Yellowstone Natl Park or Shoshone Natl Forest

Posted by oboeblower on 06/29/25 10:23 PM

We're planning a trip to visit friends in Sundance WY and spend time in some great parks. We've got 5 days allocated for visiting parks. While researching possibilities, I found this article which advises that Shoshone National Forest is better to visit than Yellowstone: https://www.islands.com/1817493/shadow-yellowstone-crowds-shoshone-national-forest-trails-mountains-hidden-shadow-america-alpine-lakes/

If you've visited both, I'd love to hear your opinion. For us, one advantage of Shoshone is that we'll be approaching from the east and Shoshone is closer than Yellowstone. The one difference I see is that Yellowstone has the geysers and Shoshone doesn't.

Also thinking about visiting Grand Teton and Mt Rushmore.

Posted by joe32F

Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂

06/29/25 11:10 PM

12665 posts

If you are in Sundance, it would be a real shame to not go to Mt Rushmore, which is so close.

Depends on what you want to do and when you would be there. Getting lodging in/near Yellowstone for this summer could be a challenge at this point.

Posted by stephen

Greeley, co, usa

06/30/25 12:03 PM

2779 posts

There are few places on earth better than Yellowstone. To stay in the park you must reserve well in advance. The family in the cabin next to us went there every year, reserving for the next year during their visit

Posted by LuxuryNomad1987

California

06/30/25 02:40 PM

61 posts

Definitely hit Mt. Rushmore. It's fascinating to see in person.

On the main topic - Yellowstone is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Posted by jr

Wyoming

06/30/25 02:53 PM

31 posts

Having lived in Cody for 35 years, I offer the following thoughts:
If your goal is to hike and camp, go to the Forests. But the Big Horns and the Black Hills are both much closer to Sundance than Shoshone, and offer much the same camping and hiking experience.

If you're goal is to "see" things, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons are a better choice than the forests. Besides the geysers, you will have the grand canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth hot springs, critters in the Lamar Valley, float trips on the Snake River at the base of the Tetons, etc, etc, to see and do. HOWEVER, it is a good 6-7 hours from Sundance just to get to a gate into Yellowstone and the geyser basins are on the west side of Yellowstone (which is a 3400 square mile park). Don't forget to consider your travel time to the west side of Wyoming which can eat heavily into your 5 day Park visiting time (plus the likely problems finding a place to stay).

East of Sundance there is a lot to see which is much closer than Yellowstone - Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, SD, the Badlands, the minute man missile sites, etc. etc. With only five days to visit parks, heading east on this trip may be a better choice for you. You can also throw in Devils Tower which is only an hour west of Sundance.

My best advice...you'll be in big country, give yourself time to enjoy it whichever you select. Have a great vacation.

Posted by oboeblower OP

06/30/25 03:31 PM

4 posts

Thanks very much for the thoughtful and on-topic response...very helpful!

Posted by geovagriffith

06/30/25 08:57 PM

9058 posts

Yellowstone is very, very special, don't miss it.

Posted by Lexma

Denver

06/30/25 10:53 PM

842 posts

Another vote for Yellowstone as a place that is unique, due to the geothermal features. And yes, the animals. And it's historic importance as the first national park in the U.S. And yes, it's beautiful, but I would venture to say, without having gone to Shoshone, that Shoshone is also very beautiful. Yes, there are many tourists in Yellowstone, but if you are hikers, you can easily leave the crowds behind.