Cozy Fall Getaways in Montana's Yellowstone Country

Somewhere between summer fun and the cool weather setting in, we like to take a cozy fall getaway. A little rite of passage of sorts as we prepare for hygge activities. (More on that another time.) Getaways can be as simple or invigorating as you like, a long, leisurely week, or a quick weekend. Bring the family, make it a friend’s trip, or go for quietly romantic — they are all great options!

Romantic Outdoor Getaway in Cooke City

One of my favorite places in Montana’s Yellowstone Country is the Cooke City and Silver Gate area. Tucked up at the base of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area, the tiny towns are flanked on all sides by towering peaks, endless backcountry, and Yellowstone National Park. If you are arriving before mid-October, I suggest a night’s stay in Red Lodge before heading over Beartooth Highway. You’ll want to allow time for exploration; there are plenty of lakes and hiking trails a short distance from the road. (Be sure to check the Montana Department of Transportation website to ensure it is open!)

Once you arrive in Cooke City, the Antlers Lodge offers eleven cabins and five modern hotel rooms to choose from. It’s a perfect home base for wildlife watching through the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone, hiking, horseback riding and ATV/OTV riding in the nearby mountains or fly fishing in one of the crystal-clear streams.

Family Fun in Bozeman

If your getaway includes a family, Bozeman offers something for everyone. The Howler’s Inn Bed and Breakfast and Wolf Sanctuary is one of the more unique guest experiences in the region. Set in picturesque Bridger Canyon, the B&B also has a two-bedroom guest house with amenities including a sauna, pool table, fitness area, home theater, outdoor play set, AC, Wi-Fi and more. Children of all ages are welcome. The wolf sanctuary is home to captive wolves that cannot be released into the wild. And while the sanctuary is not open to the public, guests get to watch and hear these wolves firsthand.

Another sanctuary, Montana Grizzly Encounter, offers an up-close experience to learn about grizzly bears. And, if you’re here during the first weekend in October, the Bridger Raptor Festival is a great way to learn about raptors, watch the migration over the Bridger Mountains, and take part in family-friendly activities.

The Bozeman Maze and Montana Corn Maze are both challenging and fun outdoor experiences, as is U-Pick produce and flowers from local farms. (You can find a list of agritourism experiences at Abundant Montana.)

Museum of the Rockies, a Smithsonian affiliate, has one of the most extensive collections of dinosaur fossils in North America, along with rotating exhibits and an entire room made for kids to explore the wonders of Yellowstone.

Relaxing in Big Timber

For a quick and quiet getaway, The Grand Hotel in Big Timber is one of the area's historic hotels. Spend an afternoon exploring Greycliff Mill; check out their cheese cave, weaving room, leather making, and consider a horseback trail ride. They also host farm dinners every other Saturday (they fill up fast!) and occasionally live music.

Natural Bridge Falls takes people by surprise with a river that flows beneath the ground before resurfacing. There are plenty of boardwalks for easy access, as well as more rigorous hiking trails for those who want to get their blood pumping! During the fall, you’ll find hundreds of deer grazing in the fields along the riverbed.

Be sure to stop for a cold beverage or a bite at Boulder River Roadkill.

Biking in Three Forks

Finally, for bikers out there, a stay at the historic Sacajawea Hotel is the perfect place from which to explore Copper City Trails, the Headwaters Trail or even the roads out of town toward Willow Creek. Afterward, relax on their wrap-around deck, have dinner in the Sac Bar or Pompey’s Grill, and tuck into one of their cozy beds to rejuvenate.

Montana River Safaris offers wildlife, natural and cultural history boat tours, which are another great way to experience the area's rivers and learn about the history of Lewis and Clark, Sacajawea and other mountain men who lived in the area.

No matter what type of getaway you choose, I hope you find it relaxing and rejuvenating!