Day 24 - Thawing Out with Bison and Beer
October 12th, 2025
It rains through the night, and by 2 a.m., it turns to sleet and snow at the higher elevations in Yellowstone Park. When we wake at sunrise, there’s a thin frozen glaze covering the RV. We decide to stay another night in Gardiner—this time at a campground right on the Yellowstone River—just in case the park roads are slick with snow or ice.
When we check in at Yellowstone RV Park up the street, the sun has broken through the clouds. We’re greeted by Kathy and Wes, the friendly campground managers. Kathy assures us, “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. I talked to some rangers earlier this morning—they said the roads are clear now that the sun’s out.”
“Perfect—that’s the green light we needed,” I tell her as she hands over our campsite assignment. Off we go!
The temperature hovers around 38°F as we climb the steep, winding switchbacks into the park. Thankfully, the roads are indeed clear. At the top, we reach the ranger headquarters—a charming collection of rustic buildings, including an inn, restaurants, and even a church. Later, we learn it’s actually a small community for the rangers and staff who live and work in the park.
But we’re on a mission—to spot wildlife—so we skip the buildings and head straight for the Lamar Valley. The scenery is breathtaking at every turn. Before long, we spot a herd of bison in the distance and, a bit later, a small group of pronghorn deer grazing in the open plains.
After nearly two hours of exploring in cold, cloudy weather, we turn back toward Gardiner. With most campgrounds inside the park now closed for the season, we’re glad we have a cozy spot waiting. We’ve barely scratched the surface of this enormous park, but tomorrow’s plans are already set: the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone in the morning, then Mammoth Hot Springs on our way to West Yellowstone for the night.
Back in Gardiner, we stop at the local pub—the Rusty Nail—for dinner and a check on the Sunday football scores. As the sun dips behind the mountains, we return to our site, crank up the heat, and settle in for the night. It’s going down to 28°F, but tomorrow promises sun and warmer temps—perfect for more exploring (and hopefully more animal sightings).
Another adventurous day in the books for the Royals! 🍀😎
