It's soon to be my birthday and the lady and I are going to Bozeman, MT for 5 days. Anyone from around the area that could suggest a few great things to do? Sadly a backpacking trip won't be feasible but some great day hikes, rock climbing, and/or day packrafting trips would be amazing.

Oh...and this just came up tonight and we are leaving Thursday morning.

Eat at Montana Ale Works. It has fantastic food and beer

They seem to make a decent espresso drink.

Eat a meal at Kiwi's, pick up a pair of bison wool gloves at the Yellowstone Trader as a birthday gift to yourself while in West Yellowstone.
A nice 1/2 day hike in YNP is on the Howard Eaton Trail from just south of the Mammoth Restroom (in Mammoth Hot Springs), up behind the terraces, up through the Hoodoos, loop north and back down on the Snow Pass Trail and back down to your car. Pikas, marmots, elk, bison, bears, ravens, mountain bluebirds, wolves nearby, steaming clouds smelling of sulpher, boiling water, wildflowers, bones, nice views... it's all there.
Gotta stop into Vargo's Books and Jazz store in Bozeman, an unparalleled selection of both!
The local brews in Red Lodge MT are outstanding.
Happy Birthday and keep your eyes on the road.

First priority has to be visiting Yellowstone. If you're going soon it is sure to be insanely, insanely crowded. Try at all costs to avoid any driving in the park between 930 and 4 or 5.

IMO the best dayhike in Yellowstone is Specimen Ridge. Outstanding views and good wildlife potential (including Griz). It will take a full day. Best to hitch first thing if you don't have two cars.

South of Bozeman dayhiking from Hyalite TH up to Hyalite Peak and back is very worthwhile. Might be a bit of snow in the cirque a half mile below the peak. Massive, massive views from the summit.

If you fish the fly fishing is as good as it gets. The small streams in NW Yellowstone are some of my favorites.

I haven't done it, but Beartrap Canyon sounds like a fun packrafting trip.

While I appreciate the suggestions (and I apologize if I sound rude, I'm not trying to be), I'm not going to Bozeman to shop or eat at restaraunts.

Come on BPL staff...you guys are based out of Bozeman. Help please. Larger, secluded lakes would be amazing.

As for Yellowstone, yeah probably not going to go there mainly because of the crowds. If I wanted the crowded National Park thing, I'd save 11 hours of driving and just go to Rocky Mountain National Park. Hahaha.

Edited by rps76 on 08/17/2011 10:07:52 MDT.

Crazy Mountains are very nice, can be a bit of a playground Fri-Sun though.
Reconsider Specimen Ridge or The Thunderer in YNP. You will not see anybody after the first mile or so, but hey... it's your birthday and it's great just about anywhere up in that neighborhood.
Have Fun!

Some Bozeman area day hikes: Bangtail Divide (you can go all the way to Swamp Creek Road if you can arrange a shuttle or are willing to stick out your thumb) - terrific views of the Crazy Mountains. Pine Creek trail to the falls, near Livingston. Hike around the Bridger Bowl Ski Area. East Boulder River trail, between Livingston and Big Timber - outstanding scenery. Bear Canyon Road trailhead, very close to town. All these are easy hikes with some wonderful vistas.

In Yellowstone Park - Slough Creek, in the northwest corner, the very essence of Yellowstone. If you're an angler, one of the best cutthroat fisheries in the world, and world-class scenery. Blacktail Creek trail from the highway down to the Yellowstone River, in its Black Canyon section. Shoshone Lake from either Lone Star trail or the Shoshone Lake trail.

The above are the tip of the iceberg - there are hundreds of great day hikes, in or out of the Park. Have a wonderful time in God's country.

Head up toward big sky following the road that parrelels the Gallatin River. t
Turn off at almost any of the Gallatin Park entrances and you will find awesome hiking trails everywhere without the people. Much nicer than ynp. Go to any local bookstore in Bozeman and ask for a book with the local trails...it has a black cover. There is also a pretty impressive resovoir north of town in the mountains. There is a trail back there that will take you to a huge waterfall. Also floating the Madison river from 3 forks on inner tubes and fly fishing is all kinds of fun. Lots of day activities from Bozeman. Can't wait till I can afford to retire there!

Diego,



+1 (or +2 or +100)

Diego,

You don't happen to know the name of that book do you? Is it:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1573420336/ref=mp_s_a_3?qid=1313720316&sr=8-3

EDIT:
If so the newest edition is maroon (purple?):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1573420336/ref=mp_s_a_3?qid=1313720316&sr=8-3

Edited by TrevMan3205 on 08/18/2011 20:28:47 MDT.

+1 on the Crazy Mountains. Only a couple hours from Bozeman and some great hikes in there. Just went on a 5 day trip there a couple weeks back. Wasn't too crowded at all when we went

Trevor...that first one is the book I was referring to. I loved the couple years i lived in Bozeman! But it has gotten insanely expensive to live there I hear. Lots of retirees moving in with big bucks. While I was there I really felt it was as close to frontier living as you could get. Didn't have the artificial feeling alot of mountain towns exhibit now days. Don't tell too many people about it...seriously.

Edited by cfionthefly on 08/23/2011 11:43:50 MDT.

...don't tell anyone about Bozeman. The place sucks (he he he). 400 days and counting until my mailing address ends in 59715.

I'll post more about my trip tomorrow. Got back from Bozeman and went straight to Paramedic school. Study study study.