Someone recently asked me for recommendations for the best things to do around Bozeman in the summer. I was just about to write a list for her when I realized I could accomplish double duty and write a blog post about it. 

Bozeman is often listed as one of the best places to live. Having lived here for nearly 20 years, I have to agree with that classification. In addition to being a wonderful place to live, Bozeman is a great place to visit. Time Magazine even featured Bozeman as one of the greatest places to explore.

If you come in the winter, you’ll find an entirely different landscape and adventures, from skiing at Bridger Bowl to snowshoeing through Yellowstone. But we’re talking about summer, so here we go with my list of my top 7 best things to do around Bozeman in the Summer:

#1 – Visit Yellowstone National Park

You could spend an entire vacation just in Yellowstone. I’ll write a whole list of things to do in Yellowstone National Park later.

It has two entrances, each about an hour and a half from Bozeman, so it lends itself nicely to a big loop drive through the park. I recommend spending a night in the park or in West Yellowstone or Gardiner so you can have two days there, but if you only have a day, you can make a big loop from one entrance to another in one day. 

I recommend a pre-dawn start, so you get to the park at sunrise. You’ll want to have enough time to check off these essential spots:

• Old Faithful
• West Thumb Geyser Basin
• Dragon’s Mouth – Mud Volcano
• Artist’s Point
• Tower Falls

I listed these top spots in order from the West Entrance to the North Entrance. If you take the opposite route, reverse the order. It’s a lot to squeeze into one day, but if you have the energy, you’ll be glad you did it.

#2 – Hot Springs Hop

Most states don’t have nearby hot springs, but one of the benefits of being near a super volcano (Yellowstone) is that there are some excellent geothermal hot spots that are safe for swimming. You might think hot springs in the summer are a recipe for overheating, but Bozeman sits at just under 5,000 feet elevation, so evenings are chilly, even on the hottest days. 

Bozeman Hot Springs

Bozeman Hot Springs is the closest to town. It has several indoor and outdoor pools, so you’re sure to find a soaking temperature perfect for you. 

The outside pools are chlorinated, so hot springs purists like to dismiss the entire establishment, but if you’re used to swimming in public pools, you won’t even notice the chlorine. 

Norris Hot Springs

Norris Hot Springs is about 40 minutes outside of town. It’s comprised of one wooden pool. A wooden pool is just as strange as it sounds, but it doesn’t take long to enjoy its uniqueness. 

One of the best things about Norris is their poolside food. They make incredible pizzas, burritos, nachos, and more from on-site-grown produce and locally-sourced ingredients. Then, after ordering, you can get back in the water, and they’ll bring your food to you so you can eat in the pool.

Chico Hot Springs

Chico Hot Springs Resort has lodging options, but they’re so popular that if you don’t plan far in advance, you probably won’t be able to secure a room. 

Their pools are open to the public, and you don’t need a reservation. It will take you about an hour to get to Chico from Bozeman. There are two outdoor pools. One is covered, and the other is open. The covered pool is warmer and smaller than the uncovered one.

Chico has a poolside grill with burgers and ice cream, a poolside bar, and a formal dining room. In my experience, the Chico Dining Room serves the best food I have ever eaten. If you can secure a reservation, don’t pass on the flaming orange dessert. It is as much an experience as it is a tasty treat. 

Yellowstone Hot Springs

Yellowstone Hot Springs is about an hour and a half from Bozeman. It’s very close to the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park. 

Unfortunately, they don’t have food on site, but the pristine pools and incredible scenery make up for it.

#3 – Visit Bozeman’s Museum of the Rockies

If you love dinosaurs, this place should be on the top of your bucket list. But even if you don’t think you’re a dinosaur fan, the Museum of the Rockies (MOR) will probably surprise you and pique your interest.

It has the most extensive collection of North American dinosaur fossils in the U.S. When you enter the Siebel Dinosaur Complex, you might be stunned by the complete T-rex skeleton taking center stage. 

When my daughter, Loo, saw it for the first time, she was about four. She stood, hands clenched, body forward, and screamed like something straight out of a horror movie. She didn’t stay scared for long, though. When asked what she wanted to do for her birthday, she answered, “Museum of the Rockies!” without a second thought.

The top floor is for kids, and it’s so much fun. There’s a fishing bridge, cabin kitchen, camping area, and hands-on geothermal displays. It’s a great place to understand better how Old Faithful and other geysers work.

#4 – Hyalite Hiking South of Bozeman

South of town by about a half hour is Hyalite Reservoir. It’s where Bozeman’s water comes from. And it’s also a center for recreational activities. You can fish, canoe, paddleboard, and kayak in the reservoir, and all around are excellent hikes for every level.

Palisade Falls Hike

Palisade Falls is one of the most accessible hikes in the area. It’s just short of a mile one way, and it’s a paved trail. The water plummets from the top of a sheer, towering cliff to create a picturesque scene.

Grotto Falls

Grotto Falls is about a three-mile round-trip hike. The falls are not as tall as Pallisade Falls, but they’re more powerful as the creek has a much higher flow. 

Emerald and Heather Lakes

I think about this hike with great fondness! We accidentally hiked there — we were planning on going to horsetail falls and turning around, but we didn’t realize horsetail falls was distant and obscure, so we missed it. 

We started late in the day, so a short hike was all we had time for. We ended up doing a nine-mile round-trip trek to Emerald Lake and had to navigate the return in the dark without headlamps. Despite that — or maybe because of that — it’s one of my favorite memories. 

I highly recommend this hike if you would like to experience a pristine mountain lake. 

#5 – White Water Rafting 

If you head to Yellowstone National Park via Gardiner and the North Entrance, you’ll follow the Yellowstone River, a prime white water rafting waterway. Gardiner, Montana, is home to several rafting companies providing excellent guided tours through the rapids.

The other route to Yellowstone National Park from Bozeman takes travelers through the Gallatin Canyon along the Gallatin River to West Yellowstone. Montana Whitewater’s headquarters are near the mouth of the canyon, close to Bozeman. They also offer zip-line adventures.

Geyser White Water headquarters are located further south and upstream from Montana Whitewater. Both companies have similar rafting options through the same stretches of the river. I’ve used both and have had excellent, comparable experiences.

#6 – Fly Fishing on the Gallatin and Madison Rivers

A River Runs Through It was filmed on the Gallatin River. That river and the Madison River offer some of the country’s best fly-fishing experiences and picturesque scenery. Several outfitters options offer guided trips where you can learn techniques and how to find the best fishing spots.

If you’d rather fish with a worm or spinner, you can do that, too. You’ll find all sorts of fishing styles along these rivers.

#7 – Downtown Bozeman Shopping and Dining

Bozeman certainly caters to the outdoor recreation-seeking visitor, but they’re also home to a very Bozeman-esque downtown with a mix of local and high-end shops. So, if you’re looking for outdoor gear, unique jewelry, and locally-crafted goods, you’ll likely find exactly what you want.

Additionally, if you’re a foodie, you’ll probably be right at home in Bozeman because they have many excellent dining options. My favorites for casual dining are Backcountry Burger, Five on Black, Cafe Zydeco, LaPa Grill and Soup Shack, and Feed Cafe. (Cafe Zydeco isn’t technically downtown, but I really like it, so I added it to the list)

Come Visit Bozeman in the Summer! And Ask Me Questions

I love where I live. I’m passionate about it, in fact. So, if you need more suggestions, clarification, or anything else, let me know, and I’ll do my best to answer for you! Leave a comment so everyone can appreciate your question and — hopefully — my answer!