History Captured in Wyoming Vacation Paradise
The Trapper Guest House is part of the historic Trapper Ranch, established in 1896 and located in the hamlet of Shell, Wyoming – East of Yellowstone National Park and Cody, at the foot of the little known Big Horn Mountains and National Forest. At 4200 feet, The Trapper Ranch is surrounded by breathtaking scenery in all directions. This area was first settled by pioneers in The Shell Valley and home to one of the first guest ranches in the area where famous travelers like Owen Wister, Teddy Roosevelt, Hemmingway, NC Wyeth, Julian Huxley (founder of WWF) and others vacationed. The Guest House is 3-bedroom log cottage build in 1928 and renovated in 2014. The pristine Trapper Creek runs miles through the property and next to The Guest House.
Enjoy the peace of small-town life, with the beauty of 650,000 acres of public lands as your back yard. For families traveling with ATV's, you can drive directly out from the Guest House onto miles and miles of trails leading into the Bighorn mountains. Nearby, you can enjoy fly-fishing and we would be happy to recommend our favorite local guides! We do also have a few stocked ponds on the property for your self-guided enjoyment. Watch the mountains begin to glow from the comfort of your front porch chair, as the sun rises and sets over the Bighorns. There's plenty of wildlife to see on our property, including mule deer, pronghorns, birds, and more. You might even catch a glimpse of The Hideout Herd of horses, as guests set off for their daily trail rides in the area!
Gas & Groceries can be found in Greybull, just a 20-minute drive away. For minor essentials, or a great lunch and cup of coffee you can head to the local Shell Store; or enjoy a beverage at the beautiful Shell Bar, which is open Weds-Saturday evenings. In a town of 74 people, every place feels like family.
For Paleontology and dinosaur lovers, the Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite is about 10 minutes away, visit the Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site, or The Bighorn Basin GeoScience Center and Greybull Museum in the nearby town of Greybull, WY; just a 20-minute drive. This area is rich with history! Don't forget to stop by the Medicine Wheel, or just take a scenic drive on the Bighorn Scenic Byway (Hwy 14), and stop at the many overlooks along the way; with numerous hiking trails available!
The town of Cody, WY is only 1 hour West of Shell; and holds the title of the "Rodeo Capitol of the World"! Enjoy the Cody Nite Rodeo, which runs 7 days a week from June 1st to August 31st. There's plenty of restaurants, shopping, and nightlife as well.
There is no shortage of amazing memories to be made, with the Trapper Creek Guest House as your home base for your vacation to the Bighorn Mountains. Welcome to Wyoming!
