We'll be staying at Big EZ Lodge in Big Sky, Montana for five nights in early September. There are a host of outdoors-oriented tour operators in the area. We enjoy moderate hiking (5-10 miles per day), photography, maybe rafting (floating). Can anyone recommend tour operators or specific hiking experiences that are worthwhile for a first visit to the area?

We are then travelling south to Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP (staying at Jenny Lake Lodge), and finishing up at the Rusty Parrot in Jackson. All hotels are booked and deposits have been made, so we do not need additional hotel recommendations (although restaurant recommendations in Jackson will be welcome). Price is not an issue.

There is a good restaurant at Chico Hot Springs if you are entering into YNP thru Gardiner/ Mamoth Hot Springs entrance: http://www.chicohotsprings.com/
They can also be used as a day spa, or just pay a fee to soak in their outdoor springs pool.
FYI, we loved our lunch at Jenny Lake Lodge.

While staying at Jenny Lake Lodge make sure you take the boat across Jenny lake and hike as far as you are able into Cascade Canyon. The scenery is amazing. The hike around String lake is also very nice. You will love Jenny Lake Lodge.

Hi -
You're going to one of my favorite spots on earth! (but I'm biased since I grew up in MT with our family cabin located in Big Sky). Anyway, if the weather holds for you and depending on water level in the Gallatin river, one of the short rafting trips down the lower canyon portion of the Gallatin is a lot of fun. We also used to just
"tube" down the sections of the river 5-10 miles south of the Big Sky turn-off. For hiking, I'd recommend that you stop by one of the Big Sky bookstores/shops for a trail map and get recommendations from locals but here are a few moderate dayhikes that I'd recommend in the Gallatin Canyon plus there are hikes up near Moonlight Basin closer to the Big EZ lodge as well but I figure you'll get good advice on those from the Lodge employees.

Lava Lake - This is a great and popular hike. The hike to the lake is about 3 miles but you can go further. To get to the trailhead drive approximately 15 miles north towards Bozeman to just past the 35-mph bridge.

Porcupine - Porcupine Creek trail is really nice.

Lemon's Knob - This is a great and relatively short hike (60-90 minutes depending) to the top of a "knob" that has terrific views (including of Lone Peak in the distance) plus you can walk over to the Rainbow Ranch or Corral Bar/Cafe for a after hike drink/snack). Also, if you continue down the other side of the knob, there is a really pretty little valley behind with a stream running through (Porcupine)so you can hike down and have lunch by the stream. To get to the trailhead drive about 5 miles south of the Big Sky turn-off on 191 and take a left at the Twin Cabins trailhead (Rainbow Ranch). Park in the Twin Cabins parking lot and the trail starts on the left. (P.S. - at the top of the knob, you'll see lots of rocks with initials/names scratched in - probably lots from my family since our house was in the meadow below the knob)

By the way, I LOVE the Jenny Lake Lodge - sitting on our little "porch" with a glass of wine staring up at the Grand Teton after a day of hiking on the Cascade or Paintbrush canyon trails was paradise! Have fun!

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Hey Expert. I wish you the best. You are going to a beautiful place. I made a similar trip two years ago in September. It's very hot there then and Jenny Lake Lodge has no a/c. If you can cancel and move those dates to Rusty Parrot you will not regret it. You can commute from Jackson to GTNP quite easily from Jackson. I stayed at Snake River Lodge and Spa. It was much nicer than Jenny Lake. I did enjoy the hiking around JL and my son enjoyed the horse back riding but it was very hot and the rooms are not a/c. They are not too large either. RP or The Four Seasons would be much better. Have dinner at Snake River Lodge. It was outstanding. Good luck.