Yellowstone National Park

Wildlife and natural beauty abound in this, the nation's first and largest, national park.

Furious volcanic explosions, crashing waves of ancient seas, grinding of immense glaciers, shuddering of earthquakes, wind and rain, storm and fury, fire and ice. Great natural forces worked together to create Yellowstone National Park, and the seething primal heat of the planet is still nearer the earth's surface here than anywhere else. The first white man to see Yellowstone was mountain man, John Colter whose reports of the park's natural wonders were ridiculed as lies. Exploration parties verified reports of spouting geysers, boiling springs, thundering waterfalls and gaping canyons. In 1872, Congress established Yellowstone as the first national park in the world. Old Faithful Geyser is the most famous of Yellowstone's 10,000 hydrothermal features. Yellowstone Falls plunges into the 1,200-foot-deep Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Wildlife wander through expansive meadows in the nation's largest preserve. Be on the lookout as you travel through the park.

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General Information

Three of the park's five entrances are in Montana at West Yellowstone (US 287), Gardiner (US 89) and Cooke City (US 212). West Yellowstone's jetport provides commercial airline service during the summer months. Year-round airline connections are available at Billings, Bozeman, and Butte.

The park is also open during the winter for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowcoach tours.

Accommodations include five lodges, an inn, three hotels, cabins and extensive campground facilities.

Summer, May 1­Oct 31. Winter, December 15 to March 15. Dates subject to change. Call the park service for more info. Minimum time: 1 day. Admission rates (subject to change):

1 - 6 persons	$20
7 - 15 persons	$125
16 - 25 persons	$200
26 or more persons	$300

Services for travelers available within the park, and in all Montana park entrance communities.

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For more information:

Superintendent
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
307-344-7381
Website: http://www.nps.gov/yell

Gateway Communities
Cooke City Chamber of Commerce
406-838-2495

Gardiner Chamber of Commerce
406-848-7971

West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce
406-646-7701

Xanterra Parks & Resorts Lodging and Tours
Group Tour Office
PO Box 165
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
307-344-5293
Website: http://www.travelyellowstone

Guided outdoor activities Offered by Xanterra Parks & Resorts:

Stagecoach Rides
Visitors board an authentic Concord stagecoach for an exciting ride through the rolling sagebrush country surrounding Roosevelt Lodge. The stagecoach replica pauses long enough to rest the horses and allow for pictures. Rides depart from the Roosevelt corrals several times daily and last 30 minutes. Season of operation is approximately June to August. Admission charged.

• Old West Cookouts
  Delicious steak dinners are cooked outdoors and served under tall pines. Cookout site can be reached by horse-drawn wagon or horseback. Horses depart Roosevelt corrals each evening at 4:30 and 5:15, and wagons depart at 5:30. All guests return to the corrals by 8:30pm. Season of operation is approximately June to August. Admission charged.

Scenicruiser Rides
Boats depart Bridge Bay Marina several times daily for a leisurely cruise on Yellow-stone Lake. This one-hour commentated tour includes a trip around Stevenson Island. Season of operation is approximately June to mid-Sept. Admission charged.

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Motorcoach Travel

Motorcoaches travel throughout Yellowstone National Park without restrictions. Step-on guides are available through many of the receptive operators and step-on guide services and through the main concessionaire:

• Yellowstone National Park Lodges,
  operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts
  PO Box 165
  Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
  307-344-5293

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Scenic and Whitewater Float Trips

• Adventure Whitewater, Inc.
  PO Box 636, Red Lodge, MT 59068
  Phone/Fax: 406-446-3061
  800-897-3061

Stillwater River, rapids, Beartooth Mountain views. Oar and Paddle boats. Family fun. Private parking and launch facilities on the Stillwater River. Featured on ESPN. 20% off for groups, advance notice required. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day.

• Beartooth Whitewater Rafting
  PO Box 781
  Red Lodge, MT 59068
  406-446-3142 or 800-799-3142

Yellowstone Country's first and most experienced raft company. Located on the scenic Beartooth Highway, considered the most beautiful roadway in America. Half day and multiple-day river trips, whitewater or scenic rafting on the Yellowstone, and Stillwater rivers. Horseback riding also available. Open May to September, 9:00am to 8:00pm. $30/person.

• Geyser Whitewater Expeditions
  46651 Gallatin Road
  Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730
  406-995-4989 or 800-914-9031
  Website: http://www.raftmontana.com

We offer whitewater rafting and scenic floats on the beautiful Gallatin River. Geyser Whitewater is the closest raft company to Yellowstone National Park's West Entrance. We specialize in groups of all types and can accommodate group sizes up to 100 people. Let Big Sky's whitewater professionals customize a trip to fit the needs of your group.

• Montana Whitewater, Inc.
  PO Box 1552
  Bozeman, MT 59771
  406-763-4465 or 800-799-4465
  Website: http://www.montanawhitewater.com

Bozeman's raft company, located ten miles southwest of Bozeman and near Gardiner at the North Entrance to Yellowstone Park. Western hospitality and adventure is what you will find from us. Full- and half-day guided raft trips on the Gallatin and Yellowstone rivers. Specialty trips include breakfast, dinner and horseback/raft combo. We take extra time for first-timers.

• Yellowstone Raft Company
  PO Box 46
  Gardiner, MT 59030
  406-848-7777
  Website: http://www.yellowstoneraft.com

Whitewater raft trips on the Yellowstone River from Gardiner, at the North Entrance to Yellowstone Park, and on the Gallatin River at Big Sky, 55 miles north of West Yellowstone. Daily, half-day, full-day and evening barbecue trips available. We suggest smaller groups, but we can accommodate up to 80 people at once on the Yellowstone and 60 on the Gallatin. Scenic trips available on calmer stretches.

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