from WorldWeb.com Travel Guide
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| Black
Dragon's Cauldron1 |
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Yellowstone
National Park's East Entrance offers convenient access to the tight-knit
accommodations and amenities in the Lake
Village area, located on the expansive shores of Yellowstone
Lake. These accommodations are a short drive to Canyon
Village and Grand
Canyon of the Yellowstone near the center of the park. Without question,
activities on and around Yellowstone Lake, such as fishing, boating, canoeing
and hiking, are the main draw to the area. The geothermal wonders of Mud
Volcano and Sulphur Caldron also receive their share of traffic. Visitors
traveling in through the East Entrance should be sure to stop at the Buffalo
Bill Historical Center in Cody,
which boasts five museums that cover topics ranging from the American West
to natural history.
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Yellowstone To... |
Distance |
Est.
Time* |
| Casper |
265
m (426 km) |
6
hr |
| Cheyenne |
442
m (711 km) |
8
hr 30 min |
| Cody |
50
m (81 km) |
1
hr 15 min |
| Gilette |
300
m (483 km) |
5
hr 45 min |
| Powell |
74
m (120 km) |
1
hr 45 min |
| Sheridan |
198
m (319 km) |
4
hr 30min |
| Thermopolis |
134
m (216 mi) |
3
hr |
|
Wapiti |
30
m (48 km) |
45
min |
|
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Yellowstone
Distance Table
(*Estimated driving time) |
ACCESS
The East Entrance
is accessed via U.S. Route 20 and frequently receives vehicle-transit
visitors from Wyoming destinations
east and southeast of the park, such as Cody, Powell,
Casper and Cheyenne.
The nearest airport, located just over an hour's drive from the park in
Cody, Wyoming, is served by airlines that travel from Salt
Lake City International Airport in Utah
and Denver
International Airport in Colorado.
ATTRACTIONS
Buffalo Bill Historical
Center
An interesting stop on the way to Yellowstone via U.S. Route 20 to the
East Entrance is the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, which contains
five different museums, including the Buffalo
Bill Museum, which explores the legacy of W. F. Buffalo Bill Cody
and the history of the American West; The Whitney
Gallery of Western Art, a collection of masterworks of the American
West; the Plains
Indian Museum, which features an array of Plains Indian art and artifacts;
The Cody
Firearms Museum, which contains one of the world's most comprehensive
collections of American firearms; and the Draper
Museum of Natural History, which illuminates the Greater Yellowstone
Ecosystem and adjacent inter-mountain basins. The Buffalo Bill Historical
Center is located roughly 50 mi (81 km) outside the park.
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| Yellowstone
Lake2 |
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Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone Lake is an obvious attraction easily accessed from the East
Entrance. Boasting a surface area of 132 sq mi (342 sq km), Yellowstone
Lake is North America's largest alpine lake above 7,000 ft (2134 m). In
December or early January the lake freezes, thawing out in late May or early
June. Fishing and touring are among the most popular activities on Yellowstone
Lake, and charter and rental boats are available from Bridge
Bay Marina, just a few miles south of the Lake
Yellowstone Hotel and Lake
Lodge. Enjoy a relaxing tour of the lake or experience the backcountry
with the drop-off service that transports visitors and their canoe or kayak
to designated sites. The lake also attracts anglers, but they should be
aware that as of the summer of 2001, all native sport fish species caught
in Yellowstone National Park became subject to catch-and-release-only fishing
regulations. Visitors also require a Yellowstone National Park Fishing Permit
to fish in the park. Backpackers enjoy access to a host of lakeside campsites
along the southern shores of the lake, with many hiking trails in the area
as well.
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Mud
Pool Near Mud Volcano3 |
Mud Volcano and
Sulphur Cauldron
Inside Yellowstone, roughly 35 mi (56 km) from the East Entrance are Sulphur
Cauldron and Mud Volcano, bubbling mud pot attractions that draw many visitors
eager to witness the curious natural phenomenon. The mud pot activity is
caused by sulfuric acid that dissolves rock into fine particles of clay
and silica, which mix with water to create the bubbling effect. Visitors
can embark upon a short loop past Mud Volcano and the Dragon's Mouth, which
acquired its name from its flashing tongue of water and burping steam. In
1948, the Black Dragon's Cauldron burst onto the landscape, uplifting trees
by their roots and splattering the surrounding forest with mud. Although
relatively steep, the half-mile upper trail offers a glimpse of this geothermal
wonder. Sulphur Cauldron, a site of turbulent splashing waters, is easily
viewed from a staging area north of Mud Volcano.
ACCOMMODATIONS
In-Park Accommodations
Lake Village and
Lake Lodge Cabins
A family-friendly accommodation, Lake
Lodge at Lake Village features a lobby with two fireplaces, a lounge,
a gift store and motel-style units. Cabins, each equipped with a private
bathroom, are also grouped nearby. Lake Lodge is open from roughly mid-June
to late September.
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| Lake
Yellowstone Hotel4 |
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Lake Yellowstone Hotel
Restored to its 1920 grandeur in 1990, the 1891 Lake
Yellowstone Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Nestled on the shores of Yellowstone Lake, the hotel emanates historic ambiance,
and the delicate sounds of the lobby's string quartet set the tone for relaxation.
The accommodation also features a restaurant and a presidential suite with
two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a sitting room. For a more economical vacation,
check out the adjacent annex and nearby cabins. The hotel and cabins are
open from roughly mid-May to early October.
Fishing Bridge
RV Park
Fishing
Bridge RV Park is close to Yellowstone Lake. The facility features
full hook-ups, coin laundry, pay showers, a store, 30-amp electricity,
water, sewer, a sanitary dump station and sightseeing tours.
Bridge Bay Campground
Located near Yellowstone Lake, 30 mi (48 km) from the East Entrance to
Yellowstone, Bridge
Bay Campground is conveniently situated adjacent to the Bridge Bay
Marina and store. The campground is open from late May to mid-September
and is close to the area's dining options, which include Lake
Lodge Cafeteria and Lake
Hotel Dining Room and Deli.
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Historic
Irma Hotel5 |
Out-of-Park Accommodations
The closest town to the East Entrance is Wapiti,
located roughly 25 mi (40 km) from the park gate. The Wapiti area offers
guest ranch accommodations at Elephant
Head Lodge and Four
Bear Ranch, as well as bed and breakfast lodging at Horseman's
Paradise. A wider selection of accommodations are available roughly
50 mi (80 km) from the park in Cody, including hotels,
bed
and breakfasts, cottages,
lodges,
vacation
home rentals and campgrounds.
Offering period-decorated rooms—including Buffalo Bill's Private Suite—the
Irma
Hotel in downtown Cody captures the essence of the Wild West. The historic
1902 property features free gunfight shows in front of the hotel from the
start of June to the end of September. For a more authentic Western experience,
stay at one of several guest ranches in Cody, including Rimrock
Dude Ranch, Goff
Creek Lodge and Bill
Cody Guest Ranch.
PHOTO COURTESY
- National Park Service; Black Dragon's Cauldron; WY, USA
- National Park Service; Yellowstone Lake; WY, USA
- National Park Service; Mud Pool Near Mud Volcano; WY, USA
- National Park Service; Lake Yellowstone Hotel; WY, USA
- Buffalo Bill's Cody/Yellowstone Country; Historic Irma Hotel; Cody,
WY, USA
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