Yellowstone National Park

The World's First National Park

Visit Yellowstone and experience the world's first national park. Marvel at a volcano’s hidden power rising up in colorful hot springs, mudpots, and geysers. Explore mountains, forests, and lakes to watch wildlife and witness the drama of the natural world unfold. Discover the history that led to the conservation of our national treasures “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.”

Turquoise geothermal hot spring with steam rising under a cloudy sky in Montana

Flathead Lake isn't just the largest natural body of freshwater in the West, it's one of Western Montana's biggest playgrounds. Located in the glacial-carved Flathead and Mission valleys and surrounded by the Mission, Salish, Swan and Whitefish mountains, it's a 30-mile-long, nearly 15-mile-wide, 300-foot-deep recreation hot spot.

Geysers & Hot Springs

Hiker standing on a grassy overlook with sweeping valley and mountain views in Montana

Explore things to see and do in Glacier National Park. Established as a National Park in 1910 it is a land of mountain ranges carved by prehistoric ice rivers. It features alpine meadows, deep forests, waterfalls, about 25 glistening glaciers and 200 sparkling lakes. The vistas seen from Going-To-The-Sun Road are breathtaking, a photographer's paradise. Relatively few miles of road exist in the park's 1,600 square miles of picturesque landscape, thus preserving its primitive and unspoiled beauty.

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Hikes

Two bison grazing near a Montana pond in a grassy field

The allure of Montana lies in the beauty and awe of the landscape and its natural wonders, which stand alone as vacation destinations. But, the scenic roads, mountain vistas and wide open spaces happen to be enriched with thriving communities brimming with arts and culture like farmers markets, brew festivals and whitewater festivals, live music, performing arts and First Nation celebrations.

Wildlife Watching

Tourists watch a performer on a boat-launch viewing platform while a river and forested hills sit in the background

Named one of the "Top 25 Ski Towns in the World" by National Geographic, Whitefish is located on the shores of Whitefish Lake and at the base of Big Mountain-home to Whitefish Mountain Resort. A short jaunt to Glacier National Park, Whitefish is a year-round destination with plentiful attractions and a mixed array of shops, coffee houses, restaurants, accommodations. Visitors can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, boating and live professional theater, as well as stellar dining. Amtrak's Empire Builder stops daily in Whitefish, while Glacier Park International Airport is only 15 minutes away.

Ranger Programs

Historic buildings and stone arch at the Dimek Depot in Yellowstone National Park, Montana, with mountains in the background

150 Years of Yellowstone

America's first national park was set aside to preserve and protect the scenery, cultural heritage, wildlife, geologic and ecological systems and processes in their natural condition for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Yellowstone serves as the core of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of the last and largest nearly intact natural ecosystems on the planet. Yellowstone has the most active, diverse, and intact collections of combined geothermal features with over 10,000 hydrothermal sites and half the world's active geysers. The park is also rich in cultural and historical resources with 25 sites, landmarks, and districts on the National Register of Historic Places.

Entrances To The Park

Front entrance of a small storefront with an “OPEN” sign, “ENTRANCE,” “ICE CREAM” window, and colorful Montana street names above the doorway

West Yellowstone

This small, fun-filled town is a mecca for year-round outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Summer finds visitors fly fishing, river rafting, mountain biking, trail rides and hiking while those in the winter come to enjoy cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and touring snowcoaches. Wildlife watching is a year-round activity, while great shopping can be found along the boardwalks.

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Sunrise at a mountain pass with a stone archway along a rural road in Montana

Gardiner

Considered the original entrance to Yellowstone, Gardiner is home to the historic Roosevelt Arch, which was dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. Year-round access to the "American Serengeti"—Yellowstone's Northern Range—truly differentiates Gardiner from other Yellowstone gateway communities. 

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River winding through a steep canyon in Montana’s mountains with forested slopes and rocky cliffs

Top Ten Hikes In Yellowstone

In 2011, Jake Bramante became the first person to hike all 734 miles of trail in Glacier National Park in one summer. He documented his experience starting with McDonald Creek trail on his blog, Hike 734. After receiving questions about the best way to experience Glacier National Park, Bramante published a driving guide for the Going-to-the-Sun Road in 2013. In 2014, he published his Day Hikes of Glacier National Park Guide.  Since his experience with Glacier National Park, Bramante has helped visitors navigate other national parks, completing day hikes guides for Zion and Yellowstone National Parks. Bramante continues to blog about his adventures by sharing videos and photos in Glacier, Yellowstone, and wherever else his shoes hit the trail.

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Around & Near By

Downtown Bozeman with the Bridger and Gallatin mountain ranges in the background and a broad valley landscape

Livingston

Livingston is the historic train town from the late 1880's that will keep you coming back. Livingston was the “Original Gateway City to Yellowstone National Park” now it’s where adventure, beautiful scenery and authentic friendly folk await you at the edge of the Yellowstone River. The town is surrounded by four beautiful wild mountain ranges that offer an abundance of outdoor activities year round. Whether it’s fly fishing, dogsledding or cross-country skiing, horseback riding, river rafting or just taking it easy at our many museums, art galleries and restaurants we have it here in Livingston.

Sunset over a calm mountain lake in Montana, reflecting clouds and forested hills

Cooke City

Cooke City is one of the entrances to Yellowstone National Park. It is perhaps most famous for the road that connects Cooke City with Red Lodge. Called "the most scenic drive in America", the Beartooth Pass on U.S. Highway 212 has dramatic switchbacks traversing the spectacular Beartooth Range. Surrounded by national forest, wilderness and Yellowstone National Park, the area is an outdoor recreationist's dream.

Sunlit river flowing through Montana with forested banks and distant mountain peaks under clear skies

Ennis

Ennis is surrounded by three beautiful mountain ranges: the Madison Range, the Gravelly Range, and the Tobacco Root Mountains. In addition to its majestic mountain view, Ennis also offers access to some of the finest river locations in the state by way of the picturesque Madison River. Ennis is a good-time western town and is full of cowboys, anglers and outdoor recreationists. It is the center for activities on the Madison River, which is renowned for its first-rate trout fishing.

Regional
Guidebooks

Central Montana Travel Guide Glacier Country Travel Guide Indian Country Travel Guide Missouri River Country Travel Guide Southeast Montana Travel Guide Southwest Montana Travel Guide Yellowstone Country Travel Guide