The Big Sky Ski and Summer Resort area is divided into Mountain Village and Meadow Village. Each is an adult playground. There are regular shuttles between the villages and the ski area and daily shuttles to Yellowstone National Park

The highway runs through forests of lodgepole pine, fir and spruce, eventually crossing back Into Yellowstone National Park (no gate, no fee required) and then back out, following the Gallatin River most of the way north toward Bozeman. Initially the highway is in a narrow valley, with the Madison Range, including the Spanish Peaks, on the west, and the Impressive Gallatin Range on the east.

In 1805, the Gallatin River was named by Lewis and Clark in honor of Albert Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury. Then in 1865, Gallatin County became one of Montana's original counties created by the First Territorial Legislature of 1865. The original boundaries have been altered with land absorbed into Yellowstone National Park, but the county still retains the contour of the Gallatin River. The world's largest forest of fossilized trees is located along the divide between the Gallatin and Yellowstone Rivers. Rockhounds search out valuable specimens of petrified and opalized wood, agates, jasper and various crystals. A permit from the Gallatin National Forest Ranger Station in Bozeman is required.

Summer or winter, ride the Lone Peak Tram at Big Sky Resort; summer operation is June I through September 30. The incredible view at the summit of Lone Mountain, 11,150 feet, is truly inspiring. The ride up to the highest vertical ski drop in the United States is worth the fee of $20. Summertime activities include golfing, swimming, horseback riding and white-water rafting.

The Big Sky Golf Course was designed by Arnold Palmer. The 18-hole public course at Meadow Village is 2 miles west of U.S. 191 in Big Sky.

Big Sky Resort Ski Area has 3,500 skiable acres with a vertical rise of 4,180 feet. It is one of the top ten largest ski resorts in the nation. The tram, quads, gondolas, chairlifts and surface tows take skiers where they need to be, faster. The average annual snowfall is an astounding 400 inches. Plus, there are more than 45 miles of groomed ski trails. Its excellent reputation is well deserved.

Snowmobilers will thrill at the 120-mile Big Sky Trail between Bozeman and West Yellowstone. Maps and information are available at the Bozeman Ranger District Gallatin National Forest

Buffalo Bill guided expeditions through the Bighorn Basin and along the Shoshone River during the 1870s. He was greatly impressed with the possibilities of the area, so much so that he returned 15 years later and joined a development group. In 1895, George T. Beck of Sheridan, banker Horace Alger and Cody formed the Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company. Beck and Alger saw the importance to the project of a well-known name, especially to attract willing homesteaders. The two decided to name their town Cody, and Buffalo Bill, who had wanted the same, was rightly pleased.

The original townsite, called Richland, was actually near DeMaris Springs, a short distance west of town at the mouth of the canyon. The mineral springs were the namesake of Colter's Hell, according to modern historians. Others believed Colter's Hell was actually Yellowstone National Park.

The Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company was responsible for initiating the Buffalo Bill Dam project that subsequently backed up a reservoir of the same name. The company was unsuccessful, but the seeds for the irrigation project were planted. Eventually the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation funded Wyoming's first federal project and completed the dam in 1910. Cody is given much credit for development and promotion of the project. In fact, farmland he owned on the lrma Flat and near Marquette ended up under water. The dam, initially named the Shoshone Dam, was renamed the Buffalo Bill Dam, and the irrigation water and electric power it provided were fundamental in securing the community's future.

The beautiful scenery, abundance of wildlife and proximity to Yellowstone National Park were key elements that had once attracted Buffalo Bill. Today, these same things attract visitors from around the world. The town of Cody is a veteran when It comes to the tourist trade. It is the only town to claim two entrances to Yellow-stone National Park, the traditional 54 miles to the East Gate and also via the northeast entrance, 81 miles away. Both routes offer drives through incredibly beautiful country. The East Gate is reached through the North Fork Highway along the Shoshone River that was recently designated the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway. The northeast entrance, via the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway, offers panoramic views from on top of the world.

Today, Cody still maintains a western lifestyle despite the influx of new residents and developments. Its 8,000 permanent citizens are often addressed by strangers who say, "You're from Cody? What a beautiful place!"

Cooke City, named for Jay Cooke, Jr., began as a mining town in the 1870s. The son of a Northern Pacific financier, Cooke was primarily interested in the mining claims. The prospectors found gold, silver and lead, and the mines flourished for a time, but they were just too far back in the wilderness for the ore quality to pay off. The ore still remains untouched. A recent effort by a Canadian firm, Noranda, to open the Crown Butte Mine was unsuccessful after a furious battle. President Clinton finally stepped in and gave Noranda $65 million to settle its claim and keep the area pristine.

The early settlement earned its keep by being a trade center for goods shipped up the Yellowstone River through Red Lodge and then transported down to Cody, Wyoming. When the Beartooth Highway from Red Lodge opened in 1936, Cooke City suddenly became a tourist attraction. Today, the year-round population is only about 100 folks, but many more call it home In the summer. It's a quaint, rustic town that makes for an enjoyable quick stop to walk along the main street. The introduction of wolves into Yellow-stone has created a mini-boom for Cooke City as wolf observers use the town as a base from which to dine and lodge.

The tiny town of Silver Gate is just four miles from Cooke City. It was established in 1937, named for Silver Mountain in the rugged Beartooth Range. If you're a trivia buff, here's a tidbit for you: It's Impossible to get to either of these Montana towns without going through Wyoming- unless you can drop in via a parachute or hang glider.

Controversy has become a common element in the lives of Gar-diner's 600 residents. The Church Universal and Triumphant, known locally as CUT, purchased some 25,000 acres near Gardiner. The massive presence of the church made locals wary, and when the group began drilling geothermal wells, it was too much. Even environmentalists jumped in, demanding studies to determine the impact on area geysers. Subsequently, the well was capped. Studies by the USGS and the National Park Service were dissimilar, and the situation remains unresolved. Church members have since worked hard at good relations

Another hurdle for Gardiner residents is the ongoing controversy over Yellowstone National Park's migrating buffalo. Overpopulated herds seeking new winter feeding grounds migrate out of the park. The problem is brucellosis, a bacterial infection that can be carried by buffalo and potentially transmitted to cattle. Whether danger of the disease to cattle is only perceived or real, the problem it has created is absolute. Traditionally, the bison were harvested and the meat was donated to the Crow tribe. In 1997, several hundred buffalo were killed by Montana government hunters, drawing national attention to the situation. The future solution, best left to biologists skilled in game management, may end up in the wrong hands. Led by a public seeking the cessation of this killing, politicians seeking votes may determine the outcome.

Conflict has never been a stranger in these parts. Gardiner's first settlers battled the Crow, who fought to keep their ancient hunting grounds. The settlement was named for mountain man and fur trapper Johnston Gardiner. He hunted along the Yellowstone River and its tributaries in the 1830s.

The Northern Pacific Railroad made it to Cinnabar, a few miles to the north, in 1883, but disputes over the townsite's location caused a 20-year delay. James McCartney, who was in charge of the town, argued almost endlessly with Robert "Buckskin Jim" Cutler, who claimed ownership of the gold diggings. The NP branch line, bringing trainloads of park visitors, didn't reach Gardiner until 1903. That was a year of celebrations. In April, President Theodore Roosevelt arrived to dedicate the Roosevelt Arch before a bustling, cheering crowd of 5,000 spectators. The grand arch of basaltic rock still welcomes visitors today. The inscription, "For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People" confirms the purpose of Yellowstone, the nation's first national park.

Historians claim that Jackson originally went by the name of Marysvale for the first postmistress, Mary White. But in 1897, the wife of a local banker, Grace Miller, bought some land and planned the actual town site. The town of Jackson was then named for the fur trader David Jackson. Later, keeping true to form with Wyoming's position as the "Equality State," Jackson was governed by women. The 1920 town council and members were all women, as was the town marshal, and Grace Miller was the mayor. The gals remained in office until 1923, performing their duties admirably.

The Jackson area originated as a ranching community, and plenty of cattle ranches remain. However, it's a touch more difficult to notice them among the elaborate homes of wealthy families, ski resorts and condominiums. Jackson has bent to the constant pressure of tourism and all its trappings, even though it's well disguised by the western motif and rustic wood required by zoning laws. Without question, the area offers more art, fine dining, nightlife and culture than the rest of Wyoming. Activities include climbing, hiking, ballooning, gliding, biking, skiing, rafting, kayaking, horseback riding, hunting and fishing. Of course, Jackson is a full-service resort community.

At the south end of Jackson, you can drive south to Hoback Junction. Or, you may turn west and head over Teton Pass Into Idaho, going through Wilson and making a stop at Teton Village, site of a popular ski area.

West Yellowstone became an official entrance in 1907 when the Oregon Short Line completed the branch railway to the community. Union Pacific began operating a passenger train from Ashton, Idaho, in 1909. By 1915, cars were streaming down the highway from Bozeman, bringing eager tourists. The town grew up as a gateway to the park and today is Yellowstone National Park's busiest entry. It was incorporated in 1966.

Blue-ribbon trout streams galore-the Yellowstone, Madison, Gibbon, Firehole and Henry's Fork Rivers-and many outstanding lakes, make this premier fishing country. West Yellowstone has the folks who know how.

Biking has become the new summertime pastime. The many trails and paved roads in West Yellowstone country provide scenic beauty and enjoyment of this relatively new sport. It's a lot easier to hang a mountain bike instead of a 4-wheel drive on the back of an RV.

The wintertime recreation is snowmobiling, and it's big-time here. There are over 1,000 miles of groomed trails in the area surrounding West Yellowstone. The snowmobile season in Yellowstone National Park runs from mid-December to March. Outside the park in the National Forests, the season is longer, and trails are both groomed and ungroomed. Instruction and guides are available.

For more information on Yellowstone National Park and
the surrounding communities visit these helpful sites:

YellowstoneNationalPark.com - YellowstoneLodging.com
YellowstoneFlyFishing.com - YellowstoneMedia.com