Heading to Yellowstone soon for 4 days - what to see? What to skip?

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by MJHanna

Did you go to Billings via Cooke City and the Beartooth HY?
Its God's country. Grew up in Billings and went fishing/ skiing in that area.

We flew in to Billing, then drove across 212 through Cooke City to Gardiner, where we stayed. We departed west through Cody and back to Billings. As expected, we did some serious driving.

The western route through Cody was packed with amazing scenery...

[MJHanna]

If you want the fun drive from Cody to Cooke City or to then go down the Beartooth Hy, take Chief Joseph Hy which is State Highway 296. Great views, fun drive not as many switch backs as the Bear but nicer drive than from Cody to Billings.

[RWebb]

Glad you enjoyed it! There is a LOT more there than just pretty pools. TRillions of dollars came out of just one hot springs...

Scientists found a thermophilic bacteria species that was able to perform polymerase chain reactions (PCR). PCR was the foundation for all the genetic engineering and investigations/de-coding of the human genome done all over the world for a decade or more.

The results have greatly enhanced human health and made a lot of money for various companies and their investors.

This is an excellent example of how little tiny species that are not pretty of fluffy can be of enormous economic value -- if the hot springs had been drained that bacterium might well have gone extinct.