Fun Ideas

We promise not to take up all of your time while you are in this beautiful corner of the world.  Here are some other ideas from us on fun things to do near here.

Before the picture of us in this post are options that are right near or in Red Lodge.  After are options that require a bit more distance driving {Yellowstone National Park and Bighorn Canyon}.  *For all of the driving options below, make sure you leave with a full tank of gas. 

Hiking:

• Lake Fork 
• Corral Creek 
• Glacier Lake {this requires four wheel drive because of the road to the trail head but is amazingly beautiful}
• BRING BEAR SPRAY on ALL hikes - can be purchased at the hardware store in RL

Shopping:

There are all kinds of little eclectic shops in RL, but here are a few of our favorites {and really this is Amy's section}.

• Babock & Miles - every kind of cheese, olive, salami, and wine you can imagine, plus it's super pretty inside the yellow house
• Kibler & Kirch - home knick knacks, books, and decor that will knock your socks off - think Montana's version of Pottery Barn 
• The Glass House - Carla {Kiel's mom} loves this store and it's full of dishes and crystal 
• Grizzly Peak - if you want an authentic Red Lodge shirt or souvenir, this is the place because it's not cheesy 

Art:  

• Beartooth Gallery - a truly legit art gallery with a fun owner and he will offer you wine while you look 

PIG RACES:

• Located in Bearcreek {just over the hill} and ran by Pitts, the pig races start at 7:00 pm nightly.  It's hilarious for adults and kids love it too!  Place your bets and see if your pig wins.  Pitts does also serve a fabulous prime rib and/or steak with a yummy warm Greek salad.   

Fishing:

• You can fish anywhere in Rock Creek and there are a few specific fishing access points if you want easy ways down to find your rock to stand on

Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary {located on the north end of Red Lodge}

• Provides life-long sanctuary for non-releasable native Montana wildlife and shares a message of education and conservation 
• Check out their website for more information 
• GREAT kid activity 

For the little nuggets:

• There is a park across from the grocery store in town and really, just grab your shoes and go adventure in the mountain, maybe throw rocks in the creek.  You can't go wrong anywhere out there.  Kids LOVE it.  Although, we do recommend bear spray if you are going to be off of a main road.  It's just safe and smart and again, can be purchased at the hardware store. 

MUST do Drive:

• Beartooth Pass {just keep going into the mountains on Main Street/US Highway 212 and you can go as far as you'd like; there is a lookout about halfway up and then it keeps on going past the summit into Wyoming and eventually Yellowstone via Cooke City, MT}

Yellowstone:

*Requires a pass

• 2 hours from RL via the Beartooth Pass, you will enter the NE entrance to the park 
• 2.5 hours from RL via Cody, WY, you will enter the E entrance to the park
• Some of our favorite spots in Yellowstone are The Canyon Village (the falls), Lamar Valley, Old Faithful, and Geyser Basin in the West Thumb area. 
• While visiting The Canyon Village area, go to Artist's Point on the south rim and do the normal touristy stuff with hundreds of other people, BUT then walk to the back area and start the trail head along the rim for a peaceful and solitary experience {up to 2 miles or follow to Ribbon Lake}
• We also recommend taking Uncle Tom's stairs on the south rim for the BEST view of the falls
• Drive along the north rim of the canyon and then hike down for some amazing vistas
• Lamar Valley will guarantee you Bison sightings, but don't pick up a calf and put in the trunk of your SUV rental.  Sometimes you will see wolves and bears too.  
• The valley also provides amazing fly fishing opportunities and the views are spectacular.  
• Geyser Basin is full of hot springs along Yellowstone Lake - they are crazy, vivid colors
• Old Faithful - it's simply a classic and if you haven't seen it, it's worth taking the time 
• There are a plethora of other things to see and do in Yellowstone, but the above are some of our highlights.  

view from Artist's Point on the south rim

view from the bottom of Uncle Tom's stairs on south rim

view from the bottom of the hike on the north rim 

view from the bottom of the hike on the north rim

view of the falls from the north rim

Lamar Valley

Geyser Basin

Geyser Basin

Geyser Basin

Old Faithful

Go Bison!

grizzly after Amy climbed in the ditch on the other side to get a picture - not recommended

elk - we don't have a clever saying for this one

Old Faithful

Bighorn Canyon: 
*Requires a pass

• 1.5 hours from RL to Lovell, WY 
• The drive there will be desolate and not very pretty but the canyon is AMAZING {especially from a boat} 
• Devil Canyon Overlook does not require a boat for a fantastic view 
• Look for some bighorn sheep and wild ponies while in the area 

 

View of Bighorn Canyon from a boat

View from Devil Canyon Overlook

Bighorn sheep on the drive to Bighorn Canyon