Exploring the Trails Around West Yellowstone

Home to three of the five entrances and our favorite gateway towns, when you explore Yellowstone National Park, it's only a portion of the total experience.The West Entrance, situated in West Yellowstone, is the busiest, with over two million people passing through annually.

However, part of what draws people to this area is the abundance of recreation located just outside the Park. During the winter, West Yellowstone is a snowmobiler's haven, with Nordic skiing drawing a close second. Come summer, those trails turn into a playground for UTV (Utility Task Vehicles) riders, mountain bikers, and hikers. It's not just the hundreds of miles of well-kept trail system; it's that these trails offer something for people of every ability.

For those just getting started, the Rendezvous Trails, which are used for Nordic skiing in the winter, are open to hikers and bikers in the summer and are conveniently located right in town. You can rent bikes (and get a great cup of coffee) at Freeheel and Wheel and take the whole family out for a lovely afternoon excursion without even having to drive anywhere.

They have also recently completed the Yellowstone Shortline Trail, a nine-mile paved trail created over the abandoned Oregon Shortline Railroad. The trail runs from the Montana-Idaho border to the west boundary of Yellowstone National Park. It's a lovely trail with interpretive signage along the way. (Sorry, no e-bikes or motorized vehicles.)

For those looking to gain some elevation, the Continental Divide Trail runs through the area, and you can do a 3.8-mile out-and-back to get a glimpse of these incredible views. West Yellowstone is also located on the TransAmerica Trail, a cross-country route that can be traversed with a dual-sport motorcycle or a 4x4 vehicle.



Other UTV options include the Two-Top Loop, which offers riders a scenic view of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, and the Lionhead Mountain Loop, which is also a great mountain bike ride. For beginning mountain bikers, or kids, try the Boundary Trail — a relaxed trail that runs along the border of Yellowstone National Park and the National Forest Service land.

Hikers looking for a relaxing jaunt could try the Riverside Trail, which runs into Yellowstone and winds along the Madison River with views of the Gallatin and Madison Mountain Ranges.

And, if you're looking for other entertainment to round out your stay, The Playmill Theatre has three productions rotating through August. The West Yellowstone Rodeo series runs Wednesday through Sunday, also through August, and the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center is open year-round.

Music in the Park, a free, family-friendly concert series, has performances on August 1 and 2, in conjunction with the West Yellowstone Rod Run, and a final show on August 16. And finally, the Wretched Mess Fest wraps up the summer Sept. 5 and 6 with a celebration of art, music and fly-fishing — a fitting combination if you ask most Montanans.

If you are headed into the Park, consider stopping at the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center. In the summer, National Park Service rangers staff a desk to answer questions about hiking, camping, wildlife and more.