Department Outdoor Activities Website

The Bozeman area offers many opportunities for the sports-minded individual. Because of its location in the Rocky Mountains, hiking, back-packing, white water canoeing and kayaking, trout fishing, hunting, camping and alpine and nordic skiing are popular activities. MSU's physical education complex has excellent facilities for handball, racquetball, squash, tennis, swimming, running, basketball and weight training.

The alpine ski areas are located within a short drive of Bozeman. Bridger Bowl is 18 miles from campus and Big Sky is 40 miles away. During winter quarter, MSU skiing instruction is offered at Bridger Bowl. Nordic skiers can take advantage of the groomed trails of Bozeman's Lindley Park, Bohart Ranch Cross-Country Ski Center (located near Bridger Bowl), Lone Mountain Ranch (located near Big Sky) or the many ungroomed trails and slopes in the mountains surrounding the Gallatin Valley.

Climbing, biking and running are particularly popular pastimes among mathematics students and faculty; local running and biking clubs provide the opportunity to get acquainted outside the classroom. Foot races suitable for all classes of runner are conducted throughout the spring, summer and fall. Races combining running, biking and canoeing are also popular summer activities.

Intramural teams in all sports are sponsored by MSU. Mathematics faculty and graduate students competed together recently on a near-championship softball team. Informal volleyball tournaments are a feature of every department get-together. Friday afternoons, snow permitting, many faculty and grad students get together for informal soccer.

Several of America's blue ribbon trout streams are within minutes of the campus and provide outstanding fishing year round. Montana is a hunter's and photographer's paradise with pheasant, duck, grouse and turkey for the shotgunner and every kind of big game animal within a half-hour drive.

Outdoor recreation of all varieties is supported by local clubs promoting photography, hunting, fishing, snow-mobiling and other outdoor activities.

Excellent camping close to campus may be found in The Hyalite Canyon, just outside Bozeman (in The Gallatin National Forest), and in Yellowstone National Park, a 90-minute drive from Bozeman.

• Gallatin National Forest - Campgrounds
• Yellowstone National Park (NPS)
• Alternate Yellowstone resource (GORP) or Greater Yellowstone area

• Montana River Expeditions
• For Gallatin and Yellowstone River Streamflow information - see below (under "Rafting")

Rafting - We have three rivers within a half-hour drive: (Gallatin, Yellowstone, Madison).

• Yellowstone Raft Company Check out the Photo Gallery
• Montana Whitewater
• Gallatin River Streamflow information (near Gallatin Gateway) (USGS)
• Yellowstone River Streamflow information (near Corwin Springs)
• Yellowstone River Streamflow info - Livingston (USGS)
• Other River Levels

Fishing - John's fish'n pics (local)

Hiking

• Gallatin National Forest - Official USDA Forest Service Site.
• TopoZone Free interactive USGS topo maps of the entire United States
• Glacier National Park (NPS)
• Alternate Glacier Resource (GORP)

Hunting

Mountain biking

Skiing

• Bridger Bowl
• Big Sky

Snowmobiling

• Two Top Snowmobile

Sightseeing & nature photography

- full size version (640k).

• Pictures taken by Ken & Sandy Bowers

Misc Recreation Info

• Bowling - yes even in Montana
• Old Student activity page
• National Parks - Complete resource by the National Park Service.
• Great Outdoor Recreation Pages - Great Outdoor Recreation Page
• Travel Montana - Information and links to Montana's recreational resources.

Return to regular view	Text-only	Updated: 06/11/2007