Things to Do
Floating the rivers, hiking, horseback rides, evening shows and day trips.
Floating the rivers
On a hot summer day, floating is a favorite. Bring your own tubes and boats or rent locally:
- Big Springs to Mack's Inn is the most popular and longest float, up to about four hours on gentle water. Bring sunscreen, bug spray and snacks, and remember that anglers like the lower stretch in the evening.
- The Buffalo River near Pond's Lodge is a slow, shallow float of about an hour and a half to two hours.
- Box Canyon, below Island Park Dam, is a faster float with small rapids and rocks at low water. Not for small children.
Most floats need two vehicles to shuttle, unless you rent from an outfitter that shuttles you.
Hiking
- Coffee Pot Rapids trail: about 2.5 miles along the Henry's Fork from the Upper Coffee Pot Campground, where calm water turns to whitewater. Wildflowers in early summer, huckleberries later.
- Big Springs water trail: a short, accessible walk at Big Springs.
- Harriman State Park: miles of easy trails along the river and meadows.
- Continental Divide Trail: sections cross the high country around Island Park, in moderate to difficult terrain. Parts are grizzly habitat, so carry bear spray and store food properly.
Horseback rides
Island Park's trails are beautiful by horseback, up onto high ridges and down through quiet ravines, often with wildlife and summer wildflowers. Local ranches offer guided rides of one to three hours, some with a cowboy cookout. Harriman State Park also has guided rides through a park vendor.
ATV, UTV and boat rentals
Island Park has miles of ATV and UTV trails, including the old railroad bed. Local rental shops have machines for the trails in summer and the water too. Snowmobile rentals take over in winter; see Winter in Island Park.
Evening shows
Summer evenings bring family-friendly shows: the Yellowstone Playhouse dinner theater at the north end of Island Park, and the long-running Playmill Theatre in West Yellowstone.
Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center
In West Yellowstone, the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center gives an up-close look at grizzly bears and gray wolves that cannot live in the wild. A good rainy-day stop, and a great one for kids.
Day trips
Virginia City, Montana, a preserved gold-rush town from the 1860s, makes a memorable day trip past Quake Lake and the Madison Valley. Closer to home, the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway and Cave Falls are easy half days.
Activity questions
Can you take guided tours of Yellowstone from Island Park?
Can you ride a bicycle in Yellowstone?
What ATV and UTV trails are near Island Park?
Your base for every adventure
Cabins close to the river, the trails and the park.
More guides
Seasons & What to Pack
Layers, spring snow and summer storms: what to expect each season, and what to bring.