Big Sky, Montana, is Base Camp for All Yellowstone National Park Adventures
Big Sky, Montana | May 23, 2016 – Big Sky, Montana is only 15 miles from the border of Yellowstone National Park. Drive just 47 miles south of our mountain town and you can access the West Entrance to Yellowstone. It’s less than an hour’s drive following the scenic Gallatin River through the northwest corner of Yellowstone’s park boundaries. This summer is going to be an exciting milestone for our "neighbor" because August 25, 2016 marks the 100th birthday of the National Park Service.
On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson created the National Park Service (NPS). The world's first national park was Yellowstone National Park, established on March 1, 1872, predating the NPS. With abundant wildlife and fascinating geology, Yellowstone is one of the most popular national parks in the United States and sees a steady stream of visitors from around the world.
Big Sky is the perfect base camp for all Yellowstone National Park adventures. Climb a mountain. Spot a pack of wolves. Watch a grizzly wander down the road. Gawk in amazement as Old Faithful erupts. Stare in wonder at the Grand Prismatic Spring. See a bison calf romp amongst the wildflowers. Fly fish on an alpine lake as an elk watches from the shoreline. Hike through remote forests to breathtaking waterfalls. Celebrate the National Park Service’s Centennial Anniversary in Yellowstone and stay in Big Sky for a relaxing getaway from park visitors.
Experience the things that make Montana great like horseback riding, biking, hiking, climbing, fly fishing, zip lining, and of course Big Sky Resort. Big Sky Resort‘s “Base Camp to Yellowstone” offers exciting, family-friendly activities for anyone en route to Yellowstone. Check out the Lone Peak Expedition where a 15-passenger tram swoops you to the summit of Lone Mountain at 11,166 feet. From there you can see far into the surrounding country including Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park, three states, numerous mountain ranges, countless peaks, and endless forests.
On August 25, after a full day exploring Southwest Montana, head to Big Sky’s Town Center Park for Music In The Mountains, a free summer concert series. Listen to the band Fruition as the sun sets behind Lone Mountain and the NPS’s Centennial celebration comes to a close.
To promote this monumental event, the National Park Service is highlighting all of their historic and natural resources – including Yellowstone and 400+ other NPS sites — via their Find Your Park public awareness campaign. Access to all national park sites has never been easier. President Obama created a program called Every Kid In A Park that gives all fourth graders and their families a free National Park pass to encourage them experience the wildlife, the resources, and the history of these protected places. There are also a number of fee-free days this year so all can join the celebration. Those dates include:
- August 25-28 – National Park Service Birthday
- September 24 – National Public Lands Day
- November 11 – Veterans Day
Even if visitors do not take advantage of the fee-free days, access to Yellowstone National Park is very affordable. A single vehicle can enter for $30/week. Adults can purchase an annual Yellowstone National Park pass for just $60. An annual interagency pass is only $80. Seniors can purchase a lifetime pass for $10. The NPS provides free entrance to Yellowstone for military personnel and people with disabilities.
Come to Big Sky, Montana, this summer to celebrate the National Park Service’s 100th birthday. Take advantage of Big Sky's proximity to Yellowstone and use it as base camp for outdoor adventures in the park. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity can be booked at the following locations:
Big Sky Vacation Rentals is offering one week of unlimited access to Yellowstone National Park, special park info, "off the beaten path" destination suggestions, and backpacks are available for children when you book five nights or more in any property between now and November 1. It's a limited offer available to only the first 100 reservations made between now and July 1.
Lone Mountain Ranch is offering a special Centennial Package called Yellowstone In August. Valid from July 31 to September 4, all guests who book a seven night all-inclusive stay will receive a complimentary private tour in Yellowstone National Park.
320 Guest Ranch is offering a Celebrate Yellowstone package from June 15 to September 30. Deep discounts are available for anyone who books five nights of lodging. Are you ready to go on tours, horseback rides, visit the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, experience the Yellowstone Historical Museum, and receive your own field guide and calendar?
For more information about the Yellowstone National Park, the National Park Centennial, or Big Sky, Montana, contact Alex Mansfield, Visit Big Sky’s Marketing Manager, at 406-995-3000 or at alex@bigskychamber.com.
