Activities
You name the outdoor activity, southwest Montana's got it. (Yes, smarty pants, we can surf, in springtime whitewater. And search "scuba diving" on this site if you don't think that happens around here either.) There's a reason we've got almost as many gear shops as we do bars.
Fishing
Trout are surprisingly sensitive fish. Oftentimes, trout are released by anglers who believe the fish is fine—when in fact it will die within a day or two due to the stress and exhaustion of the catch. Read more >>
Every angler with a conscience should keep in mind that fishing is a brutal sport. Imagine, sitting down to enjoy a nice cheeseburger, you learn your meal is not only made of yarn, but loaded with a hook and line that proceeds to drag you into a foreign environment where suffocation awaits. Read more >>
It seems pretty strange that in a beautiful state like Montana—replete with pristine lakes, rivers, and streams chock full of beautiful brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout—groups of fly-fishing bums would be excitedly searching muddy ponds and murky waters for a lowly trash fish that Midwesterner Read more >>
In a rapidly growing western landscape, the ability to assimilate into the local culture is a skill and even a gift. Read more >>Hunting
Mostly what I hunt for is connections. I wander around the mountains, prairies, and marshes looking for something I must have lost. There are connections to the natural cycles of the seasons. There are connections to my hunter/gatherer past. Read more >>
The Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks website has up-to-date information on wildlife populations, hunter success rates, and predictions for next year's hunting seasons. Read more >>
For many of us, summer means one thing: hunting season is near. But months of lazy fishing, floating, and summer barbeques do little to keep one’s skills sharp come opening day. Like anything, preparation and forethought are invaluable companions on the journey to success. Read more >>
Montana lawmakers recently voted against a bill that would have amended current trespassing laws and enhanced access to public land for hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts. The House Judicial Committee tabled the “Corner Crossing Bill” on January 30. Read more >>Skiing
Every sport has its own unique mental components. In a sport like golf, we control the pace of much of the action, but in a sport like freestyle skiing, with its aerials and moguls, the pace is so fast that skiers are that much more at the mercy of the mountain. Read more >>
One winter morning, after spending the night at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge in the middle of Yellowstone, I woke early for a short solo ski tour. The boardwalks around the Upper Geyser Basin were still covered in a thin layer of snow. No one was around. Read more >>
Every so often, a blue light flashes on top of the Baxter Hotel, alerting anyone within view of the tallest building in Bozeman that snow is falling at Bridger Bowl. Read more >>
Elusive as she is desirable; terrifying as she is tantalizing; cold as she is hot—the mountain snow bunny is Bozeman’s most coveted trophy.* Read more >>Hiking & Backpacking
To alleviate user conflict, the Forest Service recently implemented "timeshares" - usage schedules segregating hikers, bikers, horse riders, and motorcyclists. During the summer, these trails are closed to certain users on certain days. Read more >>
What is it about white lines? Those winding strings of pearl, sinuous rills weaving down mountainsides, carving and cascading through rock like storm clouds harnessed to a rolling boulder. Read more >>
The entire length of the Gneiss Creek Trail traverses 14 miles through the Madison Valley. The trail, which lies mostly within Yellowstone National Park, connects the Gallatin with Madison Canyon and the Madison River. Read more >>
Live music is like nothing else. The sound is raw, the lights are blinding, the volume is cranked, and nothing tastes better than an $8 Bud Light after a couple of hours of jamming to your favorite band. Read more >>Camping
Click here for a map of all Forest Service cabins available for rent in the Gallatin National Forest. Read more >>
For the average outdoor enthusiast, winter can be a difficult time to squeeze in a fun-filled overnight or multiday adventure without freezing your buns off or breaking the family budget. Read more >>Biking
First comes runoff, flushing snow out of the mountains and forcing fisherfolk off the rivers. Read more >>To alleviate user conflict, the Forest Service recently implemented "timeshares" - usage schedules segregating hikers, bikers, horse riders, and motorcyclists. During the summer, these trails are closed to certain users on certain days. Read more >>
In Bozeman, truly remarkable landscapes are a fact of life. And, in my opinion, there is no better way to experience them than from the seat of a bike. Read more >>What is it about white lines? Those winding strings of pearl, sinuous rills weaving down mountainsides, carving and cascading through rock like storm clouds harnessed to a rolling boulder. Read more >>Boating
The boat slices through the last standing wave and carves smoothly into the placid eddy on my right. The thrill of the upstream rapids courses through my veins while I slowly spin in the calm water. Read more >>Climbing
There are 14 of us lined up at the Grotto Falls trailhead on a cold Saturday morning. The clouds are thick, and you can just about see your breath. There should be that nervous tension that hangs like a cloud around the starting line—but it’s gone. Read more >>Live music is like nothing else. The sound is raw, the lights are blinding, the volume is cranked, and nothing tastes better than an $8 Bud Light after a couple of hours of jamming to your favorite band. Read more >>
It’s hard not to feel like a kid in a candy store at Bozeman’s Spire Climbing Center. With over 8,000 square feet of climbing at an indoor facility that features new Skittle-colored routes every week, novice and expert climbers alike would be hard-pressed to find a better way to spend the day. Read more >>Running
~43,000,000: total runners in the U.S. 26.1: miles the typical runner logs in one week 85: days per year the typical runner runs 13%: increase in outdoor running participation since last year Read more >>There are 14 of us lined up at the Grotto Falls trailhead on a cold Saturday morning. The clouds are thick, and you can just about see your breath. There should be that nervous tension that hangs like a cloud around the starting line—but it’s gone. Read more >>
The last of the sky’s bruised-purple tint has faded to black, and now it’s anywhere from eleven at night to four in the morning. The miles and hours pile on top of each other until it’s impossible to tell what time it is. Read more >>
The sun is shining, the birds are singing—and Bozemanites everywhere are warming up at starting lines around the state. To help you decide how to spend your speedy summer, here are three of our favorite races. BozeMonster Challenge Read more >>Other Activities
First comes runoff, flushing snow out of the mountains and forcing fisherfolk off the rivers. Read more >>
Nobody moves to southwest Montana looking for balmy beaches. The choice to live here is a choice to embrace the long winters that come with the territory. June snowstorms aren’t out of the question, nor is ice-fishing in November. Read more >>
Snowmobilers have unique avalanche risk factors built into their sport. Today’s high-powered sleds are capable of reaching new heights at greater speeds, and each year riders venture farther into remote terrain. Read more >>
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