from WorldWeb.com Travel Guide
 |
| Minerva
Terrace at Mammoth Hot Springs1 |
|
The North Entrance, marked by the massive stone arch that features a cornerstone
placed by President Theodore Roosevelt, was the first major entrance to
Yellowstone
National Park. Geothermal wonders, historic sites and the breathtaking
scenery of the Paradise Valley are among the attractions that draw visitors
to this area. Historic
Fort Yellowstone is a great avenue for exploring the park's past, while
Mammoth
Hot Springs yields 50 hot springs and many captivating natural features.
Just north of Yellowstone is the Gallatin
National Forest, home to six mountain ranges and a multitude of outdoor
activities. Since the road from the North Entrance to the Northeast Entrance
remains open to vehicle traffic all year, this area supports a range of
winter activities, and accommodations at Mammoth Hot Springs are the perfect
jump-off point.
ACCESS
| |
|
Yellowstone to... |
Distance |
Est.
Time* |
| Belgrade |
89
m (142 km) |
1
hr 35 min |
| Bozeman |
78
m (125 km) |
1
hr 25 min |
| Butte |
161
m (259 km) |
2
hr 35 min |
| Chico
Hot Springs |
34
m (55 km) |
40
min |
| Great
Falls |
263
m (423 km) |
4
hr 30 min |
| Helena
|
174
m (280 km) |
3
hr 15 min |
| Livingston
|
54
m (87 km) |
1
hr |
| Missoula |
280
m (451 km) |
4
hr 15min |
|
Pray |
34
m (55 km) |
40
min |
|
| |
Yellowstone
Distance Table
(*Estimated driving time) |
One of the two Montana
entrances to Yellowstone, the North Entrance is frequently accessed from
a host of cities in western Montana, including Bozeman,
Livingston,
Belgrade,
Butte, Helena,
Great Falls and Missoula.
Gallatin
Field Airport in Bozeman, roughly 80 mi (129 km) from Yellowstone, is
served by several major airlines. By road, U.S. Route 89 leads into the
park and can be accessed via Interstate 90 from Missoula, Butte and Bozeman.
Visitors entering through the North Entrance enjoy an exceptionally scenic
drive, as they are surrounded by the awe-inspiring beauty of the Paradise
Valley and the Gallatin National Forest.
 |
| Engineers
Office at Fort Yellowstone2 |
|
ATTRACTIONS
Fort Yellowstone
Another major draw to the Mammoth Hot Springs area is historic Fort Yellowstone.
Constructed in three phases between 1891 and 1913, the buildings of historic
Fort Yellowstone recall the time when the United States Army was responsible
for the management of Yellowstone National Park. The buildings served
as Army headquarters and lodging for the troops designated to Yellowstone
National Park. Visitors have the chance to see the 19 structures that
make up Fort Yellowstone, including the captain's quarters, the guard
house, the blacksmith shop, the double cavalry barracks and the granary.
Paradise Valley
Visitors staying near this entrance in Montana enjoy convenient access
to the aptly named Paradise Valley, laden with many bed and breakfasts,
cabins and guest ranches. With the Yellowstone
River flowing through its center and exceptional views of the Absaroka
and Gallatin mountain ranges, the scenic milieu of the Paradise Valley
is a perfect backdrop for the virtually unlimited recreational opportunities,
which include rafting, kayaking, hiking, camping, horseback riding and
big game hunting.
| |
 |
| |
New
Blue Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs3 |
Mammoth Hot Springs
A testament to the park's interesting geothermal activity, Mammoth Hot
Springs showcases a variety of terraces and geological features shaped
by hot water. There are approximately 50 hot springs in the Mammoth Hot
Springs area. Various rock formations, bacterias and algae contribute
to the colorful displays that continue to draw visitors to the many natural
wonders found throughout the region. Several hiking trails, most of which
are quite short, offer excellent opportunities for bird watching and wildlife
viewing.
Gallatin National
Forest
Visitors staying near the North Entrance are also at the doorstep of Gallatin
National Forest. Covering 1.8 million acres (728,420 ha), Gallatin National
Forest is just beyond Yellowstone's northern boundary, offering outdoor
opportunities that include hiking, cross-country skiing, camping and more.
Three of southwestern Montana's famous Blue Ribbon trout streams, the
Gallatin,
Madison
and Yellowstone rivers, originate in Gallatin National Forest, offering
a wealth of fishing opportunities for anglers.
Winter Activities
This region of Yellowstone is a hotspot for winter adventure. As road closures
in the other areas of the park restrict visitor access, the road from the
North Entrance at Gardiner
to Cooke City
remains open. Mammoth Hot Springs is an ideal base for Nordic skiing, snowshoeing,
ice skating and over-snow journeys to the park's interior.
 |
| Mammoth
Hot Springs Hotel4 |
|
ACCOMMODATIONS
In-Park Accommodations
Mammoth
Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins is the most convenient accommodation
to the area's geothermal and historic attractions, although additional
accommodations are also available at Roosevelt
Lodge, a short drive southeast of Mammoth Hot Springs. One of only
two Yellowstone National Park lodges open in both the winter and the summer,
Mammoth Hot Springs offers a number of accommodation options. Two-bed
guest rooms with and without bathrooms are available, each equipped with
a telephone and a sink with running water. Basic cabins, budget cabins,
hot tub cabins and suites with cable television are also offered. Guests
staying at this accommodation are at the doorstep of Fort Yellowstone
and frequently observe elk grazing around the grounds. In the winter,
this is the only in-park accommodation accessible by automobile.
| |
 |
| |
Montana
Buffalo Company Guest Ranch5 |
Out-of-Park Accommodations
Gardiner marks the north gate of Yellowstone National Park and offers
accommodations to suit a range of needs and budgets, including bed
and breakfasts, cabins,
campgrounds
and hotels.
The convenience of being right at the gate to Yellowstone attracts many
travelers to Gardiner-area accommodations. Campers have a number of campgrounds
to choose from, including Rocky
Mountain Campground, Yellowstone
RV Park and Campground and Tom
Miner Campground. Several guest ranches in the area such as Diamond
Bar-D Guest Ranch, Hubbard's
Yellowstone Lodge and Montana
Buffalo Company afford rustic lodging and a host of activities. Gallatin
National Forest, just north of Yellowstone, features over 40 campgrounds,
although most have only basic amenities. The forest also has rustic cabin
accommodations built in the 1920s and 1930s, each with either a wood or
electric stove. Thirty miles (48 km) north of Yellowstone in Pray,
Montana, rests Chico
Hot Springs Resort, an accommodation that boasts two open-air mineral
hot springs pools and several lodging options, including lodge guest rooms,
a Western-style inn, a motel, rustic log cabins, chalets, a honeymoon
cottage and a five-bedroom log home. Livingston is roughly an hour's drive
from the park at the confluence of U.S. Route 89 and I-90, and features
many big-city amenities, attractions, recreational opportunities and lodging
options, including several campgrounds
and bed
and breakfasts. For travelers that prefer the amenities and accommodation
options of a major city, Bozeman is roughly an hour-and-a-half drive from
Yellowstone's North Entrance and offers many well-known chain hotels to
suit a range of lifestyles and budgets.
PHOTO COURTESY
- National Park Service; Minerva Terrace at Mammoth Hot Springs; WY,
USA
- National Park Service; Engineers Office at Fort Yellowstone; WY, USA
- National Park Service; New Blue Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs; WY,
USA
- National Park Service; Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel; WY, USA
- Gardiner Chamber of Commerce; Montana Buffalo Company Guest Ranch;
WY, USA
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
