Western Adventures When most people think of the Wild West, they imagine cowboys, ghost towns, horseback riding, hunting, and fishing. In West Yellowstone and the surrounding area, we have all that and so much more! Horseback Riding Nothing is more Western than exploring the mountains around West Yellowstone from the back of a steady equine. Riding a horse is one of the most popular visitor experiences. Explore a scenic mountain trail in a nearby national forest or ride into Yellowstone Park for the day or an overnight adventure. Rides lasting from one hour to overnight pack trips are available, with options for beginners who have never ridden before up to experienced riders. Local ranches and outfitters offer guided horseback rides for any budget from May until early October (weather dependent), and a few even offer winter rides. For the ultimate Western experience, ride a horse to a mountain cookout or base your Yellowstone vacation from one of our area guest ranches. Hunting Surrounded by national forests, hunting around West Yellowstone offers a wide variety of game in a spectacular mountain wilderness setting. Hunting options include an archery season (Aug-Oct) and rifle season (Oct-Nov) for elk, whitetail or mule deer, and antelope. Special game hunts are available by draw or through licensed outfitters and could include moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, buffalo, and wolf. Upland bird hunting runs from September through January 1. USFS Vehicle Use Map (PDF)Montana Hunting Regulations Rodeo Pull your hat down and cowboy up! Born in the past to ease the cowboys’ boredom, today’s rodeos are pure excitement. Bareback riding, team roping, saddle bronc riding, breakaway roping, bull riding, and a special calf scramble for the kids are just some of the scheduled events at the Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo just a few minutes west of town. The rodeo takes place Wednesday through Saturday evenings from mid-June through August; please check out Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo’s website or Facebook page for the current schedule. If you just can’t get enough, also be sure to check out the nearby Meadow Vue Ranch for their rodeos, which offer a look at the cowboy way of life for the whole family.