Hugging the border between Montana and Wyoming, Cooke City is a small community at one end of the Beartooth Highway. It is named after Jay Cooke, who helped to finance the Northern Pacific Railroad, which once connected Minnesota with the Pacific Northwest. Today, Cooke City serves as a gateway to Yellowstone National Park and is a popular destination for skiing and snowmobiling in the winter months.
Things to do in Cooke City
If you’re interested in the local history, visit the Cooke City Montana Museum, which houses artefacts and exhibits related to the communities of Cooke City, Silver Gate and Colter Pass. Learn about Cooke City’s establishment as a mining camp and the experience of attending school in times gone by, as well as the challenges of living in such a remote corner of the world.
For sweeping views across the Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains, embark on a scenic drive along the Beartooth Highway, which extends for just over 100 kilometres between Cooke City and Red Lodge. It has been designated as a National Scenic Byways All-American Road and takes in high alpine plateaus, glacial lakes and forested valleys with spectacular waterfalls.
Cooke City makes an ideal base for exploring the northern part of Yellowstone National Park and hiking to the 3,115-metre-high summit of Mount Washburn. Photograph the plunging cascade of Tower Hall and stop at the Calcite Springs Overlook before visiting the Petrified Tree. Wolves and bison can be spotted on the grasslands surrounding Junction Butte.
Getting around Cooke City
Cooke City is around three hours’ drive from Bozeman and Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, which has seasonal flights to destinations across the United States. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Cooke City and exploring the surrounding area.