One Hour Horse Ride Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The trail is the route followed by the one hour concessionaire horseback ride from Roosevelt Lodge to Yancey's Hole (hence the name). It’s open for pedestrian use, but give horse parties the right-of-way.

The trail heads north then west from Roosevelt Corrals, twice crossing the highway. The trail is relatively flat and dusty, but affords nice views of the surrounding area as it traverses the sagebrush meadow. At the 0.9-mile mark, it climbs a small rise affording nice views to the north. The trail then drops to a crossing of Lost Creek at the 1.4-mile mark and joins the Stagecoach Road Trail.

At the 2.1-mile mark, the trail ends at a covered structure where the stagecoach cookout is served. It was on this site, back in 1884, that John Yancey built his Pleasant Valley Hotel. It was a small establishment. Beds were built Pullman style with an upper and lower berth. Patrons were said to have bribed the maid for clean sheets. But old "Uncle John" made everyone feel at home. Before bedding down you can bet there was some activity at the adjoining saloon. John served his own special brand of "Kentucky tea" from two shot glasses he boasted had never been tainted by a drop of water.

Listen closely and you may hear the click of poker chips, or the knock of an empty shot glass against the bar, and over in the corner a gentleman relating the details of the day's touring. Yes, those were the good old days. But tourism was increasing, bigger and finer hotels were already in service by 1906 when the Pleasant Valley Hotel burned to the ground. Soon automobiles were allowed in the park and the stagecoach era became just a memory.

Thanks to guidebook author, Tom Carter, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about visiting Yellowstone, check out his book, Day Hiking Yellowstone.