Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
» Cutting trees or shrubs for firewood is prohibited.
» Don't build trenches around campsites.
» A maximum of six people and two cars are allowed at each site (some USFS sites
charge extra for a second car).
» No food, ice chests, food containers, utensils or camp stoves may be left outside unat-
tended. If you are tenting, store all food and containers in bear boxes. Don't dispose of
food in the camp area; put it in a bag or container and dispose of it in the trash. Don't put
trash in the toilets.
» Pets must be physically controlled at all times. Please pick up after your pet.
» Bear restrictions require that only hard-sided campers (no pop-ups) can occupy sites at
Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone and certain USFS grounds outside Cooke City and in the
upper Wapiti Valley.
XANTERRA CAMPGROUNDS
Yellowstone's concessionaire,
Xanterra
( 307-344-7311;
www.travelyellowstone.com
)
, runs five campgrounds, where sites can be reserved in advance. Reservations can be
made over the phone or from other Xanterra campgrounds or facilities in the park. When
you make a phone booking, you must pay by credit card and then receive a booking refer-
ence number. You'll need to show that credit card when you turn up at the campground.
Xanterra doesn't take checks. A full refund of your deposit is possible if you cancel more
than 48 hours in advance.
Be careful to specify the type of site you want: tent or non-tent site, reverse-in or pull-
through site, and even the length of the site. If your site requirements change, you'll need
to change the reservation. Some sites are designated tent-only: you don't
have
to put up a
tent in these, but you can't roll up in a giant RV.
If the campground office is closed when you arrive, look on the notice board for your
name on an envelope, which will contain your site allocation. If you arrive late at night
without a reservation, look on the notice board to see if any sites are vacant and pay the
next morning before 11am.
DUDE RANCHES
Dude-ranch history dates back to the late 19th century, when visiting family and friends from eastern cities
offered money to the informal accommodations supplied as a sideline by the region's ranches.
