3 Days at Auster: The Perfect Paradise Valley Itinerary

Three days is just long enough to feel a world away.

Long enough to trade busy schedules for the quiet rhythm of the Yellowstone River. Long enough to watch the mountains change with the light, wake beneath endless skies, and discover why Paradise Valley has been drawing people here for generations.

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway in Paradise Valley, searching for the perfect Montana cabin stay, or looking for unforgettable things to do near Yellowstone National Park, Auster makes it easy to build an itinerary around the experiences that matter most to you. Let’s get started.

Field Guide

• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day 3
• FAQs

Day 1

Morning

The first thing you’ll notice when you get to Auster is the scale. The highest peaks of the Absaroka Mountains, dusted with snow even in summer. The Yellowstone River winding through the valley floor. Gentle breezes carrying the scent of pine needles and mountain sage in bloom. Birds gliding through alpine air, in no hurry at all.

Your first day at Auster is about taking it all in. After settling into your cabin, ease into life beneath big skies. Pick up a warm drink from Southwind Coffee, wander through the property’s walking trails, and let Paradise Valley unveil itself to you, one sun-dappled trail and mountain vista at a time.

Afternoon

By the time afternoon rolls around, you’ll find yourself relaxing into the slower pace of Paradise Valley. When hunger finally calls, make your way over to Southwind Kitchen for a leisurely lunch filled with fresh, seasonal flavors and warm Montana hospitality.

After lunch, we recommend letting your curiosity lead the way. Depending on the season, you might follow a quiet trail to the river’s edge and watch the water drift by. Maybe you’ll slip a kayak or paddleboard into the serene waters of Auster’s private lakes, mountain reflections rippling across the surface. Or perhaps you’ll just find a comfortable spot beside the pool or on your cabin’s patio, book in hand.

Evening

When the sun begins its slow descent behind the Absaroka Mountains, the valley exhales a cool, misty breath. Follow the glow of golden hour back to Southwind Kitchen for dinner, where you can share stories from the day over a delicious meal. Afterward, head upstairs to find a seat on the rooftop deck of Southwind Saloon for a handcrafted cocktail, a local beer, or a glass of wine.

Before turning in for the night, take one last walk outside your cabin. Listen for the quiet rush of the river. Feel the crisp evening breeze move through the pines. Look up. With little light to compete against their brilliance, countless stars emerge overhead and fill the Montana sky. Tomorrow brings new adventures, but tonight belongs to the simple joy of being exactly where you are.

Day 2

Morning

You wake into splendor. Somewhere in the distance, an eagle calls overhead as the world comes alive. Beyond the cottonwoods, today’s adventure is already waiting.

After a hearty breakfast, it’s time to step a little deeper into the landscape you’ve spent the last day getting to know. Every season reveals a different side of Paradise Valley, and no two mornings unfold quite the same. 

Perhaps today finds you wading into the cool, clear waters of the Yellowstone River, the current swirling around your waders as the first trout breaks the surface. Or maybe you’re in the saddle, following quiet trails through open meadows as the Absaroka Mountains rise around you. You may choose to spend the morning hiking beneath fragrant pines, where birdsong echoes through the trees, or teeing off at Rising Sun Golf Course with snow-capped peaks watching over every fairway.

Afternoon

Return to Southwind Kitchen for a well-earned lunch that somehow tastes even better after a morning outdoors. Let conversation linger a little longer over one more cup of coffee, reliving the morning’s adventures.

Then head back out. Paradise Valley still has more to show you. 

Every stay at Auster is fully customizable, making it easy to choose the experience that speaks to you most. Spend the afternoon white water rafting down the Yellowstone River with an experienced guide, exploring the backcountry on horseback, perfecting your cast during a lakeside lesson, or cruising scenic roads on an e-bike.

Evening

Eventually, every path leads you back to Auster. Boots a little dustier. Shoulders a little warmer from the Montana sun. Maybe even carrying a story you’ll still be telling years from now.

As the day’s adventures give way to evening, there’s nowhere better to gather than Southwind Saloon. Find a seat on the rooftop deck with a handcrafted cocktail, local beer, or glass of wine in hand as the mountains glow beneath the last light of day. Before long, the familiar aromas drifting from Southwind Kitchen signal that it’s time for dinner. Gather around the table once more to relive every memorable cast, winding trail, and breathtaking view over another exceptional meal.

If the day has left your legs pleasantly tired, end the evening with a soak in Auster’s outdoor hot tubs. Surrounded by endless skies, it’s the perfect place to unwind before taking the long way back to your cabin.

You’ll find that the air has cooled, the stars have returned, and Paradise Valley feels a little more familiar than it did just yesterday. 

Day 3

Morning

By your third morning, the same mountains that welcomed you just days ago now feel more like home. The Yellowstone River greets you like an old friend. It’s tempting to stay exactly where you are, but one final adventure is calling. 

Today, that adventure leads south, toward the wild heart of Yellowstone National Park. To begin scratching the surface of the park’s remarkable geology, dynamic wildlife, ancient history, thermal features, and more, book a guided tour with an experienced local guide. Prefer to explore at your own pace? Auster’s Outfitter and Activity Center can point you toward can’t-miss sights and help you plan a day of discovery all your own.

After a hearty breakfast, set out for Yellowstone. Enter through the park’s North Entrance (just a 20-minute drive from Auster) and spend the morning winding through one of the world’s most extraordinary landscapes, where steam rises from geothermal terraces, bison graze in open meadows, and rivers carve their way through rugged canyons. Pause often. Take your time exploring scenic overlooks that remind you just how vast the American West can be.

Afternoon

End your day at Yellowstone National Park immersed in the mineral-rich waters of nearby Yellowstone Hot Springs or Chico Hot Springs, both open year-round. Rich in naturally occurring minerals, these warm waters have long been treasured as a place to reconnect and recharge after a day spent in the great outdoors. As steam rises into the mountain air and the valley settles into golden hour, you’ll find there’s no better way to reflect on the adventures of the past few days before returning to Auster.

As your time near the park winds down, point your compass back toward Auster for one final evening beneath the big sky.

Evening

The last evening always arrives too soon.

As your final night unfolds, there’s nowhere else you’d rather be. Savor every moment. One more dinner shared with good company. One more walk beneath the stars. One more quiet moment on your cabin porch as the last light fades from the mountains. 

It’s hard to say goodbye to a place that so quickly feels like home. Thankfully, Paradise Valley has a way of welcoming you back whenever you’re ready to return.

Find Your Adventure