West Yellowstone
A town located in Gallatin County, Montana.
If you're adventurous, outdoorsy, and looking for a slow pace, you'll find it in West Yellowstone. At the western entrance to Yellowstone National Park, West Yellowstone offers four seasons of outdoor adventure and irresistible natural beauty. Winter is the signature season, with more than 160 inches of snowfall per year, allowing for any snow sport you can imagine. Wildflowers, waterfalls, and new wildlife emerge in spring, and idyllic summers are made for fishing, camping, biking, hiking, and night sky-gazing. Fall means fewer crowds, beautiful foliage, and opportunities to see active wildlife.
Montana is quintessential cowboy country. Partake in an authentic ranch wagon dinner, complete with campfire cooking, cowboy poetry, and stories under the stars. From June through August, watch daredevil cowboys ride horses and bulls at the Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo. Outdoor experiences abound in West Yellowstone, including hunting, fishing, and boating on Hegben Lake, as well as horseback riding in the mountains.
Housed in a historic train depot, Yellowstone Historic documents the history of travel to and from the national park through a collection of vintage vehicles, from carriages to snowplows. The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center gives you the rare opportunity to safely view grizzly bears and three wolf packs (plus, wolves don't hibernate, so they can be seen year-round). Book a day of high-altitude, high-speed fun on Yellowstone's zipline and ropes courses—it's the perfect activity for thrill-seekers and families traveling with older kids. If you want a break from the outdoors, enjoy a Hollywood blockbuster or the stunning nature documentary, "Yellowstone," at the aptly named Yellowstone Giant Screen Theater, towering six stories high.