyoming to visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone and we’ll most likely go into Jackson to get our supplies for the parks. If that is the case, then I know that we’ll have another meal at the Merry Piglets.
Lynn and I ate at the Merry Piglets twice for lunch during our July 2014 trip to Wyoming. We had eaten here when we visited in 2011 and enjoyed it so much that we wanted to try it again during our return trip. We ate there on our arrival day and again on our last day after spending all of the rest of the time in the National Parks. We really enjoyed the southwestern fare at Merry Piglets (we just cannot find good southwest food at home, so we tend to favor it while on travel).
While we visited during the height of the lunch rush, we were immediately seated for both visits (there is a new gourmet burger joint next door, so I think a lot of folks were trying it out). The service was stellar. The serving staff is very friendly and quite knowledgeable about the menu so they can provide good advice about the selections. The food was outstanding. We both had the mango shrimp wrap on our first visit and it was excellent; not a huge food but just right after traveling all day. On our second visit I had shrimp roll-up which was good size and very tasty and Lynn had the asada burrito which was huge, so I got some of that as well. It was also very good.
The atmosphere is cheery with the very bright colors and southwest inspired décor. The dining area is fairly open and there is a large skylight in the main dining area which helps to make the place very bright and inviting. Oddly, the credit card system was down during both of our visits this past trip, so it was a cash-only operation (which might have impacted the size of the lunchtime crowd a bit), but the management had signs posted about the credit card situation, so there were no surprises.
I know we’ll be going back to Wyoming to visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone and we’ll most likely go into Jackson to get our supplies for the parks. If that is the case, then I know that we’ll have another meal at the Merry Piglets.
Snake River Brewing Company: I'll go back for the Jambalaya!
Drank here on Wednesday, July 23, 2014; reviewed December 7, 2014. See this review on Trip Advisor.
For our last evening in Jackson, Lynn and I were looking for a light dinner and a good beer. The obvious choice was the Snake River Brew Pub. We walked in about 6:00 and were offered seating in either the dining area or the bar. Since we were just going to have a beer or two and maybe some appetizers we opted for the bar and in fact found a couple empty stools at the bar.
The bartenders were very friendly and offered up suggestions on the beers and the food options. We split a beer sampler which had eight 5-oz. samples so we got to try everything they had on tap. We worked through from low to high IBUs. All were good, but the Pale Ale and IPA were my favorites. I guess the beer jump-started our appetites so we split the steak taco appetizer. After ordering the tacos, I noticed the jambalaya on the menu. Got to try that, so I got a cup. It was OUTSTANDING! More of a chowder (think Manhattan clam chowder, but with chunks of crawfish and sausage). I told my wife that I would come back to Jackson just for the jambalaya!
For our last evening in Jackson, Lynn and I were looking for a light dinner and a good beer. The obvious choice was the Snake River Brew Pub. We walked in about 6:00 and were offered seating in either the dining area or the bar. Since we were just going to have a beer or two and maybe some appetizers we opted for the bar and in fact found a couple empty stools at the bar.
The bartenders were very friendly and offered up suggestions on the beers and the food options. We split a beer sampler which had eight 5-oz. samples so we got to try everything they had on tap. We worked through from low to high IBUs. All were good, but the Pale Ale and IPA were my favorites. I guess the beer jump-started our appetites so we split the steak taco appetizer. After ordering the tacos, I noticed the jambalaya on the menu. Got to try that, so I got a cup. It was OUTSTANDING! More of a chowder (think Manhattan clam chowder, but with chunks of crawfish and sausage). I told my wife that I would come back to Jackson just for the jambalaya!
Grand Teton National Park Lodging and Dining Reviews
Deadman's Bar: My preferred place to eat at Signal Mountain Lodge
Dined here July 15-17, 2014; reviewed November 23, 2014 See this review on Trip Advisor.
Lynn and I ate dinner in the Deadman’s Bar three times during our 2014 stay at Signal Mountain Lodge. I just like the informal, relaxed, pub-like atmosphere. The menu is the same in Deadman’s Bar and Trapper Grill and while you do get a view out over the lake from Trapper Grill (but if it is dark out, that becomes moot), there are no kids in the bar, and the seating area in the bar is smaller and seems a bit quieter. It also seems that there are usually a few locals eating in the bar, which to me is a good sign of the quality and service.
There is a very nice variety of selections on the menu: salads, burgers and sandwiches, small plates and large entrees. Something for everyone.
The service is wonderful. The servers are generally very speedy taking orders and getting drink. The kitchen can be a little slow, so don’t expect to get in and out quickly. But I was fine with that as I’m on vacation and in no hurry.
As for our meals, the first night was on our travel day to Grand Teton and we had a large lunch in Jackson, so we just went with the small dinner. I chose from the small plate selection and got the cheese plate and Lynn got the bruschette. Hers was the size that we expected but the cheese plate was a lot larger than we thought it would be. While listed as cheese and fruit, it was mostly cheese and crackers and just a few cherries (almost a garnish). Still, it was very good and we took much of it with us to snack on over the next couple of days.
The second night, I again chose from the small plate menu and went with the game sliders (elk and bison) and a side salad. Just an awesome meal! The sliders were juicy and had a lot of flavor. The salad was fresh and had a nice assortment of veggies. Lynn had the burrito, which I remembered from our previous visit in 2011. It was outstanding and HUGE! I got a couple bites since she could not finish it; just as good as I remembered. The red sauce that covers the burrito is not very hot (or my wife could not eat it) but the flavor is wonderful.
For our final evening, we both went southwest. This time I had the burrito and Lynn the quesadilla (although I commandeered the side of jalapenos that came with her meal!). I’d go back to Grand Teton just to have another burrito from Signal Mountain!
The selections from the bar are nearly as good as the food. They offer several of the local beers on tap (mostly from Snake River Brewing) and do offer beer flights (samplers). They also have fresh berry drinks; my wife had the blackberry mojito one evening.
Signal Mountain and Deadman’s Bar are our standard lodging and dining options when visiting Grand Teton National Park. I can’t wait to get back there again!
Lynn and I ate dinner in the Deadman’s Bar three times during our 2014 stay at Signal Mountain Lodge. I just like the informal, relaxed, pub-like atmosphere. The menu is the same in Deadman’s Bar and Trapper Grill and while you do get a view out over the lake from Trapper Grill (but if it is dark out, that becomes moot), there are no kids in the bar, and the seating area in the bar is smaller and seems a bit quieter. It also seems that there are usually a few locals eating in the bar, which to me is a good sign of the quality and service.
There is a very nice variety of selections on the menu: salads, burgers and sandwiches, small plates and large entrees. Something for everyone.
The service is wonderful. The servers are generally very speedy taking orders and getting drink. The kitchen can be a little slow, so don’t expect to get in and out quickly. But I was fine with that as I’m on vacation and in no hurry.
As for our meals, the first night was on our travel day to Grand Teton and we had a large lunch in Jackson, so we just went with the small dinner. I chose from the small plate selection and got the cheese plate and Lynn got the bruschette. Hers was the size that we expected but the cheese plate was a lot larger than we thought it would be. While listed as cheese and fruit, it was mostly cheese and crackers and just a few cherries (almost a garnish). Still, it was very good and we took much of it with us to snack on over the next couple of days.
The second night, I again chose from the small plate menu and went with the game sliders (elk and bison) and a side salad. Just an awesome meal! The sliders were juicy and had a lot of flavor. The salad was fresh and had a nice assortment of veggies. Lynn had the burrito, which I remembered from our previous visit in 2011. It was outstanding and HUGE! I got a couple bites since she could not finish it; just as good as I remembered. The red sauce that covers the burrito is not very hot (or my wife could not eat it) but the flavor is wonderful.
For our final evening, we both went southwest. This time I had the burrito and Lynn the quesadilla (although I commandeered the side of jalapenos that came with her meal!). I’d go back to Grand Teton just to have another burrito from Signal Mountain!
The selections from the bar are nearly as good as the food. They offer several of the local beers on tap (mostly from Snake River Brewing) and do offer beer flights (samplers). They also have fresh berry drinks; my wife had the blackberry mojito one evening.
Signal Mountain and Deadman’s Bar are our standard lodging and dining options when visiting Grand Teton National Park. I can’t wait to get back there again!
Leeks Marina and Pizzeria: Excellent pizza but be prepared for a wait.
Lynn and
I had a craving for pizza following a day of exploring in Grand Teton National
Park so we headed to Leeks Marina for a carry-out order. We had eaten at Leeks Marina once during out
2011 trip to park so we had a good idea that we would have a good dinner and we
were not disappointed. The pizza was
excellent. However, the wait was a
little on the long side, so be prepared, and we even made it in just ahead of
the rush. There was a bit of a
bottleneck at the order counter as there was only one person taking orders and
he was also working the ice cream counter as well. Just be prepared to stand in line a
while. But the pizza is worth the wait.
Signal Mountain Lodge:
This is the ideal location for exploring Grand Teton National Park
Stayed July 14-17 and 22, 2014; reviewed November 23, 2014 See this review on Trip Advisor.
Our July 2014 visit to Grand Teton National Park marked our second stay at Signal Mountain Lodge. We discovered SML during our 2011 trip and knew it would be our base for all future visits to the park. In fact for our 2014 visit, we stayed at Signal Mountain Lodge twice; four nights at the beginning of the trip and an additional night following our time in Yellowstone. Just as I remembered, Signal Mountain Lodge was provided everything that we needed during our stay as well as a convenient base for our exploration of the park.
I made the reservations well in advance of our visit, on opening day for 2014 reservations. The agent that I spoke to on the phone was extremely helpful and did an excellent job of getting us the most appropriate accommodations. In fact, he went beyond expectations by finding us a cabin with a “partial lake view” which I figured would show us just a sliver of the lake or an otherwise mostly obstructed view. That was not the case at all, but I’m getting ahead of the story. That initial reservation covered our first four nights in the park. It was a few months later when I was trying to get the last two nights of our trip booked in Jackson that I had to again call Signal Mountain. The lodging costs in Jackson are astronomical, so I opted to just stay the final night in Jackson and hopefully get the other night at Signal Mountain. Again I got a very helpful person on the phone and I was lucky enough to get a cabin for that extra night.
Signal Mountain Lodge is actually a collection of buildings along the shore of Jackson Lake. The first building is the general store and gas station. The next building houses the restaurants and gift shop. There are three dining options: Peaks, Trapper Grill and Deadman’s Bar (pub). Finally is the registration building which includes common areas with a TV and computers for internet access (not that the connection is that good). There is also coffee, tea and hot chocolate available each day starting at 5:00 AM to go with the lovely view across the lake from the back of the building. The guest accommodations are in cabins located past the registration building. Each cabin contains multiple housing units (two to four, in most cases, I think). We have now stayed in three and found all to be clean and comfortable with all the usually hotel amenities.
When we arrived at Signal Mountain Lodge, the check-in process was quick and efficient. For our first four nights, we were in cabin 134, which is probably the most distant from the registration building, but even then it is just a short walk to get back to the registration or restaurant building (5 minutes). The cabin was a duplex with a large shared patio off the back overlooking the lake. Remember that “partial lake view” mentioned earlier? Well, it was outstanding! There were trees behind the cabin which did block part of the view, but from our side of the patio we had a nearly unobstructed view. We made good use of the patio during our stay as a place to take a break in the afternoon or early evening after a day of exploring the park.
The cabin was actually quite large with plenty of room for the two of us. The main room had plenty of room for the king-sized bed, a couch/sitting area and a kitchenette. The bathroom was also good size. Overall a very nice set-up.
Later in the trip we returned to Signal Mountain Lodge for one night, this time staying in cabin 124, which is part of a quadraplex arranged building. As it happens we stayed in this same cluster during our 2011 trip, in unit 123 just next door. This is a smaller unit building, situated in a wooded area, so the view is not spectacular, but the setting is very quite. No kitchenette, but still a microwave and small refrigerator in the room.
The location is ideal for exploring the park. The drive time back to the trails near Jenny Lake was only about 15 minutes and it is about the same to get to Oxbow Bend for early morning photos of that iconic view point. Having the general store and three restaurants within the complex also cuts down greatly on driving. Trapper Grill is great for breakfast. Deadman’s Bar is our favorite for dinner.
We are certain to return to Grand Teton as there are more trails that we want to explore. When we do return, we will be staying at Signal Mountain Lodge.
Our July 2014 visit to Grand Teton National Park marked our second stay at Signal Mountain Lodge. We discovered SML during our 2011 trip and knew it would be our base for all future visits to the park. In fact for our 2014 visit, we stayed at Signal Mountain Lodge twice; four nights at the beginning of the trip and an additional night following our time in Yellowstone. Just as I remembered, Signal Mountain Lodge was provided everything that we needed during our stay as well as a convenient base for our exploration of the park.
I made the reservations well in advance of our visit, on opening day for 2014 reservations. The agent that I spoke to on the phone was extremely helpful and did an excellent job of getting us the most appropriate accommodations. In fact, he went beyond expectations by finding us a cabin with a “partial lake view” which I figured would show us just a sliver of the lake or an otherwise mostly obstructed view. That was not the case at all, but I’m getting ahead of the story. That initial reservation covered our first four nights in the park. It was a few months later when I was trying to get the last two nights of our trip booked in Jackson that I had to again call Signal Mountain. The lodging costs in Jackson are astronomical, so I opted to just stay the final night in Jackson and hopefully get the other night at Signal Mountain. Again I got a very helpful person on the phone and I was lucky enough to get a cabin for that extra night.
Signal Mountain Lodge is actually a collection of buildings along the shore of Jackson Lake. The first building is the general store and gas station. The next building houses the restaurants and gift shop. There are three dining options: Peaks, Trapper Grill and Deadman’s Bar (pub). Finally is the registration building which includes common areas with a TV and computers for internet access (not that the connection is that good). There is also coffee, tea and hot chocolate available each day starting at 5:00 AM to go with the lovely view across the lake from the back of the building. The guest accommodations are in cabins located past the registration building. Each cabin contains multiple housing units (two to four, in most cases, I think). We have now stayed in three and found all to be clean and comfortable with all the usually hotel amenities.
When we arrived at Signal Mountain Lodge, the check-in process was quick and efficient. For our first four nights, we were in cabin 134, which is probably the most distant from the registration building, but even then it is just a short walk to get back to the registration or restaurant building (5 minutes). The cabin was a duplex with a large shared patio off the back overlooking the lake. Remember that “partial lake view” mentioned earlier? Well, it was outstanding! There were trees behind the cabin which did block part of the view, but from our side of the patio we had a nearly unobstructed view. We made good use of the patio during our stay as a place to take a break in the afternoon or early evening after a day of exploring the park.
The cabin was actually quite large with plenty of room for the two of us. The main room had plenty of room for the king-sized bed, a couch/sitting area and a kitchenette. The bathroom was also good size. Overall a very nice set-up.
Later in the trip we returned to Signal Mountain Lodge for one night, this time staying in cabin 124, which is part of a quadraplex arranged building. As it happens we stayed in this same cluster during our 2011 trip, in unit 123 just next door. This is a smaller unit building, situated in a wooded area, so the view is not spectacular, but the setting is very quite. No kitchenette, but still a microwave and small refrigerator in the room.
The location is ideal for exploring the park. The drive time back to the trails near Jenny Lake was only about 15 minutes and it is about the same to get to Oxbow Bend for early morning photos of that iconic view point. Having the general store and three restaurants within the complex also cuts down greatly on driving. Trapper Grill is great for breakfast. Deadman’s Bar is our favorite for dinner.
We are certain to return to Grand Teton as there are more trails that we want to explore. When we do return, we will be staying at Signal Mountain Lodge.
Trapper Grill: Family atmosphere with nice views and great food.
Ate here July 16 and 17, 2014; reviewed November 23, 2014. See this review on Trip Advisor.
My wife and I ate at Trapper Grill twice during our recent stay at Signal Mountain Lodge, once for breakfast and once for dinner. The location is perfect as it is just a short walk from any of the cabins in the complex (our cabin was at the far end of the facility down by the lake and we only had a 5-minute or less stroll to get to the dining building).
The Trapper Grill is in the same building with the Peak’s restaurant (the “formal” dining) and Deadman’s bar (the pub). Trapper Grill provides the “family” dining option but shares the same menu as Deadman’s Bar. Trapper Grill has wonderful views from the large windows that line the outside walls. Overall it is a very light, open and inviting setting. There is also outdoor seating available, but just beware of the mosquitoes! The views of Jackson Lake and the Tetons are marvelous and it is fun watching the birds (swallows and others) doing their aerobatics as well as the kayakers and boaters heading out for their morning adventures.
Service is generally very speedy in terms of the servers, but the kitchen can be a little slow. Just remember that you are on vacation and don’t be in a rush (if you have a schedule to maintain, then plan on getting an early start with your meals). The servers do a good job in taking orders quickly, getting drinks out fast (the full bar is available from Deadman’s Bar) and keeping the water glasses full. I found the servers to be very attentive.
As for the food, it is outstanding. Just goes to prove that there IS good food in the National Parks. There is a great variety on both the breakfast and dinner menus. We had sort of an early dinner one night. My wife had the Trapper, which is a turkey sandwich with avocado and other fixings which she thoroughly enjoyed. I had the South Shore Spicy Chicken sandwich which has a nice kick with jalapenos, pepper jack cheese. This was an outstanding sandwich! Plus I swapped out the fries for onion rings which were also tremendous.
Breakfast fare was just as good. My wife really liked the eggs Benedict and my breakfast burrito was outstanding. I really liked the red sauce. A nice touch is that they offer to substitute apple slices for the hash browns which usually accompany the meal.
For us Signal Mountain is the place to stay when visiting Grand Teton Nation Park as it provides all that is needed for a great stay and dining at the Trapper Grill is part of that winning combination.
My wife and I ate at Trapper Grill twice during our recent stay at Signal Mountain Lodge, once for breakfast and once for dinner. The location is perfect as it is just a short walk from any of the cabins in the complex (our cabin was at the far end of the facility down by the lake and we only had a 5-minute or less stroll to get to the dining building).
The Trapper Grill is in the same building with the Peak’s restaurant (the “formal” dining) and Deadman’s bar (the pub). Trapper Grill provides the “family” dining option but shares the same menu as Deadman’s Bar. Trapper Grill has wonderful views from the large windows that line the outside walls. Overall it is a very light, open and inviting setting. There is also outdoor seating available, but just beware of the mosquitoes! The views of Jackson Lake and the Tetons are marvelous and it is fun watching the birds (swallows and others) doing their aerobatics as well as the kayakers and boaters heading out for their morning adventures.
Service is generally very speedy in terms of the servers, but the kitchen can be a little slow. Just remember that you are on vacation and don’t be in a rush (if you have a schedule to maintain, then plan on getting an early start with your meals). The servers do a good job in taking orders quickly, getting drinks out fast (the full bar is available from Deadman’s Bar) and keeping the water glasses full. I found the servers to be very attentive.
As for the food, it is outstanding. Just goes to prove that there IS good food in the National Parks. There is a great variety on both the breakfast and dinner menus. We had sort of an early dinner one night. My wife had the Trapper, which is a turkey sandwich with avocado and other fixings which she thoroughly enjoyed. I had the South Shore Spicy Chicken sandwich which has a nice kick with jalapenos, pepper jack cheese. This was an outstanding sandwich! Plus I swapped out the fries for onion rings which were also tremendous.
Breakfast fare was just as good. My wife really liked the eggs Benedict and my breakfast burrito was outstanding. I really liked the red sauce. A nice touch is that they offer to substitute apple slices for the hash browns which usually accompany the meal.
For us Signal Mountain is the place to stay when visiting Grand Teton Nation Park as it provides all that is needed for a great stay and dining at the Trapper Grill is part of that winning combination.
Yellowstone National Park Lodging and Dining Reviews
Mammoth Hot Springs Dining Room:
Great service and good food; above average for National Park dining.
Ate here July 18, 2014; reviewed December 5, 2014. See this review on Trip Advisor.
After an afternoon of exploring the historic fort area and the hot spring terraces, my wife and I headed to the Mammoth Hot Springs Dining Room for dinner. This was on a Friday evening in mid July, so I thought that we might have a bit of a wait when we arrived without a reservation at around 6:00 PM. But to my surprise we were seated right away and had stellar service all during our meal. The dining room is very large but still a nice setting with a very high ceiling and an art deco flare.
The wait staff were very friendly and quite helpful with answering questions and providing suggestions regarding the menu. There was a decent selection of items available for dinner. My wife picked the goat cheese salad, which she thoroughly enjoyed. I opted for the bison burger which was good but a bit overcooked (I ordered it medium, but it came out well done which was kind of ironic since the recommendation for the bison filet was rare). But the crème brulee cheesecake was pretty good so all’s well that end well.
We enjoyed our meal at the Mammoth Hot Springs Dining Room. We have eaten at many National Parks restaurants over the years and while this was not the best we have had it was certainly nowhere near the worst.
After an afternoon of exploring the historic fort area and the hot spring terraces, my wife and I headed to the Mammoth Hot Springs Dining Room for dinner. This was on a Friday evening in mid July, so I thought that we might have a bit of a wait when we arrived without a reservation at around 6:00 PM. But to my surprise we were seated right away and had stellar service all during our meal. The dining room is very large but still a nice setting with a very high ceiling and an art deco flare.
The wait staff were very friendly and quite helpful with answering questions and providing suggestions regarding the menu. There was a decent selection of items available for dinner. My wife picked the goat cheese salad, which she thoroughly enjoyed. I opted for the bison burger which was good but a bit overcooked (I ordered it medium, but it came out well done which was kind of ironic since the recommendation for the bison filet was rare). But the crème brulee cheesecake was pretty good so all’s well that end well.
We enjoyed our meal at the Mammoth Hot Springs Dining Room. We have eaten at many National Parks restaurants over the years and while this was not the best we have had it was certainly nowhere near the worst.
Mammoth Hot Springs Lodge and Cabins:
Great location for exploring Mammoth, but the cabins are small and noisy.
Stayed here July 18, 2014; reviewed December 5, 2014. See this review on Trip Advisor.
My wife and I stayed in a Frontier Cabin at Mammoth Lodge for one night in mid-July (a stop-over as we transitioned from Grand Teton to Roosevelt). The location was ideal for exploring around Mammoth as it was just a short walk to the historic Fort Yellowstone, the Visitor Center, the dining options around the Lodge and even to the hot springs terraces. Very convenient from that respect. The staff we dealt with in the main lodge building during check-in and check-out were very friendly and quite helpful. The accommodations provided in the Frontier Cabin were spartan but still nice; all the usually amenities were provided in the cabin. However, the cabin was pretty small; barely room enough for my wife and me and our baggage, but for one night that was not too big a deal (if we were staying longer, it may have been a drag). But the cabins can be noisy as they are duplexes and the wall separating the adjoining cabin is apparently thin as we awoken early one morning by our neighbors as they were heading out for predawn exploration (it sounded like a herd of bison were living next door). If you are a light sleeper, ear plugs may be needed. Other than noise issue, we enjoyed our stay at Mammoth and would stay there again, although given the proximity to Roosevelt I would probably just stay there as Roosevelt is my favorite lodging choice within Yellowstone.
My wife and I stayed in a Frontier Cabin at Mammoth Lodge for one night in mid-July (a stop-over as we transitioned from Grand Teton to Roosevelt). The location was ideal for exploring around Mammoth as it was just a short walk to the historic Fort Yellowstone, the Visitor Center, the dining options around the Lodge and even to the hot springs terraces. Very convenient from that respect. The staff we dealt with in the main lodge building during check-in and check-out were very friendly and quite helpful. The accommodations provided in the Frontier Cabin were spartan but still nice; all the usually amenities were provided in the cabin. However, the cabin was pretty small; barely room enough for my wife and me and our baggage, but for one night that was not too big a deal (if we were staying longer, it may have been a drag). But the cabins can be noisy as they are duplexes and the wall separating the adjoining cabin is apparently thin as we awoken early one morning by our neighbors as they were heading out for predawn exploration (it sounded like a herd of bison were living next door). If you are a light sleeper, ear plugs may be needed. Other than noise issue, we enjoyed our stay at Mammoth and would stay there again, although given the proximity to Roosevelt I would probably just stay there as Roosevelt is my favorite lodging choice within Yellowstone.
Roosevelt Lodge Cabins: Our second stay was just as enjoyable as our first.
Stayed July 20 - 22, 2014 (3 nights); reviewed December 6, 2014. See this review on Trip Advisor.
One of the main reasons that my wife and I returned to Yellowstone was to stay at Roosevelt Lodge in order to enjoy some peace and quiet and to be close to the Lamar Valley. I had reservations for a Frontier Cabin over a year in advance of our July 2014 visit (this is a key to get the dates and accommodations desired).
Roosevelt Lodge is located at the intersection of the Grand Loop and Northeast Entrance Road. Location is ideal for exploring the Lamar Valley and the northern areas of the park. There are several nice hiking trailheads just minutes from the lodge (Hellroaring Creek, Lost Lake, Yellowstone Picnic Area for example). The Lodge is also a starting point for some of the Yellow Bus tours that are conducted in Yellowstone. Reservations for these tours can be made at the registration desk. Horseback rides and the Cowboy Cookout originate from the Roosevelt coral located just a short walk from the lodge.
The lodge consists of the main registration building that houses the registration desk, the dining hall and the bar. Next door to the registration building is a small general store. All of the accommodations are in cabins located beyond the general store. There are a couple of types of cabins. The Frontier cabins have bathrooms in the cabin and the Roughrider cabins use the shared bath house facilities. We have stayed in the Frontier cabins for both of our stays at Roosevelt. The cabins have a good amount of room and all the usual amenities found in any hotel room. Well, there was no hair dryer, but those are available to barrow from the front desk. Don’t get me wrong, the cabins are still rustic, so don’t expect the Ritz, but for as for a comfortable, clean and cozy place to stay, the cabins at Roosevelt more than fit the bill.
The restaurant at Roosevelt serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The dining hall is not huge, but they seem to do a good job of moving folks through during each meal so that the wait is not that long. It is the only dining option in the immediate area, but the good news is that the food is excellent. Most mornings we got up early, made a tour through the Lamar Valley looking for critters then came back to Roosevelt for breakfast. The front porch at Roosevelt is a great place to relax after a meal or enjoy a beer in the evening.
Roosevelt is our favorite place to stay in the park for the location and the friendly, relaxed atmosphere. We are already planning a return trip to Yellowstone and it will include staying at Roosevelt.
One of the main reasons that my wife and I returned to Yellowstone was to stay at Roosevelt Lodge in order to enjoy some peace and quiet and to be close to the Lamar Valley. I had reservations for a Frontier Cabin over a year in advance of our July 2014 visit (this is a key to get the dates and accommodations desired).
Roosevelt Lodge is located at the intersection of the Grand Loop and Northeast Entrance Road. Location is ideal for exploring the Lamar Valley and the northern areas of the park. There are several nice hiking trailheads just minutes from the lodge (Hellroaring Creek, Lost Lake, Yellowstone Picnic Area for example). The Lodge is also a starting point for some of the Yellow Bus tours that are conducted in Yellowstone. Reservations for these tours can be made at the registration desk. Horseback rides and the Cowboy Cookout originate from the Roosevelt coral located just a short walk from the lodge.
The lodge consists of the main registration building that houses the registration desk, the dining hall and the bar. Next door to the registration building is a small general store. All of the accommodations are in cabins located beyond the general store. There are a couple of types of cabins. The Frontier cabins have bathrooms in the cabin and the Roughrider cabins use the shared bath house facilities. We have stayed in the Frontier cabins for both of our stays at Roosevelt. The cabins have a good amount of room and all the usual amenities found in any hotel room. Well, there was no hair dryer, but those are available to barrow from the front desk. Don’t get me wrong, the cabins are still rustic, so don’t expect the Ritz, but for as for a comfortable, clean and cozy place to stay, the cabins at Roosevelt more than fit the bill.
The restaurant at Roosevelt serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The dining hall is not huge, but they seem to do a good job of moving folks through during each meal so that the wait is not that long. It is the only dining option in the immediate area, but the good news is that the food is excellent. Most mornings we got up early, made a tour through the Lamar Valley looking for critters then came back to Roosevelt for breakfast. The front porch at Roosevelt is a great place to relax after a meal or enjoy a beer in the evening.
Roosevelt is our favorite place to stay in the park for the location and the friendly, relaxed atmosphere. We are already planning a return trip to Yellowstone and it will include staying at Roosevelt.
Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room: Great place to eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Ate here July 19-22, 2014; reviewed December 7, 2014. See this review on Trip Advisor.
My wife and I stayed at Roosevelt for four nights in July 2014 as we ate several meals in the dining hall (breakfast, lunch and dinner). We were completely satisfied with the food and experience at each meal. The service is fast and friendly. The menu has a fair amount of variety, particularly when considering the rather remote location of the lodge. The food was consistently fresh and always looked appealing and appetizing. We never had a bad meal. We also hit it lucky as we never had to wait long for a table and when we did, that just meant that we got to spend a few relaxing moments on the front porch enjoying the peace of the area. They offer a nice selection of beer and wine to enjoy with dinner or on the front porch. The dining hall has a rustic, country/cowboy atmosphere which makes it casual and inviting.
My wife and I stayed at Roosevelt for four nights in July 2014 as we ate several meals in the dining hall (breakfast, lunch and dinner). We were completely satisfied with the food and experience at each meal. The service is fast and friendly. The menu has a fair amount of variety, particularly when considering the rather remote location of the lodge. The food was consistently fresh and always looked appealing and appetizing. We never had a bad meal. We also hit it lucky as we never had to wait long for a table and when we did, that just meant that we got to spend a few relaxing moments on the front porch enjoying the peace of the area. They offer a nice selection of beer and wine to enjoy with dinner or on the front porch. The dining hall has a rustic, country/cowboy atmosphere which makes it casual and inviting.