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For Lodging & Activity Reservations, Call Toll-Free
1-866-646-0388 |
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Cliff
Lake Resort
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Beautiful lake resort located just 30 minutes
from West Yellowstone! |
Fly
Fishing
Henry's Fork, the Madison, and licenses!
Winter
Snowmobiling, Snowcoach Tours, Nordic Skiing, and Alpine Skiing!
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Summertime in West Yellowstone, of course, revolves mainly around the
Park. However, don’t miss out on the abundant activities and
attractions in the rest of the northwest corner of Yellowstone Country.
Just a few miles west of town, for instance you'll find some of the best
trout fishing lakes. Farther afield, the rough-and-tumble towns of
Virginia and Nevada Cities preserve the aura of nineteenth century
frontier mining towns. Within the city limits, you'll find attractions
that shouldn't be passed by. Don’t rush off before you experience all
the West Yellowstone area has to offer.
Around town, the Museum of the Yellowstone, located in the old
Union Pacific Depot, features exhibits on the bears of Yellowstone,
western history, Indian artifacts, and regional wildlife; as well as
spectacular videos of the explosive power of the Yellowstone fires. The
Grizzly Discovery center offers visitors a unique opportunity to
observe the grizzly bear and gray wolf living in a natural setting. The
Imax theater takes you into the pictures on its giant screen
featuring movie experiences including "Yellowstone" and
"Everest". After wandering through the local shops, be sure to
catch the live family entertainment at the widely acclaimed Playmill
Theater. Past Shows have included "The Unsinkable Molly
Brown" and "Joseph and the Technicolor Raincoat" to name
but a few. The Bear’s Den Cinema offers current run movies for those who
want to relax and catch a flick.
For a different glimpse into the past, travel past Ennis to the old
mining towns of Virginia and Nevada Cities. Virginia City was a
Montana territorial capitol and features specialty shops, restaurants
and a museum. Neighboring Nevada City is a recreation of the mining camp
that once boomed in that location. To the north, a drive past Big Sky
through the winding Gallatin onwards to Bozeman follows the Gallatin
River until it opens into a beautiful valley rimmed with spectacular
mountains. Bozeman is the home of Montana State University, the Museum
of the Rockies, and the American Computer Museum.
The Museum of the Rockies features the area’s only planetarium
and several important dinosaur finds, including an 80 million-year-old
nest of dinosaur eggs and a cast of a baby dinosaur emerging from an
egg. "Techies" and lay people alike will be fascinated by the
story of that now ever-present feature.
Drive towards Rexberg on U.S. 20 and you'll find signs to lead you to Yellowstone
Bear World. This drive through the animal park is seeking to
recreate the era of Yellowstone National Park when grizzly and black
bears were commonly found along the park's roads. As you drive through
this park you will also see elk, deer, reindeer, and other animals
native to the Rocky Mountain range.
Due west of "West", the Red Rock Wildlife Refuge in the
spectacular Centennial valley provides incredible opportunities for bird
watchers. Created to protect the rare trumpeter swan, the refuge is home
to at least 18 types of waterfowl. This secluded valley can be reached
only by a dirt road. Pack a picnic lunch, grab your binoculars and enjoy
this fascinating day trip.
Rent a bicycle and explore the woods and trails of West. Popular bicycle
rides include the Old Union Pacific rail bed, the Rendezvous trail
system, and riding along the wide shoulder along the road that travels
up the Madison River. Endless options for hiking also exist. The
boardwalk along the edge of the Madison River a mile inside the park
entrance is a perfect place to enjoy a peaceful evening and watch the
sun go down.
Harriman State Park, just south of Island Park maintains an extensive
trail system for hikers, mountain bikers and horsemen. The spectacular
view of the Tetons from the main ranch buildings makes it a terrific
setting for a picnic. In this open spot, the edges of the huge volcanic
caldera, across which the river flows, can be seen.
A few miles below Harriman State Park, the Henry's Fork starts to cut
its way through the edge of the volcanic caldera. At Upper Mesa Falls
the river plunges 114 feet straight down and a short distance later
drops another 65 feet over Lower Mesa Falls.
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