Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
for backcountry camping in Yellowstone are available online at the National Park Service
Backcountry Trip Planner (
www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit
)
.
By far the most unique meal available in the park is the
M
Old West Dinner Cookout,
which departs daily mid-June-Sept. 1 from the Roosevelt Lodge and is served in Yellow-
stone's wilderness. The hearty steak-and-potatoes dinner with all the cowboy trimmings can
only be attended on horseback (1-hour rides from $76 ages 12 and over, $66 children 8-11,
2-hour rides from $85 ages 12 and over, $75 children 8-11) or via covered wagon (from $57
ages 12 and over, $46 children 3-11, free for children under 3).
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily throughout the season in the
Roosevelt
Lodge Dining Room, Canyon Lodge Dining Room, Cafeteria, and Deli,
and the
Mam-
moth Hotel Dining Room and Terrace Grill
(866/439-7375,
www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com
)
. Each restaurant has its own flair—Roosevelt
Lodge tends to be heartier, with options like barbecue beef, bison chili, and Wyoming
cheesesteak, while Mammoth is known for elaborate buffets and inventive small plates
like goat cheese sliders, mini trout tacos, and Thai curry mussels. Canyon offers burgers,
sandwiches, and an extensive soup and salad bar. Breakfasts include entrées ranging from
pancakes and eggs to biscuits and gravy ($6-10). Lunches range $8-14, and dinners are
generally $12-30. The most reasonably priced spot for dinner is the Canyon Lodge Cafet-
eria, with menu options that include hot dogs, hamburgers, rice bowls, and pasta entrées
($4-12). Generally, breakfast is served 6:30am-10am, lunch 11:30am-2:30pm, and dinner
5:30pm-10pm. Hours vary seasonally by restaurant and are subject to change. Call ahead
for reservations or to check on hours; menus are available on the website.
With arguably the best wildlife viewing in the park, especially in winter, this region is
known as the “Little Serengeti of North America.” The wide-open spaces of the Lamar Val-
ley and much of the northeast corner of the park also offer some pretty dramatic mountain
vistas. There is excellent fishing and hiking in the region, and just outside the park's north-
east entrance is Cooke City, a cool little community with tremendous appeal to backcountry
skiers, snowmobilers, and other outdoor enthusiasts.
