🔥 THE SIMPLE PLAN

✔ Morning: Cooking + training
✔ Midday: Free time to explore
✔ Afternoon/Evening: Back to class

👉 This is how you turn your class into a once-in-a-lifetime experience

📍 WHERE YOU ARE

You’ll be staying near:

✔ Paradise Valley, Montana
✔ North Entrance of Yellowstone (Gardiner, MT)

👉 This is the only entrance open year-round and one of the best for wildlife viewing.

🎟️ PARK PASSES (YOU NEED THIS)

To enter Yellowstone, you must purchase a park pass.

👉 Buy Your Pass Here:

https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/fees.htm

Current Options:

✔ 7-Day Vehicle Pass (most common)
✔ Motorcycle Pass
✔ Individual (walk-in/bike)
✔ Annual National Park Pass (best value if visiting multiple parks)

👉 We recommend the 7-day pass for your stay.

🧭 STEP-BY-STEP: HOW TO PLAN YOUR VISIT

Step 1: Buy your park pass online or at the gate
Step 2: Leave during your free time window
Step 3: Enter through Gardiner (North Entrance)
Step 4: Choose 1–2 key stops (don’t overpack your day)
Step 5: Return in time for afternoon class

Simple. Flexible. No stress.

🗺️ BEST QUICK TRIPS (HALF-DAY OPTIONS)

You don’t need a full day to experience Yellowstone.

Here are the best quick hits:

🐺 Lamar Valley

✔ Best wildlife viewing
✔ Bison, wolves, elk

💧 Mammoth Hot Springs

✔ Easy walking trails
✔ Unique thermal features

🌄 Roosevelt Area

✔ Scenic views
✔ Historic feel

👉 These are perfect for your class schedule timing.

⚠️ IMPORTANT PARK RULES

Yellowstone is wild… not a zoo.

✔ Stay at least 25 yards from wildlife
✔ 100 yards from bears and wolves
✔ Stay on marked trails
✔ Do not feed animals
✔ Drive carefully (animals are on the roads)

🚗 WHAT TO BRING INTO THE PARK

✔ Water
✔ Snacks or packed lunch
✔ Comfortable walking shoes
✔ Layers (weather changes fast)
✔ Camera or phone
✔ Bear awareness mindset

🌦️ WEATHER & TIMING

✔ Mornings are cooler and less crowded
✔ Midday is great for exploring
✔ Weather can change quickly

👉 Always plan to return on time for class.

💬 REAL TALK

Don’t try to “see it all.”

You won’t.

Pick a couple of spots…
slow down…
and actually enjoy it.

That’s the move.

📱 HELPFUL LINKS

👉 Yellowstone National Park (Official Site)
https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

👉 Park Map
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/maps.htm

👉 Current Conditions
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

👉 Road Status
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/roadstatus.htm

📩 NEED HELP PLANNING YOUR FREE TIME?

If you want help mapping out your visit:

👉 Email: [email protected]

Tell me how much time you have… I’ll point you in the right direction.

🔥 FINAL WORD

You came here to learn…

But you’re also standing at the edge of Yellowstone.

Don’t miss it.