What attractions are close to the West Gate Hotel?
The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, where grizzlies fish in trout-stocked ponds and wolf packs roam a natural-habitat sanctuary, is just a few minutes away. The Rails to Trails bike path is a block away, the Museum of the Yellowstone tells the story of park travel through the Hebgen Lake Basin, and the whole of downtown West Yellowstone is just up the street.
Do Yellowstone tours pick up at the hotel?
Yes, guided park tours will pick you up right at the hotel, a detail recent guests appreciate. Let someone else drive the loops while you watch for wildlife; our front desk can help you choose and book a tour for your dates.
Is the Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo good for first-timers?
If you've never been to a rodeo, this is the one not to miss. Running since 1999, the Lillian Rodeo Company's show packs in barrel racing, bronc and bull riding, team roping, audience participation contests, and the always-entertaining kids' calf round-up.
Where's the best whitewater near West Yellowstone?
Two great answers. The closest is the Gallatin River, about an hour's drive north, considered some of the best whitewater paddling in the West: a raging technical river in June that mellows into scenic paddling as the season progresses. The classic is the Yellowstone River at Gardiner, just past Mammoth Hot Springs, where longtime outfitters like Yellowstone Raft Company and Montana Whitewater run trips through Yankee Jim Canyon; it pairs perfectly with a Mammoth day on the park's north loop. Our front desk can match your family to the right river, trip, and outfitter.
Can we ride horses in Yellowstone country?
Yes, from easy trail rides in the local foothills to multi-day pack trips for hunting or fishing on horseback. Keep your eyes up: riders regularly spot eagles, coyotes, deer, elk, and sometimes wolves and bears.
How big is the snowmobile trail network around West Yellowstone?
More than 400 miles of groomed trails wind through the Gallatin and Targhee National Forests outside the park, from gentle flat cruising to climbs that end in spectacular vistas. When park roads close to cars, typically in late October and weather-dependent, snowcoaches and guided snowmobiles carry winter visitors inside Yellowstone itself. The West Gate Hotel closes for the winter season, but our sister property, the Kelly Inn West Yellowstone, is open year-round for winter lodging.
Can I cross-country ski near the hotel?
The West Yellowstone area is a Nordic skiing haven. Groomed track is set on select trails, and all unplowed roads and trails in Yellowstone open to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter, letting adventurous skiers see the park from an entirely different point of view. The West Gate Hotel closes for the winter season, but our sister property, the Kelly Inn West Yellowstone, is open year-round for winter lodging.
What's the story behind Earthquake Lake?
In 1959, a massive earthquake dropped an entire mountainside into the Madison River canyon, creating Quake Lake overnight. The Earthquake Lake Visitor Center, a scenic drive from town, overlooks the slide and tells the story with panoramic views you won't forget.
