Boulder River

Natural Bridge, on the Boulder River 

Twenty-one miles south of Big Timber, MT (between Bozeman and Billings, on I-90), Highway 298 reaches deeply into the McCloud Basin, retracing the path the main stem of Boulder River toward its headwaters high in the Absaroka (Ab-SORK-ee) Range.

Just before the pavement ends, you'll come upon an wondrous example of water-on-rock erosion at Natural Bridge, through which the Boulder's thundering waters plummet 105 feet before resuming the journey to Jefferson River, a tributary of the mighty Missouri. The falls at Natural Bridge have captured the imagination of countless visitors, including at least one intrepid kayaker.

This site provides campers with a tolerance for "road shakes" what becomes a gravel (occasionally rutted) road for some 25 additional miles, deep into the Gallatin National forest, with farm inholdings on the western side of the river and the Absaroka Wilderness on the east. The mountains are one of the most privative landscapes Montana offers. But campers with a yen for beauty will delight in this plunge into the outback.

Wanderlust 

Soon, one comes upon six riverside campgrounds, offering various degrees of seclusion and vistas. The sites are open year-round--first-come, first served--and accomodate 8-12 slots.Cutthroat trout become more abundant--and gullible--as one travels further up river. They also are smaller.

Upper Boulder River

Perhaps the best fly fishing is on the West Boulder--near the ranch of former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw. The tributary forks off Highway 298 back to the north, near the historic town of McLeod.

Hyalite Canyon

Twenty minutes from Bozeman lies an outdoor gem--the Hyalite Canyon Recreation Area--home to some of the best Bozeman camping*, bike riding, and backpacking trails. The canyon also houses several picturesque areas like Palisades Falls and History Rock. It's an area families can take a week to explore or a place they can visit frequently for an afternoon or day of outdoor fun. It has four wheelchair-accessible trails and accessible picnic tables and toilets; campgrounds are clean and pleasant.

The canyon

This is the most heavily visited recreation area in Montana with three campgrounds and two-day use areas. But somehow a camper does not feel hemmed in, even in the high season of summer. The reservoir's "no-wake" rule make it a a boon to peace and quiet at the Hood Creek Campground and Chisholm Campground along its shores and to canoeing and fishing. 

Reservoir camp site

Langohr Campground along Hyalite Creek provides wildlife viewing and easy fishing midst towering rocky peaks. 

Hyalite Peak

The camps along the Reservoir and are starting points for numerous short and long hiking routes into the dense timber up to alpine meadows and lakes on the peaks above. 

History Rock is a short hike, while mountain bikers thrill with the fast descents along abandoned logging roads into Sourdough Canyon or back down the paved access road.

Located 15 miles south of Bozeman off of South 19th Avenue, this area should not be missed. 

* These campgrounds feature:

Accessible Vault Toilet Bird Watching Boating Canoeing Drinking Water, Hand Well. Family Campground Fire Rings Fishing	Garbage Service Hiking Trail Locked Fee Drop Box Mountain Biking Picnic Tables Reservoir Trash Service Wildlife Viewing
Within 10 Miles:
Bike Trail	Boat Launch Ramp