A 2025 Preview to Yellowstone

HomeA 2025 Preview to YellowstoneA 2025 Preview to Yellowstone

With a brand-new year right on the horizon, there’s never been a better time than now to begin shoring up your travel plans for 2025. This year, take some time out of a busy schedule to embrace your love of nature, outdoor adventure, and absolutely breathtaking scenery with a well-deserved trip to Yellowstone. Packing your suitcase and hitting the roads or skies in pursuit of some much-needed fun here is a refreshing way to hit reset on life. While Yellowstone is a vast and inviting area to explore, choosing to settle into a West Yellowstone rental is a terrific way in the upcoming year to make the most of every moment you’re here.

West Yellowstone puts you within easy reach of iconic Yellowstone National Park, working as a primary west entrance point leading to beloved landmarks with ease like the Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone Grand Canyon, Old Faithful, and so many more!

Of course, it’s hard to imagine a trip this way without some quality time set aside for wildlife viewing in 2025. You’ll want to make sure to pack a pair of binoculars or two for time in Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding areas where everything from grizzly bears and wolves to bison and elk thrive in abundance.

grizzly bear

The terrain that makes up the greater West Yellowstone area also lends itself beautifully to outdoor activities like hiking and mountain biking as well as fishing in nearby lakes and rivers. If you’re looking for thrills during your  Yellowstone 2025, you’ll be delighted with options to include ziplining on your itinerary, and just as happy to find that West Yellowstone is a place packed with opportunities for whitewater rafting fun as well.

History buffs who are planning to enjoy time away in West Yellowstone in 2025 won’t want to miss out on time well spent at the Yellowstone Historic Center Museum. This one-of-a-kind destination is brimming over with stories to tell through exhibits and displays that bring the area’s geology, wildlife, settlers, and railroad development to life in a fascinating way with every visit.

If you’re planning to make your way in this direction in the wintertime, you’ll find that Yellowstone is truly a haven of opportunity for those who love to snowshoe off-the-beaten-path trails, enjoy cross-country skiing, enhance the sightseeing pace on a snowmobile, or take time to unwind on the thrilling ski slopes at Big Sky Resort.

With matter what your travel interests might be or what your picture-perfect getaway entails, Yellowstone has something for absolutely everyone to enjoy in 2025. It’s great for solo trips, getaways with friends for a weekend, romantic escapes with the one you love most, and family adventures too. When you’re ready to explore, this 2025 preview is a fantastic place to start your journey.

Upcoming Events to Add to Your Itinerary During Your 2025 Getaway

many travelers will make their way to Yellowstone in 2025 to exclusively spend as much time in the great outdoors with good reason, this is also a place where there’s never a shortage of options for fun when it comes to local events to check out. Gatherings like the Taste of the Trails experience in February bring locals and visitors alike to the Rendezvous Ski Trails in West Yellowstone, where they’re invited to cross-country ski or snowshoe their way through a day with fantastic fare included on the lineup!

Typically, this event provides participants with a 5K route to complete with delicious food stations built into the path. Your 5K journey often includes appetizers, soup, a main course and dessert so that by the time you reach the finish line, you’re not only satisfied with your athletic effort, but refreshingly full.

man running race

 

In years past, the dessert options have been a highlight among participants with options to enjoy everything from chocolate chip cookie bars and bread pudding to homemade cream puffs. After the Taste of the Trails race comes to an end, participants and spectators alike get together to enjoy live music and celebrate in style. It’s a fun and vibrant experience from start to finish that’s well worth adding to your own itinerary in 2025.

The Yellowstone Rendezvous Ski Race happens here each March as well right back over at the popular Rendezvous Ski Trails in town. This is a race that sees participants come in from all over the country to put their skills to the test. Many are drawn to this Nordic ski race each season thanks to the route’s reputation for showcasing stunning natural beauty and engaging challenges.

As you’re maneuvering through pine trees and along climbs and hills, you’ll be doing so in good company among those who share your passion. The skill level of participants in this race is vast and varied, ranging from elite skiers to locals who love to participate for nothing but the sheer fun of it all. There are classic and skate divisions built into the lineup, so you can pick and choose from categories that fit your style.

For travelers who are setting their sights on a springtime Yellowstone 2025 trip, you’ll be right on time to take part in the annual Spring Cycle Days. This is a must for cycling enthusiasts typically hosted in March or April who want to pair a bit of exciting competition with an opportunity to explore the greater West Yellowstone trails. West Yellowstone is an ideal starting point because the routes run from the West entrance of Yellowstone National Park through to Roaring Mountain about 33 miles away.

The 4th of July is also a fun time of year to find yourself in West Yellowstone thanks to the area’s long lineup of Independence Day festivities on the calendar. In 2025, travelers can once again take part in enjoying the annual 4th of July parade here as well as the community BBQ hosted by the fire department. The Yellowstone Historic Center sponsors a “Pie on the Porch” event on the 4th of July as well which doubles as an important fundraiser for the museum in addition not providing locals and visitors alike with a tasty treat. It’s typically followed by a Buffalo Chip Chuck Contest and an impressive fireworks display after dark. There’s also a free Music in the Park concert each year that you won’t want to miss!

As summer fades into fall and eventually into winter across Yellowstone, the family-friendly activities kick off in style. The Kids N’ Snow program each winter in this area is a great opportunity to let the little ones have a blast cross-country skiing their way through a stay, snowshoeing on guided tours, or ice skating in good company too. This event is hosted on select weekends throughout winter and is fun for all ages. As the calendar gets closer to Christmas 2025, visitors to West Yellowstone can enjoy the annual Christmas Stroll in December as well as the community holiday parade, meet-and-greets with Santa and a fantastic tree lighting event too.

cozy christmas setting

Activities and Attractions to Experience for Yourself in the Upcoming Year

While Yellowstone is a wonderful place to slow things down in life, relish time away from the daily hustle, and enjoy quality time with friends and family, sometimes the hardest part of a trip this way is simply narrowing down the list of activities you can enjoy during the time you have available. With so many wonderful attractions and activities right at your fingertips, it can be tough to pick and choose where to turn your attention. Fortunately, Yellowstone is a place where you can easily return a time or two in 2025, giving you options to continue adding to your inspiring list!

When you’re here in the upcoming year and thrilled to set aside time to explore Yellowstone National Park, trying to navigate on your own can be a bit overwhelming. This is especially true if 2025 will mark your first visit this way. Instead, it’s always a good option to book your place on a guided day tour alongside a local guide. Companies like Yellowstone Scenic Tours have special access to places in the park you might otherwise overlook, and as you tour, you’ll be treated to unique insight on wildlife, geology, and the area’s rich history.

If you’re a traveler who knows without a doubt you want to incorporate your love for fishing into your Yellowstone 2025, you’ll be delighted with the waterways you’ll find here that are idyllic when it comes to casting a line. If you want to head out alongside a local, the team over at Big Sky Anglers will offer fantastic full-day guided walk, wade, and float trips in addition to three-hour fly fishing instructional clinics to enjoy throughout 2025.

The trip you book through this company can be customized to focus on time fishing local rivers like the Yellowstone, Gallatin, Madison, or Missouri. There are also options to plan a day out and about seeing what’s biting at Hebgen Lake, along the Snake River, or within the parameters of Yellowstone National Park too.

For those 2025 Yellowstone visitors for whom nothing sounds more revitalizing than a day out biking, West Yellowstone is a true treasure trove of opportunity. Bordered by the Gallatin National Forest on three sides and Yellowstone National Park to the east, this destination is a mountain biking dream with every passing mile. A good way to put together a customized map of trails to check out is to stop by Freeheel and Wheel in town and pick up a map of the area. The team on-site here enjoys helping tailor routes to skill levels and will be ready and waiting to help upon request.

Equestrian enthusiasts making time for a Yellowstone trip in 2025 will be happy to learn the team over at Diamon P. Ranch in West Yellowstone is already taking reservations for guided excursions in the upcoming year. These trail rides are typically two hours long, but private rides that are extended are available upon request as well. If you want to expand on your Western-inspired fun further, consider pairing your trip with the Wild West Rodeo and see the pros put their skills to work.

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Even More to Enjoy on Your Next Trip to Yellowstone

Yellowstone is a one-of-a-kind destination on the map for those travelers who have a heart for thrill-seeking at every turn. A trip in this direction in 2025 puts you within easy reach of heart-pounding whitewater rafting experiences alongside professional guides at Geyser Whitewater Expeditions. You’ll find their headquarters just about 45 minutes from West Yellowstone in nearby Big Sky, and the options to get out on the water and conquer impressive rapids is one you simply won’t want to miss while you’re here.

There are even more opportunities for adrenaline-pumping entertainment over at Zipline Adventure Park. This fan-favorite stop on S. Faithful Street in West Yellowstone is a family-friendly destination where you can pair a multitude of ziplines with time on a challenging ropes course as well. When you can’t wait to get out and explore the backcountry of Yellowstone on your own, options to rent an ATV or UTV for the day are within easy reach at the West Yellowstone Visitor Center in 2025.

man zipline

Area Attractions to Check Out

Your 2025 journey to Yellowstone might not truly feel complete without adding a few extra area attractions to your list. When you’re heading here with the entire family in tow, the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is a terrific place to get up close to some truly impressive creatures within an educational center that caters to guests of all ages.

If you want to make sure you hit all the best highlights during your trip, make your way to the Chamber of Commerce in West Yellowstone and pick up a self-guided West Yellowstone Walking Tour map that will ensure you check every single hot spot off your list at your preferred pace.

Book Your Stay Today

Now is the very best time to start making sure you’re putting the final details on your Yellowstone 2025 vacation. When you do, Sweet Home Montana is here to help you find just the right local vacation rental to keep you close to the fun! Our properties are vast and varied and always come outfitted with fantastic amenities that will have you feeling right at home upon arrival. Reach out today to learn more about our inviting options and to get your reservation in place.

Find the perfect getaway with our 2-bedroom rentals in West Yellowstone or our spacious 3-bedroom vacation homes. For extended stays, check out our long-term rentals in Yellowstone.