Jefferson Graham captures the sunset in Bozeman, Montana for his PhotoWalks TV series
We started PhotowalksTV to help people get straight to the point when they arrive somewhere with their phone camera in hand. Instead of arriving in a city and having to search for the best local locations for a photoshoot, what if you could watch a video and get a feel for the place before you arrive?
Over the years, my virtual photo walks have taken you to some of my favorite places (from A to Z, from Atlanta to Zion National Park!) and have covered much of the West, as well as California, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Canada, and Mexico.
The Bozeman case filled that gap: Every western state was now represented. (That’s California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.)
We hope that after watching this episode of Bozeman Photowalks, you’re intrigued to visit the Last Best Place this summer or fall.
Bozeman is one great city, and it’s hard to beat its atmosphere: secluded wide roads, wide skies, fun downtown, friendly people, proximity to amazing national parks, and of course, delicious Huckleberry food.
If I have any regrets about this trip, it’s that I didn’t spend enough time in Bozeman and didn’t visit Missoula and Glacier National Park. I’ll be back next summer.
Main Street, Bozeman, Montana
If you’re going to Bozeman, here’s what you need to know.
Why visit: Bozeman is a small town in the southern part of the state surrounded by stunning natural beauty. It has a fun, historic downtown that dates back to its days as a silver mining town in the early 1900s, with many original buildings still standing. Plus, Bozeman is a college town, and its youthful influence has led to great food options and a hip atmosphere.
Bozeman Virtual Photo Walk:
Downtown
Start your tour at the historic Hotel Baxter (105 W. Main Street), now a residential and office complex and home to a lively bar and Ted’s Montana Grill. Walk inside and marvel at the Art Deco and 1900s craftsmanship details.
Walk down Main Street, which stretches for six blocks, and you’ll come to Western Cafe (more on that later).
As you walk through the streets, you’ll pass wonderful old buildings (zoom in with your phone camera to see the markers and details), Western-style shops, outdoor equipment stores, a large hardware store, a bookstore, and plenty of cafes and restaurants. (See below for recommended places to eat.)
Pete’s Hill, Bozeman, Montana
Pete’s Hill
Just a few blocks from downtown (you’ll need to drive) you’ll find panoramic views of Bozeman, the University of Montana, and the surrounding area. It’s a great place to watch the sunset or go hiking or biking. We went there every night of our stay and had Wilcoxson’s locally made huckleberry ice cream sandwiches at the Town and Country Market down the street (which closes at 10pm).
Bridger Bowl
You can drive here, park and hike up to the iconic “M” painted on the side of the mountain. It’s a scenic 1-hour hike to get there.
Hyalite Reservoir in Bozeman
Hyalite Reservoir
Another great drive is to Hyalite Reservoir. This perfect spot for paddle boarding, kayaking and photography offers stunning mountain views reflected in the clear water. Highly recommended.
Downtown Livingston, Montana.
Livingston
It’s a 30-minute drive from Bozeman, but it’s shorter than a trip up the Hyalite line. It’s a charming town with a historic main street that’s definitely worth the drive. It’s a photographer’s dream, with buildings older than Bozeman’s. It feels like you’ve stepped into a Twilight Zone episode.
Yellowstone National Park
The Gardiner entrance is 90 minutes away and is the go-to of the five entrances to this huge park. It gets you up close and personal to Old Faithful (a natural phenomenon that erupts every hour). Check the visitor center for exact times. If you want to stay closer to Yellowstone, try Chico Hot Springs, a rustic old resort by the hot springs about a 45-minute drive from the park. There are dozens of chain motels in Gardiner, right by the entrance.
Getting to Bozeman
Bozeman Yellowstone Airport is served by multiple airlines and is one of the easiest airports to get into and out of Montana. As the state’s fourth-largest city with a population of just over 50,000, Bozeman attracts more passengers than any other airport in the state, with over one million people flying in. Airlines including American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Delta offer direct service to Bozeman from cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Denver and Minneapolis.
Road Trip
The drive from Los Angeles is about 18 hours, compared to 6 hours from Salt Lake City and 10 hours from Denver or Seattle. But the drive is awesome! The Salt Lake City route gets you direct through Jackson Hole, the Teton Range and Yellowstone National Park on your way to Bozeman.
Where to stay
While in Bozeman, I fell in love with the retro Sapphire Motel (310 N 7th Ave). With its vintage 1950s feel and Holiday Inn-inspired neon sign, it feels like it’s jumped out of an old 1950s book. As you enter the lobby, black and white Westerns are blaring from an old box TV. The rooms are old and funky, but still have modern comforts. The motel is a 15-minute walk from downtown. I stayed there for $150 a night, but rates can vary.
Lewis and Clark
It’s also vintage, with a giant neon sign that reads, “We’ve been fluffing your pillows every night since 1976.” It’s on the pricey side, but it does come with a large pool and free breakfast. I inquired about the price and was quoted around $225. Address: 824 W Main St.
There are plenty of chain motels and Airbnbs on the outskirts of town.
Where to eat
If you saw my Bozeman Photowalk episode, you know I love the Western Cafe, which calls itself the “last great cafe” in town. Once a boxcar, this cafe has been in business for over 75 years and is a National Historic Landmark. They serve food just like grandma used to make. One day I had a pumpernickel grilled cheese sandwich, and the next I had the “Best of the West” lunch special: chicken fried steak, two eggs, biscuits with sausage gravy, and hand-cut fries. I topped it off with huckleberry ice cream. This place is full of history, with wall hangings of jackalopes and wild cats, bull marks, guns, fish, and western art. (They close at 2pm every day, so make sure you get there in time.)
We also ate at two upscale non-Western cafe-type eateries, Jam on Main and Revelry. Main Street is dotted with a variety of businesses not found when Bozeman was founded as a silver mining town in the early 1900s. There’s Thai, Italian, Japanese, Indian, food trucks, breweries, and of course plenty of pizza and steakhouses. And by my count, there are at least three ice cream parlors in a six-block area of Main Street.
Jefferson Graham holding a huckleberry ice cream sandwich made by Wilcoxon’s Ice Cream in Montana
