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family carrying canoe on Yellowstone River

Bozeman Area

Yellowstone Backyard

Yellowstone River

Bozeman Area

Yellowstone's Backyard

A jumping-off spot for the world's first national park, Bozeman beckons hikers, climbers, rafters and tubers to play and stay close to nature. 

Get Some Hang Time

The high ropes course at Big Sky Resort, an hour south of Bozeman, dangles you 20-30 feet above the ground (safely harnessed and spotted by a guide). It's a great way to view Lone Mountain. 

Rough It (Sort Of)

Why families love the Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel's boutique teepees:

  • Near Yellowstone's north entrance
  • Big Enough to hold four people
  • Memory-foam mattresses, heat and WI-FI
  • Heated floors and privacy at bathhouse

Hikes You'll Like - Sweet Trail Mix

  • You can cover Drinking Horse Mountain Trail, right outside of town, in about an hour.
  • Fairy Lake Trail, just over a mile, circles a lake in a forested bowl at the foot of Sacagawea Peak.
  • The M Trail, a gift from Montana State University's class of 1918, lies just 4 miles ouside Bozeman - look for the big white "M."

Big Sky Thrill and Chill

The region is a natural amusement park with family-friendly ways to cut loose.

Wild rides: Just try to keep a straight face while whitewater rafting or ziplining. 

Live tunes: Kick back with a free concert at Town Center Park on Thursday evenings.

Power park: Go to Big Sky Community Park in Meadow Village for hoops, climbing walls, a skateboard park, picnics and trials. 

Kid-caliber hike: The easy Ousel Falls Trail rewards with a gorgeous waterfall. 

Lake leisure: At Lake Levinsky, rent pedal boats, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.

Fort-ified fun: Let the kids attack a 500-square-foot tree fort at Kircher Park along the South Fork of the Gallatin River.