Yellowstone Country Backstories

How Dedicated Montanans Inspire the Soul of the Land

We often say that our small towns are the heart of Yellowstone Country, but what makes them so special are the people who call them home—the hard-working, fiercely dedicated folks who are so passionate about this amazing place, they’re committed to protecting, preserving, exploring and celebrating it. These folks live here because they love it here, and they understand the value of open space, natural resources, wildlife habitat, big skies, peace and quiet, walking in the woods, unplugging in order to connect. Yellowstone Country is pretty darn phenomenal on its own, but it’s got soul because of these fine individuals.

MacNeil Lyons:
Yellowstone Insight

Brad and Cyndi Edward:
Elk River Outfitters

MacNeil Lyons

MacNeil Lyons owns Yellowstone Insight, offering private guided tours of Yellowstone National Park. Lyons’ trademark is his individualized dedication to visitor experience. Lyons’ passion for the park and all of Montana shines through in his in-depth, educational and thought-provoking tours. His goal is to cultivate in others a lasting appreciation of the beauty of the world’s natural resources, whether he’s showing visitors the geological wonders, human history, American Indian history, or wildlife of the park.

ELK RIVER OUTFITTERS

Brad and Cyndi Edward own Elk River Outfitters, a fifth-generation, family-owned business that offers a glimpse into the cowboy way of life and pays tribute to the Crow Tribe, as “Elk River” was their name for the Yellowstone River. Brad shared the dream of owning a pack string with his grandfather, Bill Hayes, and that dream became a reality in 1994 when they began offering their first trail rides around Billings. They now have operations in Red Lodge, Billings, the Pryor Mountains and East Glacier—all with the help of their four sons.