First Yellow Mule

If you’re trying to beat Big Sky’s crowds, take a hike along the First Yellow Mule trail. From the popular Ousel Falls trailhead, follow the wide and well-maintained trail through a deep dark forest, taking a minute to visit the cascading Ousel Falls and, if it’s hot, several lovely swimming holes. Eventually, the trail heads away from the river and crosses a road before climbing gently past a boulder field and coming to a junction. From here, head back the way you came or keep hiking to reach a scenic ridgetop or make a long loop of Big Sky’s lower elevations. Photo by Ciara Wolfe