10 Unique Things to Do in Bozeman, Montana

Purchases made through some links on this page may provide The Detour Effect with commissions (at no extra cost to you). Thank you!

This summer I’m basing myself out of Bozeman, Montana while adventuring in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier National Park, and hopefully the Wind River Range. As a nomadic remote worker, on short notice I was able to find more affordable short-term rentals in Bozeman than in other gateway towns to the national parks such as Pinedale, Lander, Jackson, Idaho Falls, or Cody. On the weekends when I need to stick close to town, I’ve discovered fun things to do in Bozeman and realized that the city has plenty to offer in and of itself!

I’m calling this post “Unique Things to Do in Bozeman” because I don’t want to include the same activities that you can do pretty much anywhere in the entire state, such as horseback riding.

Hike the M Trail

You don’t have to drive 2+ hours away from Bozeman to a national park to find great hiking trails; there are rewarding routes right in town! The M Trail is the most iconic. You’ll hike to the giant white letter “M” that’s emblazoned on a hillside to represent Montana State University. The day hike forms a loop where the counterclockwise direction takes you up a very steep incline and then gradually brings you back down to the parking lot. The clockwise direction will be easier going up, but hard on the knees going down the steep section. When I hiked the M Trail there had been recent rain, so the trail was mildly slippery and I wouldn’t have wanted to descend the steep side in those conditions. I took the challenging ascent up instead, which was a good workout.

There is a Bozeman hiking book that every local I meet makes sure to tell me about. It will clue you in to other local trails such as Blackmore, Hyolite Creek, Drinking Horse Mountain, and Sacagawea Peak.

Track Down Artistically Reclaimed Trafficboxes

The Clean Slate Group, City of Bozeman, and Gallatin Art Crossing have come together to facilitate the A.R.T. Project, or “Artistically Reclaimed Trafficbox.” While wandering or driving the streets of Bozeman, you’ll inevitably cross paths with utility boxes that have been jazzed up with murals by more than 50 local artists. It’d be fun to make it a mission to find them all, like a scavenger hunt! 

Indulge at Local Bakeries and Brunch Spots

Bozeman has it all when it comes to restaurants, including burger joints and steakhouses, but I have a sweet tooth and have been prioritizing their breakfast spots and bakeries. Breakfast enthusiasts will want to check out Jam!, Cateye Cafe (everything is cat themed and they have a funny vibe), the Nova Cafe, and Main Street Overeasy. There are two French bakeries in Bozeman, including Vienne and Aurore Bakery. Vienne has been around longer and offers fresh daily breads and pastries, including an awesome Kouign-Amann. Aurore is a new spot opened by a French national who offers a slightly wider selection in the realm of desserts, including tartes and cakes. There is also a French chocolaterie in Bozeman called La Chǎtelaine, where it’s impossible to choose only a few flavors from the unique selection. Local ice cream spots include Sweet Peaks and Genuine Ice Cream.

*Update – my roommate in Bozeman mentioned it’s a good idea to check recent health inspection reports when picking a downtown restaurant because a few places have been in the news for recent violations.

Explore Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park

The Lewis and Clark expedition never descended into the limestone caverns northwest of Bozeman, as far as we know, but they did pass through the lands of the State Park. Today the park features ten miles of hiking trails and a campground in addition to the caves, so you can imagine what it might have been like for the expedition to traverse and behold this environment in the early 1800s. Check out this map to see where the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail passes through the area!

Cavern tours are offered May-September, including the two hour Classic Cave Tour which requires some ducking, twisting, squatting, and sliding, and the more accessible 1.5 hour Paradise Cave Tour. Every December they host a Candlelight Cave Tour so visitors can experience the caverns the way early explorers would have before electricity! According to last year’s Candlelight Tour information, you’ll likely need to dress for snowy conditions for the initial walk to and from the cave, and there will be hot chocolate and cookies available at the visitor center.

The Jefferson Valley Museum and Headwaters Heritage Museum are nearby in Whitehall and Three Forks, Montana. 

Montana residents who pay the $9 state parks fee with their annual vehicle registration do not have to pay separate entrance fees to state parks. Non-residents pay $8 per vehicle for a state parks day pass, $35 for a 7-day pass, or $50 for an annual pass.

Meet Bears at Grizzly Encounter

I did spot two black bears while adventuring in Yellowstone National Park, but I haven’t seen a grizzly in the wild. Luckily grizzly bears can be admired up close at the Montana Grizzly Encounter sanctuary just 15 minutes outside of Bozeman. The sanctuary currently has three bears named Max, Bella, and Maggie, who amble out into an open viewing area to root for snacks.

The onsite interpretive staff teaches visitors about grizzly behavior and advises on how to keep yourself and grizzly bears safe when visiting grizzly country. They also share anecdotes about the history and personalities of the bears at the sanctuary. Apparently the three bears don’t get along very well; Bella is very unimpressed with Max’s advances and Maggie is a homebody who prefers to play with her toys in her den. Two of the three bears were rescued from Alaska after their mama bears disappeared, and one was rescued from a breeder in Georgia.

Entrance is $12.50 per adult but is discounted for children, seniors, and military.

If you’re interested in wildlife viewing, I found this badass winter tour that picks up from Bozeman that’s designed for observing wolf packs in their natural habitat. While most advice might tell you Montana is best in the summer, Bozeman in winter can be quite magical.

Go Back in Time at the Gallatin History Museum

The Gallatin History Museum is centrally located near all the restaurants on Main Street, so you can easily walk there after shopping or grabbing a bite to eat. It’s in the old jailhouse, which is still evident as they’ve incorporated the jail cells into the displays of the museum. You’ll learn the stories of some of the prisoners once held there, but there are also exhibits on early Montana pioneers and how life changed for Montana locals into the 20th century. I thought some of the exhibits were a bit random and disconnected from each other, and there wasn’t much about Native American history, but I really enjoyed the collection of historic photos and the life-size pioneer cabin. Entrance is $10 per adult (or discounted for children, seniors, and military), Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm.

While it’s not in Bozeman, the Yellowstone Gateway Museum in Livingston, Montana is only a 30 minute drive away and I would highly recommend making the stop if you have time. This museum has more information about indigenous people and their way of life. There are fantastic archaeological finds from the Clovis era and exhibits about native wildlife species, including modern-day bison but also extinct mammals from the Pleistocene such as the North American Camel.

Soak in Hot Springs

As highlighted in my Yellowstone itinerary for hiking enthusiasts, Yellowstone National Park features half of the world’s geysers, most of which are in the Upper Geyser Basin. The national park is renowned for geothermal features like hot springs as well, but these don’t abruptly cease to exist at the park boundaries. As you drive around Montana and Wyoming, you’ll see signs directing you towards local hot springs in roadside towns. Bozeman has two!

The Bozeman Hot Springs are in Bozeman proper, and the Norris Hot Springs are just west of Bozeman and south of Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park. Note that these are built-up facilities that are more like relaxation retreats than wild swimming holes.

At the time of this writing, Norris Hot Springs is the more affordable option at $10 per adult on Thursdays-Sundays, whereas Bozeman Hot Springs is $17 per adult on weekdays or $21 per adult on weekends and holidays. Neither facility allows you to bring in alcohol, although Norris Hot Springs does sell alcohol at their onsite saloon. Both facilities have restaurants and occassional live music, and Bozeman Hot Springs will allow you to bring in outside food; Norris will not. Bozeman Hot Springs has a fitness center and is overall a little more “fancy,” whereas Norris has a quirky historic background.

Admire Fossils at Museum of the Rockies

Montana is a rich landscape for paleontological research. Every major city in the United States seems to have a science and/or natural history museum that features dinosaur fossils, but the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman is “one of the most significant collections of North American dinosaurs worldwide. Notably, the museum is home to the largest collections of Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops fossils.” The world’s largest T-rex skull was unearthed in eastern Montana and is now on display at the Museum of the Rockies.

The museum also has a Planetarium and temporary presentations such as the current Da Vinci exhibition, but my favorite displays are the ones that take a regional focus and make this museum unique to Bozeman. There is a Living History Farm that models life on a Montana homestead from 1890 to 1910, plus exhibits about Native Americans living on the Northern Plains and near the Rocky Mountains.

The Museum of the Rockies is affiliated with Montana State University and the Smithsonian. Entrance is $20 per adult for non-members but is discounted for children, students, military, AAA, and seniors.

Keep Healthy at Peets Hill/Burke Park

Bozeman, Montana is a fantastic place for outdoor enthusiasts to live. Walking and biking trails weave in and out of the neighborhoods and local parks. While people watching, I see tons of toned, tanned people taking advantage of this infrastructure every day to the point where it’s almost creepy in a Pleasantville, Stepford Wives, Soundgarden “Black Hole Sun” sort of way.

The eastern area of Bozeman near Peets Hill/Burke Park seems to be the best section of town for those who want to go for an afternoon jog, walk their dogs, or generally keep their legs active until the next time they can steal away for a national park trip. Bozeman’s “Main Street to the Mountains” initiative to connect the city via walking trails reminds me of Flagstaff, Arizona’s FUTS (Flagstaff Urban Trails System).

Lindley Park is connected to Burke Park and is the location of the Tuesday Bozeman Farmers’ Market from June-September from 5-8pm.

A bit further north at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds they hold the Gallatin Valley Farmers Market on Saturday mornings from June-September from 9am-12pm.

Walk Main Street

Every good Old West town needs a quirky Main Street, so perhaps this isn’t the most unique itinerary item in that sense, but Bozeman’s downtown has its own flavor. Whether you’re looking for cowboy boots, outdoor gear, or something more fashionable and trendy, the shops lining Bozeman’s Main Street have options for everyone. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s fun to walk up and down the street to get a vibe for Bozeman’s personality as a city. If it’s all feeling a bit touristy and not hippy enough for you, venture slightly off of Main Street and you’ll find a record store called the Wax Museum, thrift stores, and a few cannabis dispensaries.

There are thousands of convenient downtown parking spaces that allow up to two hours of free parking in Bozeman, plus parking garages for those who need more time. I’ve also found that the surrounding neighborhoods allow free parking spots with no time limit that are walking distance from Main Street.

🏨 Find budget hostels in Bozeman, Montana, like Treasure State Hostel, here! Or check Booking.com for standard hotels in Bozeman.
✈️ Visiting Montana from further afield? Use an Airalo eSIM for affordable international cell data and don’t forget to purchase travel insurance to protect your investment.

Since there are so many unique things to do in Bozeman, I haven’t minded when rain or work obligations have kept me from visiting the Montana and Wyoming national parks on some weekends. Hanging around town has been rewarding, and I keep thinking how lucky the local college students are to be based in such a beautiful and adventurous place. I wonder how many more hidden gems they know about that we tourists aren’t privy to? One full summer in Bozeman has been a privilege, but also hasn’t been enough for me!

Related:

Pin It: