Have you dreamed of hitching up your wagon, driving across the wild, wild west, watching the bison, listening to a cowboy sing and eating at a cookout all while in a National Park? If you know me then you knew I said YES!!!! I love finding special, out of the ordinary things to do on vacations and the old west dinner cookout was definitely one of those things. Reservations for the old west dinner cookout need to be made a minimum of 6 months in advance although I would suggest a year (as I do with all things National Parks). Once you’ve made your reservation you’ll check in at the Roosevelt Corral located just past the Roosevelt Lodge and Cabins inside Yellowstone National Park.
Hayden Valley
Hayden Valley is roughly 7 miles wide and 7 miles deep and is centrally located in Yellowstone National Park. It’s easy to map out your visit to both Mud Volcano and Hayden Valley on the same trip to optimize your time in the park. Yellowstone is so large and has so many different features that it can be overwhelming to navigate but you can see more in a relaxed, non rushed way by planning ahead-or of course with the help of your trusty travel planner-ME. You’ll find multiple pullouts while visiting the valley which will make stopping and seeing everything super easy. Make sure you have your scope and/or binoculars ready because Hayden Valley is a hot spot for wildlife. You may find bison, bears, elk and water foul.