MOUNTAINS OF ADVENTURE BEST VACATION EVER!

Welcome to Montana’s Yellowstone Country, where the Great American Family Vacation is waiting.

“I’m bored” isn’t something you’ll hear around these parts. From the wild wonder of the landscape to the captivating small towns that dot the region, there’s adventure around every bend.

Yellowstone Country has something for everyone, from outdoor exploration to educational activities to good old-fashioned fun. Take a hike, sh a river, swim in a lake. Ski a mountain, snowshoe a wintry forest, cozy up on a sleigh ride. Get your x of festivals, live theater, museums, parades and rodeos. It’s hard to run out of things to do here, so saddle up for the vacation of a lifetime.

Yellowstone National Park anchors the region, but Montana’s Yellowstone Country isn’t just your basecamp for park exploration—it’s a destination unto itself. It’s the land of big sky and big smiles. It’s grand, it’s gorgeous, it’s jaw-dropping, it’s mesmerizing, it’s mountains of fun.

Are we there yet?

YEAR-ROUND FUN IN YELLOWSTONE

You’ll nd adventure here any time of year. Summer sees the most visitors, especially in the park, and is the ideal time for fun on the water. But winter is its own kind of magic, especially for those who love to ski. Spring and fall aren’t just ideal times for shoulder-season prices—spring brings hillsides of wild owers, rushing waterfalls, and baby wildlife, and fall is pure gold.

Enlarged Area

Destination Summer Vacation

Welcome to big blue skies and endless sunshine. There’s no denying summer is an awesome time to experience Montana. Family vacations are made here.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY HIKES

Whether you’ve got littles who only want to hike a little or big kids who would love to bag a peak, there are family-friendly treks scattered throughout the region. Get ready for 360-degree views and some spectacular ora and fauna. Lace up your hiking shoes, pack a picnic lunch and plenty of water and plan on a gorgeous day in the great outdoors.

NATURAL BRIDGE FALLS, BIG TIMBER

0.7 miles, 65 feet elevation gain

Visit these scenic falls in Boulder Valley, especially fun in the spring when runoff creates a spectacular show.

LAVA LAKE, GALLATIN CANYON

3 miles, 1,600 feet elevation gain

Hike to this beautiful lake in the Gallatin Canyon (where scenes from “A River Runs Through It” were lmed).

PALISADE FALLS NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL IN HYALITE CANYON, BOZEMAN

1.1 miles, 239 feet elevation gain

Enjoy this local favorite asphalt trail to an 80-foot waterfall made of a prehistoric lava rock amphitheater.

OUSEL

FALLS, BIG SKY

1.6 miles, 400 feet elevation gain

Don’t miss this short but stunning hike in the heart of Big Sky with paths to a waterfall and Ousel Falls Overlook.

Camping And Glamping

S’mores + Stargazing + Campfire Songs

What’s better than sleeping in a tent under the stars, hiking, shing, getting dirty and roasting s’mores by the camp re? For kids, not much. Yellowstone Country is chock-full of memorable camping opportunities both inside and outside of Yellowstone National Park. The fresh mountain air, cool evenings and summer scents make for some serious R&R. Looking for something a little less rustic? Try glamping, or rent a cabin.

WHERE TO CAMP:

Yellowstone National Park

Montana State Parks

National Forest Land

Horseback Riding

Giddyup for Some Old West Fun

Wilderness Areas

Forest Service Campgrounds

Private Campgrounds

Nothing provides a more quintessentially western experience than horseback riding, and, without a doubt, kids love it. There are several out tters in the area. Some are full-service guest ranches and others provide half and full-day rides that don’t require a stay. You’ll take a guided ride through breathtaking scenery and discover why they call Montana “Big Sky Country.”

SADDLE UP WITH:

The Diamond P Ranch

Yellowstone Horseback Riding

Paradise Adventure Company

Yellowstone National Park Lodge

Zip Lining

Adventure Above the Treetops

Jake’s Horses

Sweet Grass Ranch

Beartooth Plateau Outfitters

Elk River Outfitters

For some serious thrills, take the family zip lining. Big Sky Resort has some set up for speed (four lines that are 1,500 feet long and 150 feet above the tree line), a nature zip line that begins with a beautiful 20-minute hike, and a kids’ zip line, which is a bit shorter and slower. Yellowstone Zip offers guided aerial tours in the Gallatin Canyon and Gardiner, Montana. (Zipping across the Gallatin River is a serious adrenaline rush.) Combine your day with a whitewater rafting trip for double the fun. Yellowstone Park Zip Line, in West Yellowstone, also offers mining for gemstones and fossils, rafting and horseback riding.