There are TV shows that invite you to tune in and switch; then there are the rarefied few that beckon you to saddle up, breathe in mountain air, and contemplate moving to the wild, wild West for ‘a simpler life’ (albeit, with more family betrayals and bar-side brawls). Such is the gravitational pull of Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan’s five-season sermon to American land and legacy, all framed by sweeping cinematography that, if recent figures are to be believed, is having a direct impact on holiday makers.
But where, exactly, are these sprawling acres, weathered barns, and rodeo arenas? Like all great Western myths, there’s some creative geography at play. Allow this guide to the real Yellowstone filming locations to light the way.
Yellowstone Filming Locations
The Chief Joseph Ranch, Montana
At the heart of Yellowstone sits the Dutton Ranch — actually the Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana. Tucked deep in the Bitterroot Valley beneath snow-capped Trapper Peak, this is where the show’s family drama unfolds. Off screen, it’s a historic guest ranch dating to the early 1900s, and yes, you can book a stay in cabins previously occupied by the cast (for a price and with plenty of advance planning). The infamous ‘Train Station’ — where problems go to disappear — is a real too, and can be found on U.S. Highway 93 at Sula, just south of Darby.
Utah
While Yellowstone is set in Montana, much of its visual identity in the early seasons was actually forged in Utah. Yes, you read that right: for its first three seasons, roughly three-quarters of the show was filmed in Utah at Park City’s Utah Film Studios, leveraging a then-alluring tax incentive and a landscape as wild and cinematic as Montana’s own. This is everywhere the series filmed throughout Utah.
- Ogden: Its 25th Street offered up the bustling town and became the backdrop for everything from Beth Dutton’s hard-drinking after-work escapades at The Outlaw Saloon to the smart bank headquarters at 2505 Lincoln Avenue.
- Spanish Fork: The series’ rip-roaring rodeo scenes were filmed at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds, where the real-life cowboy grit matches the onscreen heroics.
- Park City: Home not only to the Sundance Film Festival — Park City’s Nicklaus Clubhouse at Promontory Club formed the backdrop of Dan Jenkins’ slick, modern mansion.
Montana
As the Dutton family’s fortunes rose (and a few more bodies found themselves at the ‘Train Station’), prodigal production money and, fittingly, a much bigger Montana tax incentive lured filming out of Utah and into Montana itself for season four and beyond. Suddenly, Montana — the show’s spiritual, scriptural home — got its long overdue close-up.
- Hamilton: In Downtown Montana, the stately Daly Mansion becomes the governor’s residence in Yellowstone, while its nearby winding rural roads set the scene for explosive chases.
- Missoula: Since Yellowstone‘s release, Ruby’s Café has become a pilgrimage for food and TV lovers alike, while the city’s Missoula Community Medical Centre also stars in the series as a recurring ‘hospital’ for the Dutton walking-wounded.
- Helena: When John Dutton steps into the governor’s boots, his moves are filmed in the real Montana State Capitol’s hallowed halls.
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