I debated on posting this photo, as I know that many tourists are bear phobic. This is a wilderness area. We are next to the main highway but there are woods around us and Yellowstone is nearby. All sorts of wildlife wander through our yard as well as Cooke City, Silver Gate and the lodge areas of Yellowstone and Teton N.P. They are not waiting to jump you when you step from the cabin but you should at least look around as you walk in this area of the world. I often hike alone off trail quietly in the backcountry. I stay aware of my surroundings, especially when hiking into the wind, and carry Bear Spray in my hand just in case. Last summer I missed a turn on a hike and walked the Cache Creek Trail with a little headlamp till 2:20AM at the Footbridge Area. I started in Cooke City and hiked over Republic Pass missing the turnoff to the Thunderer Cut-off; I was tired; if the animals wanted to get me, they could have. (Certainly, in the dark, noise is the order of the day.) I have yet to have any problem with an animal. (A grouse with chicks beside the trail startled me by hissing.) The most dangerous tourist-animal combination in the park is the bison. They seem slow, but they have a definite space threshold that can trigger their explosive speed and aggression. They do not view a car instinctively as they would an animal (human) at the same distance and this can fool people into making deadly mistakes about how close they can get. Far more people are very seriously hurt by bison than by bears. The bottom line is that you came to Yellowstone to see animals, respect them and stay aware of your surroundings or stay home and go to the zoo.
No, I haven't had any close encounters in our yard, but the snowshoe hare sometimes looks at me funny.
Rate $70 cleaning/management fee plus $60/night plus 10% tax: 1 night $130, 2=$190, 3=$250, 4=$310,.... 7=$490 + 10% State and Local tax. Located approximately 3000 feet from Yellowstone National Park on Highway 212 (i.e. National Park Road - the road through the Park) in Silver Gate, Montana. (Look for the "Wolf Crossing" signs on the north side of the highway.) We are within walking distance to a small general store and the Log Cabin Restaurant as well as an outdoor/mountaineering center. We are approximately 3 miles west of Cooke City, Montana (nearer Yellowstone) and just east of Dan & Cindy Hartman $100 RESERVATION
A pine marten regularly comes onto our porch. Also 6 deer in the yard and a moose (in June). A wild turkey regularly perched on our rail in June. Raven, Clark's Nutcracker, Stellar Jays and finchs all eat sunflower seeds from the rail. Also the occasional moose and bear. (See photos of wildlife below.) Soda Butte Creek is about 150 yards across the road. You can walk about 1/4 mile to the Bannock Trail (trailhead) and go 2 1/2 miles into the Park on a gentle path - or cross country ski trail in the winter. All of Yellowstone is known for wildlife but we are the nearest entrance to the Soda Butte Creek/Lamar River Valley end of the Park which is the most noted area for wildlife viewing ("The Serengeti of North America"). You can rent a spotting scope at the General Store. Go out early in the morning and set up on a hill beside the road overlooking the Lamar River and prepare to be amazed. NOTE - There are only 3 cabins - wolf lovers know the names. ADDED 150 channel SATELLITE TV & WIRELESS INTERNET for all cabins. Working great. Cabins have a electric heat, bathroom w/shower; coffee maker, microwave, toaster oven, refrigerator, kitchen table w/chairs, plates,cups, silverware. Also a small front deck with a table and canvas chairs. Sorry - no pets - no smoking.
Pay with the "BUY THIS" button. You don't have to have a PayPal account to use your credit card. Type the dates and cabin name in the "comments" area as you pay. We will email back a confirmation on the next business day. THANKS Just installed new Queen size mattress set in the Druid cabin only. The other 2 have a futon that makes a double bed. 6-7-2011
This May (2010) we were visited by a cinnamon black bear, 2 foxes and 2 pine martens. A moose and bison went through the yard but we didn't see them.
At the cabin 5-2010
At the cabin 5-2010
Who will love it here:
This area is as close to Alaska as you can get in the Lower 48 States. Due to the elevation (about 7400), the tempatures are similar, the wildlife viewing is as good or better. There are even permanent glaciers above us high in the Beartooth Mountains. The small town and residents remind me of the show, Northern Exposure. It is remote, wild and rustic here.
People who love wildlife and trout fishing (Clark’s Fork River and the numerous mountain lakes). This is the Park entrance nearest to the Lamar River Valley – and the Soda Butte Creek Valley – and the Beartooth Pass/Absaroka Wilderness area (outside the Park). We have had moose, deer, bear – black and grizzly in our yard. Wolves are often seen in the valley. (No, you don’t always see them. If you did, they would change the name to “Yellowstone Zoo”.) This is one of the premier areas of the world for wildlife viewing. The TV, internet, the shower are all extras. You realize that you are renting proximity to the wildlife – not a luxurious cabin. Many of our happiest renters are repetitive park visitors. (“Can we book for next year?” “Can we buy the cabin?”) You are by far the majority of our clients.
Who should not stay here:
These are simple little cabins that were built decades ago and used by the park service before they were moved. They have been rechinked and roofed but are old, simple structures with antique doors and windows. They have electric heaters. Don’t be misled by the fact that we have satellite internet and television – these cabins are rustic – and small. The Sloughs and Agates have a futon that make a double bed. The Druids has a new (as of 6-7-2011) queen mattress. The other 2 cabins are futons that make a double bed. All seem firm. The electricity in this area comes in over the Chief Joseph Highway from the Cody area and can go out for extended periods. If you have health or mobility issues – don’t stay here. If you MUST have the internet – don’t stay here. If you need room for more than 2 people – don’t stay here. If you came primarily to see the “big” features of Yellowstone such as Old faithful, Canyon and Lake – be aware that while we are one mile from the Northeast Entrance, we are 30 miles from the intersection at Tower and probably 3 hours or so from Old Faithful. Yellowstone is the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined - it takes a day to drive around. You can “see” the Park in a day – and never see it all in a lifetime.
Our Latest Visit:
We just returned to Kentucky from the cabin. We had 3 pine martens and 3 foxes visiting the cabin. There was a cinamon black bear with 2 cubs just down the road toward Cooke City. Other folks saw 3 moose across the road from us. I believe we saw the most wildlife we had ever viewed in the park - all in the Soda Butte Creek/ Lamar River Valley. Lots of bison, including many new calves, elk, pronghorn and moose. We saw 15 bears in 2 days including 2 premating (looks like fighting/dancing) grizzlies. We watched 4 coyotes chase 2 wolves from an apparent coyote den area. I saw a golden eagle "chick" in its nest and 2 bald eagles. Also an osprey on its traditional nest in the canyon around Tower. There was/is a lot of snow melting It was very nice. The photos below were taken around 6-1-2011
7-2011 Bullmoose in the back yard as well as a black bear. 1 marten and 2 foxes still around the house. Moose cow and calf in front of our cabi
Photos to the left - a grizzly - and to the right - a wolf - were taken by a game camera 30' behind our cabin last fall. I just now downloaded the card.
