See and Do

18 galleries. 3 stoplights. Welcome to the town of Livingston, Montana! Here world-renowned painters, photographers, sculptors, actors, and journalists rub shoulders with fly-fishing guides, cowboys and ranchers of equal notoriety.

There is something for everyone here, from casual drives through spectacular scenery, quick hikes to hidden waterfalls, grueling adventures in unspoiled wilderness, to soaking up the old west at a local rodeo or watering hole.

Contents

Area Overview


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Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park sits at the southern end of Paradise Valley, about a half an hour away. Entrance to the Park is $25/vehicle and is good for a week. If you plan to camp in the park, you can make reservations in advance on the park’s website.

See the official Yellowstone National Park website for details.

Wildlife

There is no shortage of wildlife in the area. You’ll certainly see many of the following, some might require greater patience than others.

Anywhere along the waterways are prime areas for bird watching. The Lamar Valley in Yellowstone is a great place for spotting the larger animals. Bring binoculars or a spotting scope.

Scenic Drives

If you would just like to take a spin through the mountains, there are many scenic drives in the area.

The Beartooth Scenic Byway, on the north east side of Yellowstone National Park, offers a white-knuckle drive through high alpine terrain. It connects Cooke City to Red Lodge, Montana. To get there, drive through Yellowstone, heading east from Tower towards Silvergate and the East Entrance. Once you leave the park, continue east. You’ll be driving along the south border of the Beartooth Absaroka Wilderness area, passing picturesque lakes, waterfalls, and rugged peaks. The Island Lake campground is a great place for a picnic. Continue east up and over the pass, stopping at the two summits. You’ll also drive by a ski lift used by the US Ski Team.

On the East Side of the pass, you can continue to Red Lodge, then back up to I-90 and around. This whole loop will take the better part of a day – you’re driving around almost 1,000,000 acres of wilderness! Alternatively, backtrack through the park to the north entrance and Paradise Valley.

For details, see the Visit MT website.

Shopping

There are some unique shopping opportunities in the area. The biggest selection of shopping is concentrated on Main Street in Bozeman.

For all you western apparel needs and astounding / appalling (depending on your view point!) collection of trophy mounts, stop by Schnee’s Powderhorn in Bozeman.

In Livingston, check out the Cowboy Connection on Main Street for collectibles, Way Out West on highway 89, and Wild West Custom Clothing for women’s western wear.

For fly-fishing afficionados, don’t miss Dan Bailey’s in downtown Livingston. You can’t miss it. It’s right on Park Street with giant fish above the door. Gil’s Got It — the gift store next door — rarely actually has it but is still fun to peruse. Timber Trails (Park Street) is a small but well-stocked outdoor shop for last minute hiking items.

The Livingston Chamber of Commerce has more details on these and other shops. Give us a ring if you are looking for something in particular.

Hiking

The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area — at just under 1 million acres — is the largest wilderness area in the lower 48 states.

Here are a few mega-classics.

The Beaten Path

The intrepid may wish to try the “Beaten Path”, a trail that crosses the entirety of the Absoraka wilderness from north-to-south. Bring your bear spray and gumption. This is typically done as a one-way hike with a lengthy shuttle. Contact us for tips and tricks on shuttle logistics.

Fly Fishing

There’s a reason they filmed A River Run’s Through It in Livingston and the surrounding area. Ever wanted to try fly fishing? Livingston is a great place to wet a line.

We highly recommend T.J. LaViolette at Troutwest Fly Fishing for guiding or lessons. He knows where the fish are and is a great instructor to boot.

Rafting and Kayaking

The two closest rivers for rafting and kayaking are the Yellowstone River right here in the Valley and the Gallatin River near Bozeman. There is very little whitewater on the Yellowstone – it’s better suited for fishing or tubing. You can rent innertubes in Livingston. Keep in mind that even in August, the water will be cold enough to take your breath away.

There’s more substantial whitewater on the Gallatin river. You can arrange half-day trips from outfitters in Bozeman.

The Internets

There is no shortage of free WiFi spots in the area.


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Links

Park County Visitor’s Guide