Destination 2019/20 TRAVEL PLANNER YELLOWSTONE WEST YELLOWSTONE MONTANA
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Destination 2019/20 TRAVEL PLANNER YELLOWSTONE WEST YELLOWSTONE MONTANA AREA INFORMATION | ACTIVITIES | MAPS DESTINATIONYELLOWSTONE.COM OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE WEST YELLOWSTONE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 1 West Yellowstone Montana Travel Planner 2019/20 DestinationYellowstone.com 2 West Yellowstone Montana Travel Planner 2019/20 DestinationYellowstone.com STEPHANY SEAY STEPHANY HELP SAVE THE YELLOWSTONE BISON OUR NATIONAL MAMMAL There are over 500,000 bison in North America. Nearly all of them are livestock or “beefalo” a hybrid of cattle and bison raised for food. From 11,000 to 13,000 remain in the public trust as wild. The wild herds in Yellowstone are unique: they are not landlocked, or living behind fences, or domesticated as livestock They are the direct descendants of the 30 million bison that roamed wild across North America. • Prior to the arrival of Europeans, bison inhabited and • No self-sustaining herds of wild plains bison exist on roamed vast stretches of land covering one-third of North National Forest System lands. U.S. Forest Service America’s land mass. Hornaday 1889. Region 2 Warren 2011b. • Bison currently occupy <1% of their historical range. • Bison are near threatened with few populations Sanderson et al. 2008. functioning as wild. Aune, Jørgensen & Gates 2018. • Ì iwÀÃÌ`iV>`iÃv ÕÀčiÀV>VÌ>VÌÜÌ Ì i • Traill (2010) and colleagues found that populations of Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, bison were “spectacularly endangered species are unlikely to persist in the face of abundant in lower river valleys and prairie habitats global climate change and habitat loss unless they and were all but exterminated” by 1882. number around 5,000 mature individuals or more. Schullery & Whittlesey 2006. • Just 200 years ago, plains bison Bison bison bison • Because of the severe curtailment and loss of range numbered 30–50 million in herds of up to 10000 animals historically and currently (>99%), bison are “ecologically (Redford & Fearn 2007). By the late 1800s, massive iÝÌVÌ»>`}iÀV>vÕwÌ iÀiÞÃÌiiV}V> overhunting and land use change reduced the population roles in the wild. Freese et al. 2007; Sanderson et al. 2008. to roughly 1,000 individuals, <1% of the historical population size. Giglio et al. 2016. DestinationYellowstone.comPlease help BFC protect Yellowstone bison under the Endangered West Yellowstone Species Montana Act. Travel Planner 2019/20 3 More info BuffaloFieldCampaign.org The of Yellowstone WELCOME Welcome to the West Yellowstone Montana Travel Planner. Inside, you will discover the endless possibilities of exploring the area's breathtaking scenery and enjoying our small town hospitality. Visit our website - DestinationYellowstone.com to stay up to date on events, trip planning and conveniently search for lodging, dining and activities. CONTENTS 10 | Yellowstone National Park 30 | Museum & History 50 | Fishing 12 | Spring 34 | Wildlife 52 | Day Trips 16 | Summer 36 | Photography 55 | Camping 18 | Fall 40 | Hiking & Biking 59 | Nordic Ski 22 | Winter 42 | Calendar of Events 61 | Snowmobiling 26 | Family Activities 49 | On the Water 64 | Eat and Shop LOCAL ESSENTIALS 70 | Lodging 77 | Shopping 80 | Utilities 75 | Dining 78 | Tours 81 | Travel & Transportation 76 | Activities/Attractions 79 | Services 82 | Life in West Yellowstone PHOTO CREDITS: Cover - Mimi Payne Photography; Above - Tress Chapin Publisher: Rey Advertising • 3378 S 22nd Ave, Bozeman, MT 59718 • 406-539-1010 • [email protected] • REYADVERTISING.COM © West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce 2019. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy in the information provided. The Chamber/CVB assumes no responsibility or liability for errors, changes or omissions. Address all inquiries to West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce • PO Box 458 • West Yellowstone, MT 59758 • 406-646-7701 4 West Yellowstone Montana Travel Planner 2019/20 DestinationYellowstone.com DestinationYellowstone.com West Yellowstone Montana Travel Planner 2019/20 5 MONTANA Yellowstone National Park STOCKPHOTO/FREEIMAGES.COM Destination WEATHER YELLOWSTONE Located at an elevation of 6,666 feet, mountain weather can be unpredictable. WEST YELLOWSTONE Summer average temperatures are in the 70s and 80s (F), lows in 40s & 50s (F). MONTANA Winter temperatures can be among the coldest in the Lower 48, highs in the 20s & 30s (F) during the day to below zero at night. The ground GETTING HERE is covered in snow. In fall and spring, crisp mornings are frequently followed by cool, brilliant From Salt Lake City, Utah: Take I-15 north to Idaho Falls, Idaho (119 miles) days. At exit 119, take ramp RIGHT to US-20. WHAT TO WEAR: Layering clothes will help keep From Idaho Falls, Idaho: Take US-20 north (approx. 110 miles) you comfortable all day. You should also have a water-resistant, windproof outer layer. Boots, hats From Bozeman, Montana: Hwy 191 South (approx. 90 miles) and gloves are a must for winter. From Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Grand Teton National Park: North on WY-22 (17.1 miles) over Teton Pass and into Idaho. DRIVING TIPS Stay on SR-33 heading northwest (23.9 miles). YEAR-ROUND Turn RIGHT (north) onto SR-32 (28.4 miles) towards Ashton. • Use turn-outs to let others by! Remain on SR-32/SR-47 for one mile through the town of Ashton. • No littering. Never throw cigarettes out the Then turn RIGHT (north) onto US-20 (37 miles) to West Yellowstone window. (50 miles). • Watch for wildlife on the road. WINTER - We have snow - be prepared! NOTE: The west gate into Yellowstone National Park is open to regular auto • Roads can be snow-packed and icy. travel in the summer months only, from mid-April through early November. SLOW DOWN. Winter access is by commercially guided snowcoach or snowmobile only. • Carry chains at all times from November-April. West Yellowstone Airport (WYS): Located just one mile north of West • Keep your gas tank and windshield Yellowstone. Open Mid-May-Eartly October. Served by SkyWest Airlines wiper fluid full. (Delta Connection). AVIS & Budget Car Rentals on site. SUMMER • Keep air-conditioning off to prevent Other area airports serving West Yellowstone year-round include Bozeman overheating. (90 miles N.) and Idaho Falls, ID (110 miles S.). • Carry plenty of water with you. 6 West Yellowstone Montana Travel Planner 2019/20 DestinationYellowstone.com THE BEST WAY TO SEE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK! EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PLAN YOUR YELLOWSTONE VACATION! ACCOMODATIONS Yellowstone Park Hotel Gray Wolf Inn & Suites Holiday Inn West Yellowstone Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone TOURS & RENTALS Car Rentals Summer Bus Tours Winter Snowcoach Tours Winter Snowmobile Tours & Rentals 877-290-8020 YellowstoneVacations.com DestinationYellowstone.com West Yellowstone Montana Travel Planner 2019/20 7 6 12 nationYellowstone.com 7 9 8 11 Desti 5 10 Frontier Trail 3 2 4 1 8 West Yellowstone Montana Travel Planner 2019/20 Montana Travel Yellowstone 8 West *Reference page 82 for corresponding numbers Yellowstone Glamping At Under Canvas® Yellowstone you can immerse yourself in the great outdoors of Montana and spend your nights nestled 888-496-1148 in a luxurious glamping tent. Just 10 minutes from the West [email protected] entrance of Yellowstone National Park, enjoy incredible views,a WWW.UNDERCANVAS.COM quiet, secluded location, on-site fast casual dining and a host of activities. More than a stay, it’s an adventure! EXPERIENCE THE WEST Sitting on 200 acres of pristine wilderness with the same park proximity is the rustic Bar N Ranch. Jetted spa tubs, woodburning 406.646.0300 fireplaces and outdoor hot tubs are just a few of the available [email protected] amenities. Enjoy casual western dining, swimming, kayaking and WWW.BAR-N-RANCH.COM fishing,accessible right from the ranch. DestinationYellowstone.com West Yellowstone Montana Travel Planner 2019/20 9 To Livingston S t i l l w a t e A r B GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST R GALLATIN i S v 89 e A r Beartooth NATIONAL Jardine R from mid-O H O Gardiner e O U FOREST l G L A Hellroaring l K a B l r A E Cooke l o F a u t Mountain T A a F in A f f City r U L a Silver 21 i B P l n k o Park road between the North Entrance North Entrance e g Gate e and Cooke City is open all year. r C MONTANA C MONTANA r llowst o e e n h Mammoth Hot Springs Y G e g e WYOMING WYOMING Northeast u k o R A l Visitor Center i Mount Everts C S Entrance v L Park Headquarters r e L e r Phantom e MammothA Hot Springs Terraces iver R R k T Undine Lake Road closed from early Slough Creek GALLATIN I Falls A N November to late April Pebble Creek R Tower- N BLACKTAIL DEER R Bunsen NATIONAL E E Roosevelt Peak PLATEAU G N L Wraith Yellowstone D O r E FOREST Falls R e H Petrified Tree Association n L A R L a k d A m Institute e G r A a Tower Fall M re G S A a The N r C P R Sheepeater Cliff E Thunderer k G C Tower te e Indian Creek I t e M V E u r A B Fall E L C k N L a L e E Y d a e o SH r S e C v r R h a e R c w I o D iv a T e C G Cr r ee r E N Mount Holmes k e Obsidian Cliff v WYOMING MONTANA To i Quake R Mount Lake Grizzly 191 Washburn Lake M I R 287 Observation R Roaring Mountain Peak Dunraven O e R Twin n M Pass o ille Lakes Museum t r Canyon Village s P L Creek w L a 191 m Information Station, Norris Visitor Education llo A 287 e T Museum and Geyser Basin Center Y E a A r M Bookstore U A Inspiration Point Saddle D IS R O Steamboat i Mountain N Artist Point v Geyser Lower Falls e To V Road closed from Norris r A Ashton LL early November Monument Artists Virginia Upper Falls EY to late April PaintpotCascade Geyser Basin