If
you're going to unleash your inner cowboy, do it in scenic North
Yellowstone. You can get great views of the park as you tread across
the Gallatin National Forest and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness on
horseback. Don't worry; the horse is trained to tackle the
challenging terrain of the Montana highlands.
Whether
you decide to go horseback
riding for a few hours or days, there's no other place to look
for a stable of capable horses than in the gateway town of Gardiner.
For your guide, you'll be trained by real, working Montana cowboys
who will also oversee your safety for the entire trip on horseback.
To
cap your first night as a cowboy, come to the nightly Cowboy Cookout
barbecue dinner and campfire, a cowboy-style feast of food in the
company of cowboys of Hell's A-Roarin' Ranch. The ranch doubles as a
lodge to provide novice horse riders a comfortable place to stay
after a tiring day of riding, sightseeing, and feasting.
To
see more wild animals on their natural habitat, head back to
Yellowstone National Park, where sightings of bears--both grizzly and
black ones--are a guarantee. You can also find other big mammals such
as bison, elks, gray wolves and deers in several locations.