Brad’s Guide to Cooke City and Yellowstone

Good and easy hikes are right out the front door. The Bannock Trail is a top favorite. To get there, walk west on the main road and turn left at Republic, veer right at the fork. Bridal Falls is along the Bannock road, in Silver Gate (3 miles West of Cooke) near the bridge follow the creek to the falls (about ½ mile hike from the bridge). Bring water shoes as you may need to make multiple water crossings with no bridges along the Bannock. Also along Bannock trail is a side trail leading to Guitar Lake (For serious hikers - will take all day)

We recommend you purchase some topography maps and bear spray before hiking. You can find maps at the Silver Gate General Store or the Cooke City General Store.

Driving up here you will find multiple trail systems. Some popular ones are Lady of the Lake and Grasshopper Glacier. There are even more trails located just a short drive outside of Cooke down Colter Pass where you can find the Clarks Fork Trailhead, a wonderful spot for a nice simple “self-guided” hike and a picnic. Clarks Fork Trailhead is quite family friendly and great for all ages and abilities with stunning scenery too.

Yellowstone has its own rules and a Montana or Wyoming State license is not valid inside the National Park. You can ask about fishing licenses for inside the park at the park gate. Montana State fishing licenses are available at the Cooke City General Store. Some of our favorite spots are Kersey Lake, or Lake Abundance. Lady of the Lake is accessible only by hiking but well worth the fishing. A Wyoming state fishing license will grant you access to more fishing options such as The Clarks Fork River, Beartooth Lake, Long Lake and most lakes on the Beartooth Highway.

There are some local outfitters you can find in Cooke City or on Colter Pass. Research Beartooth Plateau Outfitters, K Bar Z or Skyline Guest Ranch.