Mountain Outlaw

How much do you know about what grows in your backyard? In your community? In this reported essay, writer Heather Hansman tackles a phenomenon known as plant blindness by learning about the flora surrounding her newly purchased home and further strengthening her relationship with the landscape. This story appears in the Summer 2026 issue of Mountain Outlaw. Read the online version ⁠here⁠ . Read an...

A community effort in West Yellowstone, Montana, recently brought to fruition a modern way to experience the historic Yellowstone Shortline railway. Starting in town, a 9-mile paved biking and pedestrian path traces the old tracks of the rail line that brought some of the park's earliest passengers to its gates. Writer Caitlin Styrsky explores both the history of the railway and the exciting new t...

In this riveting and colorful historical fiction piece, writer James Mckew reimagines the Washburn-Doane Expedition of 1870 into what would become Yellowstone National Park. This story appears in the Summer2026 issue of Mountain Outlaw. Read the online version ⁠here⁠ . Read and Written by James Mckew Illustrations by Halle Hauer Produced and Edited by Bella Butler Theme Music by Harlow Punderson A...

Thirty years ago, wolves laid tracks in Yellowstone for the first time since their systematic removal. The anniversary of the Yellowstone wolf reintroduction is a milestone that reminds us of the predator's legacy of controversy in this critical ecosystem. To understand the "New Yellowstone Wolf Era" in which we find ourselves, Mountain Outlaw Deputy Editor Sophie Tsairis shares the stories of thr...

While many people may be familiar with Michael Keaton the actor, lesser known is Michael Keaton the Montana man. In this issue's Featured Outlaw profile, writer Toby Thompson introduces readers to the celebrity through his relationship with rural, wild places. This story appears in the Summer 2026 issue of Mountain Outlaw. Read the online version here . Read and Written by Toby Thompson Produced a...

We're so excited to present summer 2026's Mountain Outlaw: The Home Issue. Our contributors explored this theme through a number of lenses and narratives, culminating in everything from a profile of actor Michael Keaton to a stunning gallery of wildfire photos. Pick up a copy today, read online at mtoutlaw.com, or enjoy listening to a selection of our Author Reads from this issue wherever...

Just a few miles northwest of Yellowstone's West Entrance, a historic tragedy is memorialized by a scar on the land. On Aug. 17, 1959, during what is remembered as a Night of Terror, a massive earthquake shook a sleeping canyon the Madison River, killing 28 people, fracturing a mountainside and creating Earthquake Lake. The living history of this landscape is undeniable, yet as the remaining survi...

With the fifth installment of her celebrated mystery series hot off the press, Livingston-based writer Jamie Harrison is cementing her legacy as one of the literary landmark's greats. The daughter of the late and accoladed writer Jim Harrison, Jamie's independent relationship to the craft, as well as to her father and the Montana community where she now resides, is explored in this profile penned...

On Sept. 16, 1889, railway director James J. Hill laid track for a key piece of the West's future when he created the Great Northern Railway. In the following months, the territories of Montana, Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota and Idaho became states—this proximity no mere coincidence. In this piece, historical writer Brenda Wahler brings to life the story of Hill's revolutionary railway, w...

The sport of curling is spackled with peculiarities, yet its many devotees flock to ice around the country each winter eager to sweep their hearts out. In this humorous piece, contributor Ednor Therriault explores how curling has gripped many Montana communities during the region's long, frigid season, and even gives it a (comical) go himself. This story appears in the Winter 2025 issue of Mou...

Statistics are revealing what many Montanans are witnessing—and some are experiencing: homelessness in the state is on a rapid rise. This issue’s Outbound Gallery seeks to break down headlines of community debate and statewide trends through the use of powerful visual storytelling intended to inspire human connection. In this interview, Mountain Outlaw Managing Editor Bella Butler speaks with phot...

Jon Tester makes sure you know he's first and foremost a farmer and a Montanan, but he's most widely known as a three-term U.S. senator—one who is notably clinging to a uniquely broad appeal in a notoriously divisive time. In this issue's Featured Outlaw profile, Mountain Outlaw Managing Editor Bella Butler dissects The Tester Appeal. This story appears in the winter 2024 Montana issue. Read the s...

Montana's storied Red Light districts are a colorful part of its history and are yet often remembered quietly. In her exploration of this period, Mountain Outlaw contributor Sophie Tsairis dives into Red Light Montana and experiences new Bozeman restaurant est. 1864's revival of the influential moment. This story appears in the winter 2024 Montana issue. Read the story here.

The OTO Ranch is the oldest dude ranch in Montana, and its fate hangs in the balance. Largely dormant for decades save for wildlife and the occasional day tripper, a recent pop-up dude ranch experiment was a window into what the Forest-Service operated historic site could be. Upon invite, Mountain Outlaw contributor Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan attended a stay at the pop-up ranch followed by further re...

When veteran Mountain Outlaw humor writer Ednor Therriault's friend first posed the concept of "Yellowstone People" and "Glacier People", he wondered if you had to be one or the other. Sure, each national park has its unique archetype of visitor, but does that translate to a rigid dichotomy? In this comical (and sometimes relatable) piece, Therriault launches a self-study of Montana's famous parks...

In this short fiction story by Mountain Outlaw contributor Toby Thompson, a solo adventurer contemplates his own personal story amid a harrowing blizzard in the Yellowstone backcountry and confronts modern events in a remote Montana bar. This story appears in the winter 2024 Montana issue . Read the story here . Warning: This story contents explicit language and mention of suicide. Listener discre...

Welcome to Mountain Outlaw Audio, an offering from Mountain Outlaw magazine. Based in Big Sky, Montana, Mountain Outlaw's stunning biannual print and online publication shares impactful stories about the West from the Greater Yellowstone Region. In this exciting audio format, we're transforming the way readers enjoy our stories. With Audio Stories including Author Reads, as well as in-dept...