Yellowstone and Glacier national parks with kids?

Question

We are in talks of going to both Yellowstone and Glacier parks next summer with my inlaws and our three kids ages 9, 4, and 1. Is this a trip to take with kids? Or is it dangerous? I am not really into the idea of meeting a grizzly bear or mountain lion with my kids. Any thoughts? And ideas of what to do...

Answer 1

The odds of you meeting up with a grizzly or black bear is next to nothing. Unless you are hiking in the backcountry, you will be fine. And even then most attacks occur when people hike off-trail in grizzly habitat. Mountain lions are rarely seen even by park rangers. And wolves have never attacked humans.

The one thing you will need to do is keep an eye on them around the hot springs. More people get hurt by hot springs and bison than bears. Don't let them run on the boardwalks, step off the boardwalks, and make sure they don't throw things either. If you stop at the side of a road to see a bear or other animal, such as moose, just keep them quiet and don't let them run around.

When you get to the parks, go to one of the visitor centers first and sign them up for the Junior Ranger program. When in Yellowstone be sure and stop at the Junior Ranger Station too.

Kids have a blast in Yellowstone! There is so much to see and do that they will not get bored. To maintain your own sanity, get them each their own pair of binoculars, even if they are cheap plastic ones. Will reduce the number of fights....

Good luck!