Gardiner in Park County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout

The Cutthroat's Worth Saving

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 8, 2011

1. Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Marker

Inscription. Montana's state fish has a sinister name and a fragile future. Set apart from other trout by red slash marks on either side of the lower jaw, the Yellowstone cutthroat trout is far from murderous. Native only to the Yellowstone River drainage, this fish feeds on aquatic insects. It lays eggs in clean-graveled, riffle areas and rests in cool, clear pools like those found here in front of you.

Unlike some kinds of fish, Yellowstone cutthroat are extremely picky about where they live. They can't survive in degraded streams and rivers. They suffer when non-native fish like rainbow and brook trout are introduced into streams. Overfishing adds to their problems. That's why, today, the Yellowstone cutthroat live in only a fraction of their historic range.

Help Save Nature's Peaceful Cutthroat
What You Can Do
Release cutthroats. If you are an angler, learn to identify cutthroats and release them back into the water.
Watch where your water goes. Diverting waters for agricultural and municipal purposes leaves less water for fish. You can help by conserving water and not pouring toxic substances down the drain.
Be a supporter. Many agencies and organizations are working together to restore stream conditions and restock cutthroat into their native water.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals

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• Environment.

Location. 45° 10.246′ N, 110° 52.147′ W. Marker is in Gardiner, Montana, in Park County. Marker is on U.S. 89, 0.8 miles south of Yankee Jim Campground, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gardiner MT 59030, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Take a walk through history on the Yankee Jim Trail (here, next to this marker); Along the Yellowstone River (approx. 5.8 miles away); Hepburn's Mesa (approx. 8.7 miles away); Absaroka - Beartooth Wilderness (approx. 8.8 miles away); Emigrant Gulch (approx. 12.4 miles away); Gardiner Jail (approx. 12½ miles away); Roosevelt Arch (approx. 12½ miles away); Serving Visitors Since the Beginning (approx. 12.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gardiner.

Rafting on the Yellowstone River image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 8, 2011

2. Rafting on the Yellowstone River

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 578 times since then and 4 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 20, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.