Log Lodge, Family friendly, near Yellowstone Park on our private ranch

Photo gallery for Log Lodge, Family friendly, near Yellowstone Park on our private ranch

lodge front with deck, yard, fire pit area
lodge, rear area carport and parking area, rock steps, griz bear entry door
Lodge front deck and barbecue area off kitchen and great room area, great views
Hand carved elk doors downstairs near rec open area leading out to deck and yard
Private kitchen

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 16603.9 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Hot tub
  • Parking available
  • Gym
  • Washer
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

Map
Gardiner, MT
  • Yellowstone Hot Springs
    ‪20 min drive‬
  • Yellowstone National Park North Entrance
    ‪31 min drive‬
  • Mammoth Hot Springs
    ‪43 min drive‬
  • West Yellowstone, MT (WYS-Yellowstone)
    ‪126 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 16)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Single Bed and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Single Bed

Bedroom 7

1 Queen Bed

4 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 4

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Log Lodge, Family friendly, near Yellowstone Park on our private ranch

This property is the original 'McDonald family homestead', 20 minutes from Yellowstone Park line, 25-30 minutes to pay shack in Gardiner. 6 miles of dirt road and 8 miles of interstate highway.
* It consists of a log lodge on the hill, 3 log cabins down by the creek
* private from each other
* the lodge-- 6 Bedroom / 4 Bathroom home that sleeps 12, more if needed at extra cost; 6500 square feet.

King Master suite with walk in rock shower, big jacuzzi tub with beautiful mountain/meadow views, double sink, walk in closet, and upper balcony deck. 2nd floor.

3 Queen bedrooms with a bath/shower tp share, double sinks,
* twin bed in 1 of the queen bedrooms with 16' climbing wall and rope.
2nd floor

*Antique queen bedroom with bath attached, very comfy/cozy. 2nd floor.

*Twin bed in loft Workout area. 2nd floor. Close to Antique queen room.

*Downstairs main ground floor is 1 queen bed in rec room area. 1 bathroom downstairs.
*Downstairs is main floor area with kitchen, great room, walk out to decks, yard, parking, etc.

*Large kitchen with multiple stations, all equipped with everything, 2 sinks, 2 refrigerators, double oven, lots of sitting in area. Opens to dining room with 6 chairs at table.

*Open great room with large couches, leather recliner chair and big rock fireplace. There are 72 windows in lodge, the views are beautiful and plentiful.

Laundry room with LG front load washer/dryer.
Lodge made with logs up to 40 inches in diameter.

Big deck out front opens to nice green yard with automatic sprinklers, a fire pit, more land to stretch out on, & a very large quality trampoline with safety net.

Views of Yellowstone Park mountains, meadows, wildlife, forests, and the company of our ranch's friendly horses, cats, dogs, cows.

We like to think you are coming to get away from it all & hoping you don't get too tempted with the cable and wifi. Let us know if you need it disconnected. Families claim to bond more when not so tempted. Cell service is not the best in Montana or Wyoming area of the park, & Verizon is the best coverage. NO cell service in the mountains at ranch.

We do have a log barn and attached indoor arena above the lodge higher on the hill for private use only. Many guests come watch the ranch girls ride and rope in the arena when they happen to be between rodeos, visit the cats in the hay, and the miniature cows in the pens. The smaller animals are penned by the barn and arena for their protection from the wildlife.

We have a resident elk herd of a few hundred. They have their babies throughout the basin, as well as in and around the cabins, lodge, & along the road. Howl for the wolves at night, enjoy no city lights up here and many a bright stars and beautiful big sky!

We are open year around. The beauty never stops!

Property manager

Shai McDonald
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Air conditioning
Gym

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Very family orientated
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Events

No events allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Outdoor space for smoking, no cigs on ground plz
* Cushions are not to be removed from any furniture inside or outside. * Please do not move any furniture inside or outside or from original rooms.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Gardiner

Located in Gardiner, this holiday home is in a rural area and in the mountains. Roosevelt Arch and Fort Yellowstone Historic District are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Yellowstone National Park North Entrance and Yellowstone National Park. Travelling with kids? Consider Parks' Fly Shop, or check out an event or a game at Rodeo Arena. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Gardiner, MT

What's nearby

  • Yellowstone Hot Springs - 20 min drive - 10.0 km
  • Parks' Fly Shop - 29 min drive - 22.4 km
  • Roosevelt Arch - 30 min drive - 22.9 km
  • Yellowstone National Park North Entrance - 31 min drive - 23.4 km
  • Mammoth Hot Springs - 43 min drive - 30.5 km

Getting around

  • West Yellowstone, MT (WYS-Yellowstone) - 126 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Lighthouse Restaurant - ‬21 min drive
  • ‪Paradise Perk Espresso - ‬24 min drive
  • ‪Follow Yer Nose Smoke Wagon - ‬24 min drive
  • ‪Grizzly Grille - ‬24 min drive

Frequently asked questions

What time is check-in at Log Lodge, Family friendly, near Yellowstone Park on our private ranch?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Log Lodge, Family friendly, near Yellowstone Park on our private ranch?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Log Lodge, Family friendly, near Yellowstone Park on our private ranch located?

This family-friendly Gardiner holiday home is located in the mountains, steps from Gallatin National Forest and within 6 mi (10 km) of Aldridge Lake and Yellowstone Hot Springs. Cutler Lake and Yellowstone River are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 66 out of 74 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 74 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 74 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 74 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 74 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jeannette S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Breathtaking

Lodge offered everything we needed for our stay. Beautiful inside. Beautiful biews!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steven H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Yellowstone Paradise

Incredible house, views, wildlife, & location that allowed us to experience the national treasure of Yellowstone in a relaxing environment! We had an amazing vacation. Thank you!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anna V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

This place is a dream come true

We couldn’t have booked a better place, I have never stayed in a more gorgeous cabin! Property manager was the absolute best. House was so clean and cozy, and the view is absolutely stunning.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jessica B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Beautiful peaceful mountain top retreat

A beautiful wooden lodge that gives you a wonderful break to unplug and be in nature with all the comforts of home! Beautiful setting to get away from it all! Highly recommend
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brandon W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Birthday trip

We planned our trip for my husband’s birthday. We have rented many homes on VRBO over the years. This was the most beautiful well maintained welcoming home we have ever stayed in. Watching the animals was so enjoyed by all of us. I can’t say enough how wonderful this home is. Thank you
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tasha W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful lodge!

We enjoyed staying in this lodge with our whole family of 14! The house had plenty of room, beautiful views and plenty of things for the kids to do both inside and out!! We loved staying here and that it was private and although off the beaten path, still close to things to do! This lodge has all the things though, so you don’t feel like you have to leave!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robert M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spectacular Mountain Lodge

Fabulous setting close to Yellowstone, the log lodge is an architectural masterpiece in a beautiful and peaceful setting. Comfortable and extremely well equipped for a memorable family trip. It was hard to leave at the end of our stay.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful getaway

This cabin is stunning! It is exactly what you think of when you think of a mountain lodge in Yellowstone. It is remote and peaceful. Drinking coffee in the living room looking out of the massive windows at the mountain was my favorite part. There were so many features that were kid friendly that my 3 year old had a blast from the moment we walked in. She immediately found the indoor trampoline, the rock climbing wall and the toy horses. Overall it was a wonderful stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tina b.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing experience

It was amazing. The cabin was awesome and had plenty of space for 8 people. Close to Yellowstone and Gardiner. And the view was great. Got to see and hear elk which was awesome. Also seen some mule deer and big horn sheep. Overall would stay here again. Loved everything about it
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ken M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

yelowstone trip

The lodge was awesome as were the views. Our family had a fantastic time and were sorry to have to come home Ken.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karl S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing!

The Lodge was simply amazing. My family including children and grandchildren enjoyed an incredible getaway to beautiful Yellowstone! The property and home were gorgeous and we watched Elk in the back yard and a mountain goat on a sheer face from the back window! Beautifully appointed rustic lodge with outstanding kitchen and plenty of sleeping quarters! Shai was wonderful to work with! This will not disappoint!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Judy C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Vacation

We planned a family vacation to visit Yellowstone National Park. This log house was great for our family. The view was absolutely beautiful. The house was open and offered lots of activities for the kids. They especially enjoyed the basketball set and the trampoline outside. The kitchen was will stocked with spices and other condiments. The property was located within 30 minutes to the north entrance to Yellowstone which made it convenient for our tour of the park. Very quiet, peaceful and fun watching the wildlife. I would highly recommend this property.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tim W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Log Lodge

Had a couple of small issues and contacted Shai. She was awesome and and all resolved within 15 minutes. Lodge was absolutely beautiful and entire family had a blast! Would definitely love to return!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Montana

Awesome experience!!!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The most fabulous white Christmas

My partner and I came over from Australia with his parents to meet my sister in law and her husband (who live in America) for a white Christmas. This place blew our minds and made for literally the best Christmas we've ever had. We are wanting to come back annually and are totally obsessed with Montana in genera now. Shai is the most epic host and even put some decorations up before our arrival. A few things worth mentioning to hopefully answer any questions: - the place is WARM, central/under floor heating everywhere so even in winter it's not so bad - the place is about 15 mins off the main road and about 30 min from Gardiner where there was an big grocery store that was open even on Christmas to buy everything we needed - the kitchen is HUGE and well stocked and was easy to cook for 6 of us, we didn't end up eating out once - we got lucky with snow - a little but not a dumping. we had no issues with the road apart from some icy patches, but the road in is quite windy up a hill so definitely would be wanting snow tyres on your car at least but chains if it got heavy - the beds in the main 4 bedrooms were really comfortable . I slept SO well and even woke up to a heard of elk on Christmas morning out the window - the 5th bedroom and other sleeping areas aren't quite so comfy but for kids/less fussy adults it would be fine - the hot springs at the end of the road are great, would totally recommend
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Vardhana G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Out of this world

We are so happy our family of 12 chose this place to stay for our trip to yellow stone. This log cabin by itself was amazing and the location and views in the backyard was a piece of heaven. I had family from new zealand, singapore and India and all of us were blown away by the beauty. The only issue was, the road leading up was a dirt road which we already knew and was ok with it once we got used to it. The directions were confusing. We passed grandpa's cabin on the right and right in front of us was a barn. It was dark and we did not see the road on the left that goes up even more to 2 more houses. Of the two cabins ours was the one on the right. We were very lucky that Nick in Grandpa's cabin drove in his car and led us up there at 10 o clock at night. It would be a good idea for the lights to be left on so that guests know there is a house there. There is no cell reception to call anyone from the road there. Shai was very responsive whenever I needed her and was able to contact her. The lodge had starlink cell reception. I would definitely come back and stay there if I need to in the future. Vardhana.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

John F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spacious and Amazing Lodge Close to Yellowstone

This lodge was a big highlight of our Yellowstone trip. We travelled with another family (4 adults 7 kids). The layout of the lodge is great with bedrooms upstairs and a large open great room down below. Views up the 6 mile dirt road are beautiful as are the views from the lodge. There is an entire kids area with toys, indoor trampoline, basketball shooting game, etc. Tip: check out the hot springs at the base of the mountain road. We soaked there our last night. This + the lodge was an incredible way to end our trip. Thank you for the stay and for the memories this provided our families!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family vacation!

A bit out of the way, but a beautiful property. Able to see stars without tons of ambient light, and watched elk and deer from the living room!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Catherine W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Phenomenal Vacation

Nine adults/two families = great vacation to Yellowstone. The house had everything we needed and more. Hosts were attentive and quick to respond to any questions we had and the scenery couldn’t be beat.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sara R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

If you want to get away from it all and surround yourself in natural beauty this is your place. Gorgeous property, fully stocked kitchen, beautiful grounds. Definitely gave us the Montana experience we were searching for and we WILL be back!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Linnea Y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cabin in the Mountains

Beautiful cabin. We would say again!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

8/10 Good

Bonnie B., Weston, Fl

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful getaway

This was the perfect spot to decompress! We had our annual family trip here and the amount of outdoor space to relax and “unload” all of the daily stressors was magnificent! We couldn’t have asked for better weather. Gorgeous clear blue skies with full sun during the days and crisp nights allowed us to make use of the outdoor fire pit! The grocery store in Gardiner had literally everything we needed to cook our meals. I was actually surprised at the vast selection they carried! The only flaw was the lighting in the cabin is poor. Way too dark at night. Perfect during the day because of all the windows. But at night it gets DARK!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Louise M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Heaven on Earth

The McDonald Ranch was absolutely beautiful; my family nicknamed the property ‘heaven on earth’. The pictures on this site don’t do the house enough justice. There was enough space to fit 16 people and it was a beautiful place for a family gathering. The property itself was absolutely massive with a great fire pit outback where quality time can be spent under the gorgeous night sky. The horses on the property were very friendly and my family really enjoyed feeding them. There were also two dogs on the property that my family loved to play with; Finn and Sadie (they were very friendly and energetic). Additionally, there were activities within 30 to 45 minutes of the house; horseback riding at Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa, Yellowstone Hot Springs (at the end of Cinnabar Basin Road) and Yellowstone Wild Tours provided a wonderful guided tour through the north entrance of the park. The small town of Gardiner itself was quaint and everyone that worked in the surrounding stores were very friendly and provided excellent recommendations on where to eat and where to see loval wildlife. The only call out for visitors is that Cinnabar Basin Road itself is very narrow, hilly and rocky, so people need to be cautious when going up and down the 15 minute drive to and from the ranch. The kitchen was large enough to fit food and drinks for our entire grouping and there were plenty of kitchenware to use for cooking and eating in at the house. Another benefit was that there was four bathrooms, each of them had a shower. Additionally, there were 3 TV’s, one in the family room downstairs and 2 in bedrooms upstairs so not every bedroom has a tv, and there is a game room on the main floor that had a mattress in it but it is not a separate bedroom; it’s open to the living space so plan for that. Every single person in my family was blown away by the beauty in build of the house and I would recommend renting this house to everyone.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael J., Friendswood

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gardiner House Rental

Loved the property and our group had a great time.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kacey W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Log dream home

It was amazing! There was so much for young kids to do! The kitchen was stocked with Tupperware and seasonings and all cooking essentials. The views will forever be in my dreams! Definitely a perfect place for the family to stay🥰
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

About the host

Hosted by Shai McDonald

Host profile image
McDonald family homesteaded this basin in the 1800's on their way to visit Yellowstone Park. They bought the other homesteaders out, living in seclusion working hard, cutting lumber from the forests, clearing fields for hay, working cattle, filling their bellies with local elk, deer, moose, wild strawberries, and even kept ice in a little mini log ice house on the side of the mountain.
They had a keen eye to keep safe from the numerous grizzly bears and many a story to tell of that. Great Grandma McDonald still holds the record for harvest of Montana's largest grizzly when this griz decided to see what was in the storeroom while Great Grpa was in town getting supplies.

Our kid's grpa, Jack McDonald worked for the national park service for 43 years, while enjoying raising his family on the ranch, along with many pet moose.

Riding horses and hunting indian arrowheads and special rocks was a favorite hobby of the family.

We are now the 5th generation McDonald family preserving the original homestead cabins, sharing the beauty. We spend the summers competing in rodeos with our 3 kids all over Montana and checking in on our guests and ranch animals. Winters are spent sledding, snowmobiling, skiing, roping inside the indoor arena, basketball, football parties & keeping warm by the fireplace.

Why they chose this property

We are content settling on our family ranch raising kids, cows, horses, logging & fencing.
We just recently built the lodge with massive logs and over 72 windows to help accommodate multi-family gatherings.

We enjoy sharing the beauty with others and our animals sure love the extra attention.

Depending on season, the wildlife of mountain sheep, mountain goats, antelope, elk, deer, bear, buffalo/bison, coyote, fox, wolves, badgers, gophers, eagles, hawks, other birds are the most prevalent animals seen on the ranch and driving to/from.

What makes this property unique

Getting away from it all, yet still close enough to all the activities. Animals all about in a private, quiet and very beautiful setting while enjoying the comfortable log lodgings.

20 minutes from Yellowstone Park line
25-30 minutes from Yellowstone Park Entrance Station other side of Gardiner.
1-1.5 hours from Old Faithful
4 hours one way to Jackson Hole, WY

Gardiner entrance is the original entrance to Yellowstone Park, and the only one open year around.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests