Visit Gardiner Montana

The small tourist town of Gardiner, Montana, with a population of 800, lies just outside the northwest entrance to Yellowstone National Park - just three miles from the Wyoming border. As the only year-round entrance into the park and with the Yellowstone River slicing right through it, Gardiner is only fives miles away from the park headquarters at Mammoth Hot Springs. Resorts dominate the area. Sitting at an elevation of 5,300-feet, the unique town, which is approximately 900 feet lower than Mammoth, experiences warm, dry summers and relatively mild winters.

Founded in 1880, Gardiner was the first major entryway into the nation's first designated national park with the Northern Pacific Railroad extending a line to the Yellowstone border. Nowadays, the most famed and impressive structure in the area is the monumental stone park entryway-similar to Frances Arc de Triomphe - which acted as the primary gateway into the park for many years. Dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, a man regarded by many as Yellowstone's patron saint, the Roosevelt Arch bears the inscription, For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People. The arch was actually constructed to offset the park visitor's initial disappointment at discovering the rather ordinary country in this section of the park. Roosevelt, who became quite familiar with the area and its outstanding natural beauty, dedicated a healthy portion of his presidency to preserving America's natural wonders.

Gardiner offers a host of accommodations, but be sure to reserve spots in advance in the summer and early fall. With motels, cottages, inns, lodges, bed-and-breakfasts and guesthouses to choose from, Gardiner will suit your every need.

Abundant camping opportunities also exist in the area with the most attractive being the Mammoth Campground in Yellowstone National Park. The campground is open year-round but is located near a rather busy road. A number of other camping sites can be found in beautiful Gallatin National Forest which is less than two miles northeast of Gardiner up the gravel road on the way to Jardine. Two RV parks which are operated from May to Oct. provide showers and a public laundromat for those who are traveling in motorhomes.

For eats, Gardiner has many family friendly restaurants and pizza joints sprinkled throughout its limits. Cafes, delis, espresso and ice cream stands and a grocery store are also available. Whether you're in the mood for a thick juicy steak, shrimp fra diavolo or the classic American hamburger, the Gardiner establishments can definitely satisfy your hunger.

Whitewater rafting, fly-fishing, mountain biking and horseback rides and backcountry pack trips are all available to keep you on your toes. Three rafting companies offer trips down the Yellowstone River. The rapids in this stretch are relatively gentle, in the Class II-III range. No local companies rent mountain bikes, but a number of fine trails exist with some following the Yellowstone River. For more information visit the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce while you're in town.