Welcome to the 406, Gardiner's newest boutique hotel.

The 406 Lodge was built by the Knight family, breaking ground in 2018 and grand opening in spring 2019.

We welcome you to relax and experience one of our uniquely themed and decorated suites.

From the Yellowstone Suite to our River Suite, the lodge has been furnished with history, from the headboards that were made by the Knights out of barn wood from their great-great grandmother’s barn in Georgia to the mirrors that were salvaged from Canyon Village and restored by the family.

Come see the breathtaking views, abundant wildlife and nature at its best.

On behalf of The Knight Family we would like to welcome ya’ll to The 406!

- Donald and Gina

This time of year, Gardiner and northern Yellowstone visitors and residents are faced with a “choose your own adventure” dilemma...to ski or to hike? (Talk about a good problem to have!) And while we’re all about embracing spring ski conditions, this time we’re bringing you five lower elevation, generally drier hikes that are ideal for the entire family—and some for your pup too.

1. Lava Creek Trail

Where: Across the road from the Lava Creek Picnic Area on the Grand Loop Road in Yellowstone National Park.
Distance: Four miles one-way (consider a shuttle) or eight miles out and back. It’s ok to turn around whenever you please, though, as the views and opportunities for exploration make this well worth the trip regardless of distance.
Dog-friendly: No
Restrooms: Pit toilets at Lava Creek Picnic Area.
Bear Spray: Yes
Highlights: Abundant wildlife including elk, bison, pronghorn, and mule deer, as well as pleasant views of Lava Creek and Mount Everts. Early spring wildflowers also decorate the trail this time of year (look but don’t pick!) and a short detour will give you a beautiful view of Undine Falls.
Other Considerations: The Yellowstone National Park entrance fee applies when traveling to this trailhead from outside the park.

2. The OTO Ranch via Cedar Creek Trailhead

Where: Highway 89 approximately 10 miles north of Gardiner, Montana. From Gardiner, drive north for 10 miles and turn right on (follow signs for Cedar Creek Trailhead) and follow the narrow dirt road to the end to reach the trailhead.
Distance: 2.6 miles round-trip.
Dog-friendly: Yes
Restrooms: No. The closest facilities can be found in Gardiner, Montana, or along the various fishing accesses lining Highway 89 (pit toilets only).
Bear Spray: Yes.
Highlights: This gem of a hike heads into Custer Gallatin National Forest land to the first and oldest dude ranch in Montana. Thanks to the efforts of primarily volunteers, you can explore the restored buildings of the ranch, or picnic in the adjacent meadows (or right on the porch of the old lodge—our favorite spot). Return the way you came for gorgeous views of Electric Peak and the Gallatin Mountains.

3. Wraith Falls

Where: Eight miles east of Mammoth Hot Springs and 0.5 miles east of Lava Creek Picnic Area on Yellowstone National Park’s Grand Loop Road. Park at the trailhead on the right.
Distance: One mile round trip.
Dog-friendly: No
Restrooms: The closest facilities are pit toilets located at the Lava Creek Picnic Area just west of the trailhead.
Bear Spray: Yes
Highlights: This is an easy-going Yellowstone National Park hike with a big payoff—local toddlers have been known to tackle this one. Early spring wildflowers, abundant wildlife, and beautiful views of Wraith Falls make this a fun and rewarding Northern Range pick.
Other Considerations: The Yellowstone National Park entrance fee applies when traveling to this trailhead from outside the park

4. Beaver Ponds Loop

Where: Mammoth Hot Springs behind the Mammoth cabins. Inquire at the Albright Visitor Center for precise directions.
Distance: Four miles round-trip (or shorter or longer depending on your turnaround point).
Dog-friendly: No
Bear spray: Yes
Restrooms: Mammoth Hot Springs
Highlights: This loop trail winds through sagebrush meadows and mature trees, and offers a birds-eye-view of Mammoth Hot Springs. Several pleasant beaver ponds mark the halfway point of the loop. Keep an eye out for water birds, elk, bears, mule deer, pronghorn and moose.

5. Pine Creek Falls

Where: The trailhead begins at Pine Creek Campground, 17 miles south of Livingston, Montana.
Distance: 2.5 miles roundtrip
Dog-friendly: Yes
Restrooms: Pit toilets
Bear spray: Yes
Highlights: Located in the foothills of the Abasaroka Mountains in Paradise Valley, this well-maintained trail might be described as a remote and incredibly scenic dog park (but don’t worry, most of the hikers are extremely courteous when it comes to their pets!) Think mature forest, a babbling brook perfect for streamside exploration, and of course Pine Creek Falls as your reward when you reach the end.
Other Considerations: When summer rolls around, more adventurous hikers can continue on the same trail past the falls for four more miles. Though steep and fairly strenuous, the views of Pine Creek Lake at end of the trail are worth the effort.

What did we miss? Do you have a favorite spring hike around Gardiner this time of year? Be sure to tag your favorites and other spring adventures with #VisitGardinerMT!

Other Resources

More Gardiner Hiking Ideas
Bear Safety
Hire a Hiking Guide
Top 10 Hikes on Yellowstone's Northern Range

Throughout the months of May and June, a unique and wonderful phenomenon will take place here at nature’s favorite entrance to Yellowstone National Park—baby animals begin to arrive! Gardiner and the Northern Range become a vibrant and playful place of tumbling bear cubs, leaping bighorn lambs, and bucking bison calves, just to name a few.

To celebrate, we’ve rounded up images of some of the most popular spring babies in Gardiner and Yellowstone, along with when you can expect their arrival and tips on where to spot them.

But before we get too far remember, give wildlife room to roam! Wild animals are dangerous if you get too close. People have been injured or killed by bears, bison, and elk. Always maintain a minimum of 25 yards (23 m) from all wildlife and 100 yards (91 m) from bears and wolves. Learn how to watch wildlife safety and travel safely in bear country.

Bison Calves

Bison calves are one of the first youngsters to make an appearance along the green hills of the Northern Range. Possibly the most iconic of all Yellowstone’s little ones, bison calves were once thought to resemble cocker spaniels by early park visitors and were given the name “red dogs” for their rust-colored coats. The name has stuck! Red dogs are best spotted near the North Entrance around Gardiner, Montana, and in the Lamar, Madison River, and Hayden valleys in Yellowstone.

Bighorn Sheep Lambs

Born in May and June, bighorn lambs are both adorable and talented climbers. Look for them engaging in playful fights on the cliffs in the Tower area, the Gardner Canyon near the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, and along the Yellowstone River near Calcite Springs on the Yellowstone Northern Range.

Bear Cubs

Black and grizzly bear cubs are born in mid-January and early February but won’t emerge from their dens for another two months while they nurse and sleep. Black bear cubs are most commonly seen starting in May in the Mammoth and Tower areas, while grizzly bear cubs might be spotted between Norris and Canyon, Yellowstone Lake, Hayden Valley, and Swan Lake Flats. Not sure how to tell the difference between the two? Here’s an explanation from the Yellowstone National Park Service.

Elk Calves

Elk calves arrive a little later in the season, in May and June. The spotted youngsters have very little scent at birth, and therefore spend most of their time bedded down, fiercely protected by their mothers. Visitors have been injured by mothers, so it's extremely important to be aware of your surroundings and stay the recommended distance of at least 25 yards from calves. You can find them in the Mammoth area, along the Northern Range, right in town in Gardiner, Montana, and in Paradise Valley just north of Gardiner.

Pronghorn Fawns

Pronghorn fawns arrive on the scene in May or June—usually as a set of twins. As natural sprinters, baby pronghorn can walk within 30 minutes of birth and can outrun a human within a couple days. Keep an eye out for pronghorn nursery herds—a group of several females and their youngsters—in the Lamar Valley and near the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana.

Wolf Pups

Yellowstone’s Northern Range is arguably one of the best places in the world to watch wolves. Female wolves give birth to an average of five pups in April in their dens. Packs will remain at the den for 3-10 weeks after birth; the pups will typically emerge at 10-14 days old. Look for them all along the Northern Range, such as Slough Creek and in the Lamar Valley.

And with that, it’s time to grab the big lens, practice safe wildlife viewing, and don’t be too embarrassed if—while standing in a crowd of about 30 other visitors—that cliché' sentiment, “Awwww….look at the baby!” comes tumbling out of your mouth. It’s happened before. And really, everyone gets it.

Other Tips

Tips for Visiting Yellowstone in the Spring

All photos courtesy of the Yellowstone National Park Service.

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

Cabin By The River was built in 1995 and rests on the banks of the Yellowstone River, 10.5 miles north of Gardiner, Montana, the only year-round entrance to Yellowstone Park. It is situated on about 5 acres in the upper Paradise Valley, south of Yankee Jim Canyon and north of Corwin Springs, Montana. We enjoy a country setting with neighbors across grassy fields.

The cabin is decorated in country cabin decor and will sleep five. There is a queen bed in the main floor bedroom and a queen and a single bed in the sleeping loft. A sofa queen bed in the living room is suitable for small children. The front porch overlooks the river and offers a porch swing, table and chairs and a gas bbq. For rainy days, there are reading materials, games, Dish TV and DVD player with a selection of movies. The small kitchen offers a full-size range and refrigerator. Dishes, utensils, coffee maker, crock pot & a brief pantry are provided.

The bathroom is a tub/shower combination. Linens, towels and paper products are provided.

There is a landline telephone for local calls. Wifi service is available but caution that we are in a mountainous area and it is sometimes undependable.

We have a fire ring down alongside the river for marshmallow roasting or just enjoying.

In the grassy area above the cabin, there is a swing set, yard games and tether ball, lots of area to run and play. Fishing in the Yellowstone River from our property can be successful and a great experience in a blue ribbon trout stream.

We are only 10 minutes to Gardiner, the north entrance to Yellowstone. Our guests enjoy coming out of the Park in the evening to the quiet setting of the Cabin By The River.

Yellowstone’s winter season has officially drawn to a close, which means most roads except for the Northern Range are closed to personal vehicles and park staff are currently hard at work plowing the snow packed interior roads for the upcoming spring season. 

If you’re planning a spring visit to the world’s first national park, keep in mind the following roads will open to the public at 8 a.m. on these dates (weather permitting):

April 19: West Entrance to Madison Junction, Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful, Norris to Canyon Village
May 3: East Entrance to Lake Village (Sylvan Pass), Canyon Village to Lake Village
May 10: South Entrance to West Thumb, Lake Village to West Thumb, West Thumb to Old Faithful (Craig Pass), Tower Junction to Tower Fall
May 24: Tower Fall to Canyon Village (Dunraven Pass)
May 24: Beartooth Highway

Yellowstone’s Northern Range—which includes the road from Gardiner to Mammoth Hot Springs and on to Cooke City—is open year-round to private vehicles. There are plenty of things to do this time of year along the Northern Range; click here for a guide to this lesser-traveled, wildlife-rich region of Yellowstone National Park.

Mild spring weather comes late in the Rocky Mountains—travelers should keep in mind the park’s spring opening dates may change slightly due to inclement weather. Keep an eye on all park road conditions here or call the Gardiner Montana Visitor Information Center at 406-848-7971.

The bad news? The roads to Old Faithful are closed to personal vehicles from mid-November to late April. The good news? The road is open to commercial snowcoaches and snowmobiles as long as you join a snowmobile tour or obtain the proper permit. We’d argue this arrangement makes traveling through the park in the winter a more private, special experience—you’ll feel like it’s just you and a few other lucky folks who have this winter wonderland all to yourselves. And the best news of all? This trip is more accessible than you might think.

A snowy bison stands sentinel in front of the Old Faithful Inn/Zondra Skertich - Gardiner Chamber of Commerce

We recently joined a Frosty Fun Package with our friends at Yellowstone National Park Lodges, just one of several ways to access Old Faithful in the winter. The package included transportation, lodging, meals, and activities to make the trip to Old Faithful in the wintertime easy—and nothing short of magical. If traveling to iconic attractions like Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone in the wintertime is on your bucket list, read on for a step-by-step itinerary of what to expect on this winter adventure. 

Skiers at the Upper Geyser Basin/Zondra Skertich - Gardiner Chamber of Commerce

Night One: Gardiner, Montana

Your snowcoach will depart for Old Faithful bright and early around 7:45 am on Day One of your journey, so you’ll want to book lodging in Gardiner, Montana or at Mammoth Hot Springs the night before. Choose from a variety of lodging options and enjoy a cozy dinner and a good night’s sleep before your journey begins. Bear in mind your luggage will make the journey to Old Faithful on a separate vehicle, so pack a small carry-on daypack with these essentials to keep with you throughout the day that follows.

Heading to Old Faithful via snowcoach/Zondra Skertich - Gardiner Chamber of Commerce

Day One: Mammoth to Old Faithful

Rise early and enjoy a big breakfast in Gardiner before checking in at 7:45 a.m. at the Mammoth Hotel, where your snowcoach driver will greet you. You’ll enjoy in-depth interpretation on the first stretch of your snowcoach ride, as well as incredibly snowy scenery and perhaps a wildlife sighting or two. You’ll stop at Madison Junction for flush toilets and a snack, steamy Beryl Springs, and spectacular frozen Gibbon Falls.

Expect to arrive at Old Faithful Snow Lodge around lunchtime, between noon and 1 pm For the remainder of the day, enjoy dining at Obsidian Dining Room (coupons provided!), relaxing at the lodge, or exploring snowy Old Faithful village on skis or snowshoes. Wrap up the day sitting fireside at one of several fireplaces—expect live music on the weekends and plenty of camaraderie with other guests.

Night Two: Tucked in snug and warm at Old Faithful Snow Lodge

Coyote spotted along the Grand Loop Road/Zondra Skertich - Gardiner Chamber of Commerce

Nordic skis lined up outside Snow Lodge/Gardiner Chamber of Commerce

Guests relax by the fire at Snow Lodge/Zondra Skertich - Gardiner Chamber of Commerce

Day Two: Winter Excursions

On your full day at Snow Lodge, choose your own adventure! Guests can take a snowcoach to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, choose between a variety of ski and snowshoe trails, or take in an eruption at Old Faithful and learn about the park’s geology at the Visitor Center. Those wishing to spend the day at the lodge can borrow a book from the Yellowstone lending library, play a game or do a puzzle, or take advantage of free and unlimited ice skating.

We chose to ski to Lone Star Geyser via the Kepler Cascades and Lone Star Geyser cross-country ski trails. Lone Star erupts roughly every 3 hours, and although we missed the eruption, we were delighted by groomed ski trails, wildlife sightings, and enchanting views of Spring Creek.

Night Three: Old Faithful Snow Lodge

Old Faithful's winter eruption/Gardiner Chamber of Commerce

Skiers on the Lone Star trail/Zondra Skertich - Gardiner Chamber of Commerce

Day Three: Homebound

Although it’s time to say goodbye to Snow Lodge and head back to Mammoth, your final day of this winter adventure won’t disappoint. Your journey from Old Faithful to Mammoth includes a stop at Fountain Paint Pots—an incredibly popular geyser basin in the summertime that you’ll have almost entirely to yourself on this trip. We enjoyed stellar interpretation from our snowcoach driver while exploring this geyser basin, which includes every type of thermal feature in Yellowstone National Park (hot springs, geysers, mud pots, and fumaroles).
Depending on what time you departed, your snowcoach will arrive back in Gardiner either around lunchtime or in the early evening. Unless you’re in relatively close driving distance, we’d recommend booking an additional night in Gardiner at the tail end of your trip so you can rest and relax after your journey.

Night Four: Gardiner, Montana

Clepsydra erupting at Fountain Paint Pots/Zondra Skertich - Gardiner Chamber of Commerce

Related Sources

How to Prepare for a Yellowstone Winter Adventure
Gardiner’s Official Winter Website
Gardiner Winter Lodging
The Ultimate Yellowstone Winter Bucket List

Old Faithful Snow Lodge/Yellowstone NPS

Sixth-grade students at Gardiner School have been hard at work using the latest technology to share their perspective on living at the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park in winter—a challenging but inspiring landscape with many lessons to teach its residents. The iPads used in this project were provided by a grant made available through the North Yellowstone Education Foundation.

The Gardiner Chamber of Commerce is proud to showcase students' photography and insight on what living in Gardiner in winter means to them.  We hope you enjoy their presentation!

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.