There are several ways to enter Yellowstone National Park (five, to be exact), and no matter which approach you take, you’ll find many incredible sights to see and things to do both in and outside of the Park.
Located in Gardiner, Montana, the Yellowstone North Entrance is about an hour and a half from Bozeman, and it’s an absolutely gorgeous drive to get there along Highway 89. The North Entrance is the Park’s original entrance, and it’s the only one open year-round.
If you choose to visit Yellowstone via the North Entrance, here are five things you shouldn’t miss.
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1. Visit Gardiner, Montana: The Gateway to Yellowstone
The town of Gardiner is right next to the Yellowstone North Entrance and the iconic Roosevelt Arch. While it may only have a population of around 800 people (many of them seasonal workers), it’s a lovely and lively western town worth visiting before you head into the Park.
Museums:
- Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center: Learn more about the history of Yellowstone.
- Yellowstone Gateway Museum: Browse over 50,000 historical items relating to Yellowstone and Park County.
Food and drink:
- Wonderland Cafe & Lodge: Enjoy local farm-to-table foods and sample Montana's best brews.
- Gardiner Market: Assemble a picnic full of fresh produce from the Gardiner Market.
Local shopping:
- Gardiner Gifts: Grab a Yellowstone souvenir to remember your trip!
- Tumbleweed Bookstore and Cafe: Pick out a book and sip on some delicious coffee at this charming local bookstore.
2. Soak in a Hot Spring
Montana is home to several incredible hot springs, but some of the best are near the Yellowstone North Entrance.
For locals and visitors alike, Chico Hot Springs is the epitome of Montana hospitality and rustic charm. This resort, about 45 minutes away from the North Entrance, offers both family-friendly and five-star dining, horseback riding, spa services, and two open-air, mineral hot, mineral springs pools that feel heavenly in every season.
Located right next to the Yellowstone River, just a few miles outside of Gardiner, Yellowstone Hot Springs is a fairly new addition to the local hot springs scene. Visitors can experience incredible mountain views and maybe even catch a glimpse of some wildlife while relaxing their muscles in their hot, warm, or cold plunge pools.
3. See the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
A landscape that began as the result of a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is an awe-inspiring place to visit and spend some time taking in the beauty of the waterfalls, mesmerizing geothermal features, and the canyon itself. It's located in Canyon Village, just over an hour's drive from the Yellowstone North Entrance.
If you’re up for some physical activity, several hiking trails take you down into the canyon, or up to a viewpoint, to experience it from a different point of view.
- South Rim Trail: Start at the view of the upper falls and end at the famous Artist's Point overlook. (3.2 miles / Easy)
- Mount Washburn Trail: Hike to the tallest peak of Yellowstone and experience spectacular views. (6.2 miles / Moderate)
- Seven Mile Hole Trail: Journey to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and experience its majesty up close and personal. (10 miles / Difficult)
For a less strenuous visit, easily accessible sidewalks allow you to take in the vistas from afar, or stay in the care and drive the canyon's south and north rims.
4. Experience Mammoth Hot Springs
Known as Mammoth Hot Springs, this otherworldly geological attraction was formed over thousands of years by a complex interaction between hot water and carbon dioxide. This reaction led to limestone deposits, called travertine, that have built up around the complex of hot springs to create beautiful and mysterious terraces of rust, white, and gold.
It’s tough to describe this alien-looking landscape marked by bubbling hot water pools: you really have to see it to believe it. Visitors can take an easy, extended hike around both the upper and lower terraces or stroll along the boardwalks as much as they wish. While this is one hot spring you won’t get to soak in, it’s absolutely worth a visit.
5. Watch for Wildlife
The opportunity to see some of the most incredible and powerful species in North America firsthand is one of the main reasons that many people visit the Park each year. Near the Yellowstone North Entrance and even in the town of Gardiner itself, you may be lucky enough to glimpse wolves, bison, elk, bears, and many other animals.
Head to the Lamar Valley, sometimes called “the Serengeti of North America,” just an hour away from the North Entrance, for an excellent chance to see Yellowstone’s majestic wildlife year round. Read our guide on wildlife watching in Yellowstone. Or better yet, book a Yellowstone guide or a tour to enhance your experience.
No matter which Park entrance you choose, there's plenty to explore. But there's something special about the Yellowstone North Entrance and Gardiner, Montana, that makes it worth the trip!
If you enjoyed this blog, take a look at some of our other related articles:
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- Hiking in Yellowstone; Winter Edition
In our never-ending quest to keep up with all things new in Bozeman, we have been producing content for years and can't possibly update every blog when new businesses open or existing businesses close. Please reference the publish date and do your own due diligence when making plans.