Can’t Sit Still? Saddle Up for the Hands-On Adventure Waiting in Cody Yellowstone

Not every traveler’s dream involves beach towels and hammocks. Some of us crave movement, mastery, and a story to tell. If that’s you, Cody Yellowstone is your kind of wild, where you can rope, ride, or roll up your sleeves for something unexpected.

For the curious, the restless, and the always-on-the-move, here are some of our favorite hands-on adventures to try.

Uncover Resilience and Tradition at Heart Mountain

During World War II, nearly 14,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated to Heart Mountain in Wyoming, where they endured harsh conditions in hastily built barracks. Today, the Heart Mountain WWII Interpretive Center honors that legacy through immersive education. Here, through cultural workshops on origami and mochi-making, you can connect with the profound story of resilience that took root in this historic landscape. 

Go Wild at the Draper Natural History Museum

Step into the wild side of Yellowstone at the Draper Natural History Museum, part of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Follow the sounds, sights, and even smells of Yellowstone’s four unique ecosystems in a sensory scavenger hunt perfect for families and curious minds of any age.

Track Wildlife and Paint Waterfalls with Yellowstone Lodging & Learning

For over 20 years, Yellowstone Forever and Yellowstone National Park Lodges have collaborated to offer in-depth Lodging & Learning adventures. Choose your theme — wildlife watching, geology, family fun — then dive in. You might find yourself snowshoeing to a remote geyser, sketching a waterfall, or watching wolves through a spotting scope. Each day ends with a warm meal and a cozy lodge.

Test Your Grit: Rope Like a Cowboy at Old Trail Town

Old Trail Town is a living museum of the Wild West, featuring 28 historic buildings, including one used by Butch Cassidy and the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. Try your hand at roping a (stationary) practice steer, the kind that won’t buck, but still tests your cowboy chops. Spoiler: it’s harder than it looks. But you’ll leave with a story and maybe a little more respect for rodeo pros.

Shoot Through History at the Cody Firearms Experience

Step inside a state-of-the-art range where you can fire replicas of guns from American history. With expert instructors and a sharp focus on safety, the Cody Firearms Experience offers hands-on lessons that allow you to trace the history of the West through some of its most iconic firearms.

Catch a Calf at the Cody Nite Rodeo

Every summer evening from June through August, Cody Nite Rodeo brings the Wild West to life. One crowd favorite? Kids running wild in the arena, trying to snatch a ribbon from a speedy calf. It’s fun, it’s safe, and trust us, this is the story they’ll tell for years.

Ride Off-Road to Ghost Towns and Wild Mustang Country

Join Kirwin Ghost Town Adventures, Out West Adventures, and Yellowstone Off Road Adventures for high-octane treks to some of the region’s most remote corners. Discover the lost mining town of Kirwin, roam the mustang-populated McCullough Peaks, or trace the 1877 flight of the Nez Perce tribe through Clark’s Fork Canyon. Along the way, guides bring geology, history, and folklore to life.

​​Craft the West at By Western Hands

Part museum, part artisan guild, By Western Hands celebrates the heritage of Western design. Get your hands working in a workshop like Discover the World of Working with Leather, The Art of Hand Stitching, or Ojibwe Beaded Scissor Case. This is where functional art meets frontier flair.

Ride, Fish, and Unwind at a Dude Ranch

With 17 dude, guest, and working ranches in the region, you can spend your nights in a cabin and your days horseback riding, fishing, or hiking wide-open trails. It’s the real West, with just the right amount of comfort.

Ready to kick up some dust? Your hands-on adventure starts here in Cody Yellowstone. Grab your free Cody Yellowstone travel guide and start planning your epic journey today.