Stunning Perfection: Yellowstone in the Fall Offers Wildlife, Perfect Temperatures, and Less People!

By Emma Heller

The Madison River in on a beautiful day in Yellowstone National Park.

Spending time in Yellowstone National Park in the fall is a highlight for both visitors from out of state and locals. At Yellowstone Scenic Tours, fall is one of our favorite times of year in Yellowstone Park. Fall offers a refreshing crisp nip to the air, giving you a spring to your step to explore Yellowstone and all it has to offer. If you haven’t visited Yellowstone Park, we highly recommend a visit this September or October! We’ve created a list of just a few of the things we love about autumn in the park.

Enjoy the views of bison right from the road!

1. Wildlife viewing in Yellowstone Park is at its prime during the fall! With the bison rut or breeding season winding down at the end of August and early September, you can still see lots of activity. Bison congregate near Hayden and Lamar Valley roads, making for a memorable experience with bison just feet away from the van! 

As September and October arrive, the elk rut keeps things in the Park exciting! During elk breeding season, bull or male elk have harems of female (or cow) elk that they keep near and dear to them. A chorus of bull elk bugling can be heard during the rut. Mammoth Hot Springs offers excellent elk watching because of the lush green grass that was initially planted by the army stationed at Mammoth from 1886 to 1918 for practicing military drills. Yellowstone elk love to enjoy the grass and offer us excellent wildlife watching right in Mammoth! 

A bull elk bugling in Mammoth Hot Springs during the rut.
Photo by NPS / Addy Falgoust

The opportunities to see black and grizzly bears in Yellowstone also increase in the fall! Both types of bears are in a feeding frenzy (hyperphagia) to prepare for their long winter nap. It is typical to see bears feeding on vegetation and insects in meadows near the roads. Bears will also take advantage of the bison and elk ruts by feeding on male elk or bison injured while fighting each other. It can make for an exciting time of year with all of this animal activity!

Two young grizzly bear cubs grazing on vegetation near the road in Yellowstone Park.
Photo by Stephen Seleb

2. Autumn brings us shorter days! We know you are asking why this matters, and we owe you an explanation! While we all love the long days of summer, in July, sunrise is around 5:30 a.m., and the sun sets around 9:30 p.m. The best times for viewing wildlife in Yellowstone Park are sunrise and sunset, making for some early mornings and late nights if you are hoping to spot animals like wolves and bears mid-summer! In September and October, sunrise is around 7:00 a.m., and sunset is around 7:45 p.m. For wolf-watching or bear-watching, this means an extra hour of sleep and a cup of coffee before heading out to Lamar or Hayden Valleys.

3. We don't necessarily recommend visiting Yellowstone if you are a leaf peeper since it isn't home to many deciduous trees. However, Yellowstone's beauty is still breathtaking during the fall. You will see some quaking aspens and cottonwoods throughout the park, but Yellowstone isn't known for fall leaf colors. There are plenty of golden hues to enjoy from vegetation and the soft, welcoming light that autumn brings. Pair this with the yellows, pinks, reds, blues, and greens of the thermal areas, and it'll be a sight you'll enjoy for years to come. 

Mammoth Hot Springs on a fall day with beautiful fall colors and minimal people!
Photo by NPS/Diane Renkin

4. Autumn in Yellowstone National Park offers some of the year's best weather! Temperatures are often cooler than July and August, with temperatures in the mid-60s. Like any time of year, the weather can vary, and we've seen higher temperatures in the high 70s and even snow this time of year. You just never know!

5. Park visitation in the fall often drops starting in September. Popular spots like Old Faithful, Artists Point, and geyser basins become less crowded and easier to navigate. Families and students are back in school, easing the visitation numbers.

Have we convinced you yet to visit Yellowstone this fall or in the future?! If we have, we highly recommend joining us for one or multiple days. If our testimonials page doesn’t give you enough reason to book a tour with us, below are a few other reasons why a Yellowstone day tour with Yellowstone Scenic Tours is the best choice for your visit to the park!

1. Our team at Yellowstone Scenic Tours is proud to be led by a group of expert guides, each with years of experience in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Their wealth of knowledge and passion for the park ensures that your experience will be both educational and enjoyable.

2. One of the many benefits of our tours is the freedom from the stress of driving and navigating through Yellowstone. We handle all the logistics, allowing you to simply sit back, relax, and fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the park.

3. Our guides know the ins and outs of the park. We know all of the road and facility closures, the best picnic spots, what outhouses to avoid, where to look for wildlife, and we love to show you the often overlooked areas of the park.

4. Yellowstone Scenic Tours only offers private day tours in Yellowstone Park. That means it is just you and your group on a tour, no randos. Our day tours are fully customizable because it is just you and your group. Our customizable Yellowstone National Park tours offer custom pick-up locations in West Yellowstone, Big Sky, Paradise Valley, Bozeman, and Gardiner. All ages are welcome on tours from kids to seniors and in between!

5. Not only will you receive intriguing information about Yellowstone during your tour, we love giving local recommendations on the best places to eat, stay, and other activities in Big Sky, West Yellowstone, Bozeman, and surrounding areas!

Will you spend a day in Yellowstone with us this fall?!  We hope so! Learn more and book a Yellowstone National Park tour with us!

Adventures in Guide Training with Yellowstone Scenic Tours

By Emma Heller

Each spring, as the bears emerge from a long winter of hibernation, the snow starts to melt, the Glacier Lilies begin to emerge, and elk and bison calves are born, the Yellowstone Scenic Tours guide team starts to resurface in Big Sky for guide training and another incredible summer in Yellowstone National Park. 

This time of year is exciting for our team for many reasons. While many of our guides live in Big Sky or Bozeman, a few live elsewhere over the winter, seeking other adventures or higher education. We all spend our off-seasons exploring other wonders around the United States and the World! We all look forward to seeing each other for guide training and the chance to soak up new information about Yellowstone National Park! This year, training looked slightly different than in past years to offer unique learning opportunities. 

In years past, our guide team has spent three days training in Yellowstone National Park with local experts. This year, with all eight seasoned and experienced guides returning, we changed it up a bit! So far, we’ve had two days of training that included experiences that we get to share with you to make your stay in Yellowstone Country your best vacation yet!

May Guide Training Adventures

The Yellowstone Scenic Tours guide team is excited for another incredible summer in Yellowstone National Park!

Our first training took place in May, focusing on catching up with our team, operations, park updates, and a tour of the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center. 

It is imperative for our team to know what is going on in the park. This includes road closures, construction updates, park service hours and operations, and unique opportunities for visitors. We’ve got this covered so you can get the most out of your time in Yellowstone Park! 

This year we are excited to add new equipment to our fleet of 14 passenger Ford Transit vans. Many of the exciting animal sightings (like grizzly bears and wolves) don’t happen close to the road. Because of this, we need spotting scopes to observe these animals. While we’ve had spotting scopes since our start, this year we have phone adapters so we can video or snap photos of these impressive animals! 

One of our guides, Porter, took this video of a sow (female) grizzly bear and her cub using one of our new phone adapters for our scopes!

That’s not all that we’ve added to our vans. Much of the park does not have cell phone reception. In case of an emergency or issue with a van, we now have SPOT Messengers in each van to ensure we can contact authorities or repair services. We are super excited about this addition! It’s not all serious on training days with the Yellowstone Scenic Tours team. We also had lots of fun exploring the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center!

The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is a nonprofit in West Yellowstone, Montana. Our team of guides was given a tour of the Center, and it sure is neat! It is a wildlife and education facility that many animals like grizzly bears, wolves, birds of prey, fish, otters, and ground squirrels call home and act as ambassadors to teach the public about their species and how to preserve their habitat. Many of these animals have been saved from dangerous situations and cannot be re-released to their natural habitats. While on tours, we take you to locations in the park to see many of these animals. However, there is no guarantee of seeing grizzly bears or wolves in the wild, and this is a perfect opportunity to see these impressive animals!

The guide team enjoying observing a grizzly bear at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center.

After a fun-filled and educational day, the team enjoyed drinks at one of our favorite spots in Big Sky, the Horn and Cantle Saloon at Lone Mountain Ranch. It serves up some great cocktails and has an authentic saloon vibe. After refreshing cocktails, we enjoyed dinner at Ousel & Spur, boasting some of the best thin-crust pizza topped with Montana and locally sourced toppings. It made for an incredible first day of training for the season!

June Guide Training Adventures

The Yellowstone Scenic Tours guide team got back together again for another educational and fun-filled day of training in June! While some of our team was in the field on tours,  the remainder of us spent time on Lake Yellowstone and exploring short hiking options in the park. 

Keith, Joel, and Porter scanning Hayden Valley for wildlife.

To get the best out of what Yellowstone Park has to offer, the earlier you get up, the better! With wheels rolling at 6 a.m. from Big Sky, Montana, we headed south to our first stop, with an exciting and unexpected detour along the way. 

On behalf of the guide team, I can say that we were all excited about the main adventure of the day: a boat tour of Lake Yellowstone! 

Our journey took an unexpected turn near Mud Volcano, a typical stomping ground for bison. Instead of the usual sight, we were greeted by a young grizzly bear! We were able to spend about ten minutes viewing this bear at safe distance for us and the bear. The timing was perfect as we had an appointment to catch at Lake Yellowstone. 

Many of the guide team have never had the opportunity to go out on a Lake Yellowstone Scenicruise. I believe we all wished we would've gone sooner had we known how incredible of an experience it was and how reasonably priced it is! The five of us boarded the Lake Queen II with our highly knowledgeable captain and guide for the tour.

Our guide, Ken, educating us about Lake Yellowstone.

We don’t often get to see the stunning Lake Hotel from this view!

For an hour, our guide, Ken, taught us about much of the fascinating history of Lake Yellowstone. Highlights included stories of the controversial but ingenious businessman E.C. Waters, who not only built a steamship to transport guests from Grant Village to Lake Hotel, sparing wealthy guests an uncomfortable stagecoach ride around Lake Yellowstone, but also put animals on Dot Island as an attraction, and eventually was run out of business because of his shady antics.

Part of the tour showed us the burnt remains of the steamship from 1921. We would go out again with Ken and the Lake Queen II crew and highly recommend this experience!     We learned so much and look forward to sharing it with you on our tours. While out in the park, we also did some recon on worthwhile short hikes we would love to take you on. 

Photo of E.C. Waters wrecked steamship at Stevenson Island in Lake Yellowstone.

Most people visiting Yellowstone National Park never venture 100 feet off the asphalt! One of our goals is to show you many of the incredible and memorable places away from the road. While we only had time for one short hike to explore, we discussed many other options we could offer during our tours. We decided to explore the expansive Upper Geyser Basin and hiked from Old Faithful to Biscuit Basin. The further we ventured from busy Old Faithful towards Morning Glory Hot Spring and Artemisia Geyser, the less crowded and stunning our hike became. Along with this hike, we also have a handful of other hikes we'd love to explore with you in both the Upper and Lower Loops! 

Joel, one of our fantastic guides, showing us Morning Glory Hot Spring!

We are thrilled for another incredible summer experiencing Yellowstone National Park! Our highly experienced and trained guide team aims to offer you the best day ever in our Nation's first National Park! We can't wait to share our knowledge and passion with you. Learn more about our private custom tours, see what people are saying about us, and book today to start your Yellowstone adventure! 

Yellowstone Scenic Tours: From Booking to Exploration

This article was originally published in Yellowstone Country. See the original here.

Yellowstone National Park is a treasure trove of natural wonders, from majestic wildlife and geothermal marvels to breathtaking landscapes. Whether you're staying in West Yellowstone, Big Sky, Bozeman, or Paradise Valley, make the most of your visit by booking a tour with Yellowstone Scenic Tours. Their expert guides and tailored experiences ensure you’ll see the park’s best sights in comfort and style. Here’s a step-by-step guide to planning, choosing, and enjoying your perfect Yellowstone adventure.

Step 1: Schedule Your Tour

Planning your perfect Yellowstone adventure starts with scheduling your tour. Yellowstone Scenic Tours offers a variety of options tailored to your needs, interests, and desires. Here’s how you can ensure a seamless start to your unforgettable journey:

Booking‍

Visit the Yellowstone Scenic Tours website or call their team at 406-404-6879 to book your tour. You'll provide details such as your preferred date, the number of people in your party, and any specific interests or requirements you have.

Customization‍

Whether you’re fascinated by wildlife, geothermal features, or iconic landmarks like Old Faithful, the team will customize your itinerary. This means you get to see what you want, when you want, without the stress of planning it yourself.

Pickup Arrangements‍

Yellowstone Scenic Tours offers convenient pickup from your lodging in Big Sky, West Yellowstone, and the Gallatin Valley and Paradise Valley regions. Ensure you provide your location details during booking for a hassle-free start to your adventure.

Expert guides ensure a fun and educational tour.

Step 2: Choose Your Adventure

With Yellowstone Scenic Tours, you have abundant options to choose from so that you can explore the park based on your interests. Select from various tours, but remember, no two tours are ever the same. Here’s what you can expect:

Upper Loop Tour: This tour focuses on the northern section of Yellowstone, showcasing its incredible diversity. Key highlights include:

• Mammoth Hot Springs: Terraced formations of travertine.

• Lamar Valley: Often called "America's Serengeti," this area is perfect for wildlife watching.

• Tower Fall: A picturesque waterfall plunging 132 feet.

• Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: Stunning views of the canyon and waterfalls.

Lower Loop Tour: The Lower Loop Tour covers the southern part of the park, rich with iconic geothermal features. Highlights include:

• Old Faithful: The world-famous geyser that erupts approximately every 90 minutes.

• Grand Prismatic Spring: The largest hot spring in the United States with vivid colors.

• Yellowstone Lake: The largest high-elevation lake in North America.

• Fountain Paint Pot: A showcase of various geothermal features including mud pots and geysers.

Custom Tours: For those seeking a personalized experience, Custom Tours allow you to focus on specific themes or areas of interest. Options include:

• Hiking: Explore Yellowstone’s vast network of trails, tailored to your fitness level and interests.

• Waterfalls: Visit some of the park’s most beautiful and lesser-known waterfalls.

• Thermal Features: Delve deep into Yellowstone’s geothermal wonders, beyond the main attractions.

• Wildlife: Concentrate on finding and observing the park’s diverse fauna in their natural habitats.

• Water: Spend time by Yellowstone’s lakes and rivers, perfect for serene picnics or scenic views.

• Geology: Learn about the park’s fascinating geological history, including its volcanic origins.

• Less Visited Areas: Escape the crowds and discover Yellowstone’s hidden gems, off the beaten path.

Each tour is about 8-10 hours from pick-up to drop off.

Black Pool in the West Thumb Geyser Basin

Step 3: Enjoy the Ride

The day of your tour promises a mix of excitement and relaxation as you traverse one of the world’s most iconic national parks.

Expert Guides‍

The tours are led by expert naturalist guides who bring the park’s wonders to life with their knowledge and passion. Whether you're interested in the park's wildlife, geology, or history, they will provide engaging and informative commentary.

Logistics Taken Care Of‍

From pre-packaged lunches for a scenic picnic to perfectly timed stops that sync with Old Faithful’s eruptions, Yellowstone Scenic Tours ensures everything is meticulously planned.

Comfortable Transport‍

Ride in style in spacious, climate-controlled passenger vans. These vehicles are designed for optimal viewing and comfort, allowing you to focus on the stunning landscapes and wildlife.

Memorable Moments‍

Expect well-timed stops at major attractions, serene picnic spots, and hidden gems known only to experienced guides. Whether it’s watching a herd of bison graze or feeling the mist from a geyser, every moment is crafted to enhance your Yellowstone experience.

Safety and Ease‍

Relax knowing that all safety protocols are followed, from vehicle maintenance to providing information on how to navigate the park's unique environments safely.

Ford Transit Passenger Vans comfortably sit 14 people.

By following these steps, you’ll ensure your Yellowstone tour is everything you dreamed of and more. With Yellowstone Scenic Tours, you’re not just visiting a park; you’re embarking on a thoughtfully curated adventure designed to create lasting memories.

In partnership with Yellowstone Country, Yellowstone Scenic Tours is offering $100 OFF your 2024 guided tour with code Yellowstone2024. Book now to save!

Yellowstone Scenic Tours Yearly Guide Training

By Emma Heller

Each spring, the Yellowstone Scenic Tours guide team heads into Yellowstone National Park for three days of training. As a guide who has worked for other guiding companies, I can say that not many other companies provide this type of in-depth training for their guides! Yellowstone boasts a diverse ecosystem, geological, cultural, and history. Because of this, we are always learning something new! New information on wildlife, geothermal activity, and much more comes out every year, and it is essential to stay up-to-date. This is why we believe that training each year is imperative. 

To broaden our knowledge and to stay informed about changes in Yellowstone, our fearless leader, Laura, provides the Yellowstone Scenic Tours guides with three days of extensive yet fun training each spring. In prior years, Laura has hired seasoned guides from Yellowstone Forever, the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park, to provide us with training. This year, we did things slightly differently from prior years. 

Our first training day consisted primarily of Laura wrangling up all the guides. Many of the guide team live in Big Sky, but you’ll also find us in Bozeman and Belgrade too. After the roundup, we all set out for Gardiner, Montana, the North Entrance of Yellowstone Park. There the team stayed in preparation for an early wake-up, which is necessary for wildlife watching. 

With wheels up at 5:30 a.m. on our first day, we made our way to Mammoth Hotel, where we met our guide Carolyn from Yellowstone Wildlife Profiles. Carolyn is a Northern Range expert based out of Gardiner who works closely with the Park. This was our opportunity to use Carolyn’s knowledge to improve our own and to see how a veteran guide runs tours. The morning started off peaceful and quiet; let’s be honest, we weren’t quite awake yet! Not far into our travels, that changed when we turned a corner to find a sow grizzly with her two cubs! The early bird gets the worm or, in this case, sees a griz (aka grizzly bear) with two cubs! Dawn and dusk are the best times to see bears and wolves. This encounter sure woke us up, and from there, we kick-started the day with information on bears from Carolyn, and amazing Park facts kept flowing throughout the day! 

Photo by Stephen Seleb

Next, Carolyn showed us where to find a black bear den and the Junction Butte wolf pack den at Slough Creek. She provided us with geographical and historical information about Lamar Valley and Tower Falls and short hikes to go on. After a successful morning in Lamar Valley, we returned to Mammoth Hot Springs to learn about its unique thermal features that are unlike others in the Park. We also learned more about Mammoth’s rich history as the Park’s headquarters and the original entrance to Yellowstone. After a full day of learning, we went to Lake Yellowstone, where we stayed in the cabins and enjoyed dinner at the luxurious Lake Hotel dining room. 

Photo of the group and Carolyn looking at the Junction Butte wolf den.

Tuesday morning began with coffee and breakfast by Lake Yellowstone, where we often picnic during tours. I cannot think of a better way to start the morning! Other trip highlights of the day include stopping at LeHardy Rapids to see the Harlequin ducks, checking out the Great Blue Heron Rookery at Nez Perce Ford, walking West Thumb Geyser Basin, and guide presentations. 

This year instead of going out with Yellowstone Park guides as we’ve done in the past, we gave presentations to each other on what we are the most knowledgeable or interested in. This is an excellent way for us to share our knowledge of a topic, get feedback from our peers, and learn from each other! Topics included: Native American history, Lookout Point trees, astrobiology, the best times to go to Yellowstone and what we should have in our guide pack, patterns in nature, fish in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and watershed. These are just some of the topics you’ll learn about on a tour with us! 

To close the day, we stayed at Old Faithful, giving us some unique evening entertainment. After dinner at the Old Faithful Inn, we watched Old Faithful erupt at dusk, and then we walked around Geyser Hill. It shined a different light on the thermal features and was a highlight to be there at a different time than we are used to. We wound down for the day by listening to a piano performance in the lobby of the Old Faithful Inn, which somehow made the building more magical and majestic than it already is. 

The Yellowstone Scenic Tours team enjoying the evening at the Old Faithful Inn.
Photo by Porter Elliot

As we reached our last day of training, you could see a sparkle in everyone’s eyes with anticipation for the guiding season. After a short hike, we started towards our home base in Big Sky, Montana, to prep our vans for the season. 

Training left us all feeling confident, humble, and excited for a summer in our favorite place. As guides, we rarely see our co-workers because we are with our lovely guests all day. Spending three days together for training is a fun way to get to know each other better, build a sense of camaraderie, and ensure that everyone is on the same page with Yellowstone Scenic Tours’ values and the tour quality we aim to provide. Our goal is to give the area's best Yellowstone National Park tours! We are excited to see you all this summer for high-end, informative, and, most important, fun tours in Yellowstone National Park. See you this summer!

The Local's Guide to West Yellowstone

Updated July 2024

By Emma Heller

Jump to:

Places to Stay	Things to Do	Food & Drink
Event Calendar	Area Resources

Photo by Jim Peaco/NPS

Yellowstone National Park has five distinct entrances to the Park, and it can be challenging trying to decide where to stay. At Yellowstone Scenic Tours, many of our guests stay in Big Sky, Montana, or West Yellowstone, Montana. We are biased, many of us call Big Sky or West Yellowstone home, and they are our top choices for places to stay during your trip to Yellowstone and Montana. We have already put out "The Local's Guide to Big Sky", and now, drum roll, please, it's time for "The Local's Guide to West Yellowstone"!

Since Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872, West Yellowstone has been and still is one of the main entrances to Yellowstone. West (locals shorten West Yellowstone to West), was established because of the Union Pacific Railroad line. The first passenger train arrived in West in June 1908. This line was an extension of the Oregon Short Line from Ashton, Idaho. With an influx of visitors, West was established and is still a bustling gateway community.

If you want to be close to Yellowstone Park, staying in West Yellowstone is an obvious choice, with the town nestled up right to the Park boundary. West Yellowstone is also a family-friendly town with many great activities available after spending time in the Park. You can also easily access some beautiful and unique places in Montana. The West Yellowstone Visitor Center staff is very friendly and helpful if you don’t find the information you are looking for in this guide

NPS / Jacob W. Frank

Finding a place to stay should be high on your list! The summer season in West is busy, and we recommend making a reservation as soon as you know you are planning a trip!

Places to Stay

Yellowstone Vacations - Yellowstone Vacations has multiple options to ensure an enjoyable stay in West Yellowstone.

Sawtelle Mountain Resort - This resort is located in Island Park, Idaho, along the longest main street in the U.S. It is about 25 minutes from West Yellowstone. 

Arrowhead Properties - We have had many past guests use this reliable property management company.

The Golden Stone Inn - Our friends at our favorite gear and coffee shop, Freeheel and Wheel made this recommendation to us.

Alpine Inn - This is another great recommendation from Freeheel and Wheel.

Multiple options in West Yellowstone - The West Yellowstone Visitor Center’s comprehensive list of lodging in West.

National Park Lodges - Lodging in Yellowstone National Park. Be sure to book early! 

Things to Do

West Yellowstone is a family-oriented town with many great activities for the entire family. West also has a rich history and offers multiple opportunities to learn about the surrounding area and Yellowstone National Park. We think it’s a given, but there are also many fun outdoor activities!

Outdoor Activities

Yellowstone Park Tours

• Obviously, you should go with Yellowstone Scenic Tours!

Fishing 

• Big Sky Anglers

• Madison River Outfitters

Hiking

This is the impressive view from the Grand Prismatic Overlook.

NPS/Diane Renkin

• Rendezvous Trail System - In the summer these cross-country ski trails are great hiking, running, or biking trails. 

• Boundary Trails – Located on the Park boundary on Boundary Street, hence the name, these easy trails take you through a beautiful lodgepole pine forest that leads you down to the Madison River. Take a snack, a refreshing beverage, and dip your toes into the Madison after a day in the Park.

• Yellowstone Park – Exploring the thermal areas and walking on the boardwalks will give you plenty of exercise in the Park. On tours, we often don’t have time for hikes. There’s so much to see! These are some of our suggestions if you want to get off the boardwalks.

  • Harlequin Lake – The trailhead is located between West Yellowstone and Madison Junction. It is a mile round trip and takes you to a lily pad-filled lake.

  • Grand Prismatic Overlook – This is the best way to see Grand Prismatic! This is a 1.2-mile round-trip trail to an impressive overlook of Grand Prismatic.

  • Observation Point at Old Faithful – Want to earn your view of Old Faithful erupting? Get a different perspective of Old Faithful erupting and a great view of the Old Faithful Inn and Upper Geyser Basin. This is a 1.6-mile out and back with a bit of a climb to the overlook.

Biking

• Free Heel and Wheel - Get your bike rentals and great recommendations for bike rides in the area. 

• Rendezvous Trails - These are primarily cross-country mountain bike trails. There are green, blue, and black trails. What a nice mix!

• Boundary Trails – These are the same trails we mentioned in the hiking section! They are beginner-friendly trails that take you to some great spots along the Madison River.

Trail Rides

NPS / Neal Herbert

• Diamond P Ranch

• Parade Rest Guest Ranch

• Wild West Rodeo Creekside Trail Rides & Wagon Rides

Rodeo - Local rodeos are always fun to watch! West Yellowstone has two options during the summer. Put on your freshly starched wranglers, cowboy/girl boots, and Stetson hat and get your rodeo on, partner!

• Wild West Rodeo

• Meadow Vue Ranch - Watch a rodeo and get a ranch-style dinner!

Rafting

• Geyser Whitewater Expeditions - The closest rafting is located in Big Sky, MT, about a 45-minute drive from West Yellowstone.

Ziplining

• Zipline Adventure Park

ATV/UTV

• Visit the West Yellowstone Visitor Center for ATV/UTV rentals.

Hebgen Lake - On hot summer days, this is a great refuge from the heat.

• Kirkwood Marina offers boat, paddleboard, and kayak rentals.

Outdoor Gear Shops

Freeheel and Wheel – This is our favorite shop in town! Locally owned, has great gear, a coffee bar, and super friendly and helpful owners and staff.

Madison River Outfitters - This is a great outdoor gear shop. Head here if you forgot any gear.

Big Sky Anglers - Another great spot for outdoor gear.

Area Attractions

Museum of the Yellowstone - This museum is housed in the Union Pacific Depot, built in 1909, and tells the story of travel to and through Yellowstone Park and the surrounding area.

Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center - It is not guaranteed to see grizzly bears and wolves in Yellowstone, but it is here! You’ll also see otters, birds of prey, and ground squirrels. They have an excellent education center that caters to all ages.

Big Gun Fun - This indoor shooting range is a bit different from other shooting ranges. It offers a wide variety of guns you won’t find elsewhere. Pistols, full-auto, semi-auto, revolvers, and shotguns. If you’ve ever wanted to try shooting some of these guns, here’s where you can give it a shot.

Oregon Short Line 1903 Railroad Car – Located at the Holiday Inn West Yellowstone. This railroad car once belonged to the Vice President of the Union Pacific Railroad. Also, it has free admission!!

The Oregon Short Line depot in West Yellowstone;

Frank J Haynes;

West Yellowstone Walking Tour - Stop by the Chamber of Commerce to get the map and learn about the history of West Yellowstone!

Earthquake Lake Visitors Center – In 1959 a 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit near the Madison River and triggered a landslide that blocked the Madison River. The eerie Earthquake Lake was formed, engulfing the recreation area and campground now underwater.

Earthquake Lake

Virginia & Nevada City - If you are up for a beautiful drive along the Madison River to a “living ghost town” preserved from the late 1800s, then we highly recommend the drive. From West Yellowstone, it is about an hour and a half through the Madison Valley. This is the site of the richest placer gold strike in the Rocky Mountains. During the summer, there are many events. You can visit historical shops and sites, pan for gold, experience living history from the gold rush, and learn about Montana’s rich, pun intended, history.

For the Kids

Gemstone Mining - Sluice up some gemstones and fossils!

Junior Ranger Program - Stop by any of the visitor centers in Yellowstone to grab your Junior Ranger book. For ages four and up, this is a fun and educational way to learn about Yellowstone Park. Parents are guaranteed to learn too! A completed book gets you a Yellowstone Junior Ranger badge!

NPS / Neal Herbert

Movie Theatre

Yellowstone Giant Screen Theatre (IMAX) - Yes, there’s an IMAX in West Yellowstone! Watch educational films here or catch the latest blockbuster movie.

Theatre

Playmill Theatre - A fun family activity, performances go back to 1964 at the Playmill.

Live Music

Wild West Pizza

Free Music in the Park

Food & Drink

West Yellowstone has a lot of local favorites that made it on this list! You’ll notice that many of these establishments have a bar with local beers and delicious cocktails. We recommend trying some of the local game. You’ll even see some of your meals in Yellowstone. They didn’t come from the Park, though. That’s illegal! Bison, elk, and trout are on many of the menus.

Best Way to Start Your Day

Ernies Bakery - Lots of breakfast options and a great spot to grab a coffee.

Book Peddler - Breakfast, coffee, and a cute store! Save room for later, they also serve sandwiches, soups, and salads for lunch.

Mountain Mamas Café - They offer pastries and elk or bison breakfast burritos.

Lunch

Ernies Bakery - Grab lunch here! They offer a variety of sandwich options. If you are going into the Park and want to bring a lunch, this is a great spot to get a box lunch.

Pete’s Rocky Mountain Pizza Company - When multiple guests have raved about this restaurant’s pizza and food while staying in West Yellowstone, you know it’s a good spot! Head here for lunch or dinner for a filling meal.

Taqueria Las Palmitas - Check out this tasty taco bus for an authentic, tasty, and a quick bite for lunch or dinner.

Mountain Mamas Café - We highly suggest a picnic lunch if you are heading into Yellowstone. All you need to do is grab a box lunch, and then you are all set to stop at your picnic area of choice in the Park. There are many to choose from!

Dinner

Bullwinkle’s Saloon & Eatery – This family-owned restaurant will give you a taste of local cuisine. Here you can try elk, bison, and trout. Yum!

Wild West Pizzeria & Saloon - This local favorite pizza spot!

Mountain Mamas Café – Great take-and-bake options if you are staying somewhere where you can reheat dinner.

The Buffalo Bar - If you ask locals where to dine, this is a frequent suggestion!

The Branch Restaurant and Bar - Check out the Oregon Short-Line railroad car before or after dinner! It’s located in the same building as this great dining option.

Madison Crossing Lounge - Offering great local cuisine, but with a modern twist. This is high on the list for many locals.

Firehole BBQ - This place is famous! For real, it was on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Grocery Stores

You only have two options! If you are passing through or flying into a larger city and have specific dietary needs, stop at a larger store there. These two options will get you all the basics while you are staying in West Yellowstone.

Food Roundup Supermarket

Market Place

Event Calendar

West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce

Area Resources

West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center - The Yellowstone National Park Visitor Center is an excellent resource for information about the area, Yellowstone Park, and has tons of free resources for your visit. The West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce is located in the same building!

West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce

Yellowstone Country Montana

We hope if you end up staying or visiting West Yellowstone, you enjoy our area suggestions as much as we do! Please reach out if you have any questions, and we hope this helps you plan an epic trip to Yellowstone National Park!

Adventures in a Winter Wonderland

A Day in Yellowstone With
Yellowstone Scenic tours

By Emma Heller

The Yellowstone Scenic Tours (YST) crew taking in the beautiful day and admiring Fountain Paint Pots at the Lower Geyser Basin.

Over the winter, many tour companies that operate in Yellowstone Park aren’t active, including Yellowstone Scenic Tours. Because of this, we don’t get to see our coworkers as often as we do over the summer. Many of our guides stay in Big Sky and have a winter-specific jobs in the area, while some move away for the season and come back each spring for the summer. We pride ourselves on offering a multi-day training each spring to refresh our knowledge, learn new information, and bring ourselves up-to-date on current affairs in Yellowstone. We often talk about how little we get into the Park in the winter and how some of us have never been on a snow coach tour. This year, our fearless leader and owner changed that, and we spent a sunshine-filled day in Yellowstone.

During the winter, Yellowstone doesn’t have the same access into the Park that it does in the summer. In the winter, the only road that is open goes from the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, to the North East Entrance in Cooke City, Montana. All other entrances, are open to snowmobile, snow coach travel or by cross country skis or snowshoes. Our guides will visit the North East section of the Park in the winter to wolf watch in Lamar Valley, head to Cooke City via the Park to backcountry ski or snowmobile, and one of our guides grew up in Gardiner! Visiting Yellowstone in the winter makes it feel like an entirely new Park. If you haven’t been to Yellowstone in the winter, we hope you can experience it someday. For now, we hope that sharing our experience with you will suffice!

Some of the YST team! Look at those tires on the snow coach!

We began our day in Big Sky, Montana, in the same fashion that many of our tours start. We met at the Wilson Hotel and loaded into the van with coffee and breakfast in hand. The drive to West Yellowstone, where our tour and snow coach awaited our arrival, was spent catching up with each other, and of course the friendly banter started as the coffee set in. Upon our arrival to West Yellowstone, it was clear the town was in a stage of hibernation, like many of the animals in the Park. Snow covered and quite it was a welcomed sight to see the usually busy town, taking a break. We met our guide for the day and all piled into a warm and comfy snow coach.

As we were driving in the Park, it was as if someone was turning up the dimmer switch of the sun. The further we made our way in, the brighter it became. It was like the sun was showing off Yellowstone and made for a grand entrance. The Madison River’s established route was surrounded by bright white snow highlighting the blue water. With temperatures often in the negatives during the winter, the Madison River was flowing steadily, without ice or snow. Unlike other rivers in the region, the Madison River has numerous thermal features that flow into it. The Firehole River, one of the Madison Rivers tributaries, has three major geyser basins' thermal water runoff that increases the water temperatures year-round. You could be tricked into thinking there were chunks of snow in the water from the trumpeter swans with their heads submerged feeding on the river bottom. Not long after entering the Park, we had our first bison jam of the day!

These ladies were unbothered by us stopping right next to them and driving by. This is their home!

Primarily bison, but other animals in the Park take advantage of the roads where the snow has been packed down by snowmobile and snow coach traffic. By using the roads, it makes it easier for the animals to travel throughout the Park and end up using less energy than trudging through feet of snow. While it was obvious that the bison were traveling on the road, we all noticed where animals were traveling off the roads too. You can clearly see the paths animals take in the winter. From bison and elk using the same paths to reduce energy use to snowshoe hares effortlessly flying over the snow with their snowshoe like hind feet, wolf and coyote tracks, and otter slides, from otters of course, into the rivers. Sorry, I got sidetracked…, from recapping our day. Let's get back to it!

The Fountain Paint Pots mud pots are located at the Lower Geyser Basin. In the winter they look even more dramatic!

The steam from Red Spouter created this intricate frost formation.

We made our way past the first bison jam, not food, but bison in the road, and we stopped first at Fountain Paint Pots and next at the Upper Geyser Basin. It was incredible to see the contrast of the thermal features. The snowy landscape changes and enhances the colors of the thermal features. They take on an entirely new look. We were also able to clearly see where the ground temperature changes, even in places where there are no visible thermal features. You can see where the ground is so hot it melts the snow. Steam from thermal features can create ice buildup that looks similar to the geyserite buildup that you see next to thermal features. The steam also forms intricate ribbon-like frost formation on nearby trees. You don’t have to look far to find unique features that you’ll only find in the winter.

The contrast of the Park was visually appealing, and the soundscapes during the winter were music to our ears. Because of the density of the snow and fewer visitors, the acoustics were more prominent. At Fountain Paint Pots, the resounding bloping and slurping of the mud pots surrounded us, and the nearby Red Sprouter sounded like hissing waves. Every sound has an echo to it, including the hum of snowmobiles in the distance.

From Fountain Paint Pots, we hit the snow covered road, and rambled on to Old Faithful. Even though we all have seen Old Faithful collectively thousands of times, we were excited to our old, reliable friend erupt in a wintery setting. As expected, it did not disappoint! After the eruption, we walked around Geyser Hill on a snow packed boardwalk, with views of bison and the iconic Old Faithful Inn in the background. We even saw insects that survive and lay their larva in the thermal water. As we finished our walk, with the sun warming us, it was clear the experience was stoking the fire for our passion for Yellowstone. On our way back to West Yellowstone, just before Madison Junction, we took Firehole Canyon Drive and went in the opposite direction on this one-way scenic drive. This is only allowed in the winter and it was amazing to see a different perspective of the drive that follows the Firehole River as it cascades between two lava flows.

Watching Old Faithful erupt never gets old!

All smiles from the YST crew!

With our hearts full, we made our way out of the Park. The same herd of bison was on the road, not far from where we saw them that morning. Leaving the Park left us wanting more and excited for our next adventure in Yellowstone. On our way back to Big Sky, we talked about ideas for our training this spring, reminisced on past trainings, and our day together in the Park. We can’t wait to share with you in-person on your next tour with us our trip to Yellowstone in the winter. We hope you have the opportunity to visit Yellowstone in the winter!

The Local’s Guide to Big Sky

Updated July 2024

Guide & images by Emma Heller

Jump to:

Places to Stay	Food & Drink	Things to Do
Health & Wellness	Outdoor Gear Shops	Event Calendars

Looking down on Beehive Basin, with Lone Mountain and Big Sky, MT in the distance.

We love sharing Yellowstone National Park and Montana with people visiting from all over the world. When you book a tour with us, it’s a given that we will share our expertise about Yellowstone. Frequently, we are asked for recommendations on what to do in the surrounding areas. Primarily, our clientele are lodging in Big Sky, Montana and West Yellowstone, Montana while visiting Yellowstone National Park. To make sure you don’t miss out on some of our favorite restaurants and activities, we hope our guide for Big Sky and the surrounding area helps you plan the best trip ever!

Big Sky, Montana is nestled in the Gallatin National Forest and surrounded by the Madison Mountain Range. Views of the Spanish Peaks Mountains and Lone Mountain offer breathtaking views. It is not uncommon to see moose and elk in town that are close enough to pet. BUT, DON’T DO IT! These are wild and dangerous animals. In the spring and fall, grizzly bear sightings are higher.  All summer there is the chance to see black bears. As you make your way into Big Sky, be on the lookout for the local bighorn sheep herd!

For decades Big Sky was only busy during ski season, but over the last couple of years it has become an increasingly popular spot to visit in the summer. Big Sky offers amazing outdoor recreation, fun activities for all ages, and is a gateway community to Yellowstone National Park, which is only 45 minutes away. The town of Big Sky is divided into three areas - the Canyon, Meadow, and Mountain Village. These are terms you might hear on your visit and will help you navigate the area. You’ll also hear people refer to the Mountain Village as “up top”. In the Meadow, the town center is where the stop light is and where many of the restaurants and businesses are located.

View fullsize

Overview of Big Sky, MT and where the Canyon, Meadow and Mountain neighborhoods are located.

From Visit Big Sky.

Places to Stay

First, it is important to figure out where you’ll be staying! Big Sky offers many great hotel options and houses you can rent for your stay.

The Wilson Hotel - Right in the Meadow area of Big Sky, shops and restaurants are just outside your door!

Big Sky Resort - If you are looking to be right at the base of Big Sky Resort, with the ability to walk directly to all of the fun activities and outdoor recreation, this is your spot.

Big Sky Vacation Rentals - Offers vacation rentals in the area.

Moonlight Vacations Rentals - Offers a variety of vacation rentals in the area.

Stay Montana - Offers vacation rentals in the area.

Vacasa Vacation Rentals - Offers vacation rentals in the area.

Rainbow Ranch - This is a beautiful option right by the Gallatin River. It is just outside of Big Sky, has a restaurant on property, and there are two other dining options not far away.

Elkhorn Home Management - A locally owned and operated property management company based in Big Sky, Montana.

Inspirato - Offers vacation rentals in the area.

Headwaters Hosting - Headwaters hosting offers vacation rentals in the area and is locally owned and operated.

320 Guest Ranch - If you are looking for a dude ranch experience, look no further! The ranch is located along the Gallatin River about 20 minutes south of Big Sky. On property is McGill’s Steakhouse and they offer fly fishing, horse rides, and nearby are some great hikes.

Food & Drink

While some of the guides no longer live in Big Sky, we have all lived in Big Sky at some point and spend a lot of time in the area. Just like most people, we love eating. It was easy to make a list of our favorite places to eat in Big Sky.

Best Way to Start Your Day

Caliber Coffee – Talk to any local and they’ll mention this spot. They roast their coffee on-site and have great and quick breakfast options.  We recommend the breakfast burritos. Yum!

Blue Moon Bakery – This place actually can accommodate your taste buds from breakfast to dessert. For breakfast, you can get your caffeine fix and the town favorite, the Benny.

Hungry Moose – This is another spot that can feed you throughout the day. In the morning, it’s a quick spot to grab a drip coffee and breakfast sandwich or burrito. They also have a deli with delicious sandwiches and salads. The Hungry Moose is also one of the grocery stores in town.

Cowboy Coffee Co. - Conveniently located in Big Sky’s Town Center!

Lunch

Yeti Dogs – Located up at the Mountain Village, Yeti Dogs serves hot dogs with all of your favorite toppings and some you never thought of putting on a hot dog. They also serve Montana made Wilcoxson’s Ice Cream.

The Cabin - This is another great spot “up top” for lunch and dinner.

The Rocks - Located in the Meadow Village, at the town square. If you are looking for a sit-down lunch after hiking Ousel Falls, this is a great option.

Hungry Moose Deli – You can grab a delicious sandwich here for a quick lunch from either Town Center or Mountain Village location.

Pinky G’s – This is your local pizzeria that can serve you a slice or whole pie. Nothing fancy here, just pizza!

By Word of Mouth or BYWOM – Think of their food as upscale pub food. It’s good and a great spot to get the local vibe.  Open for both lunch and dinner.

Roxy’s Market - Roxy’s has some delicious and hearty sandwiches and soups to satisfy your appetite!

Blindside Burger - If you are looking to load up before or after your Big Sky adventures you’ll find all the delicious calories here with smash burgers, shakes, and more!

Après

Beehive Basin Brewery – This is our favorite local brewery! They have a fun atmosphere, a patio to soak up the sun and serve a tasty beer. Grab a refreshing beer after your Beehive Basin Hike. You deserve it!

Horn & Cantle Saloon – Located at Lone Mountain Ranch, the cowboy après includes excellent drinks, live music and the saloon menu.

The Waypoint – Right in the town center, enjoy one of their great cocktails or a local beer. Take your drink and food to the movie theatre located in the same space.

Tips Up - Located in Town Center, Tips Up has it all. Live entertainment, bar food, games, cold drinks, and is just a good time.

Dinner

This list got long! That’s because there are some great restaurants in Big Sky that we hope you enjoy as much as we do.

Michaelangelo's – My mouth is water thinking of some of the dishes here. Carbo load and treat your taste buds to some seriously good Italian food. They also have an excellent wine selection. We suggest making a reservation here.

Montana Dinner Yurt - Surround yourself with breathtaking views of the Spanish Peaks and Montana Wilderness for an unforgettable evening of delicious food and Montana hospitality at its finest.

Horn and Cantle – This is another excellent spot if you are interested in Montana game like elk, bison and trout. You should definitely make a reservation here.

Gallatin River House – The River House opens at 3 p.m., get there early! They do not take reservations and it gets packed. It has an awesome atmosphere with a deck, outdoor seating with amazing views and tasty BBQ.

Ousel & Spur – This is the gourmet pizza place in Big Sky. They have some really tasty options. It gets busy here, for good reason, so make a reservation!

Olive B’s – Tucked away over by the golf course, this has been a go-to for date night or special occasions for locals. They have a lot of Montana game on the menu if you are curious about how elk or bison tastes.

McGill’s Steakhouse at the 320 Guest Ranch – The ranch is located about 20 minutes south of Big Sky so you really feel like you are “on the ranch”. Their steakhouse has a lot of Montana game on the menu and if you’ve ever wanted to try Rocky Mountain Oysters, this is your opportunity. They also have a Chuckwagon BBQ, yeehaw!

Milkies Pub - Hang out with Big Sky locals and enjoy some hearty pizza and cold drinks.

Treat Yourself

Big Sky Scoops - Serving up Bozeman-based Genuine ice cream right in Big Sky’s Town Center.

Blindside Burger - Serving old-fashioned milkshakes and shakes with names like Donut Delight, Unicorn Toot, and the E.T.

Uncle Dan’s Cookies - While Uncle Dan’s doesn’t have a storefront during the summer. Keep an eye out for these cookies at local grocery stores and shops!

Grocery Stores

All three of these grocery stores are good and they each have their specialties. If you have specific needs or a large grocery list, stop in Bozeman at one of the grocery stores before driving to Big Sky.

Hungry Moose – Located both at the Mountain Village and Meadow Village

Roxy’s Market – Meadow area

Country Market – Meadow area

Things To Do

Farmer’s Market – Local produce, arts and crafts and food trucks! Definitely check out the farmer’s market on your trip. Tentatively scheduled Wednesdays from June to September from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Warren Miller Performing Arts Center – The Warren Miller Performing Arts Center brings a variety of musicians, dancers, comedy acts and many other types of arts to Big Sky.

BASE – This is our new community center. We’ve waited a long time for this and are so excited to have it! There are a lot of great activities for adults and kids.  Day passes are $25 and it’s $35 to rock climb, including equipment rental.

Arts Council of Big Sky - This artcentric non-profit offers free and discounted live music, performing arts, and art classes in the Big Sky Community.

Movie Theatre

The Waypoint – Want to catch a movie while you are in town? Head to the Waypoint!

Live Music

Tips Up - This classic dive bar boasts some of the best local musicians providing you with excellent opportunities to get your groove on.

The Waypoint - The Waypoint does it all! Food, movies, and event live music!

Music in the Mountains - Hosted by the Arts Council of Big Sky, this free summer-long concert series in Len Hill Park hosts upcoming and well-known musicians from June through September.

Big Sky Music Calendar - See all of the musicians playing around Big Sky.

For the Kids

Big Sky Sitters – Looking for a date night without the kids? Big Sky Sitters has a great team of sitters to watch the kiddos.

BASE – BASE offers a lot of fun kid activities.

Arts Council of Big Sky – In conjunction with BASE, the Arts Council of Big Sky has fun art projects for kids. 

Outdoor activities

There are a lot of options for recreation around Big Sky! These are our recommendations for guide services and a list of everything you can do in the area.

Yellowstone National Park Tours - Yellowstone Scenic Tours of course!

Big Sky Resort offers:

• Mountain biking

• Zipline tours

• Scenic lift rides

• Hiking

• Outdoor Escape Room

• Archery

• Disc golf

Fishing

• East Slope Outfitters

• Wild Trout Outfitters

Hiking

Make sure you have bear spray, water, layers, a rain jacket (it can rain at any point in the summer, weather rolls in fast) and snacks for all of these hikes.

• Ousel Falls – This is a 1.6-mile round trip, easy hike. It is a great hike to start with to get acclimated to the high elevation. The trail is well maintained, there isn’t a ton of elevation gain, and Ousel Falls are beautiful!
  

• Uplands – Located in the Meadow, this is an easy to get to hike that is 2 miles round trip and a moderate hike. This hike or Hummocks would be great to check off next after Ousel Falls.
  

• Hummocks  – Located in the Meadow, this is an easy to get to hike that is 3 miles round trip and moderate with some elevation gain. This hike or Uplands would be great to check off next after Ousel Falls.
  

• Porcupine Creek – We’ve already raved about Gallatin Riverhouse and this hike is located close-by. Making it easy to reward yourself after your hike! It is a 2.3-mile easy loop.
  

• Beehive Basin – This is a more challenging hike, but it is worth it. Take lunch or a nice snack and reward yourself at the end of the hike that ends in a beautiful basin with a mountain pond. It is 6.6 miles round trip and a moderate to hard hike with elevation gain at the end of the hike.
  

• Lava Lake – This is another hike where you should bring something to reward yourself at the top. There is a beautiful alpine lake and an opportunity to take a dip in the chilly water. Polar plunge anyone?! It is 6 miles round trip and a moderate to hard hike.

Mountain biking

Download the Trail Forks App! There is a lot of great mountain biking. If you haven’t done much mountain biking, take a lesson at Big Sky Resort. You can rent a mountain bike from Gallatin Alpine Sports or Grizzly Outfitters and check out some of the local trails. Uplands, Hummocks and Michener are great beginner trails. A favorite shuttle that you can take the free Skyline Bus to, is Mountain to Meadow. The gear shops can give you a lot of great information about mountain biking in the area.

Horse Trail Rides

• Jake’s Horses

• 320 Guest Ranch

Rock Climbing

• Montana Alpine Guides

Rodeo

• West Yellowstone Rodeo –  Heads up! This is about an hour drive from Big Sky.

• Big Sky PBR – A three-day bull riding rodeo in July. Get your cowboy or cowgirl boots on and that new Stetson!

Rafting

• Geyser Whitewater

• Montana Whitewater

Golfing

• Big Sky Resort

Ziplining

• Geyser Whitewater – Heads up! Their zip lining is about an hour away in West Yellowstone.

• Montana Whitewater

Health & Wellness

Santosha Wellness Center – Spa and yoga studio located in the Meadow. Relax and enjoy!

Solace Spa & Salon – This spa and salon are located up at the Mountain.

Outdoor Gear Shops

Did you forget some gear? Maybe you got caught in an afternoon rain storm and you don’t have a rain jacket. These are all great gear stores in Big Sky to check out. All three are located in the Meadow.

• East Slope Outdoors

• Gallatin Alpine Sports

• Christy Sports

Events Calendars

•  Visit Big Sky Events Calendar

• Navigate Big Sky

• Big Sky Resort

Area Resources

•  Big Sky Town Center

• Visit Big Sky

 We love sharing information about Big Sky! While on a tour with us, we would love to give suggestions. Often, we find that people are missing out on some of our favorite restaurants or activities because a lot on this list require reservations. Please reach out to us with any questions and we hope this helps you plan the best trip ever!

A Whole New Park, Yellowstone in Winter

By Emma Heller

Orange Terrace Spring is located on the Upper Terrace Loop drive at the Mammoth Terraces.

Emma Heller

In our last update, As Some Roads Open, Others Close (Seasonally), we talked about Park roads that seasonally close each November for the winter. On December 15th this year, Yellowstone reopens roads for the winter, but not for the typical vehicles you think of. Yellowstone Park has one route through the North Eastern part of the Park that is open year-round. This route goes from the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana to the North East Entrance in Cooke City, Montana. All of the other roads in the Park are only open to travel via commercially guided snowmobiles and snowcoaches, the non-commercially guided snowmobile program, cross-country skis and snowshoes. While we do not operate during the winter, we love exploring Yellowstone Park and seeing it transformed into an entirely different landscape.

If you thought Yellowstone was amazing to see in the summer, visiting Yellowstone in the winter gives you a new perspective.  A blanket of snow covers Yellowstone.  Snow levels reach on average 50 to 200 inches depending on elevation and location. Average temperatures in the Park range from winter highs of 20–30ºF and lows of 0-9 ºF. The record low was -66 ºF near the West Entrance on February 9, 1933! Burrr!

NPS/Addy Falgoust

The harsh winter conditions have forced wildlife in Yellowstone to adapt to these winter obstacles. While in the Park you might see bison, elk, moose, wolves, fox, coyote, otters, eagles and trumpeter swans. Have you ever wondered why bison have a large hump on their shoulders and a shovel-like head? Bison can reach food beneath three feet of snow, because a bison’s hump is made of elongated vertebrae for strong neck muscles to push snow out of the way with their head-like a shovel. Elk and deer have to manage walking through snow and you’ll often find them in single file lines in deep snow. Moose have special joints that allow them to swing their legs over snow rather than push through like other ungulates. Ever wondered why snowshoe hares, white-tailed jackrabbits and weasels turn white in the winter? The white provides camouflage and the hollow white hair contains air instead of pigment which helps with insulation. A favorite year-round bird in the area are Chickadees, you can hear their chicka dee dee dee call year-round. In the winter, they have a half-inch-thick layer of feathers that keeps them up to 100 degrees warmer than the ambient temperature. Sounds cozy! Wildlife such as bison, elk, geese and other animals utilize the thermal areas to find food and stay warm.

NPS/Addy Falgoust

Visitors looking at Palette Spring on the boardwalk at the Mammoth Terraces.

NPS/Addy Falgoust

Thermal features in the Park take on an entirely new look in the winter.  It’s amazing to see the amount of heat they produce, even on the snowiest and coldest days. You can travel in an automobile to check out Mammoth Hot Springs at the North Entrance and walk around the Mammoth Terraces. You can also snowshoe or cross-country ski around the Mammoth Terrace Loop. To visit the other hydrothermal areas in the Park, like Old Faithful, you must travel by snowmobile or snowcoach.

Traveling in Yellowstone Park in the winter can be tricky, but if you plan ahead it is worth the trip. Yellowstone Scenic Tours does not operate during the winter, our operating season is May through October. However, there are many other great companies to show you Yellowstone. If you are traveling by automobile in the North Eastern section of the Park, be sure to check the road status, have a full tank of gas and pack extra food and water. Keep in mind that Park services are limited, you can check here to see what is open. Most of the Park has limited cell service, however you can download the Yellowstone Park app to stay in the know. Out of the North, West and South Entrances, guided snowcoach or snowmobile tours can be booked to explore Yellowstone. If you have your own snowmobile, you must apply for a permit. You can even stay in Yellowstone during the winter. This year, only the Snow Lodge at Old Faithful is open or you can stay outside of the Park in nearby communities. Typically, the Mammoth Hotel is open year-round, however the flooding in June has kept it from opening this winter.

A guided snowmobile tour and snowcoach in Yellowstone.

NPS/Jacob W. Frank

Yellowstone National Park has a special place in our hearts. We love spending time in the Park during the summer and look forward to exploring it with you. We hope to hear about your winter travels in Yellowstone and share our stories with you.

As Some Roads Open, Others Close (Seasonally)

By Emma Heller

Each November in Yellowstone National Park a majority of the roads close to conventional vehicles for the winter. This year has been anything but normal for traveling in Yellowstone due to the historic flooding in June 2022. The flooding primarily affected roads in the North and North Eastern regions of the Park, which remained closed from the damage until recently. Ironically, the two main sections of damaged roads, from the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana to Mammoth Hot Springs and Lamar Valley to the North East Entrance in Cooke City, Montana are part of the roadways that are typically open year-round while the remainder of Park roads close from November through April.

On your way to Cooke City, MT, this is just one of many sections of road that was damaged from Soda Butte Creek flooding.

That was not the case this year! Due to the damage to the roads from the flooding, these two sections have been under construction and recently opened, just in time for the other roads in the Park to close which occurred on November 1st.

This picnic table traveled downstream hundreds of yards from a picnic area that was located next to Soda Butte Creek.

On October 15th, we received exciting news that the road into Lamar Valley and out to Cooke City would open. Lamar Valley has an abundant wildlife population, similar to that of Hayden Valley. Black bears, grizzly bears, bison, elk and wolves are just some of the animals that make Lamar Valley their home. On the way to Cooke City there is the chance to see moose. Make sure to stop at Barronette Peak with your spotting scope to look for mountain goats! Just outside of the Park, the road continues either to the majestic Beartooth Mountains or the beautiful Chief Joseph Pass. With winter around the corner, many will take this route to snowmobile and backcountry ski in Cooke City. To say the least, we are excited to have access to this amazing part of the Park again.

The iconic Lamar Valley.

We are also thrilled to have access Mammoth Hot Springs from the North Entrance! During the flooding, the Gardner River destroyed the route between Gardiner and Mammoth beyond repair. Mammoth is the park headquarters and many employees live in Gardiner. Fortunately, the stagecoach route from the 1880s which has been used as a scenic, one-way dirt road linked Mammoth to Gardiner. This route allowed travel for employees and tour companies and over the summer has been constructed into the new and improved route. After paving the dirt road, widening it for two-way travel, adding pull-outs and guard rails, it opened October 30th. The new route does have a steep grade and hairpin turns making for an exciting drive with beautiful views.

The new road connecting Gardiner, MT to Mammoth Hot Springs has many sharp turns and a steep grade.

As you crest the top of the new road, you get views of the Mammoth Terraces and Bunsen Peak.

Entrance towns like Cooke City and Gardiner have taken a huge economic hit this summer and we applaud the Park Service with their efforts to open these roads. If you are planning a trip to the area this winter, consider exploring Gardiner and Cooke City. Many of Lamar Valley’s animals can be seen in the winter, except hibernating bears. The Park roads that closed November 1st, will re-open mid-December for snowmobile and snow cat travel. Exploring Yellowstone in the winter is an incredible experience that most don’t take advantage of. 

If you do visit the park this winter, it is a good idea to stay up-to-date on road conditions and closures. To do so, you can visit https://go.nps.gov/yellroads, sign up for road alerts on your phone by texting “82190” to 888-777 or call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message.

Revealing Native American History in Yellowstone National Park

The Historic and Continued Presence of Indigenous People in Yellowstone Park

By Emma Heller

In August, Yellowstone Revealed premiered in Gardiner, Montana and Yellowstone National Park to shine a light on the historic and continued presence of Indigenous people in Yellowstone Park and the surrounding area. The series of place-based projects was a collaboration effort with numerous Tribal Nations, Yellowstone National Park and Mountain Time Arts, a non-profit based out of Bozeman, Montana. Coinciding with the 150th Anniversary of the park, Tribal Nations that once relied on Yellowstone and its resources sought to educate about the Native American history that has been excluded in the past.

The All Nations Teepee Village by Shane Doyle

Photo by Dylan Hale Thornton of Hale Creative Consulting

I had the opportunity to sit down with Dylan Thornton to hear about his experience while volunteering at the All Nations Teepee Village at Madison Junction in Yellowstone. Dylan is a DEI (Diversity, Equality, Inclusion) consultant and founder of Hale Creative Consulting based in Bozeman, Montana. For many, including Dylan, Yellowstone Revealed was a momentous and unforgettable experience.

Dylan began by sharing the history of Native Americans in Yellowstone Park. Prior to 150 years ago, tribes gathered in the Yellowstone area which acted as a neutral setting for tribes that might otherwise engage in warfare. Research shows evidence that as many as 49 tribes migrated in and out of Yellowstone, 27 of which were prominent tribes that are recognized by the Park Service. Native Americans from these tribes traveled to Yellowstone because it was a sacred and spiritual place, had abundant animals to hunt and resources to gather and collect (like the highly valuable obsidian). Tribes as far as the West Coast and the Plains traveled to Yellowstone. As the railroad made its way West, like the bison, Native Americans were forced out of their home.

Many tribal members shared that Yellowstone Revealed was the first time they had ever been in Yellowstone Park. Because their ancestors were forced out of Yellowstone, they felt they didn’t belong, despite their rich history in the park. Now back in Yellowstone, they remembered that history and how powerful of a place it is.

The thirteen teepees at Madison Junction was the first time teepees have stood in Yellowstone in 150 years.

Photo by Dylan Hale Thornton of Hale Creative Consulting

Examples of arts, crafts and food displayed by tribes.

Photo by Dylan Hale Thornton of Hale Creative Consulting

The All Nations Teepee Village by Shane Doyle consisted of 13 teepees that signified a new era of Indigenous inclusion and representation in Yellowstone. This is the first-time teepees have stood in Yellowstone in the last 150 years. Tribes were able to come together to share their resources and cultural knowledge like they once were able to. The lodges and signs gave representation to the 27 recognized tribes and the 13th teepee gave space for tribal nations not yet recognized. Throughout the village, arts, crafts and food were displayed by tribes. 12 cultural ambassadors told stories of their people, many orally shared from generation to generation, never written down. Native historians had never heard many of these stories. Sacred ceremonies were practiced with one open to the public. REMATRIATE by Patti Baldes, emulates the symbolism between Native Americans and bison. Dylan said as the ceremony was taking place, one bull bison showed up and bedded down nearby. No bison had been there for the days prior.

Patti Baldes’ REMATRIATE performance

NPS / Ashton Hooker

Yellowstone Revealed is the beginning to a new healing relationship and an opportunity for Native Americans to be recognized as an integral part of the Park’s history and future. We need to be informed of a more accurate history and will have a chance to learn more in Summer 2023, as Mountain Time Arts will present Yellowstone Revealed in the Greater Yellowstone Region. Dylan pointed out that many of the issues we face today were set into motion a long time ago and now is the time to find a solution. He suggests that if you are interested in being part of this solution, learning accurate history is a great start. We have a list of links and resources to do so. At Yellowstone Scenic Tours, it is our promise to provide a more accurate history of Native Americans in Yellowstone Park.

Learn More:

• Mountain Time Arts

  • Yellowstone Revealed with Mountain Time Arts Executive Director, Francesca Pine-Rodriguez

  • Yellowstone Revealed Interview with Wiliam Snell, Jr.

• Yellowstone National Park

  • https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/22028.htm

  • https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/historyculture/historic-tribes.htm

  • https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/historyculture/associatedtribes.htm

  • https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/historyculture/native-american-affairs.htm

• Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center

• Museum of the Rockies - Apsáalooke Women and Warriors - May 28 - December, 31, 2022

• Indian Nations

Our Favorite Time of Year is Near in Yellowstone Park!

Why We Love Fall

By Emma Heller

Autumn in Yellowstone National Park is one of our favorite times of the year to be in the Park. As summer winds down, the number of visitors decreases, the temperatures start to cool bringing animals to lower elevations, making it easier to spot them. Yellow and red leaves start to speckle mountainsides and meadows, adding to the already colorful and vast landscape.

Sam Ozanich

While the number of visitors is winding down in Yellowstone, that doesn’t mean that other activity in the Park is decreasing. Animal activity starts to bustle with the cooler temperatures, breeding seasons and migration routes. Currently in Yellowstone, the bison rut, or breeding season, is in full swing. Lamar and Hayden Valley are excellent areas to see all the action. The bison rut will continue into the first part of September and end just as the elk rut begins. Heading to the northern part of the Park, especially around Mammoth Hot Springs and Lamar Valley will provide the best sightings for impressive bull elk and their harem of cows.

NPS / Neal Herbert

Many animals have been spending the summer in higher elevations to beat the summer heat. As the temperature changes, the animals make their way to lower elevations, making it much easier to spot ungulates, bears and wolves. Black and grizzly bears are entering what is called, hyperphagia. Hyperphagia is when bears are consuming as much food as possible to prepare for hibernation. Bears can gain more than 3 pounds a day until they enter their dens! Their primary food sources will be plants, but there is always the opportunity to see grizzlies steal kills from wolves and scavenge off of elk and bison injured during the rut.

NPS/Jim Peaco

We also have a great opportunity to see the raptor migration in Hayden Valley. Yellowstone has 19 breeding species, 17 of those species use Hayden Valley as a migration corridor. Migration typically happens during the day when it is warmer and the raptors use the warm air from thermal features to soar along and use less energy.

While Yellowstone doesn’t boast the extensive fall foliage like what you see on the east coast or Colorado. The mountains, hillsides and meadows do produce beautiful fall colors and alongside the colors of thermal features and the red, pink and yellow of minerals throughout the Park, it offers its own unique beauty found nowhere else.

We hope you join us in Wonderland soon! If you are planning on visiting the Park in the fall, stay up-to-date on what establishments and facilities are open, by visiting the YNP Plan Your Visit page, many are closing starting in October. We wouldn’t be surprised if fall in Yellowstone Park becomes your favorite time of year as well!

WILD & SCENIC

THE UPPER LOOP TOUR

By Emma Heller

At Yellowstone Scenic Tours, we love the opportunity to explore the Upper Loop in Yellowstone National Park. The Upper Loop, located in the Northern portion of Yellowstone, takes us through some of the most scenic sections of the Park and offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

Due to the historic flooding that took place in June 2022, access to certain areas of the Upper Loop has been restricted. As a tour company, we have the opportunity to explore some of those restricted areas with you.

Map showing Yellowstone National Park’s most up-to-date road status.

The Northeast stretch of Yellowstone was heavily impacted by the flooding, destroying infrastructure to Lamar Valley and the Northeast Entrance in Cooke City, Montana. We have been missing the amazing wildlife we often see in this area. The Park Service is now allowing tour companies and those with reservations to drive to Slough Creek. Slough Creek boasts two wolf dens in the area where we are able to wolf watch. There is also the potential to see bison, pronghorn and bighorn sheep!

A rare sighting of two grizzly bears and a wolf near a bison carcass next to the Lamar River.

Jim Peaco

Between Canyon and Tower Falls, we drive over Dunraven Pass. This area is known to have a high concentration of black bears. While seeing wildlife in Yellowstone isn’t guaranteed, incredible scenery, unique thermal features and the Park’s headquarters, Mammoth Hot Springs are all guaranteed on the Upper Loop. Mammoth is filled with rich Park history, resident elk and the Mammoth Terraces which are unlike any other thermal area in Yellowstone.

With the elk rut just around the corner, you are likely to see scenes like this at Mammoth Hot Springs.

Jim Peaco

Most often, we tour the Lower Loop with our guests. This is an excellent option if you only have one day in Yellowstone. If you have had the opportunity to visit Yellowstone before or are able to explore the Lower Loop on your own, take advantage of our extensive knowledge of the area and our access to Slough Creek. Can’t decide which tour to go on, we find ourselves out on multi-day tours, leaving no obsidian rock unturned!

North Loop Open on July, 2nd

Suspending ALPS

By Emma Heller

Our latest update from Yellowstone National Park’s superintendent Cam Sholly brings us some great news! It was announced on Thursday, June 30th that the northern portion of Yellowstone will open on Saturday, July 2nd. The Park Service will also suspend the Alternating License Plate System (ALPS) that was used to regulate visitation. The Park Service will continue to monitor visitor use data and if necessary, will reinstate the ALPS. We are delighted that we will be able to explore the northern portion of the Park with you this summer!

Looking over the Mammoth Terraces, located at Mammoth Hot Springs in the northern portion of the Park.

NPS / Neal Herbert

A majority of our tours spend the day in the Lower Loop visiting Old Faithful, Lake Yellowstone and Hayden Valley. While we don’t have as many tours that head to the Upper Loop, it also has great sights, especially if you’ve already had the chance to explore the Lower Loop. With the suspension of ALPS, the Park will be back to normal with high-season traffic. Yellowstone Scenic Tour guides take out the stress of driving and parking. Plus, they have insider knowledge on where to find less crowded areas! Our guides will treat you to a fun and educational day in Yellowstone. We look forward to spending the day with you and exploring Yellowstone National Park!

A Swift Recovery - Yellowstone National Park is Open!

By Emma Heller

A herd of cow and calf bison grazing in Yellowstone National Park.

NPS / Jacob W. Frank

A little over a week ago Yellowstone Scenic Tours and over a million visitors who visit each summer thought that our summer plans were going to be cancelled. Because of the tremendous progress that has been made in a short amount of time, we are able to head back and explore Yellowstone.

This would not have been possible without the support from the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior, local Congressional delegations, governors and the communities surrounding Yellowstone. This support includes $50 million in emergency funding to assist in repairing damaged infrastructure. Yellowstone Park Service has been busy this last week, first with assessing the damage to the Park’s infrastructure and restoring the basic services including power, water and wastewater. Without the quick response to this natural disaster, the Park wouldn’t be open.

There is still a lot of the Park open and in the coming weeks, more will open in the northern portion of Yellowstone.

NPS

As the Park reopens, we have many of the same marvelous sights to see, animal sightings and a large portion of the Park to explore in the lower loop of Yellowstone’s Grand Loop. In the coming weeks, more of the Park will reopen in the northern section. Yellowstone is 2.2 million acres, and because of the size of the Park, on a day tour we typically only explore either the upper or lower loop. A majority of our tours head to the lower (southern) loop which has great treasures like Old Faithful Geyser, Lake Yellowstone, Hayden Valley and much more! The lower loop will be first to open and in just a few weeks a majority of the upper (northern) loop will be open.

While your trip to Yellowstone may have been in question last week, we highly encourage you to still visit. If you haven’t booked a tour yet with Yellowstone Scenic Tours, we suggest doing so because of the ALPS system the Park Service has implemented for entering the Park. What is ALPS?! Check out this guide to learn about the Alternating License Plate System used to reduce the number of visitors in the Park because as of now, only the southern portion of the Park is open. This means you will not be able to enter Yellowstone everyday of your trip. However, this visitor regulation system does not apply to tour companies licensed to operate in the Park, which includes Yellowstone Scenic Tours.

We are able to guarantee entry into Yellowstone Park and also provide you with an educational and fun day. If you are concerned about any of the following, consider booking a tour with Yellowstone Scenic Tours.

If you are concerned about not knowing which day you can enter the Park because you don’t know what the last digit of your license plate will be on your rental car.

• If you only have two days to spend in Yellowstone, book a day with us and plan to go in with your vehicle on the day you are allowed.

• If you have multiple vehicles in your group and aren’t sure if you are all able to go in all at once, our vans can seat up to 14 people and based on availability we are able to do multi-van tours.

• Last if you are interested in learning about Yellowstone National Park please consider joining us on a tour with one of our expert guides.

We look forward to showing you all the wonders of Yellowstone National Park.

What the ALPS?! - Alternating License Plate System Guide

By Emma Heller

The new system that the Park Service has developed to enter Yellowstone National Park might have you a bit confused. We hope this guide helps clear up some of your questions!

The Park Service has implemented an Alternating License Plate System to reduce the number of vehicles entering Yellowstone each day.  This is to ensure that the Park doesn’t get overloaded with the reduced services and overcrowded with the northern section of the Park not initially open. You will get turned away if your license plate doesn’t correspond with the odd or even calendar date for entrance. If you have a tour with Yellowstone Scenic Tours or plan on booking a tour, this visitor regulation system does not apply to tour companies licensed to operate in the Park which includes us. Below is a list of what you should know and consider.

• The license plate on your vehicle will be used to determine which days you are allowed to enter into Yellowstone.

• License plate numbers that have an even-numbered last digit are allowed to enter on an even-numbered calendar day.

• License plate numbers that have an odd-numbered last digit are allowed to enter on an odd-numbered calendar day.

• For personalized plates with a mix of numbers and letters and end with a letter, the last numerical digit on the plate will be used to determine which day you can enter the Park.

• If you have a personalized plate without numbers, you will be allowed to enter on odd days of the month.

For more information please visit, https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/flood-recovery.htm

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions.

Yellowstone National Park Isn’t Canceled

Ensure Your Entry by Booking With Us - Entry Guaranteed

By Emma Heller

Aerial view of the Lamar River overflowing into Lamar Valley’s flood plain near the Buffalo Ranch.

NPS / Jacob W. Frank

We are in awe of the events that happened this week with record flooding in Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone Scenic Tours, our guides, our community and you have all been waiting in suspense to see if our plans for summer and fall would be canceled in Yellowstone. We have some good news, Yellowstone isn’t canceled; so don’t cancel your summer plans, we have a lot in store for you.

We have been staying up-to-date on the latest news and updates from Cam Sholly, the superintendent of Yellowstone National Park. The excellent communication and progress made since Monday has been impressive. As of today, the Park plans to open the lower loop by Wednesday, June 22nd. Because of the extensive damage to the Northern part of the Park, the North and Northeast entrances are not expected to open this summer season.  Parts of the upper loop may open, but the Park Service is still assessing the damage. 

Visitors watching Old Faithful geyser erupt.

NPS / Jacob W. Frank

A portion of the Park and two out of five entrances will be closed for the remainder of the summer. Because of this, the Park is implementing a license plate system to regulate the number of vehicles and visitors This system will use the last digit of vehicle license plate numbers and correlating it to odd and even number days to determine which vehicles enter the Park and in turn reduce the number of vehicles each day. Vanity plates will be allowed into the Park on odd days.  Motorcycle groups will be allowed in on even days.

This visitor regulation system does not apply to tour companies licensed to operate in the park, which includes Yellowstone Scenic Tours. Our guests are guaranteed entry, outside of a natural disaster! There is still much to explore in Yellowstone Park, the lower loop boasts many of Yellowstone’s treasures including Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Hayden Valley and much more. We look forward to showing you the wonders of Yellowstone and hope to see you this summer or fall.  Please consider spending your time in Wonderland with Yellowstone Scenic Tours.

Record Flooding in Yellowstone National Park

By Emma Heller

A section of road between Gardiner, MT and Mammoth Hot Springs that has been washed away from the flooding.

NPS / Doug Kraus

On June 13, 2022 Yellowstone National Park, Southwestern Montana and Central Montana sustained record-breaking flooding. Yellowstone Scenic Tours is waiting for more information while our communities and officials assess the damages from these devastating floods.

The Park is working as quickly and efficiently as possible to reopen the West Entrance and Lower Loop safely.  There are many road repairs as well as wastewater treatment facilities and electrical issues to consider.  In addition, they must determine how to regulate the number of visitors as 50% of the Park cannot handle the expected number of visitors under normal conditions.  

Yellowstone National Park does not have a reopen date at this time.  They are closed until further notice as they evaluate the extent of the damage and begin repairs.  You can find updates on the National Park Service website.

At this time, we do not know the long-term effects. The Park will reopen, but we do not know when or what it will look like when it does open.  We still plan to operate in Yellowstone Park and provide tours when the Park service determines it can safely open.

We will certainly be in touch as we learn more and if it impacts your tour.  A full refund will be offered if it is not possible to tour in Yellowstone.  We are also able to offer a full refund for any cancellation related to this situation. 

We are heartbroken to see these communities effected by these historic floods. Many lost homes, had their homes flooded and jobs have been lost for the summer. These communities rely on your visits to the area and summer visitation to survive.

Please consider making donations to the following relief funds and thank you for all your support.

• Yellowstone Forever Resiliency Fund

• Park County Community Foundation - Southwest Montana Flood Relief Fund

• Yellowstone Community Fund to help those in Gardiner, Montana:

  Make checks out to “Yellowstone Community Fund” and send to:

  Jim Halfpenny

  P.O. Box 989

  Gardiner, MT 59030

Thank you for understanding these unforeseen circumstances, your support and your business. We hope to be continuing tours in our favorite national park as soon as we are able.

Current Fire Activity

Yesterday, Yellowstone National Park changed the fire danger level to HIGH. Although there are no fires burning in the park, there are fires around the park. Follow this link for updates on the current fire activity within Yellowstone.

The Robertson Draw fire is currently the largest fire burning near Yellowstone National Park. See Explore Big Sky’s post for more info and photos about this fire.

Join us for a fully customizable private tour to learn more about Greater Yellowstone Area’s fire-adapted ecosystem!

We offer pickups in Big Sky, MT and West Yellowstone, MT. If you are coming from Bozeman, we can meet you in Big Sky.

Two firefighters spray the Old Faithful Inn during the 1988 fire. This fire remains the largest fire in park history. Fortunately, the Old Faithful Inn was not lost in this fire.

Bracing for the busiest summer yet!

Yellowstone National Park recently released their visitation statistics for May 2021.

They saw an 11% increase from May of 2019. In addition, this was the park’s most visited May on record.

Here at Yellowstone Scenic Tours, we are seeing the same thing. People seemed to book sooner and we have more tours on the books than we’ve ever had at this time of year. Businesses in Big Sky, MT and West Yellowstone, MT seem to be stretched thin.

So be kind, please! Many of us are operating with reduced staffing and more business. We are trying to help make your vacation here the best we can!

Crowded boardwalk in the Lower Geyser Basin

Bear Safety

The first grizzly bear attack of the season was on Friday May 29, 2021 in Yellowstone National Park.

While visiting the park, it is important to remember that we are visiting their home. Giving animals respect and distance is mandatory. The park provides materials and signage that inform visitors of bear and wildlife safety. Please pay attention!

Another great way to stay safe in Yellowstone is to travel with a guide. They will help you stay a respectful distance away from wildlife. Yellowstone Scenic Tours provides scopes and binoculars to use throughout the day.

Tips while in bear country:

Keep at least 100 yards away from bears at all time

Never feed bears

Carry bear spray

Hike in groups of 3 or more

Make noise! Especially when coming around a blind corner in the trail.