Just 50 miles from the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park, pet friendly Cody, Wyoming makes a delightful stop on your road trip. Known as the gateway to Yellowstone, we found this city to be a fantastic pet friendly destination of its own accord!
** ROAD TRIP TIP **
If your route to or from Cody involves I-90, consider taking the scenic drive along Hwy 14A. It’s a winding road through the spectacular Bighorn Mountains, and the breathtaking views won’t disappoint.
There is no shortage of pet friendly hiking trails in the Bighorn National Forest! So, make time to stretch your legs or enjoy a picnic. Just remember to keep dogs leashed for their protection. This is bear country, and precautions should be taken.
READ MORE ⇒ Hiking Safety: Encountering Predators On The Trail
Sniffing Around Pet Friendly Cody, Wy
“Buffalo Bill” Cody and a group of investors he assembled established Cody in 1896. The grandeur of the scenery (for good reason), ranching potential, abundant fish and game, and the proximity to Yellowstone drew residents. And in 1902, the town was incorporated. That same year Buffalo Bill opened the Irma Hotel, named for his youngest daughter.
To bolster the economy of the struggling new town Buffalo Bill persuaded his friend, President Teddy Roosevelt, to establish the Bureau of Reclamation and build the Shoshone Dam and Reservoir. Later renamed the Buffalo Bill Dam and Reservoir, the dam topped the list as the highest in the world at the time.
Pet Friendly Perspective
Cody is a true western town, steeped in the feeling of cowboys and pioneering. In fact, a 45-minute gunfight is staged all summer, Monday through Saturday evenings.
Downtown Cody is a fun place to mosey about and window shop. And finding a place to get a bite is easy – there are several pet friendly restaurants.
You’ll also find a pet friendly trolley tour – a rare treat! Give them an hour, and they’ll share the historical sites and vistas along the 22-mile route with you and your pooch.
If you’d rather do some walking, the city parks are pet friendly and offer a variety of scenic trails. For the truly adventurous, there’s a local tour company that will let your pup help mind the store while you’re out white water rafting or spotting wild mustangs!
Pet Friendly Accommodations and Restaurants
GoPetFriendly.com has listings in Cody for several pet friendly hotels and campgrounds and a number of pet friendly restaurants and activities.
Cody also makes a great basecamp to explore the surrounding area. You’ll find plenty to do here with the whole family!
Pet Friendly Day Trips From Cody
Expecting us to recommend a drive to Yellowstone? Nope! We found these trips to be just as spectacular, and a lot more fun for the dogs!
Red Lodge – Beartooth Pass – Cooke City
This drive showcases approximately 200 miles of the most stunning scenery you will ever see! And exploring the quaint towns along the way make it a challenge to keep moving.
The ski resort of Red Lodge is especially charming, so plan to stretch your legs there. For a little more exercise, remember that all the trails in the Shoshone National Forest welcome pets! Over 335 species of wildlife, including the largest population of bighorn sheep and one of the few remaining grizzly bear populations in the lower 48 states, make their home in the Forest’s 2.4 million acres.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
About 55 miles northeast of Cody you’ll find the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Visiting here is like stepping back in time.
Driving through only takes a couple of hours, but it would be easy to spend the whole day. Wildlife viewing is the primary source of entertainment – and we saw plenty! You can also tour old ranch sites, hike the pet friendly trails, or take a boat tour through the gorgeous canyon.
Medicine Wheel
Just 20-miles east of Bighorn Canyon you’ll find Medicine Wheel – one of the most inspiring places we’ve visited. At 9,642 feet above sea level, near the top of a mountain, you can feel the sacredness of the site. A hush falls over the visitors as they approach, and even Ty and Buster seemed to sense this was a place to practice a little decorum.
Measuring 80 feet across, it’s estimated that the stone structure was constructed between 1200 and 1700 AD. Of course, the exact date and builder are unknown. But observing the well-worn trail, it is clear the site has visited by many people during it’s long history.
It’s possible you’ll even catch a glimpse of a pica — precious little critters that live at these high elevations. Be sure to keep your pups on leash so they don’t cause the local wildlife any stress.
As you can see, pet friendly Cody, Wyoming makes a wonderful vacation destination. And since the pet policies at Yellowstone make it a challenge to enjoy the national park with your pets, don’t overlook Cody on your family trip!
READ MORE ⇒ Tips For Visiting Yellowstone With Pets
