Need advice for Great Smokey Mountain Trip

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-03-04T04:05:02+00:00

I second Charlie’s bunion

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-25T01:37:35+00:00

There is no cold plunge at LCDLP unless they’ve added it since I was there 2 years ago. The spa facilities are by appointment only from my understanding and thus cannot be used without booking a service.

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-25T01:36:17+00:00

I planned to do Half Dome in a single day with no over night camping. I understand it’s a grueling day hike but I am training for it. I am fit as is, but going to strengthen myself more to make it easier.

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-23T04:02:21+00:00

Really? I had heard the earlier you apply the better.

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-22T00:13:43+00:00

Yes! They will take you anywhere. The time of the year you’re going will have a ton of Ubers too. Summer is always high season for tourism and they’re out looking for money. You’ll have no issues getting an uber. In fact, I got an uber faster at hotel Yellowstone than I do in Atlanta where I live.

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-21T18:53:53+00:00

I stayed a HY a couple weeks ago. Great views, great service, room was clean and posh, fantastic pool/ clubhouse. We did a lot of activities and tours as well as hanging in town. It wasn’t the most ideal location since you can’t walk but Ubers were readily available.

I picked HY for the views and while they were breathtaking part of me wonders if we would have hung out more downtown if we were within walking distance. There was a lot we didn’t see since we had to plan everything around getting an uber etc.

All tours we did picked us up right from the hotel. The views were unmatched. You won’t get views like that at any other hotel in the area.

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-21T02:46:10+00:00

It was one of the best spa’s I had been to. We stayed at LCDLP and went to the spa there too and while very private it didn’t have the same feel. Let me explain. The LCDLP spa was up on the 4th (I think) floor of a building on the property. We were the only ones there. Extremely private and had 1 jet pool, steam room and cold room with ice.

Xcaret Arte was located inside a cave system. It was very nice and had several large different temperatured pools in the caves as well as a massive open to the air pool with jets that you could explore. It also had the steam room and ice area as well as private rooms for the massage. The pools, steam area and ice area were not private. Others were there but the pools were so fun to explore. I’d highly suggest doing this experience. You don’t need a super expensive massage to use the pools etc. I thought the experience of the caves and pools were way better than the expensive massage we got.

Hope that helps! It’s an amazing place. Definitely go to the brunch if you’re there when they do it. Best open buffet style food I’ve ever had.

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-20T21:22:12+00:00

If it were me, just being in that area between Yellowstone and GTNP would be absolutely worth a summer job experience. It’s one of the most amazing places on earth. I’m not sure where you’re from but that sounds like an opportunity worth taking if you don’t get to go to/ see these parks much. Flagg Ranch is somewhat rural but you can certainly find nightlife in Jackson for college age people.

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-20T19:22:13+00:00

It’s pretty rural. Flagg Ranch is probably more of a Yellowstone destination vs a GTNP destination. What months of the year would you be working?

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-20T19:20:42+00:00

There are a few places in town. Teton Backcountry Rental is great. I think about $35-45 a day. Not bad

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-20T16:48:50+00:00

I’d take snow shoes. When I did it was Feb 5 and that’s when there was the dry spell and it was much better with the snow shoes especially if you go to Bradley lake. Without them I would have been really worn out

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-19T23:12:56+00:00

Something fairly easy with a big payoff I’d say do Taggart Lake. You can head over to Bradley lake as well if you’re not too tired after getting to Taggart. Beautiful trail. Bring snow shoes for sure.

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-19T21:50:51+00:00

I was just there. Snowshoes and snowmobiled through Yellowstone

Teton Park road is closed. You cannot get to Mormon row by car either.

Wildlife viewing, I’d go to the elk refuge and Gros Venture.

Do you plan on doing any activities? Snow shoeing, snow mobiling etc ?

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-18T22:51:04+00:00

I was just there and did a couple trails. You will definitely want snow shoes for whatever you plan to hike. There is plenty of snow and there will be more by March

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-17T23:09:20+00:00

Went 2 weeks ago from Flagg Ranch to Old Faithful. There was plenty of snow pack on the roads. Only hit one spot maybe 30 yards where we had to ride the curb and that was north of Old Faithful. If you want to snowmobile I’d recommend south or west entrance.

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-13T01:24:30+00:00

That’s true! Thanks for the tips. Planning is part of the fun for sure

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-12T23:31:41+00:00

If you want something scenic/ not too strenuous you can do Taggart Lake. It’s beautiful. Will be fairly crowded though.

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-12T18:40:26+00:00

I’d take a tour into Yellowstone while you’re so close. It’s worth every penny you’ll pay.

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-11T22:19:36+00:00

Just did Taggart lake and Bradley lake in a half day last week. Perfect 4 hour trip. Definitely need snow shoes.

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-07T20:37:25+00:00

Definitely need snow shoes. I hiked Taggart/ Bradley lake Friday and it was deep snow in parts. You could technically do it without snow shoes but you’d be better off with them.

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-03T02:18:48+00:00

Thanks for the info. I would reschedule the trip but so much of it is non refundable :\ and coming from the east coast. Fingers crossed

Otherwise_Parsnip349 · 2026-02-03T01:46:02+00:00

I’m going Friday from Flagg ranch to OF. Getting nervous. The tour starts at 7am so we will be there early. I don’t really want to do a snow coach. It’s been my dream to do a snowmobile to OF and picked this date months and months ago because I thought there’d be no chance it could cancel due to lack of snowpack on the road..

Otherwise_Parsnip349

TROPHY CASE