All You Need To Know About The Yellowstone Shortline Trail
I have to begin with the fact that I am a sucker for any rails to trails biking opportunities. This past week when I was visiting Yellowstone National Park, I checked out the newly completed 9 mile stretch of the Yellowstone Shortline Trail in West Yellowstone.
I thought it was a fantastic trail and would be a terrific activity for anyone visiting West Yellowstone or staying nearby.
If your kids are tired of the car time required to tour Yellowstone National Park, or you want a a low key, no crowds day during your trip, biking or hiking the Shortline Trail would be fun for the whole family.
P.S. For more ideas of fun things to do on your Yellowstone vacation, see our 5 Days In Yellowstone Itinerary.
Heads Up: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission if you make a purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you. We don’t do sponsored posts, free trips, or accept items for reviews. We only link to things we like and use personally. Read more about our philosophy.
The Yellowstone Shortline Trail
The Yellowstone Shortline Trail is just shy of 9 miles long (about 18 miles round trip). It begins in West Yellowstone, MT near Yellowstone National Park and follows the now converted rail route of the Oregon Short Line Railroad to the Montana-Idaho border at Reas Pass.
The trail is smooth and easy thanks to its 10-foot wide asphalt paved surface which is suitable for all bike types and levels of bikers.
Combining a morning biking trip on the Shortline Trail with an afternoon visit to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center could be a simply awesome day in West Yellowstone.
Anyhoo, here are the details you need to bike the Yellowstone Shortline Trail!
The Yellowstone Shortline Trail- Trailhead and Parking
Conveniently located in the touristy town of West Yellowstone and near the West Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, the Yellowstone Shortline Trailhead is located at the corner of Iris Street and Obsidion Avenue.
You’ll find ample parking at the gravel lot at the trailhead.
If the lot happens to be full, you’ll find additional gravel parking just south of the trailhead, or you can always park in the parking spaces along nearby Yellowstone Ave.
What You’ll See on the Yellowstone Shortline Trail
First of all, you are in Yellowstone bear country so you should carry bear spray and keep it accessible. The area is also considered prime moose habitat, so keep your eyes open for them among the willow wetlands and especially along the water’s edge during the first half of the trail.
We saw no signs of bears on our trip, and although we didn’t see a moose, we saw its muddy tracks along the trail.
It’s certainly a picturesque trail with several bridge crossings, and the south fork of the Madison River winds its way along with you for several miles.
Throughout the trail, you’ll come across interpretive signs giving you information about the train route’s history with Yellowstone visitors, wildlife habitat, geological information about the rocks you see, the Continental Divide, and more.
We biked the trail on a hazy, somewhat smoky July weekday starting at 10am. We saw only a handful of people on the trail, and it was so quiet and peaceful.
Beginning of Trail 
South Fork of the Madison 
Informative Signage Along the Trail
Description of The Yellowstone Shortline Trail- The Logistics
The trail is just shy of 18 miles round trip if you bike its entirety, but you can bike as long as you like and turn around when ready.
From West Yellowstone, it starts off just slightly downhill as you pass several vacation cabins along the right of the trail. Before long, you’ll reach the willow wetlands and your first interpretative sign. From this point, the trail becomes a bit more shaded by the trees as you continue to climb.
The trail mileage is well marked with posts along the way indicating the distance you’ve biked or hiked so far. The elevation gain was very gradual and the pedaling seemed fairly easy.
Yellowstone Shortline Trail Elevation Gain
The elevation gain clocked in at 860’ for the full trip. We stopped at each of the interpretative signs, so you inherently pace yourself going up.
The first couple miles of the trail from the trailhead is mostly open with little tree coverage, so I recommend biking in the cool of the morning during the warm summer season.
The trail gradually gets more tree cover as you go, and you could certainly cool off in the shallow water of the South Fork of the Madison River at points along the first half of the trail.
We saw a good swimming hole along the way!
One hour later and just shy of mile 9, we reached the end of the paved asphalt and were greeted by a deer lazily eating grass on the scant trace of natural trail that continued beyond the asphalt.
It didn’t look like you could bike from that point, but I believe there are plans to continue the trail in the future. Fingers crossed!
Restrooms
If mother nature calls, there is access to a restroom just after mile marker 8.
The restroom seems to be strategically placed to accommodate both the hikers/bikers on the Yellowstone Shortline Trail as well as the nearby snowmobile/ATV trails that parallel part of the trail.
Bike Rentals In West Yellowstone
If you don’t have your bikes, you can rent bikes from Free Heel and Wheel. They do not carry kid bikes, but do have the pull behind kiddie trailers as well as strollers if hiking it.
And although it’s clearly posted that e-bikes are not allowed on the trail, the few bike riders we saw did indeed have e-bikes.
That being said, I think the uphill grade is easy enough for most bikers. If needed, a shorter but equally beautiful ride would be from the Trailhead to the trestle bridge at Mile Marker 4 making for an 8 mile round trip bike ride.
Need Lodging Recommendations In West Yellowstone?
I would try to stay in the “downtown” of West Yellowstone so that you can walk to restaurants and shops, and it’s super close to Yellowstone’s West Entrance.
But keep in mind that the West Entrance is also the busiest entrance to Yellowstone and can require a significant wait in line each day just to enter during the busy summer season.
Tip: You can check out the webcam at the West Entrance to get an idea of how long the wait is to enter the park.
West Yellowstone has a large number of hotels to choose from including a Holiday Inn with an indoor pool. They are still expensive for what you get though ($300 and up in July). Reserve all of these well in advance.
- Holiday Inn– A solid and reliable hotel chain close to the park. Has an indoor pool.
- Kelly Inn is also a solid choice. There are plenty of restaurants and two grocery stores within walking distance. Rooms with bunk beds for the kiddos and an indoor pool.
- Yellowstone Park Hotel– Sure to please with its location, pool, game room, and ice cream socials!
- Explorer Cabins At Yellowstone– A multi-cabin property within walking distance of shops and restaurants. These modern cabins have everything you need: fireplace, kitchenette with dishwasher. Request a single rather than a duplex cabin if you prefer not to share a wall. Fire pits on the grounds with s’mores kits. Some cabins have bunk beds for the kiddos.
- Under Canvas Yellowstone– If you’d like to try “glamping” (luxury camping), this place gets great reviews and provides all you need including an onsite restaurant. Even though it’s a bit north of West Yellowstone, I would love to stay here! The nearby Bar N Ranch also gets good reviews.
Hope you’ll find the time to enjoy this wonderful new trail in West Yellowstone. We will definitely return! Planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park? See our simply awesome Family Vacation to Yellowstone- A 5 Day Itinerary. Happy Trails!- Amy
For future reference, our Yellowstone 5 day itinerary is also available in a handy, convenient PDF file ($15) for your device. You’ll find all the details you need for each day including worthwhile stops along the way to each location, travel time between destinations, the best family-friendly attractions, helpful tips, labeled maps, and the best lodging/dining choices.
