Displaying items by tag: Yellowstone

Whether you’re looking for a quick dip or a full-on hot spring adventure the North Entrance to Yellowstone features hydrothermal destinations that offer a chance to soak, relax, and enjoy the scenery the area has to offer. The North Entrance community of Gardiner, Montana, offers food, lodging, and other services to go along with your soak. An up-to-date list of businesses that are open after this summer’s flooding can be found in this travel guide. Pack your swimsuit, towel, water bottle, and enjoy the healing waters surrounding the park’s beautiful North Entrance!

Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa

Indoor Showers, Restrooms and Changing Rooms: Yes
Food and Beverage: Yes
Lodging Available: On Site

Famous for its fine dining, soothing mineral waters, and rustic flair, Chico Hot Springs provides a soaking experience for those looking to spend either a day or an entire weekend. The resort—a 30-minute drive from Yellowstone’s North Entrance—was established in 1900 as a hot spring destination but now offers other activities ranging from horseback riding to rafting to fly fishing to dogsledding. Chico features lodging, locally influenced menus, a saloon, a gift store, and a spa where guests can receive a massage or take yoga classes. Bands often play late-night at the saloon. Lodging ranges from affordable, dog-friendly rooms with shared bathrooms in the main building to group cabins to two-person covered wagons. Dining in the main lodge is a culinary experience with fresh herbs and vegetables from Chico’s greenhouses; a more basic, yet delicious, menu of pizzas and sandwiches is offered at the poolside grill and saloon. Day passes are available for those who’d simply like to stop in and take a soak. Two spacious, open-air, developed pools offer guests a chance to either relax in the hot pool or splash and play in the cooler, more kid-friendly pool nearby. The water is chemical-free, drained and refilled daily, and is surrounded by outdoor seating with easy access to changing rooms with toilets, showers, and cubbies and lockers for storing clothes and other items. Perhaps the hallmark of Chico, in addition to its western roots and hospitality, are the soaring, snowcapped Absaroka Mountains that soar over the hot springs and the surrounding Paradise Valley.

Yellowstone Hot Springs RV Park & Campground

Indoor Showers, Restrooms and Changing Rooms: Yes
Food and Beverage: Limited and Restricted
Lodging Available: Nearby in Gardiner, Montana and on-site camping 

Nestled along the banks of the Yellowstone River in Corwin Springs, Montana, a 10-minute drive from the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Hot Springs opened to the public in March 2019. Although a recent addition to the local business community, Yellowstone Hot Springs emerges from a longstanding past of previous hot springs at the location. The new facility features on-site parking, a check-in desk where guests can rent towels and purchase snacks, and spacious, indoor changing rooms with toilets, sinks, and showers. Outdoor walkways from the changing rooms lead guests past picnic tables, seating areas, and a fire ring to a large, developed pool with two smaller, inset circular pools—one hot and one cold. The main pool averages a comfortable 102℉, while the cold pool averages 67℉. The hot pool averages a steamy 104℉. The owners take great pride in the serenity of the location and the mineral-rich quality of the water, which flows from the outskirts of nearby Yellowstone Park; the water is said to contain crystals that closely resemble an experimental photograph that showed crystals from a different water sample that had the Japanese character for love and gratitude written on its container, according to the company website. Pets, alcohol, and smoking are prohibited, although plenty of fresh water is provided for guests. A daytime soak provides the opportunity to view wildlife, while an evening soak provides a star-filled sky.

Whatever destination you choose, enjoy your soak!

Chelsea DeWeese writes from her hometown of Gardiner, Montana, the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone's roads are fully open by Memorial Day weekend, presenting an ideal opportunity for visitors who are ready to experience the park before peak summer crowds really start to hit. If you love the thought of playful baby animals or meandering along the shores of high alpine lakes, read on for a three-day Yellowstone itinerary that is best enjoyed in late May through mid June.

Day One: The Grand Loop/Geyser Gazing

Your itinerary begins in Gardiner, Montana at Yellowstone's charismatic and historic North Entrance. Eat a big breakfast and grab a packed lunch in Gardiner before heading out for your first day exploring Yellowstone. As you head south from Mammoth, you’ll cruise down roads lined with geyser basins. Stop and meander the boardwalks at Norris or Midway Geyser Basin. Further south, Old Faithful makes the perfect picnic stop to stretch your legs and learn more about the park’s geology at the Old Faithful Visitor Center. Finish the loop by heading east towards Yellowstone Lake and north through Hayden Valley or backtrack to stop at any geysers you missed on the way down.

Day Two: The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Yellowstone Lake

Rise early and head to the Canyon area by driving east toward Tower Junction and up and over Dunraven Pass. Choose from one of several viewpoints and spend as much time as you like admiring the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone as it plunges more than 300 feet into the colorful canyon below. Continue south through Hayden Valley, leaving time for chance wildlife encounters including bison and grizzly bears. Beyond Hayden Valley you'll find yourself on the shores of spectacular Yellowstone Lake—the largest lake above 7000' in North America. After a picnic lunch on the pleasant beach behind the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center, take an hour or two to hike Storm Point Trail along the shores of the lake. Be sure check in with the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center to ensure the trail is not closed for bear management. As the afternoon winds down, head back to Gardiner the way you came or by taking the cut-across road from Canyon to Norris, then north to Mammoth Hot Springs and on to Gardiner, Montana.

Day Three: Northern Range

Spend your final day in our favorite part of the park, the Yellowstone Northern Range. Heading east from Mammoth Hot Springs, travel along what is known as the"Serengeti of North America" for a chance to spot Yellowstone’s most famous critters. In the springtime, highlights include bison calves (also known affectionately as "red dogs"), elk calves, moose, and clumsy black bear cubs. Break up the day with a short hike to Lost Lake or Trout Lake. For optimal wildlife viewing—and to leave the driving and planning to someone else—book with a local guide. If you prefer to travel solo be sure to get out early or stay out late as Yellowstone's wildlife are most active at dawn and dusk.

Helpful Sources

Where to Stay
Where to Eat
Hire a Guide
Park Road Opening Dates
What to Expect in YNP in March, April, and May

Photos courtesy of Yellowstone National Park Service.

Mild spring weather, snow-capped peaks, and hundreds of hooves pounding dusty roads—these are the sights and sounds of Memorial Day weekend in Gardiner, Montana, where the annual Hell’s A-Roarin’ Horse Drive takes place each year.

“Since 1982 we have driven our horses through town and up to our ranch,” explains Susan Johnson, co-owner of Hell’s A-Roarin’ Outfitters along with her husband Warren. “We first did it because we didn't own a horse trailer. A semi would drop them at the rodeo grounds, and this was the only way to get them home. Folks in town always enjoyed watching.”

Since then, Hell’s A-Roarin’ Outfitters kicks off the summer season by driving the herd to their summer location in Jardine, Montana, 9 miles north of Gardiner. The drive begins at the Gardiner Rodeo Grounds and continues up the Jardine Road until it reaches the Hell’s A-Roarin’ Ranch. A barbeque dinner, raffle and auction, dancing, and live music round out the annual event.

In 2013, thanks to its popularity and ability to bring the community together, the Drive became a way to raise funds for nonprofit organizations in the Gardiner area. Past proceeds have benefitted the Gardiner Food Pantry, Park County Sheriff’s K-9 unit, and the Gardiner Rodeo. This year proceeds will be used to purchase an Action Trackchair for a disabled Montana Veteran.

“Each year a committee of five votes on a cause to raise money for,” says Johnson. “When we decided last year to buy a Track Chair for a disabled veteran, we had overwhelming support. So, we decided from now on, this is what the Horse Drive will stand for—veterans and first responders.”

This year’s Horse Drive will take place on Saturday, May 25. Spectators will have the opportunity to view the horses at the Gardiner Rodeo Grounds from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. At 1 p.m., the horses will leave the rodeo grounds and the outfitters will drive all 300 animals through Scott Street in downtown Gardiner. The fun doesn’t stop there, Johnson says.

“The venue this year is under big tents at the Jardine Rodeo Grounds. We have the Fall River boys, playing first, then Adrian Buckaroogirl, then Wylie and the Wild West will play for the dance. In the meantime, we have a woman bronc rider, an art auction with over 60 pieces of original art and amazing raffle prizes!”

A celebration of the town’s western heritage and connection to the land, the Horse Drive perfectly embodies Gardiner’s generosity and sense of community. And thanks to the event’s unique quality, the Drive has begun attracting spectators from far beyond the Gardiner area.

“Each year, the event gets bigger and bigger,” Johnson says. “Folks from all over the country are stepping up to make a veterans life more livable. This is all about folks caring for those that fight for our country and make us safer!”

Tickets for this year’s Drive will be sold at the gate and are $25 for adults and $20 for kids 16 and under. Learn more at www.hellsaroarinhorsedrive.com.

Photos courtesy of Jean Modesette.

If you love visiting national parks but don’t love dealing with the crowds, spring is an ideal time to head to Yellowstone National Park. But what does “spring” mean, exactly? Yellowstone is located in the intermountain west, where elevations start at a mile high and go dramatically up from there. Not surprisingly, spring arrives late to Gardiner and Yellowstone National Park—but visitors can still enjoy a fabulous national park experience during this lesser-visited time of year. If you’re coming to Yellowstone in March, April, or May, here are some handy tips to keep in mind:

If You’re Visiting in March

Gardiner and Yellowstone National Park are still very winter-like during the month of March. Most park roads are currently closed for spring plowing—with the exception of the Yellowstone Northern Range, which includes the road from Gardiner to Mammoth Hot Springs and on to Cooke City, Montana. So while visitors won’t be able to access famous attractions like Old Faithful or the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, they will be able to experience world-class wildlife watching, relaxing scenic driving, and snow sports like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the Northern Range.

Snow removal takes place from March to April in Yellowstone/Yellowstone NPS

Wildlife—including elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and bison—are the stars of the show in March. With snowpack often at its peak many animals head for the lower elevations, and it’s common to see almost all of these species cruising right through town here in Gardiner. In Yellowstone National Park, wolf watching is generally very good in March as the packs are easier to spot against the white landscape. 

Wildlife are abundant in Gardiner in early spring/Yellowstone NPS

March is an excellent time to hire a wildlife guide and really immerse yourself in the wonders of this incredible ecosystem. Gardiner’s expert guides are all too happy to share their first-hand knowledge with visitors—and they’re intimately familiar with where to spot all the animals on your wish list. Accommodations are also widely available in Gardiner in March, though a few hotels will be closed for the winter season. For a complete list of all the accommodations available in Gardiner this time of year, click here.

If You’re Visiting in April

The weather can still be a bit finicky in April, but it’s generally milder than March. Snow begins to rapidly melt, which means waterfalls are often running at their peak. The hillsides begin to show the first signs of green vegetation. Several interior park roads open for the summer season on April 15, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy Old Faithful and the other geyser basins with just a handful of other people.

Visit Old Faithful when roads open in April to avoid peak season crowds/Yellowstone NPS

In addition to scenic driving in Yellowstone National Park, baby animals start to appear towards the end of April, especially in the Lamar Valley and at the park’s North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana. Bears begin to emerge from hibernation, accompanied by clumsy bear cubs. Playful bison calves—nicknamed “red dogs” for their reddish-brown coats—are a joy to see running and playing among the adults in the herd.

Visitors should be aware Dunraven and Sylvan passes are still closed, and there is still no direct route to neighboring Grand Teton National Park from Yellowstone as the road from Lake Village to the South Entrance is closed as well. It’s also a good idea to pack lunches for full-day trips into the park, as most in-park restaurants will still be closed for the season.

Spring hiking on the Beaver Ponds Loop trail near Mammoth Hot Springs/Yellowstone NPS

If You’re Visiting in May

At long last, classic spring weather arrives to Gardiner and Yellowstone National Park! By May 27, all park roads are open (weather dependent), early spring flowers begin to bloom, and you’ll be hard-pressed to drive through Gardiner and the park’s Northern Range without spotting at least a few baby animals. Bears are particularly active this time of year, so be sure to pack your bear spray and plan accordingly if you want to take advantage of spring hiking.

Green hillsides in May at the North Entrance/Yellowstone NPS

Along with Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, visitors can drive to lesser-visited—but still spectacular—attractions like Yellowstone Lake and West Thumb Geyser Basin. The weather is generally comfortable enough for camping, though we’d recommend bringing extra blankets as nights are still quite chilly.

Planning for a full-day trip into the park is easier as most in-park lodging, restaurants, and visitor centers are all open. Yellowstone’s infamous crowds start to ramp up around Memorial Day, so keep this in mind if you’re primary goal is beating the crowds. The Hell's A-Roarin' Horse Drive, where local ranchers drive over 300 horses right through the town of Gardiner, takes place on Memorial Day Weekend. The event culminates in a western-style party complete with live music, barbeque, and cowboy poetry, and all proceeds support local charity organizations.

The annual Hell's A-Roarin' Horse Drive takes place in Gardiner each May/Jean Modesette

Spring Into Yellowstone

As Gardiner locals, spring is one of our favorite times of year here at Yellowstone’s North Entrance. The staff at the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Information Center are happy to help you make the most of your spring getaway to Yellowstone National Park—be sure to stop in to our Visitor Center for free maps, brochures, and lots of insiders’ tips!

Baby bison, aka "red dogs" in Yellowstone/Jean Modesette

Not so long ago, you’d be considered incredibly lucky to witness Steamboat Geyser blow its top. And despite a significant increase in the geyser’s eruptions, you’d still have to count yourself lucky today—the world’s tallest geyser puts on a spectacular show each time it erupts, spewing water up to 300 feet high and throwing huge amounts of mud, sand, and silica into the air. Even the steam phase that follows the eruption can last for several days.

Until recently, these dramatic eruptions generally only took place once every few years—if at all (with a few exceptions in the 1960s and '80s). But things took a drastic turn in 2018, when Steamboat erupted a record-breaking 30 different times.

The Hottest Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park

Steamboat is tucked away in Yellowstone’s Norris Geyser Basin, approximately 20 miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs. Norris holds the distinction of being the hottest and most volatile geyser basin in the park. Visitors who venture here will discover a little over two miles of vibrant thermal features dressed in sapphire blue, toxic-looking green, and fiery orange. Divided into two regions—Porcelain Basin and Back Basin—Norris is often punctuated by the sounds of hissing steam and the acrid smell of sulphur.

The Evolution of Steamboat’s Eruptions

Steamboat's eruptions have been sporadic and infrequent prior to the record-breaking year of 2018. In fact, the geyser experienced periods of complete dormancy throughout the 1990s and late 2000s. In the past year, however, Steamboat erupted on 30 different occasions—surpassing the previous all-time record of 29 eruptions in 1964. The most recent and record-breaking eruption took place on December 8, 2018.

“The heightened activity at Steamboat this year is uncommon but not unprecedented,” said Jeff Hungerford, Yellowstone’s park geologist, in a December 2018 press release. “We have seen similar activity twice previously; once in the early 1960s, and again in the early 1980s. Conversely, the world’s tallest active geyser has also exhibited years of quiescence or no major eruptions, with the longest being the 50-year period between 1911 and 1961. We’ll continue to monitor this extraordinary geyser.”

Tips for Visiting Norris Geyser Basin

Not surprisingly, the popularity of Norris Geyser Basin has shot up with visitors since the news of Steamboat’s record-breaking activity has spread. This time of year, when many of the park roads are closed to personal vehicles, visitors will need to book a snowcoach or join a snowmobile tour out of Gardiner or West Yellowstone to get to the basin. In the summer months when roads reopen to personal vehicles, visitors can reach the basin by heading in from the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, and traveling south from Mammoth Hot Springs for approximately 20 miles. It’s a good idea to get to the basin as early as possible, as the parking area will often fill to capacity by mid-morning.

No matter what time of year visitors decide to go, it’s important to remember Steamboat’s eruptions—like most thermal features in Yellowstone—are still unpredictable. Here at the Gardiner Visitor Center, we recommend planning to stay in the area for several days and be sure to line out other attractions you’d like to see. But rest assured, if you are one of the lucky park visitors to catch a Steamboat Eruption, it's safe to say it's an experience you won't soon forget!

Other Trip Planning Sources

Hire a Yellowstone Guide
Nearby Lodging
Nearby Restaurants 
How to Prepare for a Yellowstone Winter Adventure
Yellowstone Snowcoaches: The Ultimate Ticket to Ride

As the sun rose over the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park, Linda Carney bent over a toilet, windshield scraper in hand.

“It’s the plumber’s daughter in me,” she joked, having used the scraper to remove frozen human waste from the side of the toilet.

In light of the government shutdown, a group of Montana residents have taken on the responsibility of keeping the park clean. Rachel Leathe/Bozeman Chronicle

Carney was one of about 10 Gardiner community members who decided to take matters into their own hands and clean up rest stops and remove garbage from Yellowstone Saturday morning, two weeks into the partial federal government shutdown. National parks across the country have been left with no one to care for facilities despite many still being open to visitors.

Mike Skelton, owner of Yellowstone Wonders, a company that offers tours of the park, said he and others noticed trash was starting to pile up while doing tours recently. So he and a few other Gardiner and Emigrant residents gathered a group to hit the northern part of the park, between Gardiner and the Pebble Creek area in the northeastern part of the park.

“We’re locals and we love this park, so we don’t want it to look like trash,” Gardiner resident Paula Rainbolt said.

Volunteers cleaned rest areas from Tower Junction to Pebble Creek Saturday. They’ll go from Tower Junction to Gardiner Sunday, eating pizza courtesy of K-Bar Pizza afterward. Conoco also donated gas cards to volunteers, and Yellowstone Forever donated some garbage bags. Many volunteers also paid for supplies out of pocket.

In light of the government shutdown, a group of Montana residents have taken on the responsibility of keeping the park clean. Rachel Leathe/Bozeman Chronicle

Trash around Yellowstone hadn’t piled up as much as they expected, volunteers said, though many bathrooms weren’t a pretty sight. One bathroom at the Hitching Post stop had human excrement all over the floor and a broken toilet seat. The other had puke and blood splattered all over the toilet and floor.

Despite the unpleasant nature of the work, Kelly Kirk said volunteers were happy to do it.

“People’s livelihoods depend on this — we’re all tied to the park,” she said. “And any excuse to get into the park, right?”

Volunteers brushed snow off entrances, cleaned toilets, replaced toilet paper and switched out garbage bags, and they’ll likely do it again most weekends, if the shutdown continues.

“I don’t know what happens if the [outhouses] fill up,” she said.

This article first appeared in the Bozeman Chronicle on January 6, 2019.

Every autumn the high-pitched “errrr-EEEEEEEEEEE-rrrrr” of elk bugles fill the air around northern Yellowstone National Park and southern Montana. This marks the start of the elk “rut” – or mating season – where bulls challenge one another and lock antlers to determine breeding rights with nearby females. And it can be quite the spectacle – drawing onlookers from across the planet.

Preparing for Battle

Starting in springtime, after they shed their antlers from the previous season, bull elk grow new spikes and tines that branch off them at an incredible rate. At this time the antlers are covered in a soft, blood-vessel-filled covering called velvet, which nourishes the bone underneath. Once fall arrives, and the process is complete, they use trees, rocks, and shrubbery to vigorously rub off the casing and sharpen the points of their antlers in the process. They are then ready to challenge other bulls to do battle using bugles to call in contenders.

The Challenge

This is where things get interesting; onlookers wait with bated breath to witness bulls lock antlers and push each other back and forth in a test of dominance. However, not every challenge is answered in a battle. Sometimes a young bull commits to more than he’s ready for and is chased off easily by the more mature male. Sometimes two big bulls size each other up and decide to go their separate directions. What remains consistent, though, are the large – seemingly unimpressed – groups of female elk called harems. These female, or cow, elk and their calves nonchalantly chew grass while the bulls, when not battling, jealously guard them and try to keep them in an organized group. Bulls consistently test whether the females are ready to mate using an organ in the roof of their mouths that can detect pheromones.

The spectacle has attracted onlookers since Yellowstone was established as a national park in 1872. Most of the activity now takes place in Mammoth Hot Springs, a National Historic District inside the park that is a mere 15-minute drive from Gardiner, Montana. Here, grass cultivated between buildings attracts the elk and provides easy viewing of bulls and harems.

Where to View the Rut

From Gardiner, drive to Mammoth to park your car and safely view the wildlife from a developed area, including from the porch of the Albright Visitor Center. If you’d prefer to seek elk in a more private setting, hire a guide from a local wildlife watching company who can take you to lesser-known regions including outside of the park. You can also inquire into autumn elk hunting opportunities following the rut with one of Gardiner’s local hunting outfitters. The area is well known for hunting with a permit outside the park’s boundaries.

Please note that elk – really at all times of the year, but especially in the rut – can be extremely dangerous and often attack parked cars and visitors who don’t afford them appropriate space. For more information on staying safe while watching these animals during their mating season, please visit the Yellowstone National Park website and follow all rules and regulations.

Chelsea DeWeese is a guide and writer based in her hometown of Gardiner, Montana, at the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

Plan Your Elk Rut Adventure

Where to Stay
Where to Eat
Getting Here
Other Fall Activities

Located in the northern section of Yellowstone National Park between the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, and the Northeast Entrance in Cooke City, Montana, the Northern Range is known for abundant wildlife, mature forests, and sweeping mountain vistas. Anglers flock to take advantage of blue-ribbon trout fishing on the Lamar River and Slough and Cache creeks. It's also one of the best places in the world to watch wolves in their natural habitat.

You could join the crowds of tourists lining the roads of this wildlife-watching mecca in the busy summer months, or you could see it the way early explorers first witnessed this beautiful area—by hitting the trail!

From family-friendly options to wildflower hot spots, here’s a round-up of our favorite Northern Range hiking trails.

Best Hikes for Families

Lost Lake Loop
Where: The trailhead begins behind Roosevelt Lodge; park at the Lodge parking lot.
Distance: 4 miles roundtrip
Highlights: This trail climbs through a mature lodgepole forest and meets up with Lost Lake after 0.2 miles. Often covered in lily pads, this lovely mountain lake makes for a great spot to get your feet wet or enjoy a picnic. Turn back the way you came or make it a loop hike by continuing on to the Petrified Tree parking lot. From there, the trail climbs through a meadow and on down to the Tower Ranger Station area, followed by a short 0.2 miles to meet back up with Roosevelt Lodge. See the full trail description.

Yellowstone River Picnic Area Trail
Where: The trailhead is located at the Yellowstone River Picnic Area, 1.25 miles northeast of Tower Junction on the Northeast Entrance Road.
Distance: 3.7 miles roundtrip
Highlights: This hike follows the rim of the Narrows of the Yellowstone River. After a short but challenging climb to the rim, kids will love spotting marmots, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and birds of prey. Great views and dramatic geologic formations are highlights of this hike as well. See the full trail description.

Wraith Falls
Where: This trailhead is located at a pullout a half a mile east of Lava Creek Picnic Area on the Grand Loop Road.
Distance: 1.0 miles roundtrip
Highlights: Ideal for even the littlest of hikers, this mellow hike follows a boardwalk to Wraith Falls on Lupine Creek. Wraith Falls is also a nice early season hike when much of the park is still covered in snow. See the full trail description.

Best Hikes for Wildflowers

Specimen Ridge Trail
Where: The trailhead starts 2.5 miles south of Tower Junction on the Northeast Entrance Road.
Distance: 2.4 miles to Agate Creek Trail Junction; 10.1 miles to the summit of Amethyst Mountain
Highlights: More advanced hikers will love the rewards of this more strenuous hike: alpine meadows, carpets of wildflowers, and sweeping vistas of the park. Specimen Ridge Trail is not as clearly defined as other trails in the park; it’s a good idea to bring a map and keep an eye on the trail and for cairns and other markers. See the full trail description.

Trout Lake
Where: The trailhead can be found at a small pullout south of Pebble Creek Campground on the Northeast Entrance Road.
Distance: 1.2 miles
Highlights: This short but steep hike offers a big payoff—Trout Lake is one of the most picturesque easily accessed lakes in the park. Wildflowers like lupine, Indian paintbrush, and arrowleaf balsamroot decorate the trail during the summer months. Consider bringing a fishing pole, picnic, or nature journal and spend the day here. See the full trail description.

Pebble Creek
Where: Pebble Creek Trailhead begins 200 yards east of Pebble Creek Bridge on the Northeast Entrance Road.
Distance: 6.6 miles to Bliss Pass Junction; 9.5 miles to the upper meadows
Highlights: This is your chance to leave the more drier areas of the Northern Range and enjoy the shade offered by a mature forest of Englemann spruce, lodgepole pine, and sub-alpine fir. In addition to peaceful meadows and views of the surrounding mountains, hikers will be greeted with a variety of wildflowers along this more challenging trail. See the full trail description.

Best Early Season Hikes

Hellroaring
Where: The trailhead begins at Garnet Hill approximately 50 yards north of Tower Junction on the Northeast Entrance road.
Distance: 6.2 miles
Highlights: This trail is for more advanced hikers looking for an early season Northern Range adventure (the trail can get quite hot come August). Highlights include crossing an old suspension bridge over the Yellowstone River, and the trail's end at a peaceful spot at the confluence of Hellroaring Creek and the Yellowstone River. See the full trail description.

Blacktail Deer Creek to Rescue Creek
Where: Start at Blacktail Deer Creek Trailhead, 7 miles east of Mammoth on the Grand Loop Road
Distance: 7 miles
Highlights: This early season hike is best accomplished with a shuttle. Drop one car off at the beginning of Rescue Creek located just south of the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, then begin the hike at the Blacktail Deer Creek trailhead. Hikers will enjoy rugged Northern Range scenery and plenty of potential wildlife sightings on this through-hike. See the Blacktail Deer Creek hike in this guide for the full description.

Best Hikes for Anglers

Slough Creek (to first meadow)
Where: The trailhead is located along the road to Slough Creek Campground where the road bears left. Park at the pit toilet.
Distance: 3.4 miles roundtrip
Highlights: Slough Creek is a popular fly-fishing stream, but anglers and hikers alike will enjoy this pleasant day-hike to a scenic meadow. The trail follows an old wagon trail, so be on the lookout for stock users as well as bears and moose. See the full trail description.

Lamar River Trail
Where: The trailhead starts 4 miles west of Pebble Creek Campground.
Distance: 7 miles to Cache Creek Junction (roundtrip)
Highlights: Anglers, hikers, and wildlife all take advantage of this corridor located in Yellowstone’s famed Lamar Valley. The trail begins with a wide open meadow of sage and grasses and moves into a more forested area. The trail parallels the Lamar River and is a popular place to enjoy some off-the-beaten-path fly fishing. See the full trail description.

Handy Hiking Sources

Staying Safe in Bear Country
Where to Purchase Gear and Supplies
Hire a Hiking Guide
Fishing Information

All photos courtesy of Yellowstone National Park. 

 If you drive into Gardiner, Montana, after the hustle and bustle of the short three months of summer, you’ll notice a tranquility settle upon the town. The locals relax, the wildlife wanders in from the park, and the crowds disappear. Glancing at the passing license plates, the traffic is distinctly more Montana based. Yet spring, fall, and winter are ideal times to visit Yellowstone National Park. According to the Park Service, only 35 percent of the yearly visitation occurs outside of summer, which means that the off-season is the best way to avoid the crowds and experience Gardiner—and Yellowstone—in silence and solitude.

Spring

Walk through downtown as the ice breaks up along the Yellowstone River and you’ll hear echoes careening off the canyon walls below Gardiner. When March sweeps in, spells of mild weather and longer days settle into the northern district of the park. Spring is the perfect season to get out and enjoy one of the most photogenic times of the year.

It’s a time of new life in the park, and viewing Yellowstone’s wobbly legged baby animals can be a highlight of many people’s trip in the spring. With more than 60 different animal species in the park, you have a good chance of spotting these youngsters in the spring. Elk begin calving in late May and June, making them the most likely animals to spot for most people. Bison are usually born in April, able to stand within a few hours of birth. They will stay with the all-female herd for protection from predators for up to three years, so you’ll see the smallest members of the group learning the ropes. Bear cubs are born during winter hibernation, but step out with mom in the spring, usually around late March. They are one of the prized sightings in the park—but keep in mind that you never want to get too close to the mother and cubs. Bring binoculars and a zoom lense for your camera.

Another unique opportunity to explore presents itself as the Park Service plows the roads connecting Gardiner and Mammoth to the West Entrance. For a brief window, bicyclists are allowed into the park while the roads are still closed to motor vehicles. This is an amazing chance to pedal the park in silence. However, make a plan and come prepared because spring in the Rockies can still be unpredictable. If you happen to be caught without the proper gear, Gardiner has plenty of shops like the Flying Pig Camp Store where you can find warm and comfortable layers.

As the months advance into April and May, it’s a great time to get out on the lower elevation trails, such as the Black Canyon and Lava Creek, and search for waterfalls and wildflowers. Along the way, dig out your bear spray and keep your binoculars handy to watch elk calves and baby bison take their first steps. If you’re lucky, you may even see a mother grizzly and her cubs wandering down from their winter sleep or wolf pups emerging from their dens.

Fall

After Labor Day weekend, the line of cars disappears from under the Roosevelt Arch and a steady stream of visitors slows to a trickle through the North Entrance. Pausing to listen in the early morning light, you might hear a bull elk’s bugle resound from across the Gardner River.

Fall is the perfect time of year to drive up to Mammoth and hike the Hoodoos Trail or Beaver Ponds Loop. Autumn colors dot the mid-elevation landscape and, as you gaze towards Sepulcher Mountain, it’s a good time to look up and catch the passing raptor migration as they head south for winter. Keep your eyes peeled for golden eagles and goshawks traveling south in the afternoons.

After the first frost, get out for a final night of camping or a late-season backpacking trip. The cool temperatures are a great excuse for gathering around a campfire at the end of the day. Here are a few campground recommendations for every vehicle type and recreational interest, from just outside of Gardiner to inside the park to nearby Cooke City. Pack along your rod for a day of fall fishing or, if you prefer, enjoy a weekend of world class elk hunting near town. While camping please remember to be bear aware and keep your food secure because hibernation doesn’t begin until well after the first snowfall.

Winter

Once snow falls, Yellowstone’s magic comes to the forefront of the softened landscape. With the arrival of winter, head south from town to Mammoth and walk the Terraces. As steam billows into the frosty sky and warm water pools in blues and greens, the boardwalk is a spectacular place to explore and enjoy the silent beauty of Yellowstone’s winter.

If you crave a bigger adventure, pack up your car with warm food and a thermos and head towards the Lamar Valley, before first light, for a morning of wolf watching. The winter snow forces the elk and bison out of the higher country and closer to the road. With a good lens, it’s fairly common to see wolves hunting on the edge of these herds. Winter is an excellent time to catch a glimpse of these carnivores on the landscape.

Another great option for wildlife watching is to head to the trails around Tower Junction with skis or snowshoes. Across the Yellowstone Northern Range, there are miles and miles of groomed trails to explore and wander. Bison graze around the melted snow of Tower’s thermal features and the nearby waterfalls are stunning when they are paused as pillars of ice.

After a long day in the park, Gardiner provides year-round dining and cozy lodging to enjoy on a cold winter’s night.

This year, make it a goal to experience the magic of Yellowstone throughout the seasons. Gardiner serves as the perfect basecamp with plenty of options for food, lodging, and tour guides to help you explore. When you visit Gardiner outside of the busy summer season, you can enjoy small town Montana life and see the park with the locals. It’s an incredible experience that will stick with you for a lifetime.

Written by Anthony Pavkovich for RootsRated Media in partnership with Gardiner CVB.

Fall in Gardiner, Montana and northern Yellowstone is spectacular—especially if you love wildlife watching, photography, and classic mountain town recreation. Here are just a few reasons to plan a fall adventure to Nature’s Favorite Entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

The elk rut. Fall in Gardiner and northern Yellowstone means elk mating season is in full swing. You can be at the center of the action and watch the bulls (males) compete for the attention of females. Just be careful—the bulls are easily agitated this time of year so give them plenty of space. Check out this video from Yellowstone National Park if you need some visual proof.

Beautiful hiking weather. The Gardiner area is still relatively dry but the daytime highs are cooler, making the weather more comfortable for a day hike. Our favorite hikes this time of year include Knox Lake (Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, inquire at the Gardiner Ranger Station), any of these northern Yellowstone hikes, and Pine Creek Lake. All our favorite spring hiking adventures are great options in autumn as well.

Camping. Crisp mornings give way to warm, sparkling autumn days in Gardiner, Montana. We have a campground recommendation for every vehicle type and recreational interest, from just outside town to Yellowstone National Park to Cooke City. Just remember some campgrounds close by late September, so be sure to check with the Forest Service or Park Service before you go.

Scenic drives. Paradise Valley, Jardine Road, Yellowstone’s Northern Range, and the Beartooth Highway all offer spectacular scenic drives filled with alpine scenery, fall color, and opportunities for viewing wildlife—including bears, elk, and moose. 

Yellowstone has fewer crowds. Cooler temperatures mean the thermal features are even steamier than in the warmer months—plus you can view them without the usual summer crowds. Though September is still considered peak season in the park, October and early November are some of our favorite times to enjoy the wonders of Yellowstone National Park at your own pace (and find parking, too!)

Fly fishing. The Yellowstone River runs right through town—and just happens to be a world-class fishing destination. Try your luck in Gardiner, Tom Miner Basin, and the Paradise Valley. Visit the local fly shops to find out what the fish are biting on and where.

Endless photography opportunities. Wildlife are more active as the ungulates (elk, pronghorn, and deer) head into mating season and bears prepare for hibernation. Grab the big lens and take advantage of premier wildlife watching and photography opportunities. Bonus: If the animals are being elusive, you can always capture the stunning fall colors that surround Gardiner on all sides. Some excellent places to photograph fall foliage include Paradise Valley, the Tom Miner Basin, and Yellowstone’s Northern Range.

Best of all, many of the shops, restaurants, and comfortable accommodations available during the summer months are still open and ready to serve you. Try delicious local cuisine like elk burgers and huckleberry milkshakes, stay in a comfortable hotel or cozy cabin, and pick up all the supplies and mementos you and your family desire.

We look forward to seeing you in Gardiner this fall, where skies are cobalt blue and the air is filled with the sounds of bugling bull elk!

Photo Credits: Knox Lake; camping image: Loren Barrett/Gardiner Chamber of Commerce. Fall foliage and dirt road: Jean Modesette. Fall foliage in Paradise Valley: Zondra Skertich/Gardiner Chamber of Commerce. All others courtesy of Yellowstone NPS.