9 Days in Bozeman, Montana (and a bit of Yellowstone)
Arriving
Ask anyone and they may tell you that late March is an awkward time to plan a hiking trip to Montana. The snow is starting to melt, but there’s also the possibility of snow at any given time (#prayforsnow), one day was 70 degrees and the other was 32, grizzlies are hungrily and sleepily coming out of hibernation, and only one section of Yellowstone is open.
This timing turned out to be a happy accident for our travels because we got to see the best of Montana as a winter wonderland and we got to see springtime roll in. We flew into Bozeman International Airport on a Friday, picked up our Tacoma rental from an Outdoorsy dealer, and headed to a friend’s house for night 1.
Car Rental Note: Be sure to rent a car for your trip! Bozeman is fairly spread out and all good hikes are a 30+ minute drive out of town. Locals use Turo to rent their cars, and had good things to say about the service. If you want to camp, consider renting a sprinter or truck with a GFC (like we did) from Outdoorsy.
Lodging
As far as lodging goes, there are a ton of options. HotelTonight had some good options available for the last-minute budget traveler, and we decided to go the Airbnb route and book 7 nights on a mini-dude ranch just outside of Bozeman. John and Donna’s Hygge cabin quite literally had it all - they were set on amenities, easy to communicate with, and so unbelievably kind and welcoming. They have an assortment of animals on the ranch, and Donna will let you join her during feeding times at your request (!!!). If you book with them, let them know I sent you :)
Alright, so enough about the travel logistics, and time to get to the fun part: itinerary. I’m going to structure this blog post a bit differently than my others, and just give you a breakdown of good hikes, eats, sights, and a quick Yellowstone blurb.
Happy Hour Note: Bozeman is HUGE on happy hour (hello, $3 martinis at Brigade), so be sure to look up available happy hour menus and plan accordingly. If you’re eating out on Friday or Saturday, make a reservation. These downtown hot spots get pretty packed.
Drinks
Sky Shed (Upscale, rooftop bar)
MAP Brewing (Brewery)
Tune Up (Whisky bar)
Crystal Bar (Dive bar!)
Sights
Thrift Shopping (Twice Treasured, Rethink Thrift, Sacks, and Bozeman Vintage)
Note on hikes: Since we traveled here during the onset of Spring, some hikes were icy and/or muddy. If you want to be uber-prepared, buy crampons! You should also bring waterproof boots that go over your ankle, and bring layers.
Note on hikes part 2: Montana is Grizzly Bear territory so be sure you have bear spray, and that you’re trained in what to do in case of an encounter. Always try to hike in a group and do not get close to the wildlife!!! Do not be that person that gets mauled for an Instagram photo.
Yellowstone
Since we went to Yellowstone in late March/early April, most of the park was still closed. We didn’t get to see the ‘main events’ that people travel from far and wide to see, but we got to spend a whole day exploring hikes and sights available from the Northeast entrance. This being said, the park was virtually empty when we went (which was amazing). This won’t be true in a few months, so make sure to: pack a lunch and snacks, be ready for bison-induced traffic jams, bring bear spray and come aware of what to do in case of a sighting. We saw lots of elk, bison, a beaver (lol), and a bear sleeping in her cave.
Note for the National Park lovers: Our group purchased Just Ahead, a GPS audio guide of National Parks and it was probably the best investment of the trip. The guide speaks to you about what you’re seeing as you drive, and it was a fun way to stay engaged with our surroundings.
We had so much fun visiting Bozeman and the surrounding areas, and can’t recommend this trip enough. Next time, our plan is to go in late summer and camp and I will report back once we do. As always, thank you for reading! Comment, subscribe, and share if you enjoyed the read!
