GaperGuide Inc.

08/21/2024

Are you finally ready for your trip to a western national park? Then let's go!

I'm Will, "TheParkGuide" from GaperGuide Inc. I've built self-guided audio tours of Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks.

The tours are very simple: you drive and I tell you about what you are seeing right when you see it, using GPS. With my tours downloaded, you can go at your own pace and see it all. This way you'll be able to choose your own route easily and avoid tour busses and crowds. You can do it on your own!

My tours are explained on my site: www.gaperguide.com

Many of the parks will be closing for the winter in late October, so plan now! My comprehensive self-guided tour apps tell you everything you need to know to get the most out of the parks, while you drive!

HINT: reserve your lodging first! This is the first step to planning an amazing trip. For more ideas on how to plan, maps, links and information, go to: https://gaperguide.com/trip-planning/.

07/16/2024

Are you a lone wolf? Do you like to explore national parks on your own instead of being trapped in a tour bus? TheParkGuide is for you! It's like having a local in the car with you, giving you all the good information as you drive.

Go at your own pace and THEPARKGUIDE app will tell you what you need to know, when and where you need to know it! Wildlife, science, history, stories, services and even bathrooms, automatically.

Downloadable for iPhone and Android, no cellular reception required after download.

Guides are available for , , Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon National Parks.
Details, links and reviews at: https://gaperguide.com

The photo is a wolf crossing the mineral outflow of a hot spring in Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park.

03/29/2024

Plan now for your trip to a western national park!

I'm Will, "TheParkGuide" from GaperGuide Inc. I've built self-guided audio tours of Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. The tours are very simple, you drive and I tell you about what you are seeing right when you see it, using GPS. With my tours downloaded, you can go at your own pace and see it all. This way you'll be able to choose your own route easily and avoid tour busses and crowds. You can do it on your own!

My tours are explained on my site: www.gaperguide.com

The parks will be opening for the spring and summer soon, so plan now!
My comprehensive self-guided tour apps tell you everything you need to know to get the most out of the parks, while you drive!

HINT: get your lodging now! This is the first step to planning an amazing trip. For more ideas on how to plan, maps, links and information, go to: https://gaperguide.com/trip-planning/.

07/14/2023

Are you a lone wolf? Do you like to explore national parks on your own instead of being trapped in a tour bus? TheParkGuide is for you! It's like having a local in the car with you, giving you all the good information as you drive.

Go at your own pace and THEPARKGUIDE app will tell you what you need to know, when and where you need to know it! Wildlife, science, history, stories, services and even bathrooms, automatically.

Downloadable for iPhone and Android, no cellular reception required after download.

Guides are available for Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon National Parks.

Details, links and reviews at: https://gaperguide.com

The photo is a wolf crossing the mineral outflow of a hot spring in Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park.

Self-guided tours of Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, and Rocky Mountain National Parks. Go at your own pace and see it all!

05/11/2023

“Red dogs” are out and about in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks!

Bison calves are called “red dogs” by locals around Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks because of the reddish-brown color of their coats. They are usually born between mid-April and mid-May and weigh between 30 and 70 pounds. They are wobbly at first, but can move with their herd after only two or three hours. They will stay with their very protective mothers for their first year while they grow to be over 1,000 pounds and dark brown like the older members of the herd.

They are relatively easy to see in the parks because they graze in the open grasslands. You are certain to see them if you come to the parks!

If you want to drive the parks on your own and see the animals, download TheParkGuide tours for your smartphone. They will tell you everything you need to know while drive so you can get the most out of the parks. https://theparkguide.com

04/05/2023

Yellowstone 2023 Opening Dates!

Yellowstone's roads will open at 8 am on the following dates (conditions permitting, currently snowy!):
April 21: West Entrance to Madison Junction, Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful, Norris to Canyon Village
May 5: East Entrance to Lake Village (Sylvan Pass), Canyon Village to Lake Village
May 12: South Entrance to West Thumb, Lake Village to West Thumb, West Thumb to Old Faithful (Craig Pass), Tower Junction to Tower Fall
May 26: Tower Fall to Canyon Junction (Dunraven Pass), Beartooth Highway
TBD: Beartooth Highway (US-212), Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY-296)
The best place to look for the status is on the official website: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm

Want the best/least expensive way to see the park? Try our self-guided tours on your phone! GaperGuide/theparkguide offers 4 parks in reach of each other: Yellowstone + Grand Teton + Glacier + Rocky Mountain (also Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce). Go to https://gaperguide.com to find out more.
Our comprehensive self-guided tours tell you everything you need to know to get the most out of each park. The app is totally automatic, and triggers when you get near something you need to see.
HINT: look for lodging first, then build your trip around what you have booked! For more hints and ideas on how to plan, go to https://gaperguide.com/trip-planning/

03/15/2023

Plan your trip to the great western National Parks now! GaperGuide/theparkguide offers 7 parks in reach of each other: Yellowstone + Grand Teton + Glacier + Rocky Mountain + Grand Canyon + Zion + Bryce.
Our comprehensive self-guided tours tell you everything you need to know to get the most out of each park. The app is totally automatic, and triggers when you get near something you need to see.
HINT: look for lodging first, then build your trip around what you have booked! For more hints and ideas on how to plan, go to https://gaperguide.com/trip-planning/

07/23/2022

good news if you are coming to Yellowstone this summer!

07/15/2022

As of July 13th, Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road is officially open! The road may now be accessed by motorized vehicles all the way through from both the West Glacier and St. Mary entrances.

Vehicle reservations are needed to enter Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor at the West Glacier Entrance, Camas Entrance and Rising Sun checkpoint (located 6 miles west of the St. Mary Entrance) from 6 am until 4 pm each day. 24-hour advanced reservations are released at 8 am MDT the day before the effective date on Recreation.gov.

THEPARKGUIDE's self-guided tour automatically tells you everything you need to know while you drive. It’s like having a tour guide sitting in the back seat. The guide simply follows you wherever you decide to go in the park.

The Tour includes all of the Going-To-The-Sun Road, as well as the roads leading to it from the park entrances, and a few more that you would be likely to use. It gives you detailed information about views, stops, services, food, trailheads and bathrooms! It includes the Logan Pass, Apgar and St. Mary Visitor Centers, as well as the Apgar, Lake McDonald, and Rising Sun resort areas. You will be encouraged to get out of your car and interact with the park to see the animals, rivers, lakes, mountains and, of course, glaciers.

See: https://theparkguide.com

07/12/2022

Great advice from the National Park Service!

If you want to (safely) see bison in their natural habitat, Yellowstone and Grand Teton are fantastic choices. But, did you know that you can also see bison on the North Rim of Grand Canyon?! It's true. There is a small but regularly visible herd there. The North Rim is also the quieter, cooler and higher altitude part of Grand Canyon National Park. I definitely recommend it.

We here at TheParkGuide - GaperGuide Inc. have been providing self-guided audio tours to folks going into Yellowstone and Grand Teton since 2007. If you are driving yourself into the park, and would like the benefits of having a guide along with you, our app-based tours are the perfect solution! As a member of the Bozeman Chamber, they provided us with your contact information.

GaperGuide’s curated tours tell you everything you need to know about the park as you drive. The guide follows you wherever you want to go – there is no required route or timing. I will give you suggestions and advice about where and when to stop. You learn about the history and science of the parks, get all the interesting facts, and check out the animal habitats. I will also tell you about the great views, picnic areas, bathrooms and so much more that you might miss. Learn more at: https://theparkguide.com.

As we say: Go at your own pace, do your own thing, avoid the crowds, and see it all!

If you are interested in Grand Canyon, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Zion, or Bryce Canyon National Parks, we also have amazing tours of those parks!

Thanks for listening,

Will Ferguson - founder

Self-guided tours of Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, and Rocky Mountain National Parks. Go at your own pace and see it all!

04/30/2022

“Red dogs” are out and about in in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem!

Bison calves are called “red dogs” by locals around Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks because of the reddish-brown color of their coats. They are usually born between mid-April and mid-May and weigh between 30 and 70 pounds. They are wobbly at first, but can move with their herd after only two or three hours. They will stay with their very protective mothers for their first year while they grow to be over 1,000 pounds and dark brown like the older members of the herd.

If you want to drive the parks on your own and see the animals, download TheParkGuide tours for your smartphone. They will tell you everything you need to know while drive so you can get the most out of the parks. https://theparkguide.com

Bull bison can weigh up to one ton, 2,000 pounds, and be up to six feet tall. The cows, females, will usually get up to 1,000 pounds and between four and five feet tall at the shoulder. They can run up to 35 miles per hour, and jump a five foot fence.

The only predators large enough to threaten bison are wolves and grizzly bears, but if a human gets close to them they will charge and gore the unfortunate interloper. Be very careful and do not get any closer than 25 yards to a bison.

The American bison, also known incorrectly as “buffalo”, used to roam North America in numbers estimated to be between 30 and 60 million before the mid-1800s. They were nearly extinct by the 1970s, but due to the protection by the parks there are typically between 2,500 to 6,000 animals inside Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks.

They are relatively easy to see in the parks because they graze in the open grasslands. You are certain to see them if you come to the parks!

04/20/2022

Grand Teton NP: Bears with cubs are emerging from dens in Teton County

This means that there are opportunities to see these bears in their natural habitat... from a safe distance of 100 yards of course! Both Grand Teton and Yellowstone have significant populations of both grizzly and black bears. GaperGuide/theparkguide recommend that you plan for at least one day in Grand Teton, and two days in Yellowstone to get the chance to explore the parks and see the animals.

For help planning your trip, and for information about seeing it all on your own with a handy tour guide in your car, go to:

https://gaperguide.com/trip-planning/

04/15/2022

Attention Zion NP hikers: Zion NP has issued a "last call":

If you want to hike from Scout Lookout to Angels Landing sometime between June 1 - August 31, you have until next Wednesday to apply for a permit!

For more information, and to apply, visit: https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/angels-landing-hiking-permits.htm

04/08/2022

Yellowstone 2022 Opening Dates!

Yellowstone's roads will open at 8 am on the following dates (conditions permitting, currently snowy!):

April 15: West Entrance to Madison Junction, Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful, Norris to Canyon Village

May 6: East Entrance to Lake Village (Sylvan Pass), Canyon Village to Lake Village

May 11: Cooke City to Chief Joseph Scenic Byway

May 13: South Entrance to West Thumb, Lake Village to West Thumb, West Thumb to Old Faithful (Craig Pass), Tower Junction to Tower Fall

May 27: Tower Fall to Canyon Junction (Dunraven Pass), Beartooth Highway

The best place to look for the status is on the official website: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm

Want the best/least expensive way to see the park? Try our self-guided tours on your phone! GaperGuide/theparkguide offers 4 parks in reach of each other: Yellowstone + Grand Teton + Glacier + Rocky Mountain (also Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce). Go to https://gaperguide.com to find out more.

Our comprehensive self-guided tours tell you everything you need to know to get the most out of each park. The app is totally automatic, and triggers when you get near something you need to see.

HINT: look for lodging first, then build your trip around what you have booked! For more hints and ideas on how to plan, go to https://gaperguide.com/trip-planning/

02/28/2022

Plan now for your trip to a western national park!

GaperGuide/theparkguide offers self-guided tours of Yellowstone + Grand Teton + Grand Canyon + Glacier + Rocky Mountain + Zion + Bryce Canyon National Parks. Go at your own pace and see it all. No reason to get on a bus with a bunch of other folks, you can do it on your own!

The parks will be opening for the spring and summer soon, so plan now!

Our comprehensive self-guided tour apps tell you everything you need to know to get the most out of the parks, while you drive! They are totally automatic and trigger when you get near something you need to see.

HINT: get your lodging now! This is the first step to planning an amazing trip. For more ideas on how to plan, maps, links and information, go to: https://gaperguide.com/trip-planning/.

10/13/2021

GRAND NEWS! We just released our new tour of Grand Canyon NP's South Rim! If you want the convenience of driving around and learning about the park without having to read the books and maps, download my tour on the TravelStorys app.

THEPARKGUIDE's curated audio tours tell you everything you need to know about the park in real-time as you drive. The app follows you wherever you want to go – there is no required route or timing. It gives you real-time advice about where and when to stop. You learn about the history and science of the parks, get the facts, and see the animals. It shows you the great views, picnic areas, bathrooms and so much more that you might miss.

Go to https://gaperguide.com/ to learn more!

04/16/2021

Glacier National Park is instituting ticketed entry for the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor from May 28 to September 6, 2021.
THEPARKGUIDE recommends that you get your entry tickets early! Which means getting on recreation.gov beginning at 6 am MDT on April 29, 2021.

Entering the Going-to-the-Sun Road at either West Glacier or St. Mary, or via the Camas Road, will require two things...a Park Pass plus a $2.00 Entry Reservation Ticket or a reservation for a service along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

For all the details see: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gtsrticketedentry.htm
Don't forget to get your Going-To-The-Sun Road Tour from THEPARKGUIDE so that you will actually know what you are looking at while driving on one of the most beautiful roads in the U.S.! https://gaperguide.com/glacier-national-park-tour/
It's much better than trying to look at books and maps while you drive. And probably less expensive.

03/25/2021

Yellowstone | Grand Teton | Rocky Mountain | Glacier National Parks opening dates!

Each park has its own schedule for opening, and they all involve plowing lots of snow! If you want to see tiny baby animals, hibernators waking up, dramatic views of snowy peaks, and a lot fewer other folks; early in the season is your time. The opening dates for each park are listed below.

GaperGuide | theparkguide has amazing self-guided tours for all four parks. The simple narration will make sure you see everything you came for, in the safety of your own car. Pick your park(s) and start planning! https://gaperguide.com

Yellowstone National Park:
The park roads will begin reopening April 16, 2021. The road from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana through the park to Cooke City, Montana is open year-round. Conditions permitting roads will open at 8 am on the following dates:
April 16: West Entrance to Madison Junction, Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful, Norris to Canyon Village.
May 7: East Entrance to Lake Village (Sylvan Pass), Canyon Village to Lake Village.
May 14: South Entrance to West Thumb, Lake Village to West Thumb, West Thumb to Old Faithful (Craig Pass).
May 28: Beartooth Highway
confused? see their map:
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm

Grand Teton National Park:
The Teton Park Road (passes Jenny Lake) is groomed for skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking until mid-March. Then when the snow melts, you can ride your bike, hike, run, rollerblade, or walk your dog on the road until April 30. After that, it is open to cars, trucks, RVs and motorcycles! The Moose-Wilson Road (north from Teton Village) opens in mid-May based on conditions.
https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/roads.htm

Rocky Mountain National Park:
The park has two gateway communities: the town of Estes Park, CO on the east side and the town of Grand Lake, CO on the west. Until late May, the Trail Ridge Road between Estes Park and Grand Lake is closed to vehicles.
https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm

Glacier National Park:
Open every day of the year and visitors can enter the park at any time. Most visitors arrive during Glacier's summer season. Generally from late May to early September. Portions of Going-to-the-Sun Road remain open all year and provide access to many locations and activities. The opening of the alpine portion varies, based on snowfall and plowing progress. There is no set date for the road to open. Typically the road has been fully open in late June or early July.
https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gtsrinfo.htm

Go at your own pace and see it all with GaperGuide | theparkguide self-guided tours!