Yellowstone Peaks Hotel Review: Minimalist Micro Cabins & Adventure Access

When you think of accommodations in the Rocky Mountains, what do you picture? Pendleton blankets and black bear pillows? Log cabin or “mountain chalet” architecture? At the very least, elk antlers are a given. Now think of the average resort town hotel, which tends to offer a dorm fridge, maybe small swimming pool, a grim continental breakfast if you’re lucky.

The new Yellowstone Peaks Hotel, a boutique hospitality project at the gates of Yellowstone National Park, avoids these cliches and delivers a modern, comfortable experience for outdoorsy travelers. It’s a 30-minute drive to Yellowstone, which brings summer visitors to eastern Idaho. But to a select few, the thing that actually makes the area a bucket-list destination is fly fishing.

In October I drove out from my hometown of Jackson Hole to see the property and explore the area for myself. Below I’ll share a bit about Yellowstone Peaks Hotel’s vision and then dive into my 48-hour stay, so you know what to expect should you decide to visit yourself.

Yellowstone Peaks Hotel is owned by Blake and Mara Hansen, who opened the Island Park, ID hotel in May 2024 after a decade of recreating in the region themselves. Though it’s their first time building a hotel from the ground up, the two have some experience in hospitality, having previously renovated an A-frame rental cabin in town some years back.

While a recent movement of boutique, outdoors-aligned hospitality projects have sprouted like saplings around the USA–from Autocamp and its sibling Field Station to Outbound, Loge, Trailborn, Postcard Cabins (formerly Getaway), and even Evo hotels—only glamping site operator Under Canvas offers similar accommodations in this part of eastern Idaho. And regardless, the bar is set pretty low in outdoor tourism destinations designed to churn and burn visitors who spend their days outside.

Yellowstone Peaks Hotel & Accommodations

The hotel is comprised of 21 cabins, two of which serve as a check-in office and housing for the on-site employees. A fishing pond and outdoor "wellness area" with a communal sauna, hot tubs, and cold plunges sit in the middle of the property.

Co-owner Mara Hansen has a background in visual arts and design, which has informed the hotel’s atmosphere. The 560-square-foot cabins have a simple, Scandinavian design with tall ceilings, an open layout, floor-to-ceiling windows. Though the framework is minimalist, the interior has plenty of color, like Mara’s paintings on the wall and the green kitchen cabinets. There is an occasional Western touch—anything with “Yellowstone” in the name must oblige—but on the whole the hotel has the kind of aesthetic that fits in anywhere. (You be the judge on whether that’s a compliment or not.)

Cabins can accommodate up to six guests each, between a private bedroom, bunk beds, and pull-out sofa. The cabins feature a well-supplied kitchen and private outdoor area with a grill, fire pit, and complimentary firewood. Each cabin also has its own Japanese-inspired, wood-fired hot tub that guests can fill with fresh spring water. (If guests find stoking the fire for hours to bring the tubs up to temp, the hotel will handle prep for a $75 service fee).

The central shared outdoor space offers a communal aspect, featuring a sizable outdoor sauna (electric—no wood stoked required), additional larger hot tubs, two cold plunges, and a fishing pond.

Prices may vary through the season, but cabins can be rented May through early November for $878 for two nights, which is the minimum stay.

What It’s Like to Stay at the Yellowstone Peaks Hotel

The Hansens aimed to solve what they saw lacking in nearby nightly rentals and it’s easy to see that intentionality. Each cabin has two booklets full of FAQs and local attractions to streamline guests’ trips.

During my visit the hotel’s clientele leaned clearly millennial, as does the aesthetic—but in a way that feels familiar (think Crate and Barrel) instead of non-offensive gray. As parents of two young kids, the Hansen’s mentioned designing with parents in mind, like making the bunk beds wide enough for a kid and an exhausted adult. Despite the number of families at the hotel, the cabins were a quiet and private respite from the busyness of Yellowstone, though I wonder if the atmosphere changes during school vacation.

Dull knives and haphazard supplies are a pain point for anyone who has stayed in an Airbnb. So for me (a long time restaurant employee), the most standout feature to me was the well-stocked cabin kitchen, offering just about anything guests could need.

Despite this small pocket of development, Island Park feels like a surprising hold out against the post-Covid, mountain-town tourism boom. Idaho historically has not welcomed tourism, so if anywhere was going to hold onto its quiet roots it would be here. Blake and Mara’s thoughtfully designed hotel proves that change doesn't have to come at the cost of local character.

Things to Do in Island Park, Idaho

America’s first national park, Yellowstone, is the biggest draw to the area, of course. Though it’s important to note that from the Yellowstone Peaks Hotel it’s a solid 90 minute drive to reach the park’s famous geysers. Those looking to hit some of Yellowstone’s further destinations like Mammoth Hot Springs or Canyon Village may prefer accommodations in West Yellowstone or inside the park.

Eastern Idaho is also famous for fly fishing, and Island Park’s location near several rivers makes it a hotspot for fishermen. The South Fork of the Snake, Teton River, and the rivers in Yellowstone all have excellent trout fishing depending on the month, but the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River is the true gem. A major dry fishing access point is right across the street from the hotel and in June, it’s known as an unparalleled stretch of river for both large rainbow trout and beautiful sunsets.

There are plenty of smaller attractions in the area, like Mesa Falls, Wade Lake, and the Red Rock Lakes Wildlife Refuge, too, which offer beautiful views of the Centennial Mountains. It's also worth mentioning Idaho is one the most thermally active states, with over 150 natural hot springs. Many of the best are well kept secrets, but if you find yourself becoming friendly with a local, inquire about any hot springs nearby.

Where to Eat in Island Park

Because of the 33-mile “Main Street” that makes up Island Park, getting food requires a drive from the hotel. Most of the restaurants are about what you’d expect in a small, rural, tourist-y mountain town. What I’d call “Western lodge fare”—potatoes, fried things, and a lot of meat. Restaurants include Lakeside Lodge, Anglers Lodge, and Riverfront Restaurant, Lodgepole Grill, Elk Creek Ranch—you get the idea. The closest grocery store, Sam Patch, is located 20 minutes away at Mack’s Inn. So best to stock up before arrival and plan to make the most of those well appointed kitchens yourself!