Outdoor Recreation

Fishing

From legendary rivers to high-country lakes, Cody Country offers some of the best fishing in the West. Anglers can explore the North and South Forks of the Shoshone River, the Clark’s Fork of the Yellowstone, and iconic Yellowstone National Park waters including the Madison, Firehole, Lamar, Gibbon, and Yellowstone rivers.

With more than 2,000 miles of fishable waters, anglers pursue brook, rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout, as well as grayling. Prefer still water? Buffalo Bill Reservoir and numerous alpine lakes provide excellent lake fishing opportunities. Beck Lake Park within the City of Cody offers small-lake fishing for a variety of trout species as well as tiger muskie, bass, walleye, crappie, perch, catfish, and carp.

Fish on your own or hire a Cody Country fishing guide to access remote and productive waters.

Hiking

Cody Country offers endless hiking opportunities, from short scenic walks to challenging climbs like Heart Mountain. Trails throughout the Shoshone National Forest, including the North and South Forks, Crandall Creek, Sunlight Basin, and the Clark’s Fork region, connect hikers to the landscapes of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

With hundreds of miles of additional trails in Yellowstone National Park, hikers can experience wildlife, wildflowers, and unmatched solitude.

Biking

Mountain biking in Cody offers a wide array of world-class trails and vistas. Our public lands offer something for everyone and enough to keep you busy for several days. World-class is no exaggeration, and outside the Beck Lake Trail System, you are unlikely to encounter another rider.

Starting within the City of Cody, the Beck Lake Trails and Bike Park focus on easy-to-ride trails, heavily sculpted flow trails and natural rock lines. Beck Lake provides the ideal setting for progressing your riding skills before tackling the more remote and difficult trails in the area.

Elsewhere, more advanced riders have a wide choice of slickrock, desert, and high-alpine trails. The ParkCountyPedalers.org website is your jumping off point where you can learn more about the riding scene and view images and videos of local trails.

Looking for maps of trails, they are all online at:

MTBproject.com - https://www.mtbproject.com/directory/8011089/cody

TrailForks.com - https://www.trailforks.com/region/cody/

Cody also offers unbeatable scenic rides for road biking. Want big mountain climbs? Head up to the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway at 8048 feet (Wyoming 296) or the highest elevation paved road in the Northern Rockies, the epic Beartooth Highway (US 212) at 10,947 feet. The Southfork Road (WY 291) is a long dead-end that gets more scenic, less travelled and narrower the further out you go. Want some pavement with no traffic, then the Oregon Basin road (Rd 3FK) is for you.

For riders not used to riding in the West, the Cowboy way of self-reliance certainly applies. Services, such as a place to get water or food, are few and far between and there are no shortcuts home. Be prepared!

Camping

Wyoming is “first in outdoor America,” i.e., the first national park (Yellowstone), first national forest (Shoshone) and the first national monument (Devils Tower), and a check of your map will tell you that two of the three are in Cody Country, and that means unmatched camping opportunities.

Pitch a tent by a river or pull your motor home into a full hook-up RV park. You’ll find Cody Country can accommodate any camping need.

Commercial campgrounds, some with swimming pools, are located in and around Cody. Buffalo Bill State Park has two campgrounds along with boat ramps and picnic areas.

The Shoshone National Forest offers first-come, first-served opportunities in more than 30 campgrounds along the North and South Forks of the Shoshone River and in the Crandall-Sunlight area north of Cody.

And, of course, there is Yellowstone National Park with 11 campgrounds and the Fishing Bridge Recreational Vehicle Park.

Fees vary at the state and federal areas, and all campers should be aware of regulations regarding staying in grizzly bear country, including food and trash storage and proper precautions with fire. Hey, it’s wild country and we want you to be safe while you enjoy this special place.

For a once in a lifetime back country camping trip in Cody Country ask a Cody Country outfitter to pack you in to the mountains for a wilderness adventure.

Rock Climbing

Cody hosts a variety of rock climbing possibilities. Whether it's bouldering on sandstone, climbing sport and traditional routes on limestone or granite, or high-altitude mountaineering on the highest peaks in Wyoming and Montana. Whatever your passion is you can get your fix here. Information regarding instruction and/or guiding is available at the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce or Jackson Hole Mountain Guides.

Hunting

Shooting straight is only part of the challenge of a successful hunt in Wyoming. At the top of the list is securing a highly-sought-after Wyoming big game license. Once you’ve been selected for a pronghorn, mule deer, elk, moose or bighorn sheep permit, your next best step is to visit with a Cody Country outfitter to maximize your odds for a successful hunt. Cody Country outfitters and guides have a well-earned reputation for providing high quality hunting camps, outfitted with mountain tested horses, top drawer equipment, mouth-watering food and the knowledge of the high country that will put you in place for a chance to complete your hunt successfully.

Check ‘em out. You’ll thank yourself later. Visit the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and they'll fill you in on the latest regulations and information about applying for the various hunting and fishing licenses.

Horseback Riding

You really haven’t experienced the “Real West” until you’ve ridden horseback in Cody Country.

Topping the list of “horse experiences” is spending time on an area dude or guest ranch or on a wilderness pack trip in the Shoshone National Forest or Yellowstone National Park with a Cody Country dude ranch or outfitter. However. . .if your time is limited, you can still sample saddle leather on a short trip on Cedar Mountain or a half or full day ride with a number of Cody area horseback operations into the nearby Shoshone National Forest.

River Rafting/Kayaking

How do you like your water, mild or wild?

Floating the Shoshone River is fun for the entire family, and it’s a spectacular way to view wildlife and get an up-close-and-personal look at the geology of this area.

Trips range from 2 hours to half-day. Guides are knowledgeable about the history, geology, flora and fauna of Cody Country and add to the overall experience.

For the more adventuresome do-it-yourself set, this area has excellent kayaking. The “play areas” of the Shoshone provide hours of fun, and those in the know will tell you that the Clarks Fork has some world class challenges for the experienced kayaker.

Book a trip or rent equipment with a Chamber member business.

Golf

The Olive Glenn Golf & Country Club is a challenging 18 hole, par 72 championship golf course combining scenic mountain terrain with open fairways, manicured greens, and imaginative use of water and lakes. A full service golf shop and practice facility including lessons, driving range, indoor simulators, and putting green. Rental clubs, carts and club storage are also available.

Located at: 802 Meadow Lane Ave Cody, WY 82414

Motorized Recreation

The Big Horn Basin area provides some of the most diverse and spectacular OHV riding opportunities in the world directly from most towns in the region.  The BLM has thousands of miles of trail systems that you can ride on almost all year round.  These opportunities include very easy two track systems where you can experience wildlife (wild horses, eagles, elk, mountain lions, bear, mountain goats, big horn sheep, deer, antelope, and etc.), historical sites, natural wonders, and picturesque scenic vistas.  It also provides for more challenging dirt bike and ATV trails for the more adventurous and skilled crowds with opportunities to ride from the Badlands into the Big Horns or SNF in the same day.

Winter Activities

The fun doesn’t stop when the snow flies in Cody Country. No way! Snowmobiling, skiing, and ice climbing are just a few of the winter sports you can still enjoy.

Yellowstone National Park is open to winter use from the East Entrance. The Shoshone National Forest is also a superb setting for cross country skiing and snowshoe activity.  When it comes to ice climbing, the South Fork of the Shoshone River is rated at or near the top for those in the know. This is an activity for experienced climbers.

Sleeping Giant Ski Area offers everything from ski lessons to equipment rentals.  Ski or snowboard on 49 runs covering 184 acres.  Hang out at the Grizzly Grill after you've had a great day on the slopes.

Cross country skiing, either on developed trails or through the forests and wilderness, is limited only by the skier's imagination and muscles. Many groomed trails are ready for use after the first heavy snowfall. The trails start from Sleeping Giant Ski Area and Pahaska Tepee Resort near the East Entrance to Yellowstone Park. This area offers over 25k of groomed tracks and over 24 miles of challenging forest service trails through the native wilderness. Cross country equipment can be rented at Shoshone Lodge, and Sunlight Sports in Cody. The Wood River Valley Ski Touring Park is 22 miles southwest of Meeteetse and offers 25k of groomed trails, back country trails, a warming hut at the trailhead, and an overnight tent available by reservation. Other trails are groomed in the Crandall / Sunlight Basin area. A more remote, secluded adventure awaits the winter pioneer there.