Our journey through three of America’s most iconic national parks—Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton—was the kind of road trip that reminds you how vast, wild, and breathtaking the West truly is.

Glacier National Park: A Quick Return to the Crown of the Continent

We began in Glacier National Park, a familiar favorite that still takes our breath away no matter how many times we visit. This stop was short but sweet—just long enough to get our passport stamp and drive the legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road once again. Every curve revealed glacial peaks and waterfalls with a Smokey haze filling the valleys. Even after multiple visits, Glacier never feels the same twice—the light, the weather, and the wildlife always create a new story.

Yellowstone: Geysers, Wildlife & Northern Wonders

From Glacier, we made our way south to Gardiner, Montana, the historic northern gateway to Yellowstone National Park. We spent three nights exploring the northern reaches—Mammoth Hot Springs, with its steaming terraces and surreal mineral formations, and the unforgettable Lamar Valley, known as the “Serengeti of North America.”

It didn’t disappoint. Bison roamed freely, pronghorn grazed in the distance, and the highlight of our visit was spotting a wolf through a high-powered scope  generously shared by some fellow wildlife enthusiasts. That small act of kindness turned a distant shadow into a magical, up-close experience we won’t forget.

Next, we relocated to Fishing Bridge RV Park, nestled near Yellowstone Lake. The lake’s deep blues mirrored the sky, and we spent our days exploring geysers, bubbling mud pots, and thermal basins scattered across the park. Of course, Old Faithful made her reliable appearance—but it was Black Sand Basin, with its brilliant colors and delicate pools, that truly captured our hearts.

Grand Teton National Park: Moose, Mountains & Magnificent views!

After packing up in the rain (we saw a rainbow as we pulled out), we continued south to Grand Teton National Park. We camped at Gros Ventre Campground, a peaceful spot surrounded by sagebrush and framed by the jagged Tetons.

On our first night, we caught sight of a moose in the dark, its massive silhouette outlined against the twilight. The next morning, we saw another moose browsing in the willows just steps from our site—wild and majestic in every sense.

For a taste of adventure, we took an old dirt road to the Bar BC Dude Ranch, one of the park’s historic homesteads, where you can almost feel the spirit of the Old West lingering in the air.

Reflections on the Wild West

From Glacier’s alpine heights to Yellowstone’s geothermal wonders and the rugged serenity of the Tetons, this trip through the Northern Rockies was a reminder that the magic of the national parks lies not just in the landscapes—but in the quiet moments, the wildlife encounters, and the diversity of our great country.

As we wrapped up our time in Grand Teton, we pointed the RV south and continued our journey down the Rocky Mountains, tracing the spine of the West through Wyoming and onward to Montrose, Colorado. The landscapes were changing, but the adventure is far from over.