Travel Tips 

National Forests Near Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park is a shining example of our nation’s best idea; the National Park System. With stunning Rocky Mountain Landscapes, thermal geysers and unparalleled opportunities to see wildlife roam free, Yellowstone Country is a must for anyone wanting to experienced the unsullied American frontier. But with roughly 4.7 million visitors passing through the park in 2025 alone, that shining example of nature can feel a touch crowded. If it’s solitude you are looking for, though, consider that Yellowstone is bordered by hundreds of miles of National Forests that provide much of the same stunning landscapes and opportunities for wildlife viewing with none of the silly tour groups or lines of cars.
Biking  Fishing  Hiking  Montana  Utah  Wildlife Watching  Wyoming  Yellowstone National Park
Prepared By:

James Wynn

Adventurer & Photographer

National forests near Yellowstone National Park offer all of the uninterrupted beauty with none of the crowds, traffic, or entrance fees. In Yellowstone Country alone, there are four national forests begging to be explored, and countless other state parks and public lands worth your while.

Yellowstone Boardwalk

Custer Gallatin National Forest

Located just north of Yellowstone, Custer Gallatin National Forest is part of the largest intact ecosystem in the lower 48. This federal land sprawls through 400 miles of mountains, rivers, and rolling plains. Located within the forest boundary is the 943,377-acre Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.

Beartooth Wilderness is a massive expanse of solitude covering over 700 miles of maintained trails. With over 20 peaks at elevations higher than 12,000 feet, the vastness of this place is unparalleled for high-altitude adventures.

Shoshone National Forest

Just southeast of Yellowstone, America’s first national park, lies Shoshone National Forest, America’s first National Forest. At 2.4 million acres, there are numerous opportunities for every kind of recreation enthusiast. In winter, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling are popular activities, while rock climbing, mountain biking, and backcountry backpacking dominate during summer.

Within its borders are dozens of glaciers and three different mountain ranges: Absaroka, Beartooth, and Wind River. The latter includes the Popo Agie Wilderness, known for pristine, cathedral-like spires of the Wind River Mountains, Wyoming’s best kept secret.

Bridger-Teton National Forest

Another national forest near Yellowstone and also just east of Grand Teton national park is the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Nearly 1.2 million acres of designated wilderness area stretches as far as the eye can see, and among those expanses are thousands of miles of streams and rivers.

Fishing on the Great Snake River is world-renowned, and other water activities include white water rafting and kayaking. This national forest is also excellent for camping, and the sparkling night skies dazzle stargazers. 

Caribou-Targhee National Forest

Located to the West of Yellowstone, the Caribou-Targhee National Forest sprawls over 3 million acres from Idaho to the Utah and Wyoming borders.

Found within the national forest is the exquisite and popular Minnetonka Cave system, which you can explore during a guided tour during the summer months. Located in St. Charles Canyon northwest of Bear Lake, this striking limestone cave system has nine rooms full of stalactites, stalagmites and banded travertine.