« All Trips

Gateway to Yellowstone in Cody, WY (Family Friendly 15+)

June 22, 2025 @ 5:00 pm - June 28, 2025 @ 8:00 am

Trip Navigation

Gateway to Yellowstone! Help maintain the Sheep Mountain Trail, just outside the city of Cody, Wyoming the gateway to Yellowstone National Park! Take part in trail maintenance and abundant recreational activities including hiking, horseback riding, hunting, wildlife viewing, sightseeing and shed hunting.

Cody offers a front-row seat to winding rivers, sweeping vistas, untamed wilderness, historic charm, and home of the world’s longest-running nightly rodeo.

This popular and scenic foot and horse trail winds up an impressive box canyon to the top of Sheep Mountain. . The ample amount of BLM-administered public lands, unique settings and resources, and its location make it an excellent recreation resource for travelers and the surrounding communities.

Volunteers will work together to start construction on a new 1-mile section of proposed trail that would bring recreational users to a scenic overlook of Buffalo Bill Reservoir. The new section of trail would be built using a full bench cut (steps) to create a solid, durable tread and may require grade reversals. Volunteers will conduct slough and berm (soil removal) work.

There is no experience needed to join a Volunteer Vacation! Your expert hosts will provide detailed instruction, tool demonstrations, and project oversight throughout the week. All you need is a willing attitude and to be in good physical condition to participate in moderate physical activity for approximately 6-8 hours a day with plenty of breaks, at your own pace. Find out more about what it’s like to join a Volunteer Vacation and other frequently asked questions here.

Register

Host

Private: BLM Cody Field Office

Accommodations

Car Camping Tent Sites

Hiking/Access

Volunteers may drive or hike to the project site. The Sheep Mountain Trailhead is located less than 1 mile from the camping location down a gravel road, and there is a 1.2 mile hike up the current Sheep Mountain Trail to the start of the new trail construction.

Project Rating

Strenuous

Minimum Volunteer Age

15

Maximum Group Size

12

Area and Attractions

The small City of Cody, the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park, has about 9,500 residents, a regional airport, several grocery stores, coffee shops, and restaurants. The cultural environment is rich in tourism activities, which include the Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center, The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Old Trail Town, Cody Trolley Rides, and Old West Shoot-Outs. Cody offers a front-row seat to winding rivers, sweeping vistas, untamed wilderness, historic charm, and home of the world’s longest-running nightly rodeo. There are a wide variety of great restaurants here from western classics like rocky mountain oysters, wild game, and buffalo burgers to Mexican, Italian, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, and German cuisine. The local area has endless amounts of outdoor recreation opportunities to include mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, whitewater rafting, ATV and off-roading, caving, world class trout fishing, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, rock hounding, stargazing, rock climbing and bouldering.

Accommodations Description

Volunteers will camp at Buffalo Bill State Park. Camping sites will include fire rings and picnic tables. Restrooms and coin-operated showers are located nearby to campsites. Volunteers need to bring their own tent and personal camping gear; sheets, bedding or sleeping bag; towels; and personal cup, bowl, mug, and eating utensils.

Travel

Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, Wyoming is the closest major airport. Airport pick up and drop off is available for volunteers and will be arranged upon confirmation of the trip.

Location

Buffalo Bill State Park
4192 N Fork Hwy, Cody, WY 82414 United States + Google Map