NATIONAL PARK 2018
Your guide to the nation’s first national park and the communities surrounding it
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Yellowstone Park Guide
Jim Peaco, YNP
The alpha female of the Canyon pack had been with her mate, 712, in what’s believed to be the longest recorded pair bond between wolves. This wolf was shot and killed in Yellowstone National Park.
Tracking Yellowstone’s
wolves
Online genealogy site launches By BRETT FRENCH french@billingsgazette.com
Her parents may have been killed by her mate and his family. Her daughter was shot. Now she’s dead and her killing is under investigation. Although the details may sound like the story line for a soap opera, Yellowstone Park Guide
a Shakespearean play or even the historical dirty deeds of Europe’s competing monarchies, it’s actually the tale of one of Yellowstone National Park’s well-known wolves — the white alpha female of the Canyon pack. Now, details of the park’s individual wolves and their inter-relatedness can be found in one place: online at Ancestry.com, a website formerly reserved for rooting out human family trees. “People love their wolves,” said Jim Halfpenny, the founder of the Yellowstone Wolf Genealogy Family Tree.
Wolf lovers
That’s a sentiment Yellowstone officials have recognized, as well. “I am amazed at the interest level in Yellowstone wolves,” said biologist Doug Smith, who leads the Yellowstone Wolf Project. “It’s insatiable.” He noted that questionnaires distributed by the park in the early 2000s revealed that about 300,000 come to Yellowstone hoping to see wolves. Park interpreters annually talk to anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 people a year about wolves.
It’s easy to see why there’s such an interest, Smith said. “If you come to Yellowstone and put in a few days, you can see a wolf — and that’s pretty remarkable.” The reason that wolves are such a draw is no surprise to Halfpenny. “People love dogs, and wolves are the dog’s father,” he said. “For many people — like the dog lovers — that love extends to wolves.” It’s estimated that about 43 million American households have a dog. So there are a lot of people Please see WOLVES, Page 4
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Wolves From 3
with a pooch sleeping at the foot of their bed, Halfpenny noted.
Chart upgrade The popularity of his genealogy charts became apparent to Halfpenny, a Gardiner-based biologist, after he started recording the lineage of Yellowstone’s wolves when they were first reintroduced to the park in 1995 and 1996. “Through the years I’ve produced these laminated charts, selling about 4,000 a year,” he said. Now folks can order them online. He updates the data yearly, using information gathered from multiple sources, including the Yellowstone Wolf Project. That’s no small task considering there can be more than 100 wolves scattered across the park’s 2.2 million acres each year. At their population peak there were more than 170 wolves inside Yellowstone. “We started out trying to do it by volunteers, and it was too overwhelming,” Halfpenny said. So using a Kickstarter project to fund development — 273 people contributed more than $26,000 — Halfpenny was able to “put online the lives, pedigrees and genealogy of the Yellowstone wolves for access of all fans,” according to the website. The digital information is “enormous in scope and the first of its kind in the world.” Those interested can go to wolfgenes.info to learn more about the project and to request a free invitation to Ancestry.com. The information is also now available on a cellphone app allowing wolf devotees to carry the data with them into the field.
DNA caveat Smith said he hadn’t been able to check out the website yet but noted that building family trees and genealogy for wolves that
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Largest wolf recorded in Yellowstone This is an excerpt from the Yellowstone Wolf Genealogy Project about one of the park’s unique wolves, a male known as 760M. “In 2011, the park biologists were in the process of collaring operations when they spotted what appeared to be an uncollared gray male beneath the helicopter. “They darted it thinking it might be one of the male pups, but upon landing discovered it was indeed the alpha male 760Mg, who had just been radio collared the year before. His radio collar was barely visible because he had gained so much weight in one year that his collar had become too tight. “This was one of the first times this has happened in the history of radio collaring wolves in YNP. 760Mg had gained over 30 pounds in one year, a feat never achieved before in a wolf of his age. “The park biologists fitted him with a new collar, and placed it loosely on his neck to allow for even more growth, if needed. “760Mg went on to sire some of the largest wolves in YNP to date. One of his sons 780Mg weighed 110 pounds at only nine months of age.”
have never been captured and had their DNA tested — such as the white alpha female from the Canyon pack — means some of the data isn’t scientifically valid. Each year about 40 percent of Yellowstone’s wolves are captured and have DNA samples taken. “For scientific purposes, this probably is not the place to go,” Smith said. “For avid wolf watchers this is great. And he’s probably right most of the time.” But the park has to be more conservative in its approach to linking individuals, he added. Halfpenny admitted that observations by even hardcore wolf watchers are sometimes incorrect. For example, a wolf spotted in 2007 was believed to be a fe-
Yellowstone senior wildlife biologist Doug Smith has been studying Yellowstone’s wolves since they were reintroduced in 1995 and 1996.
male. When found dead it turned out the wolf was a male.
Individuals Although the stories of known wolves are presented on the website, Halfpenny said it is the “interconnections that are just amazing” to him. Take the earlier mentioned alpha female of the Canyon pack as an example. She was found seriously injured inside the park near Gardiner in April 2017. Park officials euthanized the white wolf because her injuries were so severe. A necropsy later revealedshe had been shot, the first wolf known to be gunned down inside Yellowstone. Two $5,000 rewards, one from the National Park Service and another from a private group, have been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the wolf’s killer. “It doesn’t surprise me that a wolf was shot,” Halfpenny said. “The surprise is that it was her,” a friendly wolf that seemed unafraid of humans making her popular with photographers and tourists excited to see a wolf in the wild.
Courtesy photo
A wolf’s life
Even before her tragic death, the 12-year-old wolf had led a life worthy of an epic poem. Two years after being born into the Hayden pack, her parents were killed by the rival Mollie’s pack. This is known as intraspecific mortality, when wolves kill wolves, and accounts for about 42 percent of all wolf deaths in Yellowstone — more than any other single factor. The white female is believed to have later bred with an unknown black wolf from Mollie’s pack — the same wolves that had killed her parents. This coupling produced a black pup — 638M. The pup became a star in Bob Landis’ 2010 film, “The Rise of Black Wolf,” but died when it was only a year old. Landis’ film chronicled the story of a different black wolf, 302M. For some reason the white alpha female’s first pairing didn’t last, and she found a new mate, who also was a member of the Mollie’s pack — 712M. Together with another Mollie’s male in 2008, they formed the Please see WOLVES, Page 5
Yellowstone Park Guide
Wolves From 4
Canyon pack in the center of the park.
Pack’s first pups It took two years for the Canyon pack to successfully raise a litter of three pups past a year old. One would later become the white alpha female of the Wapiti Lake pack who would eventually displace her own parents from their Canyon pack homeland. In 2011 the Canyon pack produced two more pups, one of which was a female that seemed especially enamored with her father, earning her the nickname Daddy’s Girl. At age 2 this female wolf was shot by a rancher north of Gardiner. “In 2016 this amazing alpha pair produced two more pups in their new denning area at the advanced ages of 11 and 10 (the Canyon Alpha Female was the older of the two),” according to the Yellowstone Wolf Genealogy site. “2016 also represented another milestone: the Canyon Alpha Female and 712M had been together as an alpha pair for eight years, making them the longest mated pair on record for Yellowstone wolves.” The female is believed to have given birth to at least 13 pups over the course of her life. There’s rarely a happy ending in a wolf’s short life, though. Rejected by her own pack this past winter, the alpha female was seen roaming the Gardiner area alone, sometimes feeding on roadkill. Her mate, “712M was last seen in January 2017 just east of Mammoth Hot Springs. He would be 11 years old in April 2017,” the website noted. The oldest known wolf in Yellowstone, 478F, lived to age 12.5. That’s pretty amazing considering that the average lifespan for park wolves is two to three years.
Yellowstone Park Guide
ROB CHANEY, For the Gazette
Veteran wolf biologist Rick McIntyre adjusts his spotting scope as the Lamar Canyon Pack rests near Yellowstone National Park’s Soda Butte.
Large database
“I’m fascinated with it, following the family lines,” Halfpenny said. The intrigues include female wolves mating with their fathers, grandfathers and even brothers. “There are all sorts of complexities to this,” he said. For each wolf recorded on the website there is a life story to be read, as well as facts and a photo gallery if shots are available. Adapting such complex family relations to a website was a challenge since the Ancestry.com formula was set up for humans who give birth to about one offspring a year, not 4.4 a year, which is the average litter size for Yellowstone wolves. “So we had to work around problems like that,” Halfpenny said. He compared the information to tracking the Smith family tree for all of North America.
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BRETT FRENCH, Gazette Staff
The Boiling River hot springs is in Yellowstone National Park, about 3 miles from Gardiner and the park’s North Entrance.
Soak in the
BOILING RIVER
By BRETT FRENCH french@billingsgazette.com
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Gardiner
Yellowstone National Park
North Entrance
er er rdn Ri v Ga
In my teenage years, one of the many fun parts about traveling to Yellowstone National Park’s Boiling River for a winter soak was seeing the strange shapes my friends’ hair would freeze into during the walk back to the car. Although called the Boiling River, the popular “hot-potting” site is actually where a hot stream of water surfaces below Mammoth Hot Springs and spills into the Gardner River. (For some reason the town is spelled Gardiner, but the river is Gardner.) Decades ago, someone stacked river rocks in the stream to contain the hot water and block out much of the cold water of the river to create a semi temperate zone. I say semi because if you are soaking in the pools
Boiling River
Boiling River
Mammoth Hot Springs maps4news.com/©HERE, Lee Enterprises graphic
they don’t stay a constant sleep-inducing warmth like a hot spring pool. Instead, alternating freezing cold and burning hot currents pass by. So if you want a jacuzzi-like experience, forget the Boiling River. Those willing to brave the al-
ternating currents will be treated to an experience unlike many others — views of the mountains rising dramatically across the stream, along with the occasional visit by a bison or elk to add that extra wild feeling. Check it out after a hike, wildlife watching or day of skiing in the park. Because the hot pot is in Yellowstone, you may meet national and international travelers taking the waters next to you. A couple of suggestions: You may want to take a pair of river shoes or sandals to ease your wading on the river cobble and a garbage bag to store your clothes and towel in while you bathe to keep the steam from wetting them. As always, please obey all of the rules posted at the trailhead to ensure this unique feature remains open to the public.
How to get there Location: The Boiling River is located in Yellowstone National Park, just inside the North Entrance and about an hour’s drive south of Livingston. Distance: About 3 miles south of Gardiner on Highway 89, the road to Mammoth Hot Springs, which is open even in the winter all the way to Cooke City. Difficulty: Easy to moderate half-mile hike from the parking area at the 45th parallel marker, halfway between the Equator and the North Pole. Hours: During the winter the hot springs is open from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The cost to enter Yellowstone is currently $25 per vehicle. The river is closed during spring runoff.
Yellowstone Park Guide
Yellowstone finds new purpose for
‘ZOMBIE’ FISH By AMY JOYNER For The Billings Gazette The Billings Gazette, Montana’s largest daily newspaper, reported in October 2017 that a Yellowstone National Park fish conservation team had successfully killed roughly 360,000 non-native lake trout living in Yellowstone Lake. Though the number seems shocking, what became of those dead fish is even more flabbergasting. After those quarter million lake trout met their death, many of them went on to serve a second purpose as agents sent to kill even more of their own ecologically harmful species before they could be born from the eggs deposited on the lake floor during the September and October spawning season. “This season, we’re going to continue our really aggressive effort to suppress the numbers of lake trout. …We are winning the war, but it takes time,” Dr. Todd Koel recently said. As leader of the park’s Native Fish Conservation Program since AP PHOTO/National Park Service 2001, Koel added, “Our effort is Scientists say the voracious species of trout that entered Yellowstone Lake and decimated its native trout population working. …We’re winning not only appears to be in decline following efforts to kill off the invading fish. in the lake, but also in the streams.”
Ecological execution As happened throughout summer 2017, crews of Park Service employees and subcontractors will again set 35 to 40 miles of gillnets in Lake Yellowstone. With quickest access from the park’s east entrance, the lake has an average depth of 138 feet and a 131-squaremile surface area. It sits southeast Yellowstone Park Guide
of the park’s center point. Here, crews will bring the gillnetted lake trout to the surface to assist with embryo suppression efforts during the lake trout spawning. A single female lake trout can lay about 5,000 eggs, and native cutthroat are the primary food source for each lake trout. The skilled embryo suppression team places carcasses in
boat-mounted grinders, which drop the product to depths of up to 50 feet in the 26-mile-long, remote lake. Once atop the spawning sights, the biomass becomes a chemical-free method of killing the eggs. “We are working hard to suppress lake trout on their spawning sites. We take dead lake trout carcasses and place them on top
of the eggs. They are not a toxic substance or a foreign species. We are just putting dead fish in a place where they can do damage. I call them, ‘Zombie Lake Trout,’” Koel said. Crews have previously pinpointed spawning locations by catching mature lake trout, fitting Please see ‘Zombie’, Page 8
Summer 2018 | 7
‘Zombie’ From 7
them with transmitters and placing them back in the high-altitude lake. When those so-called Judas fish arrived at the spawning site, the crews know better where to net and drop their Zombies. “(Lake trout) are such big, predatory fish. They are great when they are where they are supposed to be – in the Great Lakes,” Koel said.
Caring conservationist Every day, Koel charges forward with efforts to reinforce cutthroat numbers so YNP anglers and visitors will be able to encounter more native cutthroat swimming near the water’s surface in many areas, he added. “Seeing a cutthroat is an excitement for me. The best part comes in the spring when they are migrating from the lake into shallow waters. Their colors are bright and brilliant. It’s fun to see them coming back now, when for a few years we were not seeing that. “Yes, cutthroat are a namesake, an icon, for the park. Yellowstone Park lies right in the middle (of the cutthroat’s native area). It ranges south from the park into Idaho, through Wyoming and into the southern edge of Montana. We are right in the heart of their distribution and are where the majority of native cutthroat trout live,” said the Minnesota native who grew up near an abundance of lakes and streams. “It is fulfilling to see the (cutthroat) rebound in the way you hope. …It’s not that they ever were totally gone,” he said, adding that not enough remained. Since coming to Yellowstone in 2001, Koel said fishing has been a way of life for him and his four sons, the youngest of whom is finishing high school and living at home. “We always try to fish from opening day,” said the fisherman, and fish specialist who holds affiliate and graduate faculty status at Montana State University and University of Wyoming. He received his Ph.D. in Zoology from North Dakota State University in
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1997, taught at colleges in Minnesota and North Dakota, and served as a fish ecologist and interim field station director for the Illinois Natural History Survey at Havana. He later worked for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on a resource monitoring program for the Upper Mississippi River System. He brings that professional experience to Yellowstone, where he sees his program’s success not only on the job, but also while angling with his family. “Yes, (my family has) caught lake trout and opened it up for cooking; it’s a good eating fish. Yet, we have found 12 cutthroat in (lake trout) belly. So, for every lake trout we get, we are potentially saving hundreds or thousands of cutthroats,” he said. His mathematical summary explains that when a single lake trout survives a minimum of 30 years, and annually consumes a thousand cutthroat, “We need to keep more of them out of our system.” He also notes that those lake trout were likely brought to Yellowstone a century ago from their native Great Lakes habitat, thus endangering Yellowstone’s keystone species. The pesky lake trout were introduced in the lake in the late 1880s or early 1890s. DNA studies show the lake trout in Yellowstone Lake originated in Lake Michigan.
Indigenous imbalance He expands on the considerable disproportion saying that ridding park waters of non-native species like lake trout is also essential to the survival of native mammals and birds that depend on consuming fish, because of their high protein level. As a leading park official, Koel knows full-well that conservation at the lake extends far beyond protecting fish. “It’s about animals and the bird community. …All these animals have been displaced. When cutthroat numbers are low, so are osprey numbers,” he said. “Lake trout are a deep-dwelling fish, and don’t spawn in streams. … They are just fat and happy in the lake. “When I first showed up here in Please see ‘Zombie’, Page 9
Public preparation safeguards species protection Even though park crews have an ever-increasing arsenal of scientifically-sound methods to save native fish species, the leader of Yellowstone’s Native Fish Conservation Program since 2001 still needs help from the public. Whether anglers come for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, or they are weekly park recreationists, Dr. Todd Koel said everyone can take part in protecting what keeps the park so inviting. “The more (lake trout) they take out, the better,” said Koel, who knows that each non-native lake trout easily consumes up to 41 native cutthroat trout. Within that park’s Native Trout Conservation area, fishing regulations are structured so that recreational anglers ultimately assist with efforts to selectively remove non-native species from the area without damaging the native fishery. Specifics are at https://www. nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/fishaquaticspecies.html. On the web, and in numerous park publications, YNP has detailed guides for proper catch-and-release practices, photos for fish identification and costs to purchase park fishing permits. There are also fishing maps indicating known locations of fish species within park boundaries. Most importantly, Koel said, in Yellowstone, anglers are required to return all native fish back to the water immediately. Those 11 native fish include: Arctic grayling; cutthroat trout (Yellowstone and westslope); mountain whitefish; longnose dace; speckled dace; redside shiner; Utah chub; longnose sucker; mountain sucker; Utah sucker; and, mottled sculpin. Harvest of all non-native trout is allowed, and in some cases required. It is the responsibility of each angler to be able to identify fish by species. Unintentionally killed fish should be returned to the water so they can be consumed by wildlife; all lake trout caught from Yellowstone Lake must be killed (it is illegal to release them alive); and, all native fish must be released unharmed. Also, the park provides information on the types of tackle, lure and hooks allowed for use in the park, and the best methods for removing hooks before releasing a fish back to the water. For each fish caught and kept, skin must remain attached so the fish species can be visibly identified. Gills and entrails may be removed in the field, and must be discarded only within the waters where the fish were caught.
Halt aquatic hitchhikers
Visitors, especially anglers with watercraft, must study and follow regulations for keeping Invasive Aquatic Species from waters within the park and in adjacent states. Abundant information nearby, and throughout the park, tells all visitors about vessel inspections and permits required in YNP. All vessels—including float tubes— require a boat permit. Information is at park entrances and online. All vessels also require a life vest for each passenger, and an emergency sound device such as a whistle or air horn. All vessels must be checked by National Park Service inspectors to ensure that they are free of aquatic invasive species, including fish, snails, mussels, algae and disease. These are primarily spread between waterways by humans who don’t fully inspect, clean and dry their boats, fishing gear or other recreational equipment.
Yellowstone Park Guide
‘Zombie’ From 8
2001, there were 16 osprey nesting pairs (along Yellowstone Lake). And, osprey only eat fish.” Because neither birds nor mammals typically fish at the lower lake and stream levels where lake trout live, the cutthroat are easy prey swimming at higher water levels. Thus, dinner is cancelled for many nearby bird species. Koel readily sees the positive effect of lesser numbers of lake trout in the greater amount of native birds he now sees near the shores of Yellowstone Lake. He notes that there are now 15 to 16 bald eagle nests on the shores of the lake. Koel knows that the positive results of ridding YNP of lake trout will extend far beyond the recovery of native cutthroat.
Cause chronicled Beyond a single non-native fish species, the park’s current ecological affects originated with, and grew through, uneducated human error. Armed today with sound science, park officials know better how to enact positive protective measures. Being the nation’s first national park, founded in 1872, Yellowstone has always been known for its scenic beauty and abundant wildlife. An eventual complete removal of those unwanted lake trout, and others, will help ensure a robust rebound of native species like the celebrated cutthroat trout, which is but one of 11 recognized species of fish scientifically proven as native to the park’s waters. Sadly, Koel’s predecessors who made unwise decisions about the park’s wild distinction in the past century didn’t have the luxuries of modern science. As described in park literature seen online (www. nps.gov) and in printed publications, “Fish-eating wildlife, such as bears, ospreys, otters, and Yellowstone Park Guide
AP PHOTO/National Park Service
In this photo taken in 2013 and released by the National Park Service, Philip Doepke, a fisheries biologist at Yellowstone National Park, holds a netted lake trout caught from Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming.
pelicans, were regarded as a nuisance, and many were destroyed as a result. To supplement fishing and counteract “destructive” consumption by wildlife, a fish “planting” program was established.” The first decades of park superintendents disliked having “fishless” waters within the park and had other fish species brought in from other states in 1889 and stocked so that all vacationers could enjoy abundant angling opportunities. The articles tell that the park estimated that more than 310 million native and nonnative fish were planted in Yellowstone between 1881 and 1955. “In addition, from
1889 to 1956, 818 million eggs were stripped from the cutthroat trout of Yellowstone Lake and shipped by rail to locations throughout the United States. By 1916, the park took over from the U.S. Army all aspects of fisheries management. The park states, “Fish stocking, data gathering, and other monitoring activities initiated by the US Fish Commission in 1889 were continued by the US Fish and Wildlife Service until 1996, when they became the responsibility of the NPS. The stocking of nonnative fishes by park managers has had profound ecological consequences.” Specifically, the report tells of
the displacement of intolerant natives such as westslope cutthroat trout and Arctic grayling, as well as hybridization of Yellowstone and westslope cutthroat trout which have bred with each other, and with nonnative rainbow trout. This was when officials noted the lake trout were becoming more prevalent than Yellowstone cutthroat. Thus, today’s leading scientists like Dr. Koel use conventional and unusual conservation efforts like using Zombie fish. With an arsenal of protective policies, Koel continues the park’s ecological efforts to maintain natural associations between native species. Summer 2018 | 9
BRETT FRENCH PHOTOS, Gazette Staff
Although the sign is red and the warning simple on the lawn at Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, these sleepy elk appear as though they pose no danger to anyone. That’s a warning tourists choose to ignore at their own risk.
A salute
to elk
Creatures continue to capture our imagination By BRETT FRENCH french@billingsgazette.com
Trek into the forest, though, and a 700-pound bull can vanish into a strip of trees so thin that you would swear the elk had simply evaporated. How can such a big beast, standing about 5 feet tall at the shoulder and with antlers that can stretch another 3 feet or more overhead, disappear and do it so quietly?
Elk can be the most visible, and alternately invisible, big game animal in the Northwest. Drive into Yellowstone National Park’s Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, and you will see them living in close quarters with the crush of tourists, many of whom pose for photos with the animals or Historic wonders confusedly try to navigate vehicles around the big ungulates as they It’s not surprising that modlumber across the road, backing up ern humans should find elk so intraffic. teresting to observe, photograph
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A bull elk halts traffic inside Yellowstone National Park as it crosses the road between Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower Junction. To view more elk photos, check out this story online at MontanaUntamed.com.
and — hopefully at a safe distance — interact with. Ancient pictographs and petroglyphs scratched or painted into the side of cliffs demonstrate that the animals have long fired our species’ imagination. It’s easy to see why, since elk have several unusual traits. For example, the annual fall rut, when bulls bugle to demonstrate dominance and to signal their
presence to cow elk for breeding. It always seems strange that a husky animal can produce such a high, piercing whistle. The bulls lose their large antlers every year and regrow them, a sign of vigor that has prompted some people to value ground elk antlers as a health enhancement, a natural Viagra. Those shed antlers were the raw material for a variety of tools, such as the spur on atlatls, the spear-throwing devices that predate the bow and arrow. Please see Elk, Page 11
Yellowstone Park Guide
Elk dot the lawn outside the Mammoth Hotel as the travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs rise in the distance, a unique view in Yellowstone. BRETT FRENCH, Gazette Staff
Elk From 10
In more modern American Indian tribes, the elk’s two ivory teeth were used as decorations on women’s dresses. The more teeth a dress had, the better provider/ hunter the woman had. Elk teeth were their bling.
Wild dance Cervus elaphus, the scientific name for elk, are the most abundant large mammal found in Yellowstone National Park, with their population at one time topping 25,000 animals in the summer as herds migrated in from the surrounding states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho to eat fresh green growth. The re-introduction of wolves to the park, beginning in 1995, resulted in a steady decline in elk numbers as the species became the main food source for the large canines. The decline of elk populations and the growth of wolf numbers have now hit what seems to be an equilibrium, with both species at lower numbers. Wolves aren’t the only predators elk face. Cougars, grizzlies, black bears, coyotes and even golden eagles will dine on young elk calves. Biologists estimate up to twothirds of each year’s elk calf crop may be lost to predators. Elk also face threats from disYellowstone Park Guide
ease. Brucellosis now infects elk and fears of chronic wasting disease loom large as it closes in on Yellowstone from Wyoming. Shorter winters and elk attraction to irrigated agricultural land has also led some elk to halt annual migrations, instead living yearround closer to humans.
Fall When fall settles in to the mountainous West and hunters fan out in search of elk to fill freezers, provide sport and maybe even a trophy set of antlers for the wall, it’s a good time to give thanks to the large mammals, and to the agency folks that help manage their populations, the hunters who buy licenses to fund state agencies’ management, as well as the private landowners who put up with what can sometimes be an elk infestation. Let’s also thank our ancestors for having the foresight to establish places like Yellowstone that serve as islands of safety for a variety of wildlife. Elk are a magical animal that still haunt the dreams of many hunters and wildlife lovers. They remain a tie to our ancient ancestors, a wonder to behold and to anyone who has pursued them, a crafty creature capable of amazing feats of athleticism. And, as these photos hopefully show, an interesting animal to observe and photograph. Hail to the elk. Summer 2018 | 11
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Yellowstone? There’s an app for that
By AMY JOYNER For The Billings Gazette To offer visitors handheld convenience in planning a visit and navigation through America’s first national park, Yellowstone National Park has made positive tweaks to its two online apps that debuted last spring. Though they are still compiling the first-year use totals, by last September app administrators had already recorded 200,000 downloads of the apps from the App Store and Google Play. For 2018, the latest versions of the Yellowstone apps are again available for both iOS and Android devices, said Dave Krueger, a park media specialist. The new home screen has been updated to provide easier access to park information, map filters that allows a user to highlight the services in which they are interested, more complete site services and accessibility information. New sites are continually being added, as well, Krueger said. For example, the recent addition of all the park’s picnic areas is complete. As the summer season comes nearer, the park will continue operating a dedicated web page that describes both apps (https://www. nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/app. htm). This page is also featured on the park’s homepage. The park has also provided flyers to local guides, concessioners and park partners to share with their clients. Because the apps are all about using technology, the park is also using social media posts through spring and summer to remind people about the apps. Downloading the apps takes time and a measurable amount of
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Summer 2018
A free app allows Yellowstone visitors to find out when Old Faithful and five other predictable geysers will erupt.
Yellowstone National Park
available bandwidth, which means acquiring this free-to-download technology for mobile devices like smart phones or tablets is best completed before coming to the park, where internet service is known to be extremely limited. The first app includes a map, lists of things to see, services and events. The second app provides eruption predictions for popular geysers, including Old Faithful, along with facts, photos and videos of the geysers. Completing a download early means all of the apps’ content will be available for use in the park, and you can still take advantage of GPS location on the map. Other useful features include the ability to interact with the official National Park Service map of Yellowstone National Park, which features large font sizes, illustrated trails and services, scenic highlights and multiple zoom levels. By
tapping the “Locate me” icon, you will always know where you are. Park accessibility features, event and tour times are also easily found on the apps. The most up-to-date information includes links to geyser predictions and road construction. The Explore section of the app allows users to scroll through visual lists of natural features, historic locations and visitor services. There’s also useful information about visitor centers, places to stay and eat, and shopping and services throughout the park. Krueger was able to share thoughts of those who used the apps last year, and said, “Review comments on the App Store were overall quite positive, especially for those who downloaded the content before coming to the park. “An August review said, ‘This app was great! A friend told me that cell coverage is very limited in
the park and was skeptical that an app for the park would even work. But I got it anyways and am glad I did! When I first opened it a message encourages you to download content- so you can access it even without cell coverage.’” That review gave YNP further kudos for the range of information found in the app, such as geothermal features, animals, geology and history. “Practical info like parking and restroom locations was super handy; … The map was indispensable! Even with my phone on airplane mode I could see where we were.” The reviewer also said that when they found one parking lot full, they used the app’s map and found a short hiking trail to their intended destination and were eventually able to park and hike into a popular feature. Yellowstone Park Guide
Tour, trek or
PITCH A TENT Campers may need to seek shelter in their tents to avoid frequent thunderstorms in summer while visiting Yellowstone National Park.
BRETT FRENCH, Gazette Staff
Explore the ways to enjoy Yellowstone By CHARITY DEWING cdewing@billingsgazette.com Many tourists come to Yellowstone National Park to hike the breathtaking terrain, camp under the stars, and tour the iconic landscape. The park has something to offer travelers of all ages yearround. Park your camper, pitch a tent or lodge in a rustic cabin and discover new ways to enjoy America’s first national park. Yellowstone Park Guide
Take a hike The park has more than 1,000 miles of trails and is predominantly maintained as wilderness. Exploring the landscape requires some knowledge of backcountry safety. Hikers should expect snow-covered trails, extreme weather changes, deep rivers and wildlife encounters. Depending on the adventure you’re looking for, there are plenty of trails that offer just the right experience. “Choose trails that are appropriate for your fitness level and hiking experience,” said Carolyn
Harwood, supporter engagement manager at Yellowstone National Park. “Plan ahead to make it a safe and enjoyable trip.” Hikers are encouraged to stop at a ranger station or visitor center for information on trail conditions and area closures. “Hikers should carry extra food, water, warm clothing layers (even in summer months), rain gear, insect repellent, sunscreen and emergency gear such as a first aid kit,” said Harwood. Hikers should also verify permit requirements; day hiking in Yellowstone does not require a permit.
Traveling off trail is a risk to hikers and vegetation; orange metal tags on trees keep guests within designated areas. Some trails have signs alerting visitors of possible bear activity. “Be bear aware. Hike in groups; be alert; make noise, clap, sing, and talk; carry bear spray and know how to use it,” said Harwood. Visitors should stay 100 yards away from bears and 50 feet from all other animals. The park also advises not to hike at dawn, dusk or night. Please see Enjoy, Page 16
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Trailheads to try Uncle Tom’s Trail is relatively short but challenging. The manmade staircase that runs along the canyon wall is not for the faint-ofheart, but guarantees breathtaking views. The intense 328 steps begin at the top of the Grand Canyon and go down the base of the 308-foothigh Lower Falls. Just remember, it is easier going down than coming back up. But, there are plenty of resting benches and it’s worth the extra exercise. Observation Point Trail is a short, easy hike that provides a beautiful birds-eye view of the numerous fumaroles and the famed Old Faithful geyser. Start your hike early and you will likely have the overlook all to yourself. Fairy Falls Trail is another easy and popular trek that is just north of Old Faithful. Begin at Fairy Falls Trailhead and experience the multicolored beauty of Grand Prismatic Spring. Because the hike goes through open and relatively new growth, there is little shade. Wear a hat, sunscreen and bring a lot of water. For more information, see nps. gov/yell/planyourvisit or call (307) 344-7381.
Stay the night The National Park Service manages seven campgrounds. Most of these campgrounds are remote and underdeveloped. Some have flush toilets and shower access, others only have vault toilets and creeks. Campsites are $15-20 a night, firstcome-first-served, and go fast. Xanterra manages five large campgrounds in the center of the park with hundreds of sites and most offer flush toilets and showers. Cost is $25-$38 a night. Reserve spots in advance through yellowstonenationalparklodges.com or by calling (307) 344-7311 (future reservations) and (307) 344-7901 (same-day reservations).
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Visitors hike on the trail to Fairy Falls in Yellowstone National Park.
Gazette Staff
ground in the park. Also, there are ranger talks every night in summer. It has flush toilets but no showers.
Xanterra campsites Madison Campground is a great choice for kids. It offers easy access to Old Faithful and walking trails to the Madison River. Kids can sign up for the Junior Ranger program at the neighboring Madison Information Station and attend nightly ranger talks held at the amphitheater. The whole family will enjoy The Roosevelt Lodge in Yellowstone National Park the nearby meadows full of bison has a great porch for an evening refreshment. CASEY PAGE, Gazette Staff and elk. Also, there are vending machines, which can really help For full details on cost and ame- you through the nearby Norris families in a pinch. Flush toilets, no nities, go to nps.gov/yell/plan- Geyser Basin on a one-mile walk- showers. yourvisit. ing trail. In addition, the Museum of the National Park Ranger is only Backcountry camping a short walk away. Flush toilets, no NPS campsites For the adventurous campshowers. Evening campfire programs Mammoth Hot Springs Camp- er who wants to rough it but also June through early September ground is right on the edge of wants to feel immersed in the at Norris Hot Springs Camp- Mammoth Village and close to the beauty and wonders of the park, ground make this NPS campsite namesake hot springs. This is the backcountry camping is a great a sought-after spot. Bison can be only campground open all winter option. A lot of areas maintain seen in meadows near the camp- and because of its low elevation, ground and guided tour will take it tends to be the warmest campPlease see Enjoy, Page 17 Yellowstone Park Guide
Enjoy From 16
snow, require forging dangerous rivers and can be extremely cold. Plan for the unpredictable to have a safe and enjoyable experience. Permits are required for all overnight stays, as well as varying fees for specific backcountry expeditions. Reservations must be submitted by mail, fax or in person. They cannot be made over the phone or by email. Cost is a nonrefundable $25 for each reservation. Information is available at nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit.
Indoor options Whether you want a lavish getaway at a swanky hotel or a rustic mountain retreat in a cabin, Yellowstone offers a variety of ways to accommodate lodging needs with nine facilities inside the park.
Some of the most popular lodging areas include the Old Faithful Inn and Lake Yellowstone Hotel (which also has cabins). Roosevelt Lodge offers cozy, rustic cabins in the less-busy northern section of the park. All are open from late spring through fall, but only two are open in the winter: Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. Don’t wait to book anything. Make reservations for room, dining and tours in advance. For more information on booking, go to yellowstonenationalparklodges.com or call (307) 3447311.
Touring companies If you want history, fun facts and behind-the-scenes information about Yellowstone, then source a touring company to explore and appreciate the park. Touring outfitters provide guided fishing, biking, rafting, horseback riding, guided day hikes and pack-
ages if you want a little of every- look no further. For more information, visit bigwildadventures. thing. com or call (406) 848-7000. Tour the park in one day with Outfitters to try the Yellowstone in a Day proHubbard’s Yellowstone Lodge gram. A driver provides informais more than a beautiful place to tion along stops at Old Faithful, stay. It offers a variety of activi- the Upper and Lower Falls of the ties and packages. There is guid- Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, ed fly fishing, clay shooting and Canyon Village, Mammoth Hot tours into the park, highlighting Springs, Fountain Paint Pots and Old Faithful, Grand Canyon of the wildlife areas. More information Yellowstone, and Lamar Valley. is available at yellowstonenationPackages include meals and you alparklodges.com or by calling can even get a deep tissue mas- (307) 344-7311. Yellowstone Forever is the offisage. For more information go to hubbardslodge.com or call (406) cial educational and philanthropic partner of Yellowstone National 848-7755. Big Wild Adventures is known Park that provides a wide variety for their multi-day backpacking of tours in the park, including priand hiking trips through Yel- vate tours that can be tailored to lowstone, the Grand Tetons, and the interests of the group: all-inmany other areas in Montana and clusive tour packages, in-depth Wyoming. Everyone carries their field seminars, programs for famown backpack including tent, ilies and kids, and guided hiking sleeping bag and a portion of the programs. For more details, go to group food. If you are wanting yellowstone.org or call (406) 848a primal wilderness experience, 2400. Yellowstone visitors have many lodging choices, including cabins, hotels and campgrounds.
BRETT FRENCH, Gazette Staff
Yellowstone Park Guide
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Here is a listing of events in communities surrounding the Yellowstone National Park area during the summer:
ABSAROKEE
16th Annual Montana Barbecue Cookoff June 24: Absarokee hosts some of the region’s best ribs, chicken and other smoked delights. Events take place in downtown Absarokee and will include beer, a food truck round-up, live music and a kid zone. Montanabbqcookoff. com.
BIG SKY
Gallatin River Fly Fishing Festival June 29-30: The Gallatin River is the site for a fun-filled weekend of rafting, running, biking, eating, dancing and, of course, fishing. This festival raises funds to support conservation and restoration efforts by the Gallatin River Task Force within the Upper Gallatin River Watershed. Gallatinrivertaskforce.org.
The Great Gallatin Guide-Off and Pedal, Paddle, Run-Off June 29-30: As part of the Gallatin River Fly Fishing Festival, The Great Gallatin Guide-Off pairs master fly fishing guides with people who want to have a good time, catch fish and support a healthy Gallatin River. Event concludes with Guide-Off Olympics, a fair, music, food and more. The race finale features live music at Town Center Park in Big Sky that evening. Activities include product demonstrations, casting clinics and competitions, fly tying, kids’ activities, guided nature trips to the river and educational booths. At 6 p.m. Sunday, Hooked on the Gallatin Banquet at the Gallatin Riverhouse offers a BBQ and wine from Natalie’s Estate Winery,
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Photo courtesy of the Moss Mansion
Come for the juried art show, stay for the day-long entertainment at the Moss Mansion’s SpringFest, Saturday, June 2.
along with live acoustic music, and a tures handicrafts and art by regional live and silent auction to benefit the artists, musical entertainment and a Task Force. Gallatinrivertaskforce.org. wide variety of refreshments. Pancake breakfast, artist demonstrations and BILLINGS lively musical acts are on the grounds of Moss Mansion. Call 406-256-5100 Alive After 5 or see Mossmansion.com. June 7 – Aug. 30: The annual outdoor concert series happens 5 to 8 p.m. at Montana Renaissance a different venue every week. Each evening combines live music, adult Festival beverages, fresh food and favorite June 2-3: Revel in the atmosphere downtown locations such as restau- of a 16th Century European Country rants, breweries and cultural venues. Festival at ZooMontana, 2100 S. ShiCall 406-294-5060 or see Downtown- loh Rd. Explore the bustling market place, attend a royal wedding, interbillings.com. act with costumed characters and enjoy full-contact armored jousting SpringFest at Moss tournaments. Story tellers, musicians, Mansion jousters and villagers welcome all June 2: This juried art festival fea- while the air fills with scents of foods
and ale from the Renaissance period. It happens 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Montanarenfest.com.
Strawberry Festival June 9: Held 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the streets of downtown Billings, the community event opens the summer season with a rich diversity in arts and crafts, interactive children’s area, fresh produce and strawberries, foodtruck fare, live street entertainment and a 60-foot strawberry shortcake. Call 406-294-5060 or see downtownbillings.com.
Festival of Cultures June 10: From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Yellowstone Park Guide
the campus of Rocky Mountain College, celebrate diversity and culture as thousands sing, dance and sample ethnic delicacies during this free, public event. Enjoy children’s activities, ethnic crafts, food and drink. Contact 406-657-1042 or peacestudies@ rocky.edu.
Heart & Sole Race June 16: The 39th Annual Heart & Sole Race features people of all ages and abilities. Choose from 5K, 10K, or 2-Mile Health Walk; all start at St. Vincent Healthcare and are a fundraiser for the YMCA and Billings TrailNet. 406-254-7426, Heartandsolerace.org.
Montana Active Life Festival June 16: Held before and after the Heart & Sole Race, this festival happens 8 to 11:30 a.m. at Dehler Park, home of the Billings Mustangs. This free healthy lifestyle event features live music, more than 40 interactive booths, kids’ events and family fun. CASEY PAGE, Gazette Staff 406-254-7426, Heartandsolerace. Father’s Day weekend is fit to be full of activity with the Heart and Sole Race happening Saturday, June 16. org. with local troupes and regional danc- 10,000 athletes participate. The mis- plete list of featured acts at Magiccision of Big Sky State Games is to pro- tyblues.com. ers. Novabillings.org. Symphony in the Park mote healthy lifestyles and programJune 24: Live, symphonic music Summerfair ming, and each year a special guest MontanaFair comes to Pioneer Park for a relaxOlympian lights the torch and kicks off ing evening while you can sit on your July 13-15: Yellowstone Art Museum the opening ceremonies. See Bigsky- Aug. 10-18: MontanaFair is an agriblanket or lawn chair enjoying a picnic hosts the region’s largest arts and stategames.org for more information. cultural celebration in the historic trafrom food vendors. Take in the Instru- crafts festival featuring some of the dition of fairs. Held at MetraPark, the ment Petting Zoo, Billings Communi- best artisans, craftspeople and enter- Schoolhouse Rock Live! nine-day celebration has livestock, arts and crafts, a carnival and food. ty Band Concert, Young Conductors’ tainers in the area. More than 100 artContest and the Billings Symphony ists, community groups and food ven- July 14-15, 20-22 & 27-29: This imagi- Stages provide entertainment that Orchestra Concert. Reserved parking dors are at Veterans Park, 13th Street native musical brings the animated se- can include music, comedy, hypnosis, ($5) and reserved seating ($10) are West and Poly Drive. This year, the ries, “Schoolhouse Rock!,” to life. Like kids’ entertainment and variety acts. available by calling (406) 252-3610 or weekend event is open Friday night, the old Saturday morning cartoon that Night shows feature internationalvisit Billingssymphony.org. 4 to 9 p.m; Saturday hours are 9 a.m. schooled kids on history, grammar ly-known artists. Montanafair.com. to 5 p.m.; Sunday hours are 10 a.m. to and math, this pop-culture phenomeBOZEMAN 4 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, free non guarantees an evening of catchy Spiral Skies Belly children ages 12 and younger. Art- tunes for all ages. Dance Presents: Dance for Art Walks museum.org. Mechanics June 8–Dec. 14: From 6 – 8 p.m. on Magic City Blues the second Friday of the month June July 7: At 7 p.m. in the NOVA Center Big Sky State Games for the Performing Arts, Dance MeAug. 3-4: Bring your ID for this through September and a special chanics is a touring belly dance perfor- July 20-22: Amateurs, pros and their 18-and-older Montana Urban Mu- “Winter” Art Walk in December, art mance produced by and starring Amy proud families come together to sic Festival happening on the 2500 galleries and businesses display artSigil and Ashley Lopez. Experience an compete and spectate at Montana’s block of Montana Avenue with gates work along Main Street and at the evening of contemporary, fusion, cab- Olympic-style games. With 36 sports opening each day at 5 p.m. ZZ Top and aret, tribal and traditional belly dance and more than 60 venues, upwards of Phillip Phillips headline. See a comPlease see Events, Page 20 Yellowstone Park Guide
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Emerson Center for Arts and Culture. The galleries feature artists’ openings and receptions, and often provide hors d’oeuvres and complimentary refreshments. Music may play as you stroll along Main Street in downtown Bozeman. For more information, Downtownbozeman.org
Music On Main June 28-Aug. 16: Every Thursday evening 6:30-8:30 p.m. from late June to mid-August, businesses along Main Street offer live music, food and fun in downtown Bozeman. Food vendors are on site and area restaurants are always an option. Many downtown stores stay open late. For more information, go to downtownbozeman.org.
Sweet Pea Festival July 31-Aug. 5: Celebrate the arts and community through events for the CASEY PAGE, Gazette Staff whole family. Start with the Chalk on The parade in Laurel is one of many events hosted on July 4 beginning with a pancake breakfast and ending with the Walk, July 31; the Bite of Bozeman, fireworks at Thomson Park at dusk. Aug. 1; Music on Main, Aug. 2; Adult Run, Children’s Run and Parade, Aug. Plains Indian Museum $400,000. Codystampederodeo.com. the village. Littlebighornreenactment. 4. For more information, Sweetpeaf- Powwow com. estival.org. Buffalo Bill Invitational June 16-17: Cultural celebration and Crow Fair Shootout competitive dance competition at Heart of the West Art the Center of the West’s Robbie Pow- Aug. 9-11: Learn firearms history and Aug. 16-20: Celebration features paShow & Live Auction wow Garden. 307-578-4102. Center- present-day shooting sports. Individ- rades, a four-day powwow, a rodeo ual and team competitions, limited and horse races. This largest Native Aug. 10-12: This high-quality, con- ofthewest.org. to 100 participants. The public is in- American event in Montana has one of temporary Western art show and sale combines with contemporary West- Cody/Yellowstone vited to observe shooting at the Cody the biggest powwows in the country and is held by The Apsáalooke people Shooting Complex. 307-578-4025. ern online auctions at the Grantree Xtreme Bulls of the Crow Indian Reservation just Inn of Bozeman. About 50 premier CROW AGENCY South of Hardin. Crazycrow.com. contemporary Western artists will be June 30: PRCA’s top 40 bull riders on hand for demonstrations, educa- matched against the PRCA’s best FISHTAIL tional presentations, live auctions and bucking bulls at 8 p.m. to compete for Little Bighorn Reenactment sales of their latest artwork. For more more than $45,000 in cash. Stampede June 22-24: Real Bird’s Battle of Litinformation, Heartofthewestart.com. Park. Codystampederodeo.com. tle Bighorn Reenactment happens 1 Tippet Rise Art Center to 3 p.m. each day, with the Real Bird Various Dates, Season Three: Online CODY, WYO Cody Stampede Rodeo family showing troopers and braves at Tippetrise.org, see renowned muas they rush through the Little Big- sicians set to play during Tippet Rise Cody Nite Rodeo July 1-4: Gates open at 6 p.m., rodeo horn River, just as they did 142 years Art Center’s 8-week concert series this June 1–Aug. 31: Gates open at 7 p.m. at 8 p.m. The best of the best rodeo ago. The battle is held at Garryowen, summer. The art center in Fishtail offor 8 p.m. events at Stampede Park. athletes compete on the toughest ro- a portion of the Sioux camp where fers intimate concert settings for audiCodystampederodeo.com. deo stock for a payout of more than soldiers are believed to have attacked ences of fewer than 150 people as well
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Yellowstone Park Guide
as film screenings and tours.
GLENDIVE
Buzzard Day June 9: Celebrate the annual return of the Turkey Vulture at this family event at Makoshika State Park featuring a 10K, 5K, fun run, various entertainment, food and fun for all ages. Glendivechamber.com.
HUNTLEY PROJECT
Threshing Bee Aug. 18-19: The South Central Montana Antique Tractor and Machinery Association sponsors this weekend of steam- and gas-threshing, and events for all ages. There’s static engine displays, plowing, hay bailing, binding, sawmill, blacksmith shop, tractor pull, parade, arts/crafts, food concessions and more. Admission is $5 per person, ages 12 and older. Antiquetractorclub. com.
Courtesy of Cruisen Red Lodge
Wax nostalgic at the Cruisen Red Lodge Car & Bike Show, July 27-29.
LAUREL
4th of July Celebration July 4: Laurel entertains more than 30,000 people, starting at the 6-11 a.m. pancake breakfast at Fireman’s Park, followed by The Chief Joseph Run that begins at Thomson Park with races set for 2, 4 and 8 miles. A kiddies parade begins at 10 a.m. at Western Security Bank and ends at Firefighter’s Memorial. The Grand Parade is at 11 a.m. A food and craft fair begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m. As soon as it is dark, one of Montana’s largest fireworks displays takes over. Laurelmontana. org.
barrel racers, and bull riders. Fun starts 3 p.m. Sunday at the Livingston Chamber of Commerce Parade held downtown. Rodeos are held nightly at 8 p.m. Fireworks appear July 4 at the Park County Fairgrounds. Livingstonroundup.com or Livingston-chamber.com.
Festival of the Arts
July 2–4: The Livingston Depot Center’s Festival of the Arts will be held in the Depot Rotary Park, on West Park Street (next to the Depot Center) in downtown Livingston. This three-day juried show features works from all LIVINGSTON media of arts and crafts, created by approximately 100 skilled artists and Livingston Roundup craftspeople. Nonprofit groups also offer specialty foods, and the Depot Rodeo continues to host the acclaimed pie July 2-4: Livingston’s rodeo draws booth. For more information, Living10,000 spectators yearly to see top stondepot.org. rodeo cowboys and cowgirls from across North America competing in multiple events. These are the best saddle-bronc riders, team ropers, Please see Events, Page 22 Yellowstone Park Guide
Summer 2018 | 21
The Great Montana Sheep Drive returns to Reed Point, Sunday, Sept. 2.
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Summerfest June 10: This year’s Summerfest is a day-long event with music and family-friendly festivities along the Yellowstone River. Local vendors and Montana talent add to the show that is held each year by the Livingston Recreation Department. For more information, Lvingstonmusicfest.wixsite.com/livsummerfest.
Summer Nights at the Park County Fair July 25-28: This countywide and 4-H fair has a carnival, games, rides, stock auction, commercial exhibitions, family entertainment, farmers market and pig wrestling contest. There are 20 water and electrical hookups for RVs and
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campers at the Park County Fair- tening to some of the country’s grounds, 46 View Vista Drive, Liv- best songwriters in downtown ingston. Parkcounty.org. Red Lodge, Montana for the 3rd Annual Red Lodge Songwriter RED LODGE Festival. Shows start late in the afternoon and play into the night. A Red Lodge Music portion of the proceeds support Festival Friends of the Beartooths, dedicated to the improvement and June 2-10: The oldest and most suc- promotion of the Beartooth Highcessful music festival in Montana way and its neighboring comattracts more than 200 students munities. For more information, annually, with faculty from universiRedlodgesongwriterfest.com. ties, colleges and symphony orchestras from across the nation. Now a full-blown, nine-day music festival Red Lodge Home of at the Red Lodge Civic Center, there Champions Rodeo are five evening faculty concerts, and Parade two evening student recitals, and afternoon band and orchestra per- July 2-4: Home of Champions Roformances. Redlodge.com or Rlmf. deo features some of professional rodeo’s top cowboys and cowgirls. org. Celebrate 89 years of ropin’ and Red Lodge Songwriter ridin’, singin’ and swingin’ with a downtown parade each day at noon Festival and a rodeo at 6 p.m., July 2-3, and June 21-23: Celebrate summer lis- 3 p.m., July 4. Redlodgerodeo.com.
LARRY MAYER, Gazette Staff
Art in the Beartooths July 14: The 45th Annual Art in the Beartooths is 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, July 8, at the Carbon County Depot Gallery. This annual fundraiser begins with 30 artists painting live on the deck of the Depot Gallery and in Lions Park. As the artists paint until 2 p.m., viewing is free and open to everyone. Gates for the ticketed part of the event open at 4 p.m. in Lions Park. A no-host bar and hors d’oeuvres will be available while viewing the art created that day. Carboncountydepotgallery.org.
Beartooth Motorcycle Rally July 20-22: The 24th annual Beartooth Motorcycle rally weekend promises lots of rides, food and fun. In the evening you can dance under the stars. Get an official rally shirt to remember the fun. Beartoothrally. com. Yellowstone Park Guide
Cruisen Red Lodge Car and Bike Show
round of horseshoes or dancing the night away. Held at The Bridge near July 27-29: Red Lodge’s premiere Three Forks, camping is available. summer car show will have you in awe Headwaterscountryjam.com. at your favorite classic cars and motorWEST YELLOWSTONE cycles. A Friday BBQ is at Bone Daddy’s from 6 to 9 p.m., with a parade down Main Street at 7 p.m. The Saturday Car Wild West Yellowstone Show is all day at Pride Park. Nostalgic Rodeo Drag Races are Sunday on the airport runway. Cruisenredlodge.com. June 13-30, July 3-31, Aug. 1-25: Bareback Riding, Team Roping, Saddle Bronc, Breakaway Roping and Labor Day Arts Fair Bull Riding at 8 p.m. each scheduled Sept. 3: Enjoy art and fine crafts night. See dates, buy tickets at Yelfrom 90-plus artists at the Labor Day lowstonerodeo.com. Arts Fair, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, Sept. 3, in Lions Park. Stroll the park Smoking Waters and stop in the artists’ booths to shop Mountain Man for original creations. Food vendors surround the gazebo as local groups Rendezvous entertain all day. Free admission. Car- Aug. 3-12: Only one mile from the West Entrance to Yellowstone Nationboncountydepotgallery.org. al Park, spend a day or a week expePOWELL, WYO. riencing frontier life in the 1800s at this encampment. The rendezvous is Jake Clark Mule Days complete with traders’ row, a real enGazette Staff June 11-17: A Western event in campment, entertainment and semi- Camp under the stars to the tune of great music and supporting local causes at Ralston, Wyoming, promoting the nars about “life as it was.” See the dan- the Red Ants Pants Music Festival, July 26-29. saddle mule which includes mounted gers and excitement of the era during shooting, team sorting, rodeo events, Tomahawk and knife demonstrations a trail course, a parade and a barn for adults and children, black-powder dance. Saddlemule.com. shoots and mountain-man storytellLocated behind Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody ing. Admission is free. Traders must WEEKEND MASSES: REED POINT have primitive gear and canvas-style tents. The primitive camp has no water Great Montana Sheep or electricity. Twoturtlestradingpost. Cody, WY com. Drive Saturdays, 5:00 pm • Sundays, 9:00 am
Church of St. Anthony of Padua St. Anthony
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS
Sept. 2: Hundreds of sheep take to Reed Point’s main street at 10 a.m. during this Labor Day weekend sta- Red Ants Pants ple. Enjoy the street fair, parade and Festival street dance, as well as the Classic Car Show and Round Bale Roll. Still- July 26–29: Music, food, camping, beer and more bring thousands to watercountychamber.com. this festival annually. A free shuttle THREE FORKS service between the festival grounds and the town of White Sulphur Springs Headwaters Country keeps the party safe. A portion of the profits from the Red Ants Pants MuJam sic Festival go to the Red Ants Pants June 14-16: The biggest country Foundation to develop and expand music festival in Montana has three leadership roles for women, predays of country music featuring more serve and support working family than a dozen bands, headliners Chris farms and ranches, and enrich and Young, Randy Houser and Frankie promote rural communities. RedBallard. Fans enjoy ice cold beer, a antspantsmusicfestival.com. Yellowstone Park Guide
St. Theresa
Meeteetse, WY Sundays, 8:30 am
Our Lady of the Valley Clark, WY
Sundays, 11:00 am
Services in Yellowstone National Park: Roman Catholic Mass (when priest is available) or Liturgy of the Hours - Communion Service
Canyon Outdoor Amphitheater Saturdays, 4:30 pm • June 16-Sept. 1, 2018
Old Faithful Lodge Employee Recreation Hall Sundays, 9:00 am • June 17-Sept. 2, 2018
Lake Lodge Employee Rec Hall Sundays, 11:30 am • June 17-Sept. 2, 2018
http://www.stanthonycody.org Summer 2018 | 23
Experience Cody Country
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Summer 2018
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Yellowstone Park Guide