Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
August
As visitor numbers peak, moose and elk retreat into the backcountry. Days are long,
with daylight remaining until about 9:30pm. August is a prime hiking month, when
wildflowers are in full bloom at higher altitudes.
CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST
Stumble into Yellowstone's Old Faithful Inn on August 25 and face the surreal sight of
Christmas decorations and carol singers. The tradition dates back to the turn of the last
century, when a freak August snowstorm stranded a group of visitors in the Upper Geyser
Basin.
SMOKING WATERS MOUNTAIN MAN
RENDEZVOUS
Yellowstone's biggest mountain man rendezvous is a 10-day reenactment of an 1859 gath-
ering and includes tomahawk-throwing competitions, cowboy poetry and black-powder
sharpshooting. Red Lodge has a smaller rendezvous at the end of July, as does Jackson in
May.
CROW FAIR
Over 1000 tepees of the Apsaalooke Nation are erected in the Crow Agency, west of
Billings, on the third weekend in August, for the annual Crow Fair (
www.crow-fair.com
).
Highlights include dramatic Native American dances, rodeo and plenty of fried tacos.
September
Fall colors, the sounds of bugling elk, lack of mosquitoes and off-season discounts
make September a great month to visit, despite chilly nights. Ranger programs peter
out after Labor Day, as park accommodations start to close.
