• June 27th, 2018
• June 20th, 2018 
• June 13th, 2018
• June 6th, 2018

The Northern Range of Yellowstone National Park has the claim to fame of being the only area of the park that’s accessible by automobile year-round. But that doesn’t begin to tell the whole story of what makes these 600 square miles in the Lamar and Yellowstone river basins so spectacular. Located between the Gallatin Mountains to the southwest and the Absaroka Mountains to the northeast, this scenic region is the best place to see bison, wolves, and other free-roaming wildlife. The 57-mile route from Gardiner to Cooke City is one of the park’s signature drives, offering breathtaking views any time of the year. Getting off the road, you’ll also find a wide range of activities to enjoy.

A Mecca for Wildlife

While the Northern Range is only 10 percent of Yellowstone’s area, it is one of the most important wildlife hubs in the region, having been described as the "Serengeti of North America," thanks to the large number of hoofed mammals (known as ungulates) who make the park home. In any given afternoon, you’re likely to spot bison, elk, pronghorn, and mule deer. You’ll also find the densest wolf population in the country, and visitors now have the chance to see these carnivores in the wild. It’s also one of the park’s best opportunities for spotting bears.

Seeing the wildlife in action is one of the biggest draws to this section of the park. The easiest way to do so is via the scenic drive that connects Gardiner to Cooke City through Yellowstone. Follow the park’s northern entrance road south to Mammoth Hot Springs. From there, head east on the Grand Loop Road, where you’ll get to see the rugged canyons between Abiathar Park and Amphitheater Mountain. You’ll find frequent pull-offs along the road to stop and get a better look. The trip should take you under two hours, and give you some of the Northern Range’s top highlights along the way.

For a closer look, daylong and multi-day wildlife expeditions can help you get nearer to the action. Outings differ by company, but most guides are well-versed in the area’s ecology and offer spotting scopes and binoculars. In Our Nature Guiding Services offers a trained wildlife biologist for your guide while Yellowstone Insight offers tours aided by the watchful eye of a wildlife photographer with decades of experience in the region.

"Having a knowledgeable, local guide who does this regularly—who participates in this daily routine—increases your odds of seeing your preferred wildlife," says MacNeil, founder and owner of Yellowstone Insight.

Winter Exploration

In the winter, a snowmobile or snowcoach is a great way to explore the interior of the park further, and guides offer a variety of options. For those interested in seeing wildlife, winter is a great time to visit, as the snowy landscape often makes it much easier to spot animals. Cross-country skis and snowshoes are another popular way to take advantage of Yellowstone’s snowy conditions, with many beginner-friendly trails for those getting started in either sport.

Hiking

Come summer, hiking is the best way to really get to see the Northern Range. Once again, guided excursions are available both inside and outside the park, with hikes ranging from daylong explorations to overnight adventures. Hiking with a guide provides visitors expertise into scenery, wildlife, and choosing the best trail for the time of the year. Most hiking companies provide bear spray as well as interpretive services and safety protocols for traveling in bear country.

Yellowstone Hiking Guides provides daily trips in the Northern Range as well as custom outings. Big Wild Adventures offers outfitted, multi-day backpack trips in areas around the Gallatin Mountains. Trips are available in a variety of lengths and difficulty levels. "The wildflowers in summer are just spectacular," says Howie Wolke, founder and co-owner of Big Wild. “It’s classic open Yellowstone backcountry in a mountainous environment.”

Towering over the town of Gardiner, Electric Peak is the crown jewel of the Gallatin Mountain Range. Named by an exploratory expedition that was almost hit by lightning on its summit, the peak stands tall at nearly 11,000 feet. You can find an experience near the mountain, no matter how much energy you want to expend.

For those looking for a mild adventure, a midday stroll in downtown Gardiner, complete with ice cream cones and gift shops, affords commanding views of the mountain’s rocky summit. Try walking the sidewalks around Roosevelt Arch, an historic stone archway, for family-friendly exercise.

For a more serious day hike in the Gardiner area, the Rescue Creek Trail just inside Yellowstone’s North Entrance gate is a nice out-and-back, relatively flat hike through high-mountain desert. For more of a challenge, the Lava Creek Trail is a four-mile (one way) hike, starting at the trailhead at the Lava Creek Picnic Area on Grand Loop Road. It’s a great trail for spotting elk, bison, and pronghorn, plus you’ll get some amazing views of Lava Creek and Mount Everts.

For those adventurous souls looking to summit Electric Peak, the multi-day hike requires a map and compass, some mountaineering ability, grit, and a backcountry camping permit from Yellowstone National Park’s backcountry information office. For those up for it, it’s an incredibly rewarding experience.

Fishing

The Northern Range is known for its pristine water, scenic surroundings, and world-class trout fishing. For those looking to experience fishing in the area, you’ll find several outfitters in Gardiner that offer trips both wade fishing or from a boat. The Flying Pig Adventure Company offers half- and full-day trips for beginners and experienced casters as well as horseback rides to secluded fishing destinations. Parks’ Fly Shop, which has operated in the Northern Range for more than 60 years, offers highly specialized flies and local insight. Both offer customized outings to lakes, rivers, and spring creeks throughout the region.

"The Northern Range is notable for the huge number and huge variety of fisheries it offers," says Walter Wiese, head guide at Park’s Fly Shop. “Most of our staff have been guiding in the region for 10 or more years, and we’re still finding new waters.”

The Gardiner Experience

No matter how you choose to experience the Northern Range and town of Gardiner, you’ll undoubtedly find yourself longing to come back for more. Thankfully, this entrance town is open every season, and its one-of-a-kind location has a reputation for capturing the hearts and minds of residents and visitors alike.

Written by Chelsea Deweese for RootsRated Media in partnership with Gardiner CVB.

Although snow still clings to the ground in the hills surrounding Gardiner, Montana, we're looking ahead to the transition of winter to spring and all that comes with it. Check out the latest on wildlife activity, park opening dates, and more from Nature's Favorite Entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone Prepares for Opening Day
Many of Yellowstone's roads are currently closed as crews work hard to clear snow for spring opening day. Although visitors cannot access park interior locations such as Old Faithful at this time, the road from Mammoth to Lamar Valley and on to Cooke City is open year-round. This wildlife-rich area known as the Northern Range is only accessed from Gardiner, Montana, this time of year—and we highly recommend it to our visitors! For more information on important park opening dates, check out the Yellowstone's 2018 Schedule.

Wildlife Activity in Town
Wildlife—including elk, bighorn sheep, and bison—have joined us both in town and all along Highway 89, as they often do this time of year. Now is a wonderful time to witness and photograph this incredible meeting of nature and civilization. Visitors should also note the speed limit has been reduced from 70 mph to 55 mph between Yankee Jim Canyon and Gardiner for the safety of both drivers and wildlife.

The World's Tallest Geyser Erupts
After reviewing the latest scientific information, Yellowstone National Park reported Steamboat Geyser erupted in the early morning hours on March 15. Located in the Norris Geyser Basin approximately 50 miles from Gardiner, Steamboat's eruptions can reach heights of up to 300 feet and are entirely unpredictable—the last eruption took place in September, 2014 (pictured below).

Time to Start Planning for Summer!
If you're coming to Yellowstone's North Entrance this summer it's not too late to start planning your trip. Check out our helpful Gardiner trip-planning resources, including lodging, dining, and activities. Give us a call at (406) 848-7971 and we'll be happy to help you put together the ideal Yellowstone vacation for you and your family.

 Bears Emerge from Hibernation
The first grizzly bear was spotted on March 6 by Yellowstone National Park staff. Male grizzlies typically emerge from hibernation in mid-March. Females with cubs come out of hibernation a bit later, in April to early May. All of Yellowstone Country is bear country—we encourage anyone heading into the park or recreating in the surrounding area to brush up on bear safety tips.

Park Trail Closures
As bears continue to emerge from hibernation, it's a good idea to check with the nearest Visitor Center for any trail closures in Yellowstone National Park.

Fly-fishing Report
Anglers know spring is one of the most underrated times of the year for fly-fishing on the Yellowstone River. Water clarity is the biggest variable this time of year, but rising temperatures mean hungry trout and lots of them. In April and May we look forward to the March Browns and the Mother's Day Caddis Hatch. Whether you are a seasoned pro or want to try fly-fishing for the first time, spring is a great time to start. Contact Park’s Fly Shop for the most up-to-date report on conditions in the area and for all your fishing needs.

Looking Ahead to Spring
As the days continue to grow warmer, we're looking ahead to baby wildlife arriving in May, taking a scenic drive through Paradise Valley, and gearing up for spring hiking. Until then, we're soaking up the extra hours of daylight and welcoming some old friends back into the area—including buttercups, bluebirds, and fly-fishermen! 

 Photos Credits: Baby bison - Evan Barrett. Elk at Roosevelt Arch and Yellowstone River - Jean Modesette. Elk in town - Gardiner Chamber of Commerce. All others courtesy of Yellowstone National Park.

If you follow the Yellowstone River as it snakes south through Paradise Valley, it’s easy to imagine early settlers pressing forward, by wagon and on horseback, deep into Yellowstone Country. When you make the journey now, you’ll most likely see herds of elk and deer grazing the valley floor before reaching the unassuming frontier town of Gardiner, Montana.

Cradled between the soaring peaks of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and at the northwest doorstep of Yellowstone National Park, Gardiner is a natural base camp for outdoor adventure. Bison wander the streets, marmots wrestle on the riverbanks, and owls serenade you as the stars come out. Roads through town and into Yellowstone stay open year-round, so there’s no need to fight the summer crowds here. Enjoy Gardiner’s laid-back vibe in fall, winter, and spring, when wildlife viewing is at its best and Yellowstone’s majesty is yours for the taking.

YELLOWSTONE’S FIRST GATEWAY

Gardiner is surrounded by scenic hiking options. - Yellowstone National Park 

Originally named Gardner’s Hole after fur trapper and reputed outlaw Johnson Gardner, Gardiner happens to be the first named destination in the region. The surveyors and politicians of the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition of 1870 made it official, though Gardiner had been stomping grounds for trappers and mountain men for decades. It’s rumored that Jim Bridger himself was responsible for updating the name to its current spelling. Founded in 1880, Gardiner’s population boomed with the 1883 discovery of gold in nearby Bear Gulch and the 1903 extension of the Northern Pacific Railway to downtown. That same year, Theodore Roosevelt visited to place the cornerstone for the towering Roosevelt Arch. The iconic monument still greets you like a familiar friend as you enter the park.

Gardiner is so close to Yellowstone that the shops along Park Street straddle the park boundary. Five miles up the road, Fort Yellowstone, the 1880s base of operations for troops arriving to protect the park from developers and poachers, stands watch next to the historic Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. Pass Mammoth’s ethereal travertine terraces as you turn east to follow the Yellowstone River to the famed Lamar Valley.

ADVENTURE BASE CAMP 

Gardiner offers you easy access to a huge and diverse population of free-roaming animals. - @rsseattle

Exploring Yellowstone from Gardiner, you have the only direct, four-season access to the Northern Range’s vast grasslands, one of the most diverse communities of free-roaming animals on Earth. While buffalo jams and selfie-obsessed tourists dominate the summer, the cycle of life across the plateau makes for magical and intimate animal encounters the rest of the year.

Listen for the massive bull elk’s autumn bugle call. In the fields around Mammoth and Gardiner, bulls spar with their huge antler racks, jockeying for dominance over herds of females and calves grazing nearby. As snow buries the park’s interior, the Northern Range becomes the winter home for elk, mule deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, bison, and white-tailed deer. Major predators like grizzlies, black bears, gray wolves, foxes, coyotes, and eagles follow suit in search of their prey. And only in spring can you witness a baby bison’s wobbly first steps or a burly mama grizzly’s tender attention to her newborn cubs as they emerge from their den.

Spotting bison in the distance near Gardiner. - Yellowstone National Park 

The Gardiner community is passionate about Yellowstone, and a number of local tour guides and organizations are ready to transform your scenic drive into a wildlife safari. Cross-country ski, hike, and snowshoe the Northern Range; learn animal tracking, wildlife photography, and wilderness first aid with the Yellowstone Forever Institute; or book a tour with a local guide who knows exactly where and when you’re most likely to see wildlife.

If you’d rather explore on your own, rent your gear at Park's Fly Shop or the Flying Pig Camp Store in Gardiner, or The Bear Den Ski Shop at the Mammoth Hotel. 

HEARTY EATS AND AN OLD WEST SALOON

For a laid-back frontier town, Gardiner has a surprising variety of restaurants and shops, with no lines or crowds once summer ends. Stop for a breakfast burrito at Tumbleweed Bookstore and Cafe on your way into the park, and a jumbo waffle cone stuffed with local favorite Wilcoxson Ice Cream at Yellowstone Perk on your way out. The Gardiner Market will prep a bag lunch for your day treks, and there’s loads of downtown dine-in options for lunch and dinner, from Yellowstone Mine and The Corral to Yellowstone Safari Grill. Celebrate sundown Old West style with local microbrews and themed dance nights at The Two Bit Saloon.

CAMPSITES TO CABINS

The setting moon over an elk at Mammoth Hot Springs. - Yellowstone National Park 

Want to experience this rugged country like the frontiersmen did? Camp inside the park at Mammoth Hot Springs’ year-round campground or just outside the park in campgrounds around Gardiner, Montana. For the comforts of home, book a room in any of Gardiner’s many lodges and inns. Live like a homesteader just a few miles outside town at Bear Creek Cabins. Stay in the heart of downtown Gardiner at Cowboy’s Lodge & Grille. Or book a room inside the park at the newly renovated Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

No matter the time of the year you visit, Gardiner offers everything you need to enjoy America’s first national park—and one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

Written by Jess McGlothlin for RootsRated Media in partnership with Gardiner CVB.

Local guides have been spotting all kinds of fascinating wildlife on their tours in northern Yellowstone! Here's a peek at some of the wildlife sightings that have taken place this winter: 

Moose.

River Otters.

Red fox.

Gray wolf.

Bison.

All photos courtesy of Emil McCain from Yellowstone Wild LLC.

In winter, this land of fire and ice transforms into a world of stunning contrasts—frozen waterfalls, steamy geysers and hot springs, and glistening snow-capped peaks. Wildlife are easier to spot against the snow-covered landscape, and there are far fewer crowds and lines at the entrance gates.

Although it may seem a little intimidating, a winter visit to Yellowstone is accessible to everyone with a little planning and preparation. Here are a few tips and tricks to ensure you have all the travel essentials you need for a safe, warm, and exhilarating visit the world’s first national park.

Snowmobiling past bison in Yellowstone National Park. Courtesy of Yellowstone NPS

Weather

Come prepared for a winter wonderland! Temperatures can range from 20F to subzero temperatures in the winter months. According to the National Park Service website, the record low in Yellowstone was -66F! Snowfall can be unpredictable, but do expect to encounter at least some snow on your trip, especially if you plan to head into the interior (such as Old Faithful or Canyon Village).

Layer Up

It’s important to dress in layers, and plenty of ‘em! Our friends at Yellowstone National Park Lodges have compiled a great list of clothing essentials to help you stay warm, dry, and safe during your visit:

• Mid-weight insulating layer: A light synthetic fleece or wool shirt/pullover
• Heavyweight insulating layer: Wool, down or heavy-weight fleece jacket.
• Insulating underwear: Something that has the ability to wick moisture away from the body.
• Waterproof and windproof outer layer: Lightweight, and breathable if possible. Both jacket and pants are recommended.
• Pants: Wool or fleece pants or tights. Cotton is NOT recommended.
• Hat: An insulated hat that covers your ears.
• Gloves: Lightweight glove liners, and a pair of heavy wool/fleece gloves or mittens. A water and windproof outer layer is recommended.
• Synthetic or wool neck warmer or neck gaiter.
• Socks: A lightweight liner with heavyweight synthetic or wool socks.
• Gaiters: Knee-high ones to keep the snow out of your boots and to keep your socks and pants dry.
• Footwear: Insulated boots must have water repellent layers outside, thick insulation inside, and be large enough to fit over thick socks. (Tight boots are the surest way to get painfully cold feet.) General hiking boots will not provide adequate insulation in most cases.

Cross-country skiing Blacktail Plateau in northern Yellowstone

Gear and Essentials

If you plan to spend a day out in the park wildlife watching, skiing, snowshoeing, or just taking a scenic drive, Yellowstone National Park Lodges recommends the the following list. Remember, most of the park’s restaurants, lodges, and roads are closed for the winter season, so it’s best to over-pack!

• Daypack with enough capacity to carry extra clothes, water, lunch, camera, binoculars, field guides, etc.
• Water bottle one quart/liter is the minimum recommended. Camelback or similar hydration systems work well.
• Thermos for hot liquids
• Snacks
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen/lip protector: Sun at high altitude can burn unprotected skin quickly.
• Camera, memory/film and batteries
• Binoculars and/or spotting scope and tripod
  Notebook/pencil
• Pocket hand and foot warmers
• Any prescription medications

Bison at Yellowstone's North Entrance in Gardiner, Mont.

Purchasing Supplies

If you forgot to pack something before your arrival, fear not! Gardiner, Montana, has a variety of shops and services open during the winter, including a well-stocked market that carries warm clothing and other conveniences.

Where to Stay

Baby, it’s cold outside—but it’s snug and cozy in your cabin just outside the park! You can also go for something a bit less rustic, such as a hotel room or vacation rental. Check out all of Gardiner’s winter lodging options.

Cozy Gardiner lodging, courtesy of Geyser Gateway Vacation Rentals

Plan Your Activities

For those who are still feeling a little nervous about the park’s extreme environment in winter, we recommend hiring a local guide. Not only are Gardiner-based guides prepared to travel in the park this time of year (think extra hand-warmers!) they also have exceptional insider’s knowledge about the park’s natural and cultural history. Click here for a list of guides operating in the park in winter.

Winter Map

It’s a big park, so it helps to orient yourself before you arrive. Note this map is interactive: simply click on the image to use.

Courtesy of Yellowstone NPS.

Other Questions?

The staff at the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce are here to help, and we encourage you to contact us at any time at 406.848.7971 or stop by the Visitor Center open Monday through Friday from 9 - 5 p.m. Winter is a favorite time of year for Gardiner locals (no, really!) and we’d love to help you plan the perfect trip for you and your family.

One of our favorite ways to experience Yellowstone Country is on a pair of cross-country skis. It’s a fantastic way to get outside and enjoy time with family and friends while taking in the rugged scenic beauty of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Check out a few of our favorite trails from Paradise Valley to Gardiner to northern Yellowstone National Park. And after a fun-filled day of skiing past sparkling snowy vistas, steamy thermal features, or even the occasional elk or bison, be sure to stop into Gardiner for a cozy meal, a warm bed, and a hot beverage!

Paradise Valley and Tom Miner Basin

Mill Creek Road

The groomed trail begins at the Forest Service gate approximately 11 miles down Mill Creek Road, and is popular with snowmobilers and skiers alike. Expect friendly faces and plenty of dogs along the way. We like this one for a leisurely ski—turn around after a few miles or continue on to the East Dam Creek trailhead for a more difficult ski.

Directions: From Livingston, drive south on Highway 89 for 15 miles. Make a left onto Mill Creek Road and go just over 11 miles. The road ends at a gate. Park there after January 1, when the gate closes to wheeled vehicles and is open to winter recreation only.

Skill Level: Beginner

B Bar Ranch

B Bar Ranch, located in the incredibly scenic Tom Miner Basin, offers a number of groomed trails ranging from beginner to expert. Cost is $10 per person for day use; backcountry cabins are available for $50 per person. For a truly special winter getaway, treat yourself to a variety of front country accommodations at the guest ranch.

Directions: Take I-90 to Livingston, MT (Exit # 333). Head South on U.S. Highway 89, following signs to Yellowstone National Park. Turn right 36 miles south of Livingston (17 miles north of Gardiner.) Turn west on Tom Miner Creek Road near mile marker #17. Cross the Yellowstone River on Carbella Bridge. Turn left at the 'T' and continue 8.5 miles to the B Bar Ranch entrance on the right side of the road. Continue another mile to ranch headquarters.

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate 

Gardiner and Jardine, Montana

Eagle Creek

This Forest Service road becomes a cross-country ski trail in winter. The trail begins at the gate just past Eagle Creek Campground and switchbacks up the mountain to offer great views of northern Yellowstone and Gardiner, Montana. The trail is dog-friendly.

Directions: Driving out of Livingston toward Yellowstone National Park, head south toward Gardiner for 51 miles. Before crossing the Yellowstone River, veer left toward Jardine and drive a little over 5 miles. Follow the road approximately 2 miles and park at the gate on the left-hand side of the road, just past Eagle Creek Campground (Forest Service Road 3243, Custer Gallatin NF).

Skill Level: Intermediate

Bear Creek

Bear Creek is a favorite with Gardiner locals, offering a well-used trail that winds through a peaceful, mature forest. We recommend following the ski trail to Timber Camp before turning around for an invigorating half-day ski (approximately 6 miles roundtrip). Expect great views of northern Yellowstone, including Electric Peak. The trail is dog-friendly.

Directions: Driving out of Livingston toward Yellowstone National Park, head south toward Gardiner for 51 miles. Before crossing the Yellowstone River, veer left toward Jardine and drive a little over 5 miles. When you get to Jardine, take a right just over a bridge onto Bear Creek Road. The parking area is 1.7 miles up on the left.

Skill Level: Intermediate to Difficult 

Yellowstone National Park

Upper Terrace Loop

>If you’re looking for a classic Yellowstone skiing adventure complete with bison and hot springs, this loop is for you. The loop starts just above Mammoth Hot Springs and features inspiring views of Mammoth Hot Springs, northern Yellowstone, and the surrounding mountains. Ski lessons are available through Yellowstone National Park Lodges in Mammoth.

Distance: 1.5 miles

Directions: Enter Yellowstone National Park through the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana. This loop begins at the Upper Terrace parking area just above Mammoth Hot Springs.

Skill Level: Easy to difficult (It’s easiest if you ski clockwise around the loop).

Blacktail Plateau

This popular Yellowstone National Park ski trail traverses along broad vistas and through the spruce-fir forest. Be on the lookout for elk, deer, coyotes, and occasionally bison.

Distance: 8 miles

Directions: The trail can be skied from either end. Enter Yellowstone through the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana. The trail is 8 miles east of Mammoth Hot Springs at a parking area across the road from a self-guiding trail, or at a service road approximately 1 mile farther east (see map).

Skill Level: Easy to Intermediate

Bannock Trail

This trail takes its name from the Bannock band of the Shoshone, who used this route to reach the buffalo grounds of the Great Plains. The terrain is mostly flat and the trail traverses open meadows and mixed conifer forests. The North Absaroka Wilderness is approximately one mile from the trailhead. At two miles (3.2 km) you come to Silver Gate, Montana—follow the road to head into Cooke City for a hot meal at the end of your ski. We recommend taking two vehicles and leaving one in Cooke City for an easy shuttle.

Distance: 2 miles

>Directions: Enter Yellowstone National Park through the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana. Follow signs for Tower Junction upon reaching Mammoth Hot Springs. Take a left at Tower Junction. The trail begins at the Warm Creek picnic area, one mile west of Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance (just before Cooke City, Montana).

Skill Level: Easy

Tower Fall

We love bringing family members to this easy-going trail for the spectacular reward waiting at the end—frozen Tower Fall. The 132-foot waterfall is a popular destination in the summer but is even more stunning in winter—plus you’ll have the trail mostly to yourself. Watch for bighorn sheep, bison, deer, and elk along the way.

Distance: 5 miles roundtrip

Directions: Enter Yellowstone National Park through the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana. Follow signs for Tower Junction upon reaching Mammoth Hot Springs. The trail begins at the parking area just southeast of Tower Junction.

Skill Level: Easy

Here at the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce, we’re frequently asked for information about the Beartooth Highway--a National Scenic Byways All-American Road located on the Montana/Wyoming border near Cooke City, Montana.

And it’s no wonder - the Beartooth Highway is one of the most achingly scenic mountain passes in the country. It’s also home to an array of recreational opportunities including hiking, horse pack trips, backcountry skiing, and of course, camping.

If you’re among those adventurous campers seeking information on planning a camping trip along the Beartooth Highway, you’ve come to the right place. Part 3 of our Camping Series is all about camping near Cooke City, Chief Joseph Highway, and the Beartooth Pass.

Shoshone National Forest Campgrounds on the Beartooth Pass
These campgrounds are perched amidst the rugged terrain, alpine lakes, and craggy rocks that characterize the stunning Beartooth Pass. Elevation: 9,000 feet.

Beartooth Lake Campground is located on Highway 212, about 20 miles east of Cooke City. Island Lake Campground is located five miles further east. Both hosted campgrounds offer 21 units, access to water, and are open July 1 to September 14. The site fee for both campgrounds is $15.00

For more information on these sites, call (307) 527-6921.

Chief Joseph Highway Campgrounds

Southeast of the Beartooth Pass you’ll come upon the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, which links the town of Cody, Wyoming, with the Beartooth Highway and Cooke City, Montana. Here you'll find campgrounds perfect for a pit stop while traveling between the he towns of Gardiner and Cooke City, Montana, to Cody, Wyoming.

For more information on these sites, call (307) 527-6921.

These scenic campgrounds are located just two miles from the delicious restaurants, shops, and authentic western vibe that characterizes our neighboring town of Cooke City, Montana.

Colter Campground and Soda Butte Campground are each located only two miles away from Cooke City and are open from July to September 14. Each campground is made up of 8 units, and offers access to water as well as a campground host. The site fee for each campground is $9.00

These campgrounds require hard-sided camp equipment (no tent camping) due to bear activity.
For more information on these campgrounds, call (406) 848-7375.

Cooke City, Montana

The small communities of Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana, make up the least-crowded entrance to Yellowstone National Park. These hidden gems offer year-round access to pristine Montana wilderness areas; restaurants, lodges, and shopping; and endless recreation opportunities.

Gardiner and Cooke City are both fortunate to share easy access to the incredible scenery and abundant wildlife of Yellowstone’s Northern Range. Learn more about this special area here.

Other Sources
Camping in Gardiner
Camping in Yellowstone
Staying safe in bear country
Purchase camping supplies