Yellowstone's North Entrance

Minerva Terrace at Mammoth Hot Springs1

ACCESS

Engineers Office at Fort Yellowstone2

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

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.