Lakes
On those blazing summer days in Bozeman, sometimes all you want is to grab a swimsuit and some beer and go in search of sweet relief. There are a number of places to swim around Bozeman if you’re willing to look. Read more >>
Take a break at a lakeWhen you choose to live in Bozeman, you give yourself the chance to explore Montana’s spectacular backcountry. Take a break from the grind and visit one of the following alpine lakes for quiet solitude and great fishing. Read more >>
Alpine Lakes
As a guide and outfitter, I’m often asked where I like to fish when I’m not working, and while I love moving water, few things more rewarding than pulling fish out of high-alpine lakes. Erase the guesswork by using these tips and make your next high-country fishing trip a success. Read more >>
Hiking distance: 10 miles round tripHiking time: 6 hoursElevation gain: 3,400 feetMaps: U.S.G.S. Dexter Point and Mount Cowen Read more >>
The Hidden Lakes are a series of eight high mountain lakes in the Gallatin Range between Bozeman and Big Sky. The chain of lakes, at the base of a ridge, rests at an altitude of 9,000 feet. The Hidden Lakes Trail begins above 8,000 feet and follows a ridge with spectacular vistas. Read more >>
Southwest Montana is blessed with hundreds of alpine and subalpine lakes, also known as tarns. Gifts of the glaciers that also carved our iconic mountains, these sparkling little lakes make perfect destinations for overnight hikes. Read more >>Canyon Ferry Lake
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 >>Ennis Lake
Hemingway once said, “Anyone can be a fisherman in May.” Fortunately for those of us in the Madison Valley, it’s pretty easy to be a fisherman the other 11 months of the year as well. Yes, even in January. All you need are a few simple tools, some warm clothes, and an open mind. Read more >>Hyalite Reservoir
Refining the focus of the spotting scope, my jaw drops. The largest mountain goat I’ve ever seen is standing on the same damn cliff as the previous morning. Read more >>
From the Tobacco Roots to the Gallatin Range, the mountains around Bozeman hold stunning alpine lakes perfect for an overnight camping trip—but sometimes, you want to get outdoors without trying too hard. Maybe you got a late start, or you need a stationary base camp for your clan of young kids. Read more >>
According to Robert Stone, author of Day Hikes Around Bozeman, Montana, “The Hyalite Creek Trail is considered the most spectacular hike in the Bozeman area.” And justifiably so. Read more >>
After a successful ascent of Mount Blackmore in 1872, members of the Hayden Survey were very intrigued by the craggy gorge at the head of Middle Canyon, which is today’s Hyalite Canyon. Geologist Albert C. Peale, best known for his exhaustive study of Yellowstone geothermal features, wrote: Read more >>Harrison Lake
At 10:30 am, heat waves swim off the asphalt on Hwy. 287 north of Norris. It's gonna be a hot one. A quick stop at the Harrison store for munchies and Gatorade, and we're cruising down the dirt road to Willow Creek Reservoir, aka Harrison Lake. A 50-yard-long wake of dust billows out behind us. Read more >>Hebgen Lake
Within two hours of Bozeman are two reservoirs and a lake that can provide an alternative to overcrowded rivers. All are fishable via driftboat or raft, pontoon or paddleboard. Read more >>
The true force behind ice fishing is that it is better than no fishing at all. –Jim Harrison, “Ice Fishing, the Moronic Sport” Read more >>
