04/18/2025
Great public guide to Cooke City from Alpine Motel
IF YOU'RE PLANNING A VISIT TO COOKE CITY OR SILVER GATE THIS SUMMER, HERE'S OUR ANNUAL REPOST (AND MOST POPULAR POST EVER) OF WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN VISITING THE COOLEST TOWN IN AMERICA. WE'VE FOUND THAT WHEN OUR GUESTS KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN VISITING OUR TOWN, THEIR TIME HERE AND EXPERIENCE OF COOKE CITY IS MUCH MORE MEMORABLE AND PLEASANT.***
***This post may grow each year as we think of new things to add to the list. Feel free to message us with any ideas.***
A few fun facts about Cooke City you may or may not have known. If you plan on staying/dining/shopping/exploring in Cooke City this summer, here are some things you should know.
1. This is COOKE CITY. NOT NEW YORK CITY. There are some first world services which you won't find here. We have about 75 year round residents. Some years we have a few more and some a few less. People come and go. During the summer months, that number usually doubles. But we are roughly 75 strong year round.
2. There is no cell service of any kind in Cooke City or Silver Gate. WiFi can also be sketchy everywhere in town. Yes, there are still entire towns without cell service and we happen to be one of them.
3. Cooke City is the highest elevated town in Montana. There is always some debate about this, but we sit somewhere between 7,580 and 7,652 feet above sea level. I guess it depends whether you're on the east or west end of town, or which sign you read. I mention this for any visitors with respiratory/cardiac issues. We don't want to see you leaving town in an ambulance or helicopter.
4. Medical services are far, far away. We do have an amazing local volunteer EMS team. But they are limited in their capacity. And what you would normally drive yourself to the doctor for, here you'll leave town in a very long ambulance ride or a trip across the Beartooth Mountains in a helicopter.
5. There is no bank in Cooke City. There are several ATM machines around town. But the nearest bank is 1.75 hours away.
6. The General Store carries a good selection of groceries. But there is no Wal-Mart, Target, or Kroger here. If you need that kind of supermarket, you'll want to go before heading to Cooke City/Silver Gate.
7. There is no dentist in town. Last summer I saw two people leave my hotel on their way to a dentist.
8. Cooke City/Silver Gate are the only two towns in Montana you cannot drive to from Montana. No matter how you drive here, you have to drive through Wyoming first. Yep. If you're anywhere else in Montana, you must leave the state, and drive a significant way through Wyoming to get to Cooke City/Silver Gate, MT.
9. During the winter months, we become the most isolated community in the lower 48. It's due to our proximity to . . . well . . . anything, really. People always come for me in the comments about this one. But it's true.
10. There is no law enforcement services in Cooke City/Silver Gate. We don't have any crime here. But I have seen fender benders happen with rental vehicles which require a police report. Those situations are oftentimes (but not always) handled through emails.
11. We have a one-room school which educates local kids through the 8th grade. And yes, there is only one teacher for all grade levels. By the way, our teacher was selected as the 2022 Rural Teacher of the Year for the state of Montana. We're so lucky to have her here.
12. Cooke City/Silver Gate is surrounded on all sides by Gallatin National Forest. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of miles of hiking trails around us. Outdoor opportunities are seemingly endless for fishing, hiking, camping, hunting, ATV riding, etc.
13. There is wildlife in and around Cooke City/Silver Gate. I have seen a moose run down the middle of the street. I have seen bears walking down the center dividing line in the road. Bison are often in my parking lot. Foxes roam the area in the evening. And the town raven, Stevie, has been known to dive bomb people. I can't believe I have to say this. But sadly, each year there are a few visitors who make this next statement necessary. THESE ANIMALS ARE NOT OUR PETS!!! Don't approach them. Don't touch them. For goodness’s sake, don't feed them!!! Every year, when I say I've seen it all, someone inevitably surprises me with their carelessness and lack of concern for wildlife. Last year I watched a man try to play fetch with a bison in the parking lot using a tennis ball. I watched a lady try to feed an apple to a bison. DON'T PET THE FLUFFY COWS, or any other animal you might encounter.
14. The only public restrooms in Cooke City are at the Visitor and Information Center. There is no sewer system in Cooke City (yet). Every home and business is on a septic system. Our town receives over a million visitors a year. And most need to use the facilities. This would require businesses to have their tanks pumped weekly. Of course, restaurants will allow you to use the restroom if you're patronizing their establishment. But if you just need to p*e, the Visitor and Information Center is the only place.
15. Cooke City has an awesome Visitor's Center and museum. By all means, stop and spend a little time there. It explores the history of Cooke City and its historical importance to and relationship with Yellowstone National Park. The staff are friendly and informative.
16. (Addendum as of 04/14/2023) There is not a single air conditioner at any hotel or business in Cooke City. Our mild climate doesn't require it. Yes, it may get warm during the day. But as soon as the sun sets behind the mountain early in the evening, it cools down considerably. We cool our rooms and homes the old fashioned way -- by opening the windows. We promise you'll get a great night of sleep with the cool night breezes flowing through your rooms. Also, there are no elevators in Cooke City. Nearly every hotel/motel/lodge in Cooke City has some rooms on a second or third level. Stairs are the only way up.
17. (Addendum as of 04/16/2023 - courtesy of one of our Facebook followers) When visiting Cooke City/Silver Gate and surrounding areas you will be in "Bear Country." There are two kinds of bears in the area -- grizzly bears and black bears. These bears are amazing creatures!!! But nearly all encounters between bears and humans (which don't end well for the bear) are the fault of human beings. Bears are magnificent, but also potentially deadly and are best observed from a safe distance. However, if you're out and about hiking in our mountains, you never know what you're going to encounter. It's best to always be prepared. Know what to do if you encounter a bear (of either kind). And always have bear spray with you when you're in bear country. And most importantly, know how to use it.
18. (Addendum as of 4/17/2025) Let's talk roads and weather. Yes, even during the summer, we have inclement weather in these mountainous areas. I have seen snow fall from the sky every month of the year. I have seen hail storms that will drop a few inches of frozen pellets on the warmest days. Occasionally, when we receive inclement weather at high elevations, Yellowstone will temporarily close a road(s) for the safety of travelers. And they will do so without any notice. This is one of the many reasons we encourage visitors to be flexible with their travel plans. So many people get fired up and angry when this happens. It's nothing to get upset about. Would you rather have a slight delay? Or, would you rather be caught in a surprise blinding snowstorm and drive your vehicle off a cliff because you can't see where you're going?
19. (Addendum as of 4/17/2025 - a suggestion from one of our customers and Facebook followers). Do not count on the Beartooth Highway to be open. Summer snow may close the road causing a long detour to get to your lodging in Cooke City/Silver Gate.
We encourage you to reach out to us with any questions or concerns you may have. And we'll do our best to answer your questions or point you in the right direction. We hope your trips and vacations to Yellowstone and surrounding areas are full of adventure, fun, and memories.
