In terms of the “unsung seasons” of Yellowstone National Park and the Northern Range, April is one of the best-kept secrets of the area. Although the Northeast Entrance Road between Gardiner and Cook City, Montana - encompassing the famous Lamar Valley - remains open year-round, other park roads, which were snowed in and inaccessible to passenger vehicles during winter, are steadily reopening.
Many businesses, including lodging and restaurants, offer reduced off-season rates during this time leading up to the summer season. Activities abound, although most are self-led and require a bit of advance planning. Consider visiting us here in Gardiner as Yellowstone wakes from hibernation in preparation for summer! Here are some of our favorite ways to spend quality time in the region during the springtime transition:
Spot “Red Dogs”
Baby bison, also known as “red dogs” due to their tawny coats, are typically the first baby animals to color the Yellowstone landscape. These wobbly legged youngsters are usually on their feet within hours of being born and generally stay close to mom until, with time, they gain strength and a desire to play and wander. Take a pair of binoculars and drive an hour northeast of Gardiner toward Lamar Valley and look for herds of bison. Be the first in your group to spot the rust-colored calf (or calves!) tucked into the midst of a group of bison. You can make it a fun game for everyone!
Explore Fort Yellowstone
A mere 20-minute drive from Gardiner, the Fort Yellowstone Historic District offers a half-day adventure delving into the early days of Yellowstone in Mammoth Hot Springs. Starting in 1886, the US Army based out of this location for 32 years to help protect the wildlife and hot springs that made Yellowstone, the world’s first national park, beloved and famous. A 45- to 60-minute walking tour showcases former officers’ quarters, a guardhouse, and barracks, now repurposed as National Park Service employee housing and offices. Informative placards and a walking map, available at the Albright Visitor Center in Mammoth, and visitor center exhibits help visitors on this self-guided tour of 22 locations. Please note, a rehabilitation of Fort Yellowstone is scheduled in 2025 and may affect the accessibility of some of these locations.
Find Elk
Throughout the town of Gardiner in springtime elk forage, browse, and bed down amongst houses, offices, and businesses. These stately creatures make for fun photographic opportunities though guests are advised to keep their distance for the safety of themselves and for the animals. Look for female (cow) elk, their year-old offspring, and antlered males on the football field of Gardiner Public School, on the grass-covered yard surrounding the Gardiner Baptist Church, and in Arch Park at the base of Roosevelt Arch. Elk are considered the second largest species of the deer family, are herbivorous, and are tolerant of visitors taking pictures of them but can become aggressive if cornered or closely approached.
Enjoy Roosevelt Arch
April marks the month former president Theodore Roosevelt dedicated the magnificent stone archway identifying Gardiner as the original gateway into Yellowstone. Roosevelt Arch towers 52 feet over the visiting public and frames the roadway leading to the park’s North Entrance. Look for signs directing you to “Roosevelt Arch Parking” where you can safely pull over your vehicle and explore the area on foot. Walk through pedestrian openings in the arch’s buttresses and peer into the interior of this aged, stone masterpiece. Inscriptions on the Gardiner-facing sides of the archway mark the inception of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park on March 1, 1872, dedicated in 1903 by Roosevelt “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People.”
Soak in Hot Springs
Nothing beats a warm soak at Yellowstone Hot Springs at the end of a day exploring the area. To get to there drive 7 miles north of Gardiner on Hwy 89 to a well-marked turnoff at the town of Cinnabar. Here, signs will direct you to designated parking and to the front desk where you will pay to soak. Dressing areas, lockers, toilets, and showers are available to guests. A short walk from the dressing room leads to three separate developed pools on the bank of the Yellowstone River: one cold pool at 60 – 65 degrees F, one medium pool at 98 – 100 degrees F, and one hot pool at 103 – 105 degrees F. For information on hours and rates please visit Yellowstone Hot Springs here.
Of course, any trip to Yellowstone starts with a visit to the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce where we are happy to provide insights, park passes for purchase, updated road and business information, and suggestions on how to best spend your time while touring the area. We hope you choose to join us in springtime to celebrate the summer reopening of Yellowstone!
Chelsea DeWeese writes from her hometown of Gardiner, Montana, at the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
Helpful Links:
Where to Stay
Where to Eat
Where to Shop
For more opportunities about visiting Gardiner and Northern Range in spring please also read:
Tips for Visiting Yellowstone in Spring
The Perfect Three-Day Spring Itinerary
Enjoying Birds in Spring in Gardiner and Greater Yellowstone
Where to See Baby Animals in Yellowstone This Spring
Bears, Hot Springs, and Birds – Oh My!
Five Spring Hikes Around Gardiner, Montana
A Two-Wheeled Spring Adventure: Bicycling in Northern Yellowstone
