Cody Yellowstone is Home to Thousands of Miles of Hiking Trails Suitable for All
CODY, Wyo.,July 29, 2024 – It’s not surprising to learn that Yellowstone National Park has close to 1,000 miles of hiking trails within its boundaries. What does make people take notice, however, is to learn that comparable hiking opportunities exist in the Shoshone National Forest east of the park.
What that means for visitors to Cody Yellowstone is that there is a hike for everyone.
“We are fortunate to have so many options as well as knowledgeable hikers who love to share their passion for the outdoors,” said Ryan Hauck, executive director of Cody Yellowstone, the marketing arm for the region that includes the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse, a large swath of the Shoshone National Forest and about half of Yellowstone National Park. “They all understand that an hour, morning or day on the trail can be fun and energizing while bringing people together through a shared experience.”
Sharing thoughts on what hikes are appropriate are a couple of local entities: Sunlight Sports and Hiking Buddy. Through the store’s “Concierge Service,” the highly knowledgeable Sunlight Sports staff is ready to share its favorite hikes and ideas for doing so in a safe manner. In fact, locals and store owners have written the book The Hidden Side of Yellowstone: A Hiker’s Guide to Cody and Yellowstone detailing hikes ranging from easiest to hardest.
Hiking Buddy is led by a Cody resident and professional hiking guide who leads guests on day hikes in the region. Hiking Buddy’s nine hiking choices range from the moderate four-mile “Cabin Crawl” to an advanced 13-mile adventure. Along the way, participants learn about history, plant life, geology and wildlife while they are surrounded by scenery that draws outdoor enthusiasts from around the world. Hiking Buddy is open from April through October.
Here are some examples of hikes for everyone in Cody Yellowstone:
One of the hikes led by Hiking Buddy, this “Easy/Moderate” trek is a six-mile loop making its way through sage and juniper plants in red rock country. Elevation gain is just 721 feet on gentle rolling hills winding through boulders, brush and trees skirting a rocky cliff.
Moderate – Sheep Mountain
Not the easiest and not the hardest, this 10½-mile hike is close to town. Sheep Mountain is actually a part of Heart Mountain. The Sunlight Sports book raves about the views from the summit with Heart Mountain, the Pryor Mountain Range in Montana, the Big Horn Mountains and the Meeteetse Rim all visible. From the summit, hikers will have the unusual perspective of seeing how tiny Cody is amidst the vast open spaces that surround it.
Hard – Copper Lakes Trail
At six miles, this is not a long hike, but Sunlight Sports recommends budgeting four hours. The drive from town to the trailhead takes two hours, but the steep inclines and beauty of the trail make it worthwhile. The hike has consistent elevation gains and switchbacks before reaching a meadow followed by Fall Creek waterfall and Lower and Upper Copper Lakes.
Because You Earned It – Cody Brewery Tour
This one sounds more like a reward and less like a hike. After hitting a trail and hydrating with plenty of water and electrolytes along the way, take a private guided tasting tour with Hiking Buddy of four local breweries and enjoy 12 samples of many varieties of Wyoming craft beer. Cody was named by USA Today readers as the “Best Small Town Beer Scene” in the country, and its Sippin’ Trail is steadily gaining popularity.
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Home of the Great American Adventure, Cody Yellowstone is comprised of the northwestern Wyoming towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse as well as the valley east of Yellowstone National Park. The region is known for rodeos, authentic guest and dude ranches, world-class museums and recreational adventures that reflect the adventurous spirit of the visionaries and explorers who brought the remote region to the world’s attention.
Related hashtags:
#CodyYellowstone
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#CenteroftheWest
#BuffaloBill
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Media contact:
Mesereau Travel Public Relations
720-284-1512
