Yellowstone Country with Family

The black-tailed residents of Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park are adorable, but they also do serious work to create habitats for ferrets, mountain plovers and burrowing owls. See the little busybodies from the accessible parking lot.

For a gentle rush of rafting thrills, head to the Yellowstone River. Montana Whitewater offers mellow Class II runs perfect for first-timers, plus combined rafting and zipline packages. Wild West Rafting features overnight river trips that include a grilled steak dinner and s’mores.

Saddle up in Red Lodge for a guided horseback ride with Elk River Outfitters. Two-hour experiences trot across the foothills while half- and full-day rides take you higher to showstopping views of seven mountain ranges.

Crowd-pleasing brunches are on the menu at Jam!, a vibrant diner in Bozeman. The corned beef hash has legions of fans, but the real reason to put your name on the waiting list is the pancake flight.

Home to 41 of the highest peaks in Montana, the Beartooth Mountain Range gives you access to campsites, hikes, alpine lakes, wildlife watching, and all the star gazing your family could dream of. For the more indoorsy, driving the Beartooth Highway is breathtaking and rewards you with spectacular views for the entire trip. High elevations can cause dramatic weather and road closures even through the summer!