Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(204 Main St., 406/838-2244,
www.cookecityexxon.com
,
snowmobiles from $185/day) are
obvious choices in town.
The
Silvertip Mountain Center
(115 U.S. 212, Silver Gate, 406/838-2125 or 800/
863-0807,
www.silvertipmountaincenter.com
) has an impressive collection of equipment
for purchase and for rent, including skis, snowshoes, ice-climbing and rock-climbing equip-
ment, tents, and more. The staff are local experts in various passions and are a great re-
source for ideas about any type of adventure you're inclined to plan.
Accommodations
For a town with a population that rarely surpasses 100, Cooke City has an impressive num-
ber of places to hang your hat. Lodging runs the gamut from cabins and vacation rentals
to roadside motels, chain hotels, and small resorts, although not all of them are open year-
round. Most of the photo galleries on the accommodations' websites are images of moose
and bears or snowmobiles buried in powder rather than pictures of beds and baths. Clearly,
Cooke City has morphed from a mining town into a tourist destination.
Big Moose Resort
(715 U.S. 212, 406/838-2393,
www.bigmooseresort.com
,
$95-110)
is three miles east of town and a great place to set up a base camp if you want to explore the
region's trails and rivers. Open year-round, the lodge has a small collection of old and new
cabins, all of which are quite comfortable and can accommodate up to four people. There
are no phones in the cabins (and no cell service in the area), but free Wi-Fi is provided, and
you can schedule a Swedish massage on-site.
In the heart of bustling Cooke City is the
Soda Butte Lodge
(210 U.S. 212, 406/
838-2251,
www.cookecity.com
,
$88-132), a full-service hotel with 32 guest rooms, a sa-
loon, and a restaurant. The guest rooms are basic, but you didn't come to Cooke City to
hang out in your hotel room.
In nearby Silver Gate,
M
Silver Gate Lodging
(109 U.S. 212, 406/838-2371,
www.pineedgecabins.com
,
$79-198) offers 29 great cabins that can accommodate any size
group and welcomes pets. The setting is both quiet and communal, with barbecue grills,
horseshoe pits, and a playground.
Camping
There are three Forest Service campgrounds in the vicinity of Cooke City.
Soda Butte
(406/
848-7375,
www.fs.usda.gov
,
July 1-Sept. 30 depending on weather, $9/vehicle) is one mile
east of Cooke City on U.S. Highway 212. It has 27 sites, restrooms, and drinking water, and
fishing is available nearby. Please note that due to bear activity, this is a hard-sided camp-
