Buffalo Bill's Blog

The number of animals in this region is just phenomenal.  Coming from the Midwest, I grew up watching deer and squirrels.  That’s about it.  But here in Buffalo Bill’s country, the different varieties of animals to view are just astounding!  So I decided to put together my Top 11 list of places to watch for many of these amazing creatures.

1.  Elk – the Sunlight Basin northwest of Cody is a popular place for herds of elk to gather.  Drive north of Cody on Highway 120, go about 16 miles, then turn west onto the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.  The Sunlight Basin road will take you past some beautiful ranches and into the valley where the elk feed.  It’s a gorgeous drive, and the opportunity to view these animals in their natural habitat is worth going the distance!

2.  Bison – without a doubt, Yellowstone National Park is THE place to get your fill of these wild and wooly critters.  They literally own the roads in Yellowstone – anyone who’s been there recently will be able to tell you that the bison traffic jams rival any big city traffic snarls… but there’s a heck of a lot less road rage here!

3.  Big Horn Sheep – the highway that follows the South Fork of the Shoshone River leads to a beautiful mountain valley that is home to herds of big horn sheep.  In the fall, the sheep are feeding in the low country before the hard winter kicks in, and in the spring, the sheep babies can be found frolicking on the ranchland in the valley.

4.  Mountain Goats – Clark’s Fork Canyon just northwest of Cody on Highway 120 is one of the few places in this region where you can spot these elusive rock dwellers.  I haven’t figured out how they can actually climb from one precipitous rock face to another – they’re incredible!

5.  Moose – east of Cody across the Big Horn Basin are the awesome Big Horn Mountains, home to black bear, deer, and the massive moose!  Highway 14A, from Lovell across to Sheridan, is a great place to spot these enormous creatures.  They’ve also been frequently seen in the Wood River Valley southwest of Meeteetse.

6.  Wild Horses – two wild mustang herds call Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country home: the McCullough Peaks area just east of Cody in the Big Horn Basin; and the Pryor Mountains northeast of the Big Horn Basin.  The Pryor Mountain Mustang Center is an educational center dedicated to preserving the legacy of these beautiful wild animals.

7.  Wolves – the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park is prime viewing for all sorts of animals, but it’s one of the best bets for spotting wolves.  The wolf population is thriving in Yellowstone after the animal’s re-introduction in the 1990s. The Lamar Valley is in the northeast corner of Yellowstone Park, between Mammoth Hot Springs and Cooke City, Montana.

8.  Mule Deer – believe it or not, if you’re looking to get up close and personal with a mule deer, go no farther than downtown Cody!  Dozens of deer roam around the community – and it’s either a curse or a blessing, depending on who you talk to… they love to munch in residents’ gardens!

9.  Bears – as you travel closer to Yellowstone National Park on Highway 14-16-20, the odds of seeing a grizzly or black bear grow greater!  Bear are regularly seen on the stretch of highway from about ten miles outside Yellow stone until the entrance to the Park, so keep your camera at the ready, but don’t get too close!  Remember, bears are dangerous creatures that move faster than you think they can…

10.  Antelope – … although pronghorns are actually the fastest land animals in North America.  But here in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country, they’re pretty content to move a little slower and graze in the lush grass of the Wapiti Valley about 20 miles west of Cody on the Yellowstone Highway.

11.  Waterfowl – Beck Lake and Alkali Lake on the east side of Cody aren’t just beautiful City parks; they’re also prime waterfowl habitat.  There’s a viewing area that was constructed a few years back by a local service organization that provides a fantastic place to sit and watch the ducks, geese, loons and other birds that use these lakes as a resting point along their migration routes.

There you are – Corrie N. Cody’s Top 11 list of the best wildlife watching places in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country!  Next time you plan a trip this direction, take this list along to build your itinerary… and don’t forget your camera!

Until next time, I’ll be watching the wildlife in Buffalo Bill’s Country!

Corrie N. Cody

How long has it been since you’ve checked out the fall colors here in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country?  According to my friend at Yellowstone’s East Gate, Ranger Robin, the leaves are turning and the colors are stunning! 

If you missed my last blog on Robin, she’s been a ranger at the East Gate for the last three years, and enjoys every day that she gets to welcome folks to the country’s first National Park.  She lives in a mountain cabin halfway between Cody and Yellowstone, so she gets to see wildlife almost every day!  And the visitors love to see all the animals before they even get in the Park – just this week Robin heard two different reports of grizzly bears crossing the highway just 5 miles east of the gate, and others spotted a wolf just up from the pass that same day.  And something even more unusual – Robin said that visitors reported seeing a mountain lion in the Hayden Valley, along with a wolf and eagles, all in the same area! 

Robin says that visitors are REALLY enjoying the beautiful weather we’re having right now – in fact, some have jokingly asked if they have to pay more to enter the park because the weather is such a bonus!  She says that after the cold snap we had last week, the leaves started changing colors, and now the warm temps and sunny skies are just enhancing the natural beauty of the region. 

On a sad note, Robin reports that over the last weekend, there were two bison hit and killed on the highway in Yellowstone.  It’s a reminder to visitors, though, that watching for wildlife in Yellowstone actually needs to start once you get to Cody itself!  We’ve got dozens of deer that live right here in town, and they don’t necessarily follow traffic signals… the same goes for the bison, elk, moose, and bear that populate the North Fork valley on the highway to Yellowstone.  And we’re in peak wildlife-watching season – the fall months and late spring are the BEST times to catch a glimpse of the amazing creatures that we co-habitate with here in Yellowstone Country!

Robin says that there have been quite a few inquiries about the two fatal grizzly attacks that have occurred this summer – the first fatal attacks in 26 years in Yellowstone.  The rangers’ message to visitors who are planning to hike?  ALWAYS CARRY BEAR SPRAY.  Ranger Robin and her husband have hiked in these mountains for the last thirteen years and always carry bear spray.  She says they’ve thankfully never had to use it, but on many occasions they have seen fresh bear tracks on their hikes.  If hikers have questions about the proper use of bear spray, they can check out a “Bear Aware” video at the public library in Cody.  The video was produced by the Buffalo Bill Historical Center’s Draper Museum of Natural History just a couple of years ago, so the information is very current.  

I asked Robin about the visitors who are frequenting the park right now, and she said that there are a TON of foreign travelers here right now!  A large percentage are German, which she says is pretty easy, because most of the German visitors speak English.  Many of the Italian tourists have trouble with the language barriers, though, as do quite a few of the French.  Robin says that at the East Gate, there are rangers on duty who can speak enough German and Norwegian to help out visitors from those countries; and Robin herself can converse in sign language, which has come in very handy over the past three years that she’s worked there.   She says that deaf visitors are always so pleased to find out that she can sign, which is so important when it comes to communicating about lodging and other necessary information. Since lodging and campsites fill up almost every day during peak season, it’s important to be able to get that message across as soon as folks get in the gate.

Robin’s got such a great job!  Her season is winding down there – the Park will close up the first weekend in November to wheeled vehicles, and will remain closed to wheeled vehicles until next May, when the season comes ‘round again… and Ranger Robin hopes to be there to greet enthusiastic visitors to this amazing, unique place that is Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country!

Until next time, I’ll be lovin’ life in Buffalo Bill’s Country!

Corrie N. Cody

My friend “Robin” has the greatest commute in the world.  She lives in a log cabin between Cody and the East Entrance to Yellowstone, and every day she goes to work she sees wildlife, incredible scenery and the best of what this part of the country is!

Robin works as a Park Ranger at the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park.  This is her third 6-month season working for the National Park Service, and she says she is simply blessed to be doing what she does!  Robin greets people as they come to the world’s first National Park, and she says the reactions of folks who are visiting for the first time can really touch your heart.

Robin’s day on the job begins when the first visitors pass through the gate at 8 a.m., and is ready with her fellow gate-keepers to issue their familiar greeting – “Welcome to Yellowstone!”

And it truly is a welcome, and sometimes a profound, event for most of the folks who come through that gate, according to Robin.  She relayed several heartfelt stories to me about people who have been checking a visit to Yellowstone off their “Bucket Lists”… like the elderly couple who drove to the east entrance one day in 2009.  As the couple pulled up to the gate, it was obvious to the rangers that the woman in the passenger seat was not well.  As the supervisor (who is an EMT) was working to help the woman, her husband was patting her shoulder, repeating over and over, “Honey, we made it.  We made it to Yellowstone.”

 Another story that Robin told centered around a 99 year old man who pulled up to the entrance, parked his vehicle and told the ranger at the gate that he had served in World War II and Korea, and that this visit to Yellowstone would be his last trip.  The man began weeping as he was relaying this to the young ranger, and the young man wept with him.

One of the most important messages that Robin passed on to me was that Yellowstone’s boundaries are just imaginary lines – the wildlife and the scenery don’t just begin and end at the gates.  She stressed to me how important it is for folks to realize that this entire area is “Yellowstone Country”!  Sometimes she says her heart breaks when she sees animals on the side of the highway that have been struck by cars whose drivers are in such a hurry to get to Yellowstone that they forget that in many ways, they’re already there.  Robin says that the best place to see wildlife in this region is actually the 52 miles between Cody and the East Entrance, on the highway to Yellowstone.  She says that every day, like clockwork, she sees moose.  She also sees elk, bear, bighorn sheep, deer, turkeys and bald eagles.  She said that she saw all these animals IN ONE DAY this spring!

Robin and I talked for a long time, and she had a lot more stories to tell me than what I can write in one blog, so I’ll save her other stories for another time.  For those of you who have yet to experience the wonders of Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country, I hope you’ll appreciate the area as much as Robin and I do!

Until next time, I’ll be lovin’ life in Buffalo Bill’s Country!

Corrie N. Cody

I’m really fortunate in that I get to visit with lots of folks as they come through Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country.  It’s funny, though, how many people ask the same questions!  So I thought I’d run down some of the more frequently asked questions and give you the answers, so you’ll be in the know when you come to visit!

1.  How far is it to Yellowstone National Park?

-  Answer:  It’s 53 miles from Cody to the East Entrance in Yellowstone.  However, once you get into the Park, you don’t run into any services until you get to Fishing Bridge, which is another 27 miles.  So don’t expect to just get in the entrance to the Park and be greeted by a friendly Yogi-type bear… you’ll have a ways to go before you can stop for a meal and a tank of gas!

2.  Is there lodging in the Park?

-  Answer:  There are some absolutely fabulous lodges and campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park, all operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts!  (My personal recommendations:  Old Faithful Lodge and the Lake Hotel – AMAZING historic buildings!)  Reservations can be made by calling Xanterra at (866) 439-7375.  Better contact them early, though – they sell out many nights during the summer!

3.  What are the hours at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, and how much does it cost?

-  Answer:  The BBHC, one of the top attractions in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country, is open daily from May 1-September 15 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.  A two-day admission for adults is $18, seniors and college students are $16, youth ages 6-17 are $10, and ages 5 and under get in free.  And believe me, you’ll want to use the two-day admission – you’ll be blown away by how huge the facility is! (And by the way, it’s open year round!)

4.  Tell me about the Cody Nite Rodeo.

-  The Cody Nite Rodeo is the longest-running outdoor nightly rodeo in the country!  Every evening from June 1-August 31 visitors will see real rodeo action, with cash prizes awarded every night.  Tickets are sold at the Visitor Center, but can also be purchased at the gate.  If you’ve got kids with you, they can get down in the arena and chase a calf around and win a prize!

5.  What else can I do while I’m here?

-  Wow, there’s so much to do!  Go river rafting; visit Old Trail Town; eat dinner at the historic Irma Hotel and take in the Dan Miller Cowboy Music Revue; see a gunfight; get a chuckwagon dinner with musical entertainment; shop downtown; learn about the history of this region at places like Tecumseh’s Miniature Village, the Cody Dug Up Gun Museum, the Cody Murals, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, the Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center, and the Heart Mountain Relocation Camp; go mountain biking; take a trolley tour; hike a trail in the Shoshone National Forest; fish the Shoshone River with a seasoned guide; take a horseback trail ride; the list goes on and on!

6.  What are the road conditions in Yellowstone?

-  The road conditions in this mountainous region vary based on the season or weather conditions.  My advice is to stop in and chat with the well-informed staff at the Visitor Center before you make your plans for the day – or you can call Yellowstone National Park’s dedicated phone number for road conditions: (307) 344-2117.

7.  Where can I get supplies?

-  Believe it or not, the town of Cody (population around 9,000) is the shopping mecca for the Big Horn Basin – because we have the Super Wal-Mart!  We also have a K-Mart, Walgreens, Albertsons, banking services, several pharmacies, sporting goods stores and other places to stock up on necessities before heading on down the road.

8.  Is there someplace I can connect to the Internet?

-  Many fast-food restaurants and most of the coffee shops offer free wi-fi for folks who have their own laptops.  Also, the Park County Library has a bank of computers that are available for use by the general public.  And many local lodging properties offer Internet hookups, as well.

Then there are those questions that AREN’T asked frequently.  I asked Karen Miller, who runs the Visitor Center here in Cody, to list a few of the more unusual questions that have been asked.  Here’s what she came up with:

1.  Where are the fences to keep the animals in at Yellowstone?
2. When do they let the animals out in Yellowstone?
3. Who controls the button that sets Old Faithful off?
4. How do you see Mount Rushmore from here?

Since, obviously, the animals roam free in Yellowstone, Old Faithful is “faithful” naturally, and Mount Rushmore is a good 7 hours and two mountain ranges away, these questions are always answered pleasantly and with a smile…

If YOU have questions about visiting Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country, you can find out more at www.yellowstonecountry.org, or call (800) 393-2639. 

Until next time, I’ll be telling more folks about all there is to do here in Buffalo Bill’s Country…

Corrie N. Cody

You know, “wild” is an often-used term out here in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country!  After all, Buffalo Bill Cody became famous for his Wild West Shows; wildlife abounds at every turn; wildflowers are in bloom all summer long, depending on your elevation; and “wild” entertainment happens year-round!  So I thought that this week I’d highlight some of the “wild”-ness that happens here all year round!

“Wild” Action!

The Cody Nite Rodeo provides “wild” entertainment every night, June through August!  It’s the longest running nightly outdoor rodeo in the country, entertaining visitors for almost 70 years.  All the traditional rodeo events are represented each night – team roping, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, bull riding, bareback, the works!  There are even trick riders and rodeo clowns to keep the audience entertained between events.

 “Wild” life!

No matter which direction you go around Cody, you’ll find wildlife.  Heading east, you’ll see herds of wild mustangs and antelope; south, the Bighorn Sheep find themselves right at home; north, elk can be found in abundance in the Sunlight Basin area; and of course, west takes you to Yellowstone National Park, where you’ll find bison, moose, wolves, coyotes, and bears!

“Wild” flowers…

The high elevation here in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country means that flowers are in bloom all summer long.  The higher the elevation, the later the flowers bloom, so even in September you’ll find a huge variety of wildflowers in every color if you take highways such as the Beartooth All-American Road.

 “Wild” entertainment!

Cody has its own “Wild West Show” that runs in the winter – it’s a concert series that has brought entertainers such as Mel Tillis, Suzy Bogguss, the Kentucky Headhunters, Asleep at the Wheel, B.J. Thomas, Billy Dean, Gary Morris… the list goes on!  This October, “Whisperin’” Bill Anderson is scheduled to appear at the historic Cody Theatre!

“Wild” rides!

The rivers are running at their peak right now, which means that river rafting is a great activity to enjoy on a hot August afternoon!  Whether you’re looking for a whitewater experience or a lazy float trip, there are several rafting operators who would be glad to help you have a memorable (but safe) river adventure!

 Until next time, I’ll be goin’ wild here in Buffalo Bill’s Country!

Corrie N. Cody