Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For more information on any of these events, call or visit Donna—who is as know-
ledgeable as she is friendly—at the chamber-run visitors center (406/838-2495,
www.cookecitychamber.org
,
year-round, hours change seasonally) on the west end of town
on the north side of the street; the center also has flush toilets.
Recreation
The northeastern corner of the park and the area just outside it is a natural playground for
fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.
One short but worthwhile hike can be found 1.8 miles west of the Pebble Creek Camp-
ground at
Trout Lake.
The hike itself is short and steep, just 1.2 miles round-trip, and
leaves from the Trout Lake Trailhead on the north side of the road. Anglers can bring a rod
after July 15 when it opens to catch-and-release fishing for native cutthroats. In late spring-
early summer, trout can be seen spawning in the inches-deep inlet, a fairly miraculous sight.
There is an excellent trail around the 12-acre lake and shallow inlet and a decent chance of
spotting playful otters, but hikers should take great care not to disturb the fish, especially
during spawning.
Another great place to combine fishing, hiking, and wildlife watching—perhaps the per-
fect Yellowstone trifecta—is along the trail at
Slough Creek.
East of Tower Junction 5.8
miles (or west of the northeast entrance) is an unpaved road on the north side of the road
leading to Slough Creek Campground. The trailhead is 1.5 miles down the road on the right
side, just before the campground. The trail itself is a double-rutted wagon trail that leads
to Silver Tip Ranch, a legendary private ranch just outside the park. The trail is maintained
for 11 miles (one-way) and only gains 400 feet in elevation. All along the trail there is
world-class fishing in slow-moving Slough Creek, home to a healthy population of native
cutthroat trout. You may meet elk, bison, wolves, and even grizzlies along the trail, so be
prepared and be safe.
With an average of 500 inches of snowfall each year, mountainous terrain with elevation
that ranges 7,000-10,000 feet, and a nearly interminable winter, Cooke City is a winter
mecca with 60 miles of groomed snowmobile trails and endless acres of ungroomed terrain
for skiing and snowmobiling. Some favorites trails are
Daisy Pass, Lulu Pass,
and
Round
Creek Trail.
There are a number of places to rent snowmobiles and all the necessary gear. Most
important, you'll need to talk with experts about local conditions, trail closures, and
avalanche dangers.
Cooke City Motorsports
(203 Eaton St., 406/838-2231,
www.cookecitymotorsports.com
,
snowmobiles from $215/day) and
Cooke City Exxon
