West Yellowstone is a frontier town if there ever was. To this day it has the feeling of being an outpost. An oasis among all of the natural and wild splendor of Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding Gallatin National Forest.
West Yellowstone the gateway town at the southern Montana/western entrance to Yellowstone National Park and has been since nearly the beginning of the Yellowstone.
The 5 Gateway Towns to Yellowstone National Park
- West Yellowstone, Montana: West Gate Entrance.
- Jackson, Wyoming: South Gate Entrance.
- Cody, Wyoming: East Gate Entrance.
- Cooke City, Montana: Northeast Gate Entrance.
- Gardiner, Montana: North Gate Entrance (the original gateway into YNP)
Yellowstone becomes a National Park March 1, 1872 — making it the world’s first national park. West Yellowstone was founded a few decades later in June 1908 when the Oregon Short Line Railroad was completed, the town’s name changed several times until the factual and to the point name of West Yellowstone was settled upon in 1920. Train service to West Yellowstone ended in 1960.
West Yellowstone has been true to it’s name ever since – it’s a gateway town and doesn’t pretend to be anything else. It’s purpose from the start was to provide services to visitors of Yellowstone National Park. West Yellowstone provides gas, lodging, food, trickets, t-shirts, and even some attractions of its own like an I-Max theater, museum and bear exhibit.
West Yellowstone is also in the experience business providing ATV tours, snowmobile rentals, fishing supplies and guides and more. Outfitters are available for what ever floats your drift boat or white water raft.
