Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ally fire rifle shots at the passing trains. His tirades were supposedly fueled by copi-
ous amounts of whiskey.
By 1893, with his road in disrepair and his penchant for alcohol steadily on the
rise, Yankee Jim agreed to surrender his road for a lump sum of $1,000. Local lore
inserts Teddy Roosevelt, a frequent visitor to Yellowstone National Park, as the per-
son who convinced Yankee Jim to give up his road and his antics (or else). In 1924,
Yankee Jim died penniless in Fresno, California. There are many who believe that
his fortune, amassed by all those years of price-gouging in the canyon that bears his
name, is buried in the hills between Emigrant and Gardiner.
To cover a lot of water in this country, with or without a rod, floating on a raft or
drift boat can be a great option. While just about any outfitter can arrange to float and
fish,
Flying Pig Rafting Company
(866/264-8448,
www.flyingpigrafting.com
, half-day
trips $42 adults, $32 children under age 13, full-day trips $87 adults, $67 children) and
Montana Whitewater
(406/763-4465 or 800/799-4465,
www.montanawhitewater.com
,
half-day trips $41 adults, $30 children under age 13, full-day trips $80 adults, $58 children)
both offer scenic and white-water floats on the Yellowstone River. In addition to their stand-
ard menu of day trips, Flying Pig also offers three-day “Paddle and Saddle” trips.
Hiking
With mountains towering in every direction—the Absarokas and the Gallatins south of
town, the Bridgers to the west, and the Crazies to the northeast—and a stiff wind usually
blowing, heading out for a hike is never a bad idea in Livingston. Six miles south of town
on the east side of River Road in Paradise Valley,
Pine Creek
is a stunning and popular spot
with camping (spots fill up early) and hiking options for every ability level. A nice leisurely
amble is the 2-mile out-and-back trail to
Pine Creek Falls.
Hard-core hikers could hike the
steep but mostly shaded 10 miles to
Pine Creek Lake. Suce Creek, Deep Creek,
and
Mill
Creek
all have first-rate trails and stunning scenery, but be aware of bears in the region. For
gear or just good ideas, talk to Dale at
Timber Trails
(309 W. Park St., 406/222-9550), on
the main thoroughfare into downtown Livingston. His wonderful little gem of a store also
rents mountain bikes.
