Location: Cooke City
Top Things to do in Cooke City
8 Things to Do in Cooke City That You Shouldn't Miss
Cooke City-Silver Gate is a census-designated place (CDP) in Park County, Montana, United States. The population was 140 at the 2000 census. It sits toward the northeast of Yellowstone National Park on a road remaining open during the winter connecting through Tower Junction to Mammoth and north to Livingston, Montana. During the summer the road opens eastward to connect to Red Lodge, Montana via the Beartooth Highway on a scenic route climbing to 10,947 feet in elevation through the Beartooth Mountains and across the Beartooth Plateau. Its chief industry is tourism, which during the winter includes skiing and snowmobiling.
Restaurants in Cooke City
1. Cooke City General Store
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By Robert H - Sydney, Australia
After spending a couple of weeks in San Francisco and Chicago and catching the California Zephyr to Salt Lake, we drove to a cabin we'd hired for a week and were looking forward to not moving too much other than the occasional hike and photographing wolves. We were delighted to find this store just 2 minutes from our door and even more delighted to find that it had pretty much everything we wanted. The Huckleberry ice-cream lasted one night and we were back pretty much every second day on the pretence of buying matches, or beer, or bear spray, but more so to yarn with the wonderful folks behind the counter and other customers. We learned a hell of a lot every time and I so want to come back here soon.
2. Cooke City Montana Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By Jacques1313 - Poughkeepsie, New York
We stopped for about 45 minutes. This is an old mining area. The outside buildings and equipment shows you some of its past. The museum has many exhibits and pictures of its past glory. It is an nice stop on the way to Yellowstone.
3. Skyline Guest Ranch and Guide Service
Overall Ratings
5 based on 17 reviews
Trail rides, Guided Fishing Trips, Backcountry Pack Trips, Drop camps and Hunting. Experience the beauty and grandeur of Yellowstone National Park and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness by horseback. Excellent fly-fishing and the most scenic trail rides in the West!
Reviewed By jennk73 - Minneapolis, MN
Excellent. What more can I say? We ended up in the Cooke City area after the fires and closure of the Yellowstone River rearranged our Yellowstone trip. Our other adventure ended up being cancelled, and we were looking for something to replace it. We all decided on a horseback ride, and we called Skyline when we arrived at Yellowstone. We had no problem booking a trip for later in the week. We arrived early, yet were quickly set up with our horses for a 2-hour trip with Matt and Tori.
None of us had any experience, but they were very good about easing our fears and getting us short people (me) on the horse (took more than once). We went on a beautiful ride out overlooking Kersey Lake. Despite the height and narrow trail, the horses knew their job well.
My oldest son loves to fish, so Matt gave him some suggestions of places to go. When we returned the next day for him to fish in the area around the ranch, my younger son and I decided to see if we could get in on a one-hour ride. If we were willing to wait for the current group to come back, then we could go. We went out with Matt again for another great ride with more great views.
I cannot say enough good things about this place. I hope we get the opportunity to return!
4. Yellowstone Trading Post
Overall Ratings
4 based on 37 reviews
Reviewed By Bill85210 - Mesa, Arizona
Some priced right...some a little high...you can get all your Yellowstone stuff here that's for sure. Only thing was, where are your Cooke City Magnets! :-) Worth a stop/look.
5. Sylvia's Sweet Shoppe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By Judy A - Sorento, Illinois
This little candy shop was divine. If you like homemade fudge, this is the place, don't miss out! I had the chocolate fudge with caramel & sea salt. It was great. Also tried the peanut butter cups & the dark chocolate turtles. But the fudge was my favorite. If you are in Cooke City be sure to stop in.
6. Clarks Fork Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By Pyra-Danny - St. Petersburg, Florida
The trail begins relatively clear with signs and a boardwalk leading you to a the remains of an old Power Plant next to (the best part) a loud waterfall! It was breathtaking (and mildly scary) walking across the bridge the leads you right over the falls.
BUT THEN SNOW HAPPENED
As beginner hikers, we were trying to get to Kersey Lake and one sign pointed us in that direction. Even in June large snow piles blocked our path-- easy to walk over. But eventually we arrived in an area where the mud, snow, and stream made us question whether we were following a hiking trail or not anymore. No more signs showed the way... only the solitary footprints of someone who had gone before us. As beginner hikers we didn't want to chance becoming bear chow.
7. Clay Butte Fire Lookout Tower
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By mjhullah - Okotoks, Canada
This historical and restored fire lookout is 3 miles off the approach to the Beartooth Highway, access is by gravel road, large vehicles not allowed and although accessible by car, low ground clearance could be a problem. At 9,811 feet elevation the 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains is stupendous. The hosts are friendly and describe the history of the lookout. Vault toilet available. No fee but donations for upkeep accepted. It is very seasonal due to the climate, summer months only, suggest calling Shoshone forest service to check status.
8. Beartooth Powder Guides
Overall Ratings
5 based on 3 reviews
Beartooth Powder Guides is a backcountry guiding service that specializes in Backcountry skiing and snowmobile guiding in the mountains that surround Cooke City. Beartooth Powder Guides also offers Avalanche Safety educational classes, along with other backcountry skiing related classes throughout the winter and spring months.
Reviewed By imaginelle - Sydney, Australia
We are backcountry skiers and we aren't from the area- heck not even from the same country- so it pays to have good guides in the snow in an area you dont know. These guys know the terrain, the conditions and the stashes. Loved going up to the cabin with the zen Beau and ski touring Yellowstone amongst the wolfprints with Jesse. We will be back next year.
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