Yellowstone Valley Lodge

"Tidy Cabins By The Yellowstone River"

The 10 tidy cabins of Yellowstone Valley Lodge are perched above the Yellowstone River, with pastoral views of the valley of the beautiful Absaroka Mountains.  The lodge is also home to Paradise Valley Grille, one of the most spectacular new restaurants in Montana.  

The lodge is located less than an hour’s drive from Yellowstone NP.  Families will love the quiet, peaceful riverside setting, especially after a day of exploring the park!

The Yellowstone River is gorgeous for fly fishing as well, and the YVL staff can recommend the best spots!  It is never too young to start your kids learning to cast- my 5 year old daughter, Gaby took a fly fishing and casting lesson and caught two fish in the first 30 minutes!  
Cabin rates vary from $99 to $159 per night, depending on the season.  

CABINS

Our clean and quiet double queen bedroom was comfortably appointed with high thread count sheets and plenty of cushy pillows.   Sliding glass doors open on to a shared patio, which overlooks the river and bucolic pastures.   Each patio has its own ice chest, to keep beverages cold while you lounge.  Rooms do not have televisions, but there is a large flat screen TV in the community lounge area, which guests can access at any time.  In room wifi is free and simple to set up.

Bathrooms have nice massaging shower heads and plenty of fluffy white towels.  The sink is separated from the shower and toilet, which is convenient when you have a family sharing 1 room.  

DINING

A meal at Paradise Valley Grille should be a requirement for anyone traveling to Montana.  This is quite simply one of the best restaurants in the west. The contemporary dining room is tucked below the lodge, with sweeping views of the mountains and river.  Food is impeccably presented and the chef sources local and organic products whenever possible.  While they don’t offer a kids menu per se, my daughter was perfectly content to share my salmon. Reservations are essential.  For more details, see my full review of PVG.
F
or breakfast, YVL provides guests with a $10 voucher that can be used at Howlin’ Hounds Café, about a 5 minute drive down 89.  Howlin’ Hounds serves excellent home style breakfasts, along with real hot chocolate and locally made ice cream.  For more details, see my full review of Howlin’ Hounds.

ACTIVITIES

The Gardiner entrance of Yellowstone is about a 50 minute drive away.  The town of Gardiner has many great little cafes and restaurants, so if you plan to explore the park all day, Gardiner would make a good stop on the way back to YVL.  Gardiner is also the starting point for many white-water rafting trips on the Yellowstone- a great family adventure!
In addition to the endless hiking opportunities for families in Yellowstone, there are many good hikes closer to VYL.  The front desk staff are a great local resource for the best hikes to suit your family.

For a 4-legged adventure, Kipp and Heidi Saile of Rocking HK Outfitters will put together an amazing Yellowstone riding adventure for your family.  They are the parents of 3 beautiful children themselves, so they are a wonderful choice for trail rides and pack trips with kids.  They own many quiet horses that will take care of even the smallest riders, and Heidi is excellent at making nervous riders comfortable.  Their barn is located about 15 minutes from YVL, although most of their trips take place within Yellowstone NP.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

YVL is ideal for families looking for a quiet and relaxed getaway in the country, but may not suit families who are looking for a full service resort.  Currently, PVG is only open for dinner and reservations are required.  The closest full service restaurants are about 10 minutes away.  

Disclosure:  Although I received complimentary lodging and dining, my reviews are always my own opinions are not influenced by hotel staff or its affiliates.