Checkout Our Beautiful Montana Communities
Bozeman
Bozeman continues to be one of the fastest-growing communities in the Lower 48 states. And it’s no wonder! Our mountain town hosts the state’s biggest university and is surrounded by mountains brimming with trout-rich rivers, ski slopes, wildflower-festooned alpine meadows, and ranchland as far as the eye can see.
When my family arrived in Montana in 1990, Bozeman was home to around 23,000 people and the county had about 51,000. Today, more than 45,000 people call Bozeman home and Gallatin County’s population hovers around 97,000 people!
With all the growth has come a burgeoning real-estate market, with solid Victorians and bungalows (often remodeled, expanded and updated), funky and traditional homes in the city, and new construction to the north, south, east and west. Nearby Four Corners, Big Sky and Belgrade offer even more choices.
Bustling Economy
Long powered by agriculture and the university, the economy in Bozeman has expanded to include high-tech, manufacturing and home-building companies. Thousands of students who attended Montana State University simply fell in love with Bozeman and never left. They are the talent pool for the region’s high-tech industry (Oracle, Zoot Enterprises, ILX Lightwave and Omega Biologicals, among others).
Other manufacturers include Simms Fishing Products, Gibson Guitar, Mystery Ranch, and West Paw Design. The university itself is a major employer, with strong biomedical, environmental, energy and high-tech research facilities. Plus we have lots of engineers, lawyers, architects, fly-fishing guides and outfitters and dozens of nonprofit organizations that work to protect the natural environment and help people meet their basic needs.
Quality of Life
People move here for the quality of life and big-city amenities. Bozeman’s Gallatin Field Airport — with direct flights to San Francisco, Chicago, and New York — is now the busiest airport in the state. The bus-transit system Streamline moves people around town, sharing the road with bicyclists and the occasional cowboy on horseback.
Bozeman boasts an opera company, symphony orchestra, Broadway plays and lots of high-quality community theatre. An impressive list of big-name performers come through Bozeman and there is enough live music to keep you dancing through the week. Museum of the Rockies has one the world’s largest fossil collections in the world, along with a Living History Farm. And our historic downtown offers shopping, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops, bars and breweries and a wonderful array of art galleries (there are monthly art walks in the summer). Healthy food options abound at the local farmers’ markets and the local co-op ranks as one of the most popular places in town.
We play hard here!
We have miles of urban and mountain trails, many within walking distance, and four-season recreation, from skiing to horseback riding, trail running, kayaking, mountain biking, and miles of
blue-ribbon trout streams. In the winter, skiers keep their eye on the powerful Blue Light on the roof of the Historic Baxter Hotel, which flashes whenever Bridger Bowl gets 2 or more inches of new snow.) For some real get-away time, Bozeman has easy access to national forests and wilderness areas and it’s just 90 minutes to Yellowstone National Park.
Livingston/Paradise Valley
Livingston is a city of about 7,400 people on the Yellowstone River — the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 states — in Park County, Montana. Livingston’s appeal includes its small-town vibe, historic downtown, surrounding wilderness and national forest lands, railroad and ranching history, and some of the best trout fishing in the world.
Just south of the city is the stunningly beautiful Paradise Valley. Fed by creeks flowing out of the surrounding mountains, the Yellowstone River runs through the valley, cold and clean. Follow the river south and you end up at Yellowstone National Park. The Crow Indians who lived here called themselves Absarokas, hence the name of the valley’s dominant mountain range.
The city began as a trading post and evolved into a railroad-ranching town and the original gateway to Yellowstone Park in the late 1880s. Those were the days when Calamity Jane lived here. By the time President Ulysses Grant established Yellowstone as a national park in 1872, more than 10,000 park-bound tourists per week rode the trains into Livingston.
Top employers range from high tech to healthcare, although some workers commute to the Bozeman area (25 miles west) or telecommute. Over the years Livingston has also become home to numerous writers and artists (and, yes, movie stars).
As the economy has become increasingly reliant on tourism, Livingston has filled with cafes and restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, and fly shops. Local bars feature live music, there is almost always a quality community-theatre production on stage and the annual Livingston Roundup Rodeo, held July 2-3-4, is considered Montana’s premier rodeo.
Wildlife watchers and hunters come from around the world for the abundant wildlife. And after hunting season, it’s time to play in the snow. Skiers head for the backcountry, or to Bridger Bowl Ski Area. Others don their cross-country skis and explore local trails, followed by a soak (and a cocktail) in the soothing thermal water at Chico Hot Springs.
During the summer, locals get outside to fish, hike, run, bike, paddle, ride a horse, swim in the city pool and head into the backcountry for peace and quiet. Live music moves outside and festivals and performances abound. There are running marathons throughout the region. On Wednesday evenings, you can fill your basket at the Farmers’ Market in Sacajawea Park. And it is just 56 miles (straight down U.S. 89) to Yellowstone National Park (follow the crowd!).
FLOATING & FLY FISHING
This is a mecca for anglers! Bozeman-based anglers have easy access to the Gallatin, Madison, Jefferson Missouri, and Big Hole rivers. See our Livingston page for more information about fishing the Yellowstone River and Park County’s famed spring creeks.
Floating the Madison in inner tubes has become exceedingly popular. Several spots in town rent tubes and other gear and will bus you to and from the put-in and take-out. Be sure to get your Conservation License with the State Lands Permit from Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks before venturing on the river for any type of recreation!
For guided trips, fishing reports and gear, check out Yellowstone Angler, Sweetwater Fly Shop, River’s Edge Fly Shop (in two locations), Montana Troutfitters, the Montana Angling Company or Bud Lilly’s Trout Shop (now called Big Sky Anglers) at the corner of Canyon and Madison in West Yellowstone. Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures is also a premier fly-fishing outfitter and booking agency that will help you plan your Montana trip (or put you on more exotic waters in the Seychelles, Iceland or Belize).
For whitewater rafting, check out the Montana Whitewater Rafting Company, which has four locations, including its home base between Big Sky and Bozeman on U.S. Highway 191 through the Gallatin Canyon.
Floating the Madison in inner tubes has become exceedingly popular. Several spots in town rent tubes and other gear and will bus you to and from the put-in and take-out.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
This place needs no introduction! From Bozeman, there are two ways to get there: east to Livingston and then south, through the north entrance in Gardiner. Or south past Big Sky to the west entrance in West Yellowstone.
SKI RESORTS
BRIDGER BOWL
On the east slope of the Bridger Range, Bridger is about two miles wide at the ridgetop, with four large bowls and long, wide-open terrain with glades, chutes, and gullies down to the base.
BIG SKY RESORT
Started by NBC News’ anchorman and Montana native Chet Huntley, Big Sky Resort opened in 1973. Now owned by Boyne Resorts — and expanded with the purchase of adjacent Spanish Peaks (a private club) and Moonlight Basin Resort — it has become one of the nation’s largest ski complexes with 5,800 acres.
SHOWDOWN
Showdown is Montana’s oldest ski area. It opened in the Little Belt Mountains, northeast of Bozeman, in 1936. With all-natural snow, lift and base-camp modernizations and renovations, the mountain today accommodate skiers of all skill levels — including the Sluice Goose Caboose beginner chairlift and Little Belt Conveyor for access to the bunny hill. A vertical rise of 1,400 feet spread over 600 acres, well-groomed trails with twists and turns, and affordable lift tickets make for some of the best skiing outside of Montana’s resorts.