Rounding up the horses at sunrise in Paradise Valley | Yellowstone Productions
You’ve heard of Yellowstone National Park. Maybe you’ve even visited, and stood in awe of its boiling landscape and wild creatures.
But there’s a chance you haven’t heard of Montana’s Yellowstone Country: north of the park, the region of pristine landscapes and welcoming small towns. It’s the Yellowstone you haven’t seen yet.
Great Base Camp Towns
Yellowstone Country hugs the park’s northern boundary, and three welcoming communities along the edge make perfect jump-off points for exploration deeper into Montana, thanks to excellent lodging and dining options and the buzzy vibe of excited travelers.
West Yellowstone
This community at the West Entrance to the park is popular in part for being closest to world-renowned sights like Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Spring. Heading north from West Yellowstone, enjoy excellent water recreation on Hebgen Lake, and options for hiking, biking, whitewater rafting and zip-lining in the towns and natural spaces in the ruggedly beautiful Gallatin Canyon, including Big Sky and Gallatin Gateway.
Cooke City–Silver Gate
This pair of tiny mountain towns stands just outside the Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. In the winter, the only way to reach them is to drive into the national park from Gardiner. They may be isolated for a good chunk of the year, but these proud towns make up for it with incredible snowmobiling well into spring. In summer, populations increase manyfold as visitors make their way into and out of the park. Cooke City marks one end of the famed Beartooth Highway, the jaw-droppingly beautiful high-mountain drive that leads to charming Red Lodge and recreational opportunities beyond.
Gardiner
Gardiner is home to the original entrance to Yellowstone, marked by the historic Roosevelt Arch. Take Highway 89 north from Gardiner into Paradise Valley, a pristine landscape with the Gallatin Mountains to the west, the Absaroka Range to the east and the Yellowstone River running right through the middle. Hike to a waterfall or a petrified forest, fish or raft on the river, book a horseback riding excursion or enjoy a relaxing soak in a hot spring you can actually dip into (as opposed the hotspots in the park, which are off-limits for safety).
And Speaking of Hot Springs
A soak in a hot spring — any time of year — is a quintessential Montana experience. Yellowstone Country has three beloved spots.
Yellowstone Hot Springs
Visitors to Yellowstone Hot Springs, just north of Gardiner, can enjoy amazing views of mountains and the Yellowstone River as they relax in the spring’s mineral-rich waters.
Lodging, dining and hot springs come together in this iconic Paradise Valley destination just outside the community of Pray. Come for a soak, stay for a delicious meal in the historic dining room, live music in the saloon or a stay in one of the site’s unique accommodations, including a Conestoga wagon or a train car.
Bozeman Hot Springs
Enjoy a relaxing soak or an invigorating swim at Bozeman Hot Springs, which features 12 pools with temperatures ranging from 59 to 106 degrees.
Wildlife Watching
The abundant wildlife in this area is a huge draw for visitors to Yellowstone National Park, and the same animals are found north of the park as well. As you make your way through Yellowstone Country, you’re likely to spot some of the wildlife that make their home here, like bison, elk, bears, moose, bighorn sheep and many bird species.
A couple of great spots for guaranteed wildlife sightings? Look no further than:
Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park
This state park features a colony of black-tailed prairie dogs and provides visitors with the chance to observe these adorable creatures in their natural habitat.
Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary
This facility in Red Lodge houses animals native to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem that, for a variety of reasons, can’t be returned to the wild. Here, visitors can see Yellowstone inhabitants including bears, bison, wolves, hawks, owls, foxes and bobcats up close.
Genuine Western Hospitality
In Yellowstone Country, our stunning landscapes are dotted with small towns that brim with history and character—and make welcoming, charming places to refuel and refresh between outdoor adventures.
Noteworthy Dining and Drinking
Restaurants:
PREROGATiVE Kitchen (Red Lodge): James Beard Award nominee
Campione (Livingston): New York Times Top 50 restaurant
Breweries and distilleries:
Red Lodge Ales (Red Lodge)
Beehive Basin Brewery (Big Sky)
Katabatic Brewing Co. (Livingston)
Wildrye Distilling (Bozeman)
Memorable Accommodations
Historic hotels:
The Pollard (Red Lodge)
The Murray Hotel (Livingston)
The Sacajawea Hotel (Three Forks)
The Grand Hotel (Big Timber)
Guest ranches:
Sweet Grass Ranch (Big Timber)
Grey Cliff Ranch (Three Forks)
320 Guest Ranch (Gallatin Gateway/Big Sky)
Uniquely Yellowstone Country
Finally, experience the soul and personality of Yellowstone Country by checking out some of its one-of-a-kind events and sights.
Livingston Roundup: A century-old rodeo that annually thrills residents and visitors alike with cowboy culture on full display.
Bear Creek Downs Pig Races: Held at Bear Creek Saloon and Steakhouse in the summer. Grab a bite and/or a beer and place your bets on which of the porkers will be the fastest of the bunch—some of the betting funds are donated to scholarships for Carbon County high school students.
Tippet Rise Art Center: Large-scale art installations on the grounds of a working sheep and cattle ranch in the foothills of the dramatic Beartooth Mountains.
New Atlas Bar: A historic bar in Columbus, Montana, with an impressive collection of taxidermy that includes a two-headed calf.
