Carol’s Driving and Fishing Excursion
Want to be an angler in Yellowstone National Park? Follow Carol’s lead and pack your gear. She likes to start out at Indian Creek
Campground. Park in the picnic area and walk up Obsidian Creek (don’t forget your bear spray). Her next stop is at the pullout just past Norris Campground. Several years ago, there was a grizzly bear in the area (don’t forget your bear spray). Next stop, head on over to Virginia Cascades. Just past the water fall, there are plenty of pull outs for you to fish from (don’t forget your bear spray). Time for a break? Need some lunch? Head on over to the Canyon General Store. There are variety of snacks or sit at the counter for a burger and fries. Now it’s time for one more stop but before we get there, let’s take in the sites as we drive over Dunraven Pass to Tower Roosevelt. A drive through Lamar Valley is a must if you’ve never been but we still have some fishing to do so we’ll keep going towards Mammoth until we come up to the Lava Creek Picnic Area. And that’s how we end our day and head on home to Yellowstone’s Edge RV Park.
Carol’s Hiking and Fishing Excursion
For a longer, get-away-from-the-road, fishing excursion, Carol loves hiking to Cascade Lake. It’s just over two miles to the lake and you might
not even see anyone else out there fishing. Bring your snacks, your bug repellent (there’s a short hike section through the pines and home to mosquitoes), and your bear spray. Take in the scenery as you make your way to the lake. You’ll be walking through two beautiful meadows. If you’re there in mid-July, you’ll see the wildflowers in full bloom so don’t forget your camera too. It’s not unusual to see bison so be sure to keep a safe distance from them. As far as fish in the lake, you could catch a grayling or a cutthroat, or both! Keep an eye out for the osprey too. They like to dive down and make a splash!
Willie is our go-to guy when it comes to eating out. He knows just the spot for whatever you’re craving!
Emigrant:
Yellowstone Valley Grill-Elk Backstrap and a draft beer
Emigrant Outpost-Burger and a draft beer
Chico Saloon-Wings and a draft beer
Pine Creek Lodge-Chicken Jambalaya and a draft beer
Old Saloon-Baseball Sirloin and a draft beer
Follow Yer Nose BBQ-Baby Back Ribs and Collard Greens and a draft beer
Wildflour Bakery-Ham and Egg Croissant and a Honey Bun Pastry
Big Timber:
Timber Bar and Grill-Burger and a draft beer
White Sulphur Springs:
Bar 47-BBQ Sandwich and Burger and a draft beer
Roscoe:
Grizzly Bar-Burger and a draft beer
Livingston:
The Stockman Bar-Ribeye Steak and a draft beer
Mint Bar and Grill-Ribeye Steak and Pork Chop and a draft beer
Neptunes Brewery-Fish and Chips and a draft beer
Mark’s In & Out-Cheese Burger and a Banana Shake
Montana’s Rib and Chop House-Louisiana Pasta and Jambalaya and a draft beer!
Whatever your pleasure…don’t forget the draft beer!
Kayaking
Put in at the fishing access at the Emigrant Bridge and get out at Yellowstone’s Edge RV Park. In July it takes an hour and in August, two hours. In July, it is fun taking the side tributaries to the right of the main channel. At evening time, you may see deer, geese, eagles, osprey, beaver or mink. You can also look for agates and petrified wood on the gravel bars.
For a longer adventure, put in at the Point of Rocks river access and get out at the Emigrant Bridge or Yellowstone’s Edge RV Park. This is a four to six-hour trip!
Hiking
This climbs about 250-300’ up to hike along the edge of the narrows section of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Bring your lunch along and have it while looking down on Bannock Ford and up the canyon. You can see bighorn sheep, marmots, ground squirrels, badgers, antelope, or bison. The full loop is four miles, or just go as far as you want and return to the picnic area.
This trail starts out over meadows surrounded by mountains then follows the edge of a canyon with Lava Creek down below. You can see 
columnar joints up close on top of the canyon. Eventually, you’ll work your way down to the Yellowstone River. There is a ranger cabin off to the right and access to the water with good places to fish or wade in sandy areas in the water. You can cross a suspension bridge and follow the trail a short distance to a pristine alpine lake where you can watch ducks land on the water. If you want to hike two miles further, you will come to a waterfall. Stopping at the river makes for an eight-mile hike or go to the lake for ten miles or the waterfall for a fourteen-mile hike. I have run across a bear on this trail so be sure to take spray. There is an osprey nest on the far end of the suspension bridge for close encounters with big birds. This is a beautiful hike, more uphill on the return part.
Are you staying with us in September? Want to check out some cool hay sculptures that some creative farmers have put together?
Take a drive on the Montana Bale Trail. (If the rain doesn’t get them, they’re on display most of the month) The main event is Sunday after Labor Day. Get an early start (we usually leave around eight, click here for our route) and head towards Big Timber. From there go north to Hobson (check out the arts and craft fair while you’re there) and start your 22 mile route towards Utica. Hungry? Stop at the Oxen Yoke in Utica and join the locals for a burger or hot dog…be prepared to share a table and make new friends. Done with lunch? Keep going towards Windham, there’s still more “art” to take in. Time to head home? Head west and you’ll come up on MT 427, take a left there and follow it to Hwy 89 and head south. You’ll be driving through some beautiful scenery before you get back onto I-90.
PS…if you want to start the weekend early, the Lewistown Chokecherry Festival happens on Saturday after Labor Day. Enjoy the festival, stay at The Calvert Hotel, and on Sunday, start your Montana Bale Trail drive.
Want to go for an easy, scenic drive? Head over to Natural Bridge Falls south of Big Timber but take the more adventurous way! Drive the dirt road, take your time, and enjoy the views. When you get back on the main road head south to Natural Bridge Falls and enjoy a leisurely stroll on the paved trails. Worked up a thirst? Head back north, you’ll come up on Holly’s Road Kill Saloon. They’ll hook you up with tea or a soda or even an adult beverage (we don’t suggest you drive after drinking though). Hungry? Keep going to Big Timber and have lunch at the Grand Hotel or the Thirsty Turtle, neither will disappoint. Ready to head back to the rv park and enjoy the community campfire? Follow I-90 west.
Debbie and Dennis are always looking for new destinations to ride their Harley. This ride will take you through potato fields, rolling hills, and tidy farms along the Madison River to the Pony Bar in Pony, Montana. A walk through the bar will take you down an old time memory lane. After leaving the Pony Bar, Debbie’s drive takes you to Three Forks. This area marks one of the most significant points along the Lewis and Clark Trail. Here at the headwaters of the Missouri River, Sacajawea was reunited with her brother and brokered safe passage for the explorers. Following on the heels of this epic American tale, the Sacajawea Hotel was constructed in 1910. Drop in and absorb its history.
Staying with us and have a free evening during the late summer and fall months? The grizzly bears will 
most likely be digging for caraway roots and fattening up for the winter at Tom Miner Basin. Our staff has reported seeing as many as thirteen grizzlies in one evening along moose, elk, and bighorn sheep on other evenings. On your drive out there, please be respectful of the Tom Miner Basin residents and road.
Pop Quiz: Who was Tom Miner?