Although Yellowstone National Park is spectacular all year long, locals will tell you winter is a particularly special time of year. With fewer crowds, abundant wildlife, and stunning winter vistas, the park resembles a real live snow globe when the land is covered in a blanket of white. If you’re considering a winter vacation to Yellowstone, don’t miss these ten bucket-list-worthy winter experiences.

Go Wildlife Watching

Yellowstone is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems in North America. Bison, pronghorn, elk, deer, foxes, coyotes, and the occasional wolf roam freely throughout the park, and winter is prime wildlife-watching time. Most species migrate to the more accessible lower elevations and are easier to spot against the snow. For best results, hire a guide out of Gardiner, Montana, who will customize your wildlife-watching experience to your exact specifications – and provide hot drinks and transportation, too!

Try Cross-country Skiing or Snowshoeing

Nordic skiing and snowshoeing are popular activities in Yellowstone National Park. Both low-impact winter sports will keep you warm while allowing you to take in the wonders of the park at a slower pace. Our favorite cross-country ski and snowshoe trails offer breathtaking snowy landscapes, frozen waterfalls, and ample wildlife sightings. You’ll be so lost in the beauty around you, you’ll forget you’re getting a workout!

Take a Snowcoach Tour

Many roads in Yellowstone are closed to personal vehicles in the winter, but fear not! Yellowstone National Park Lodges provides a truly memorable way to get around in the park in winter – via a chartered snowcoach. We personally love to take the coach from Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful Village. The Old Faithful area offers cozy lodging and a plethora of fun winter activities, but snowcoaches make the journey to the village half the fun!

Try Winter Landscape or Wildlife Photography

If photography is your passion, Yellowstone National Park is the perfect winter muse. Rather than describe it to you, we’ll just let these stunning winter photos do the talking.

Soak in a Hot Springs

After a day of winter adventures, warm up and relax your muscles at one of two hot spring hangouts outside Yellowstone. A 30-minute drive from Gardiner to Emigrant, Montana, brings you to Chico Hot Springs. The resort is casual and a favorite with locals and celebrities alike. It features a full bar and grill in addition to a fancier sit-down restaurant (reservations are recommended). Yellowstone Hot Springs, a few miles to the north of Yellowstone’s North Entrance, features sweeping mountain views on the banks of the Yellowstone River.

Stay for the Holidays

There are many heart-warming holiday traditions in Yellowstone, from a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Mammoth Hot Springs to celebrating Old Faithful’s first eruption of the New Year. Spending Christmas in Yellowstone National Park has become a tradition in itself for many winter enthusiasts – give it a try and you just might become a regular too!

Ice Skate at Old Faithful

Guests at Old Faithful can enjoy free ice skating (including skate rentals!) during the wintertime. We recommend going after sundown when the clear northern skies are lit up by an indescribable blanket of stars.

Cozy Up by the Fire

There’s nothing like curling up by the fire on a winter’s night in the mountains. Old Faithful Snow Lodge, the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, and Wonderland Café in Gardiner are some of our favorite places to warm our toes and sip on a hot beverage in the winter months.

Go Geyser Gazing

Yellowstone is home to more than 10,000 thermal features, including half the world’s active geysers. When cold winter temperatures meet the heat of Yellowstone’s geysers, mudpots, and hot springs, the effect is even more dramatic than in the summer months. Our favorite places to “geyser gaze” in the wintertime include the Upper Geyser Basin at Old Faithful, Norris Hot Springs (home to Steamboat Geyser), and the Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs.

Explore the Northern Range

Yellowstone’s Northern Range is open to personal vehicles all year round, so it’s one of the most convenient and cost-effective ways to the see the park in the wintertime. Plus, the opportunities for spotting wildlife and viewing jaw-dropping scenery abound. Access this scenic corridor from the North Entrance in Gardiner, then head northeast at Mammoth Hot Springs for Tower Junction toward the famous Lamar Valley – the “Serengeti of North America.”

Related Sources

About Winter in Gardiner
Where to Stay
Where to Eat
How to Prepare for a Yellowstone Winter Adventure

Photo credits: Hot springs soaker courtesy of Eric Ian. All others are courtesy of Yellowstone NPS.

If you ask almost any local, they will tell you winter is their favorite time of year here at Yellowstone’s North Entrance—and you really can’t blame them! From wildlife watching to winter recreation, see for yourself why our quaint summer town turns into a winter wonderland when the snow falls.

Cross-country Ski Trails

Imagine gliding past steamy thermal features, wooly bison covered in frost, and snow-clad evergreen forests. Cross-country skiers of any age and ability will find a trail that’s right for them in and around Gardiner, Montana, but what makes the experience truly special is the incredible scenery and opportunities to see wildlife. Our favorite trails include the Mammoth Terraces, B Bar Ranch, and any of the trails along Yellowstone’s Northern Range.

Barronette Ski Trail/Gardiner Chamber of Commcere

Solitude

In 2021 Yellowstone National Park experienced another extremely busy season with over 4 million visitors. If Yellowstone is still on your bucket list, why not plan your visit when the crowds are long gone and the park resembles a real-live snow globe? Start here to plan your Yellowstone winter adventure.

Snowy Bison along Gibbon River/Courtesy of Yellowstone NPS

Hot Springs

Is there anything more relaxing than soaking in naturally occurring warm water, the snow falling softly around you? What if you add a festive cocktail from the poolside bar at Chico Hot Springs? The Gardiner area is currently home to two incredible locations for hot springs enthusiasts: Chico Hot Springs in Paradise Valley and Yellowstone Hot Springs. Yellowstone Hot Springs is the area's newest place to soak just a few miles north of Gardiner.

Winter at Chico Hot Springs & Resort/Courtesy of Chico Hot Springs

Wolf Watching

Northern Yellowstone, accessed year-round via the North Entrance in Gardiner when many park roads are closed, is one of the premier destinations in the world for watching wolves in the wild. While sightings aren't guaranteed, you can drive through the park and find expert information from park rangers and biologists who are happy to share information about these incredible carnivores. You can also increase your chances of a sighting by going out with a Gardiner-based guide, who are intimately familar with the park and where to spot wildlife.

Alpha Male in Yellowstone/Courtesy of Yellowstone NPS

Scenic Drives

With jagged, snow-capped peaks and wildlife moving down to lower elevations, a sunny day in our area makes for the perfect scenic drive. This time of year, our favorites include the drive from Livingston, Montana, to Gardiner via Paradise Valley, as well as the drive between Gardiner and Cooke City, Montana, located at Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance. Be on the lookout for elk, deer, bison, and even wolves along the way!

Alpenglow in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley/Courtesy of Yellowstone NPS

Mammoth Hot Springs

Just five miles south of Gardiner, Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park is even more spectacular in the winter. Give yourself ample time to learn about the wildlife of northern Yellowstone in the  Albright Visitor Center, then head over to the Mammoth Terraces to explore fascinating hot springs and other thermal features. The best part? The chilly temperatures make the thermal features even steamier and more dramatic than in summer—and you’ll have the whole boardwalk to yourself.

Winter at the Mammoth Upper Terraces/Courtesy of Yellowstone NPS

Abundant Wildlife

As the higher elevations become snowpacked and less hospitable, wildlife head down to the lower elevations in Gardiner, Montana, for the winter months. Don’t be surprised to see bison or elk walking down the road right in the middle of town! If you're interested in learning more about the wildlife of the Yellowstone ecosystem – and you'd like someone to handle the winter driving for you – consider hiring a Gardiner-based guide who specializes in wildlife.

Bison at Roosevelt Arch/Gardiner Chamber of Commerce

The Christmas Stroll

Each December, Gardiner businesses come together for an evening event that is all about community and festive fun. This charming small-town experience, complete with local handicrafts, free wine and hors d’oervres, is an annual favorite for locals and visitors alike. The Christmas Stroll takes place every year on the first Thursday after Thanksgiving. 

Gardiner, MT in Snow/Courtesy of Jean Modesette

Snow Sports at Cooke City

Cooke City is only accessed via Gardiner, Montana, in the winter months. Head 56 miles east through some of the most incredible scenery in Yellowstone National Park to say hello to our neighbors—who consider themselves winter adventure experts! Cooke City offers some of the best snowmobiling country anywhere in the United States, as well as trails for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and backcountry skiing.

Late Winter in Cooke City, MT/Courtesy of Jean Modesette

Guided Adventures

If you’re ready to embrace a winter Yellowstone adventure but are a little unsure about navigating winter driving conditions, a number of local guiding businesses are here to help. They’ll show you the best places to view wildlife, provide facts about what you’re seeing, and do all the driving so you can relax and take in the experience. Other guided adventures include cross-country ski instruction and photography tours.

Winter Tour in Yellowstone/Courtesy of Yellowstone NPS

As the warm summer days fade away, there is a feeling of excitement in the air, knowing that fall, with its cool crisp mornings, will arrive overnight. Some sure signs that fall is upon us include a dusting of snow in the higher elevations, fog enveloping low lying meadows and the sounds of the elk bugle reverberating through the forest. Just envision steam rising above the thermal basins as the colors of the landscape morph from greens and yellows to shades of red and gold. Fall is one of the most beautiful times to capture images in the Yellowstone National Park.

Get Out Early

Start out before daylight to catch a sunrise at West Thumb Geyser Basin. The basin will be filled with steam from the thermal features and you can incorporate the sun coming up across the lake into your images. You may also find the resident elk meandering through the basin. Another place for sunrise greatness is along the Firehole River. With steam rising into the trees and sunlight bouncing off the canyon walls, the potential images can be breathtaking. Early morning is also one of the best times to discover wildlife moving across the landscape. Swan Lake Flat is a great area to photograph elk during the fall rut. Plan on arriving at your desired location early so you can mentally compose multiple scenes to shoot. The fog or steam will burn off quickly once the sun comes up and the temperature rises. Besides capturing wonderful images, be sure to listen to the wildness around you and marvel at the fall morning unfolding in Yellowstone that you have the privilege of witnessing.

Where to Find Fall Colors

The palette of golds and reds can be found across the park. The aspen groves south of Mammoth Hot Springs will be quivering with golden leaves soon. If you travel the road from the High Bridge to Floating Island Lake in the northern section of the park, the underbrush appears to have been splashed with scarlet. If you want to incorporate water in your image, stop along the Gardner River, Yellowstone River, or Lamar River, all located in the Northern Range. A tripod is an essential piece of equipment early in the morning for creating images with a small aperture to maximize depth of field. Be sure to include a polarizing filter in your bag to reduce the glare from wet rocks or foliage and to help with a slow shutter speed to blur the water if you wish to incorporate this effect in your image.

Get Off the Beaten Path

Take the mile trail that begins across from the Norris campground and leads into the Porcelain Basin portion of Norris Geyser Basin. You’ll encounter very few, if any, folks along the trail. If you’re in the northeast portion of the park, hike up and around Trout Lake. To get further away from other hikers, consult a map and proceed on up to Buck Lake.

Wish for Snow

A dusting of snow is like frosting on the cake. It adds another dimension to your images with fall colors peeking through the fresh white snow. If snow is not in the forecast, look for frost glistening across the landscape.

It is time to grab your camera gear and get out early to immerse yourself in the beauties that fall has to offer in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

NATURE - BE AMAZED EVERY DAY!

Special thanks to local photographer Ann Skelton for these tips. Ann is a landscape and wildlife photographer residing outside of the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner, Montana. Website: www.natureinpixels.com. All images courtesy of Ann Skelton.

Fall fly-fishing in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the best-kept secret in Montana – perhaps in the entire West. While nearby Montana communities attract droves of fishermen and women looking to cast a fly line and catch the perfect fish, simply embarking on a short walk outside Yellowstone National Park’s north entrance town of Gardiner can provide a solitary fishing experience – except for the occasional wildlife sighting. Cottonwood trees line the mighty Yellowstone River, the longest free-flowing river in the continental United States, and turn a fiery gold due to changing daylight and cooling temperatures. The occasional bugle of a bull elk bugle can be heard in the distance. In the midst, migrating geese and sandhill cranes soaring overhead cast shadows on the seemingly endless high-mountain-desert landscape. This beauty doesn’t even account for the main draw for anglers in fall – which is, of course, the overall fly-fishing experience.

Why Fall

Gardiner offers world-class fishing in every direction. The town offers plenty of accommodations ranging from camping to motels to vacation rentals to quaint bed and breakfasts for visitors to rest their heads after heading to regional streams and rivers. The location’s small-town feel filled with with both professional fly fishing companies and the insight of generous and well-tuned locals differentiates Gardiner from other fishing destinations. Fall is considered a shoulder season in this tourist community, which means less crowding at popular fly fishing sites and less pressure on fish. The cooler temperatures bode well for those looking to cast their line at times other than the heat of mid-day. Fall also signals the start of a legendary brown-trout spawning season in the region that can allows anglers to catch the big brown trout of a lifetime. The sightseeing is also amazing, with large herds of elk, deer, pronghorn, and other animals moving out of the high country of Yellowstone National Park and into the lower-lying regions of the surrounding ecosystem.

What’s Hatching

According to local fly-fishing guides, pale-morning duns, blue-winged olives, hoppers, and terrestrial fly patterns work well as well as streamers to attract fish including aggressive brown trout. These flies can either be brought with you or purchased from a local fly-fishing company prior to departure. Fly types change regularly throughout the season so don’t be afraid to ask local anglers about which patterns and weights are working best. A Montana fishing license is required for those fishing outside Yellowstone’s borders and can be purchased from local businesses. A Yellowstone National Park fishing license is required for fishing inside the park. Visit Yellowstone’s website to learn how to purchase a fishing license and to learn which areas are open to fishing during your visit. Always remember to learn which fish you’re able to keep and to be gentle with fish if you’re catching and releasing, limiting the amount of time they are kept out of the water.

How to Start Fishing

Fishing in fall isn’t limited to those already familiar with angling in western streams and larger waters. Many Gardiner and Paradise Valley companies offer casting lessons for families and beginners. For those who’ve refined their angling, hire a guide to either row you down the Yellowstone River outside national park borders or to hike or horseback ride to lesser- known locations. Fly-fishing is unique in that a fly rod and reel are used to cast a weighted line and specialized lure to attract fish using hand-tied flies that resemble invertebrates or other natural bait. The technique requires the angler to make the bait look as natural as possible and then setting the hook in the fish’s mouth before successfully reeling it in.

The sport takes forethought and patience, but the rewards – whether or not a fish is caught – are undoubtedly worth the effort. Try fly fishing in fall at no other location than Gardiner, “Nature’s Favorite Entrance to Yellowstone National Park!”

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

Cover, second and third images courtesy of Yellowstone National Park. All others courtesy of Nicole Harkness/Gardiner, Mont.

The fleet of new Ford vans plying the snow-packed roadways of Yellowstone National Park this winter is certain to turn heads. Not only are they taller than street-ready vans, they boast panoramic side windows. But the truly odd components are their oversized tires — about 4-feet-tall and 3-feet-wide — that are inflated to such a low pressure (a mere 7 or so pounds) they look like partially deflated balloons.

Consider the latest incarnation of Yellowstone’s 13-passenger snowcoaches the ultimate 21st-century sleigh, providing a ticket to ride through one of the world’s most extraordinary landscapes.

Most of the fleet of 33 vehicles feature innovations certain to wow even winter-averse park visitors. And those odd-looking tires are the key to success. Distributing the vans’ weight over a broad area prevents them from sinking into the snow and getting stuck. The design enables travel in a landscape where seasonal snowfall can total up to 600 inches, and snowpack can reach as much as 10 feet above the roadways’ surface.

Not that sometimes-epic winter conditions have deterred visitors of late. Winter tourism remains quieter than at other times of the year (just one of the plusses to visiting in winter), but it has increased in recent years from about 3 percent of the year-round total to 5 percent, notes Leslie Quinn, a long-time snowcoach driver/guide who now trains other drivers. The rise is partly a reflection of the overall increase in Yellowstone visitation. But a broader spectrum of tourists is venturing in, he adds.

There was a time when most of Yellowstone’s visitors were private snowmobilers and a few cross-country skiers. “Now people who come in the summer find themselves wondering what this place is like when it’s a lot colder and covered in snow,” says Quinn.

Snowcoach Tours

There are ample ways to find out, thanks to a variety of day trips and multi-day packages offered by Xanterra Travel Collection, which manages the park’s lodges, from mid-December to early March. Two lodges — Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel (closed Winter 2018-2019 for renovations), about 50 miles apart — remain open in winter. Snowcoaches ferry visitors between the two, plus run ski shuttles and guided tours. (Xanterra also operates a daily bus to the Bozeman, Mont., airport for guests who don’t want the hassle of renting a car.)

Multi-day offerings include guided cross-country ski and snowshoeing trips to the spectacular Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Shorter adventures include a drive along the Firehole River with stops to view wildlife. A one-of-a-kind outing is the Steam, Stars and Winter Snowscapes tour. Participants are outfitted with non-skid devices for their boots, flashlights and steaming hot chocolate in a souvenir mug. Snowcoaches take them to Yellowstone’s geyser basins for stargazing.

“We have dark skies in Yellowstone like they don’t have anywhere in the U.S.,” Quinn says. “To stand quietly and experience the wilderness in the night by just listening is remarkable.”

Evolution of a Vehicle

For six decades, the Canadian company Bombardier manufactured park snowcoaches. The classic, 10-passenger vehicles were equipped with tracks in the rear and skis in the front. They were efficient for navigating on snowpack, but interiors weren’t so commodious for passengers. Inward-facing bench seats gave riders clear views of each other — but not of the vistas they’d come for. Though roof hatches could be raised for more optimal views, for safety reasons the vehicles had to be stopped when doing so.

A later innovation in the 1980s mounted cleat tracks at the rear, and skis on the front of vans. The forward-facing seats were an improvement for passengers, but the steel cleats were unfriendly to asphalt roads when the snowpack melted. The 1980s also brought Swedish-made military vehicles. They were “unstoppable, but slow and loud,” Quinn says.

Not only does Xanterra’s new fleet of Ford snowcoaches offer comfort and panoramic views, they’re more fuel-efficient, getting up to 12 miles per gallon, compared to just 3 miles per gallon in earlier models. Sustainability along with winter’s magic — it doesn’t get much better than that.

Yellowstone National Park Lodges provides in-park lodging, meals and services at Old Faithful, and comfortable snowcoach transportation to/from Old Faithful from Mammoth Hot Springs (just five miles from Gardiner.) This post first appeared on the Yellowstone National Park Lodges website on March 12, 2018. Written by Jayne Clark. 

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. 

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Driving to Yellowstone is a journey in itself. Most visitors to the country’s first national park have to cross states, mountain ranges, and vast prairies before at long last exiting the freeway at Livingston, Montana. From there, most head south toward the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Traveling alongside the Yellowstone River, down Highway 89, the valley opens into miles of mountain views and spectacular western ranches. One word describes it best: paradise.

How to Get There

Paradise Valley is the incredible place visitors get to experience before even reaching the park. Created by the Absaroka Range to the east and the Gallatin Range to the west, the valley runs north to south between Livingston and Yankee Jim Canyon, which is about 15 miles north of Gardiner, Montana, and the north entrance to Yellowstone. While many visitors simply gawk at the grandeur on the way to the park, it’s worth the time to explore on its own. You’ll avoid many of the crowds found in the national park, yet experience the scenic beauty that makes a cross-country trip worthwhile.

Traveling from Livingston, exit the steady stream of traffic and follow the locals down Paradise Valley’s first left onto East River Road, just outside of town. This scenic, meandering county road immediately crosses the mighty Yellowstone at Carter’s Bridge and invites you to slow down. The fishing access at Carter’s Bridge is a wonderful place to pull over and stretch your legs while taking in the majestic valley.

First Stop: The Yellowstone River

Strolling down the pebble-strewn beach, you’ll see the cold, snow-fed waters of the free-flowing Yellowstone tumble by. The river starts high in the mountains and continues all the way to the Gulf of Mexico—the longest undammed river in the lower 48 states. Fishermen and paddlers drift along enjoying this world-class trout stream while ospreys and eagles perch along the banks. Take some time to drop a line across the downstream banks. Large browns lie in wait and rainbows sit in the riffles.

Explore the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness

Continuing south, East River Road winds through little ranches and past Pine Creek’s one-room schoolhouse. The towering peaks of the Absaroka Range constantly pull the gaze to the east, and you’ll find plenty of trails in this area that wind up the side valleys.

A short drive past the schoolhouse accesses the Pine Creek Trailhead and gentle hiking through the dramatic glacier-carved valley underneath Black Mountain. This gateway into the 40-year-old Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness is a popular place for day hikers, backpackers, and photographers. After little more than a mile of smooth trail beside the babbling creek, you’ll reach the base of Pine Creek Falls—an ideal place to picnic and relax. Don’t forget your bear spray, however, as these mountains are once again home to wandering grizzlies working their way north from the park.

For the more adventurous, the trail continues for four more steep miles to Pine Creek’s beautiful alpine lake. This lake is set back in a cirque of granite and provides a wonderful opportunity for solitude under the high peaks of the Absarokas. The north face of Black Mountain sits imposingly above the south shore and the grasslands of Paradise Valley are framed by the steep glacially carved drainage.

Soak in the Hot Springs

After hiking, the best place to relax is a few more miles down East River Road at Chico Hot Spring Resort & Day Spa. Under the shadow of Emigrant Peak, warm water bubbles up into the idyllic, blue pools of the spa. The poolside bar, local beer, and mineral-rich water help relax the tired legs from a morning spent hiking or wading.

Gazing up at Emigrant Peak, the most prominent in the valley, the snow still shines brightly in the summer light from the last pockets of winter that cling to the summit. The road behind Chico winds up Emigrant Gulch and past the shades of old gold mines and hard luck. Ancient volcanic rock defines these mountains while glaciers and time carved its prominent pyramidal shape.

Settle in For Dinner and a Good Night’s Rest

As the shadow of the mountain grows longer and dinnertime nears, return to the highway and make your way to the little town of Emigrant. You will know you’re close by the smell—tucked off the highway is Wildflour Bakery and Follow Yer Nose BBQ. For dinner, look for their signature plate of ribs, a healthy dollop of sauce, a local ale, and live tunes while watching the sun set over the Gallatin Range and the alpenglow painting the Absarokas across the river.

After taking in the perfect day in paradise, finish the journey along the river south to Gardiner and prepare for the following day in the park. Find a comfortable room, book a guide, and get ready to explore the upper reaches of the Yellowstone and all that awaits on the far side of Paradise.

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