Shoshone National Forest
Encompassing 2.4 million acres, Shoshone National Forest lies east of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Indeed, many visitors to Yellowstone pass through the Shoshone, which offers tempting alternatives to the more heavily trafficked parks. Wilderness areas are lightly used, and campgrounds are usually still available when Yellowstone's are full. Best yet, most of the forest is still pristine, with over half in five wildernesses.

Targhee National Forest
The Targhee National Forest borders both Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. With gorgeous scenery, an extensive trail network, lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams, it's no wonder Targhee attracts over 1.8 million visitor days per year.

Museums About Yellowstone

The story of Yellowstone continues at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming. The Center's Plains Indian Museum tells the story of early human sin in the area, and the collections of the Whitney Gallery of Western Art provide visitors with artists' interpretations of Yellowstone's landscape and unusual features. Call Buffalo Bill Historical Center at (307) 587-4771.

The story of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem begins with dinosaurs and paleontology and geology exhibits at The Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana. The museum houses the area's only planetarium for visitors who are interested in taking "the long view" of Yellowstone and its place on the planet. Call Museum of the Rockies at (406) 994-2251.