Guides to Yellowstone

Adventures In Yellowstone

Adventure Tours

Hot air balloon ride
Check out seven mountain ranges from the air with Wyoming Balloon Company -Jackson Hole wyomingballoon.com

Scenic Yellowstone Park and paddle
See Old Faithful in the morning and kayak Hebgen Lake in the afternoon with Lava Lake Adventures’ private family tour –West Yellowstone lavacreekadventures.com

Llama trek
Let the llamas do the heavy lifting on a multi-day trek through the park’s natural wonders, with Yellowstone Safari Company. The llamas are kid friendly and light on the land; they won’t spit on you, but Loredo the llama may give you a kiss! –Bozeman
yellowstonesafari.com

Fly Fishing

Blue Ribbon for conservation
Craig and Jackie Mathews, owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, are leaders not only in Yellowstone region fly-fishing, but also in conservation. –West Yellowstone blue-ribbon-flies.com

Reel angling
Gallatin River Guides owners Pat and Brandy Straub run their guide shop just feet from the banks of the Gallatin River (the river where Brad Pitt fished in A River Runs Through It). They keep it “reel,” offering trips and local tips to all angling levels, including kids. –Big Sky montanaflyfishing.com

Cowboys and cutthroats
Tim Wade lives in Cody because there are more than 1,500 miles of water within an hour drive. Guides working for his outfitter, Northfork Anglers, pride themselves on off-the-beaten-path adventures, like fly-fishing pack trips by horseback. – Cody northforkanglers.com

Rodeos

Big Sky PBR:
July 31- August 1
Voted “Event of the Year,” the world class Big Sky Professional Bull Riders event brings top bulls, cowboys and music for two nights. Montana native rodeo clown Flint Rasmussen keeps the crowd entertained between riders, while Hell’s Belles and the Dirty Shame rock the stage for free concerts after bulls are done bucking. Insiders’ tip: tickets sell out for the bull riding, but the concerts are a worthwhile event of their own accord. -Big Sky explorebigsky.com/bigskypbr

Cody Stampede
Running since 1919, the Cody Stampede is a 4th of July staple. The rodeo takes place July 1-4, with additional rodeos running all summer long. Enjoy a full set of rodeo events from bareback broncs to steer wrestling and barrel racing. -Cody
codystampederodeo.com

Jackson Hole Rodeo
Jackson, known for its cowboy culture, hosts rodeos all summer long. Family run for three generations, the rodeo is a western tradition.
–Jackson jhrodeo.com

Glamping

Roosevelt Lodge Cabins- YNP
Accommodations vary from simple cabins to even more rustic versions, located in the northern region of Yellowstone Park. Family style western cookouts and lack of internet or television allow you to go back in time to true western tradition. -Yellowstone National Park yellowstoneparklodges.com

Parade Rest Guest Ranch
Take in Yellowstone and the romance of the West with the ranch’s horseback riding, fishing and western cookout all-inclusive package. Only 10 minutes from the West Entrance, this is the closest guest ranch to the park. – West Yellowstone paraderestranch.com

Yellowstone Under Canvas

Luxury safari tents and tipis allow you to feel the fresh air and hear the sounds of the Rocky Mountain world at night, without sacrificing the pleasure of a comfortable bed or a bathroom with running hot water. This is glamping in its truest form. –West Yellowstone yellowstoneundercanvas.com

Whitewater Rafting

Geyser Whitewater
Less than an hour from the West Entrance, choose your adventure with Geyser, from a relaxing, scenic float, to heart racing class IV rapids on the Gallatin River. Plan to spend extra time at the headquarters with changing rooms, a climbing wall, bike rentals, gift shop and photo studio.
–Big Sky raftmontana.com

Wyoming River Trips
Follow Buffalo Bill’s path through the Red Rock Canyon of the Shoshone. Depending on water levels, kids as young as 4 can participate. – Cody wyomingrivertrips.com

Sands Whitewater
Spend two days on the Snake River with an overnight trip. This 16-mile river trip includes grand scenery, rapids, a night in tipis, and hot dinner and breakfast by campfire. – Jackson sandswhitewater.com

Unique Adventure

Ziplining
Zip down Lone Mountain on four zip lines up to 1,500 feet long and 150 feet above ground. Expect beautiful mountain views as you glide through the forest, and the possibility of seeing moose from above. –Big Sky bigskyresort.com

Tram ride

Ride more than 4,000 vertical feet in 15 minutes, to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Take in the 360-degree views including the Grand Teton and the Snake River, then hike around the peak checking out wildflowers and fossils before heading into Corbet’s Cabin for waffles. Insiders’ tip: buy tickets online for the best price. –Jackson jacksonhole.com

Boiling River
An easy half-mile hike starting at the 45th parallel and crossing state lines between Montana and Wyoming brings you to a natural anomaly where a Yellowstone hydrothermal feature flows scalding water into the frigid Gardner River. Wear your bathing suit and soak in the contrasts. – Yellowstone National Park nps.gov

Culture and Comfort of Yellowstone

Guides of Yellowstone

Guided tours of Yellowstone offer personal, in depth knowledge of the wildlife, ecosystem and geology.

Y Loop Road Trips
Mindful of the Yellowstone ecosystem, Y Loop guides bring a scientific background, as well as healthy lunches catered by the Whole Foods Trading Company. Initiation points: Cody or Red Lodge Ylooproadtrips.com

Greater Yellowstone Guides
Decades of YNP guide experience provide an interesting and fun park tour. Optional: have a guide accompany you in your vehicle, on your schedule. Initiation Points: Bozeman, Big Sky, West Yellowstone, Livingston and Gardiner
greateryellowstoneguides.com

Western Art Galleries

The Yellowstone region is full of art districts that capture the landscapes and culture of the West.

Jackson

Walk the town square to discover some of today’s most well known western artists. A few of note:

Legacy Gallery – fine western art including artists such as Gary Lynn Roberts and John DeMott legacygallery.com

Alta Mira Fine Art – A unique collection including works from September Vhay and R. Tom Gilleon. altamiraart.com

Big Sky

New and noteworthy for the region, Big Sky’s Town Center has a growing gallery presence. They include:

Creighton Block Gallery – an expanding collection of fine art from notable artists such as Kevin Red Star, Paula Pearl and Gary Carter creightonblockgallery.com

Gallatin River Gallery – Owned by artist Julie Gustafson and including a collection of mediums from jewelry, paintings, photography and sculptures gallatinrivergallery.com

Revitalizing Spas

After time in the car or out in the elements, spend time taking care of yourself.

Hiker’s Recovery Package, Hotel Terra
Recover from hiking and camping with an 80-minute massage that incorporates a custom hand and foot treatment, plus arnica salve for sore muscles. – Jackson Hole
hotelterra.com

Face the Mountain, Moonlight Basin

Heal your skin after exposure to sun, wind and temperature changes with this facial. Ultra gentle marine extracts calm the skin and stop reactivity. Family pick – let the rest of your family enjoy the onsite pool and deck with its cascading waterfall and views of Lone Mountain, while you relax in the sanctuary and steam room. – Big Sky moonlightbasin.com

Historic Hotels

Feel the history of the Old West, sleeping in the same lodges as those who traveled here more than a century ago.

Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel
Established in 1902, this original hotel gives you a chance to experience the Wild West. Watch one of the nightly gun fights out front, or stay in Buffalo Bill’s suite. Locals’ tip: Room #13 is rumored to be haunted. – Cody irmahotel.com

Old Faithful Inn
Built in 1904, the lodge adjacent to Old Faithful is one of the few remaining log hotels in the US. Famous for it’s architecture and craftsmanship, it is designed with the chaos of nature in mind. Plan extra time to check it out, even if you don’t stay the night. -Yellowstone National Park yellowstonenationalparklodges.com

Museums

Museum of the Rockies
The museum is home to one of the largest collections of dinosaurs in the world, an effort led by archeologist Jack Horner. Additionally, it features a state of the art planetarium and children’s Explore Yellowstone exhibit, making it a full day of fun for the whole family.
-Bozeman museumoftherockies.org

Haynes Photo Shop
Opening this summer, the historic building shows off a trove of photo and postcard reproductions to tell the story of Yellowstone’s history. The site will also double as an informational resource center for Yellowstone Park Foundation. -Yellowstone National Park ypf.org