Situated on the banks of the Yellowstone River, Livingston, Montana is surrounded by three stunning mountain ranges: the Crazy, Absaroka and Bangtail ranges. At the foothills of the Absaroka/Beartooth Wilderness, Livingston is as diverse as it is picturesque. People from all walks of life make Livingston their home. Artists and actors share the wide streets with ranchers, cowboys, and forest rangers.
Whether searching for a quaint mountain town in which to live on a part-time or full-time basis, Livingston might be just what you’re looking for.
Livingston has gone through some changes in the past 50 years. A onetime thriving railroad town, the city’s economy was decimated when Burlington Northern Santa Fe decided to move its diesel engine repair shop out of Livingston in the mid 1980s. Livingston overcame this setback and today has many varied industries and businesses.
Livingston’s community and government services help citizens live comfortably while ensuring safe and usable infrastructure for the town. City officials have approved many upgrades to streets, sidewalks and buildings around the downtown while water, sewer, and refuse facilities are being improved every year.
Livingston’s economic climate has fared better than the national average. It is no wonder Livingston heads national media lists for a top place to live and work.
FOR LOCAL INFORMATION VISIT: www.livingsontmontana.com | www.livingston-chamber.com | www.GoLivingston.com
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm | www.yellowstoneparknet.com/ | www.yellowstone.net/
Yellowstone National Park is home to some of the wildest, most untamed environments in the world. Over 2 million acres of protected land offer visitors spectacular scenery, endless trails for riding and hiking, and wildlife sightings unmatched anywhere in the world.
Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is the United States’ first national park. Extending over parts of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Preserved within Yellowstone National Park are a collection of the world’s most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, the historic Old Faithful Inn and Old Faithful Geyser itself, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
There are miles upon miles of trails designated for horseback riding, hiking, or cross-country skiing that enable adventurer’s access into this enchanting environment. Plan a day trip or schedule a week-long pack trip and discover one of America’s grandest treasures.
FLY FISHING
Fly fishing in Montana is legendary. People from all over the world travel great distances to fish the epic waters of the Yellowstone River and its many tributaries. From its headwaters in Yellowstone National Park, the iconic river flows dramatically through the Paradise Valley into Livingston, and meets with the Missouri River in Eastern Montana. The famous stretch between Gardiner and Big Timber, Montana, is said to be some of the best fishing in the world, period. This famous “Blue Ribbon Stretch” of the Yellowstone River is home to remarkable trout that you have to see to believe. The vastness of this extraordinary river and its extremely diverse ecosystem make for a truly magnificent setting. For anglers, the Yellowstone River presents the holy grail of fisheries.
Take a trip with one of Livingston’s top fishing guides or put in at any number of public fishing access points. With over 1,000 miles of fishable water, Southwest Montana fishing is some of the most verdant in the world. Across the Bozeman Pass, the Gallatin Valley supports three other major river ecosystems: The Gallatin, Madison and Jefferson rivers. Here, the confluence of the grand Missouri River is formed where Lewis and Clark made their historic journey.
TOP LIVINGSTON FLY FISHING GUIDES:
Hubbard’s Lodge – An Orvis-endorsed fly fishing lodge located on the Hubbard family ranch on the north border of Yellowstone National Park in Tom Miner Basin. Fine dining, great accommodations, stunning views, horseback riding, hiking, whitewater rafting, and more.
Montana Fly Fishing Guides – Eric Adams offers professional, guided fly fishing opportunities in Southwest Montana. We offer some of the best wild trout fishing in the country.
HUNTING
When the air begins to cool, Montanans have one thing on their minds: hunting season! With some of the biggest herds in North America, the areas surrounding Livingston and Bozeman have some of the best elk, deer, and antelope hunting in the country. People flock to Montana in the fall from all over the country to come hunt the famous herds migrating around the area, in and out of Yellowstone National Park. Black bear hunting around Yellowstone National Park and Big Sky, Montana is supreme and for those seeking the high alpine environments, mountain lions, bobcats, and mountain goats all thrive in the high elevations of the Northern Rockies in Montana.
TOP LIVINGSTON HUNTING GUIDES:
Rising Son Outfitters – Rising Son Outfitters is a family oriented outfitting business located thirty-five miles north of famous Yellowstone National Park. Established in 1985, our base of operation is a spectacular, game-rich private ranch nestled at the foot of the rugged Absaroka mountain range. Trophy hunts are offered from the main ranch, as well as from two wilderness base camps, located in the Gallatin National Forest. We have permits from the U.S. Forest Service, which allow for fall overnight hunting from our base camps, along with day-use hunting from the main ranch in both the spring and fall. The terrain in which we hunt is very majestic, ranging in elevation from fifty-two hundred feet to over ten thousand feet. Our success over the years has not only been measured in the harvest of fine game animals, but also the memories and satisfaction of all the effort put forth during each unique hunt. http://www.huntinginmontana.com/
Black Mountain Outfitters, Inc. – Black Mountain Outfitters, Inc. is owned and operated by Scott and Sandy Sallee. Growing up in southwestern Montana and Yellowstone Park, we have absorbed the habits of wildlife and wild country. We have each been in the outfitting business for over 25 years. It is our only business, and our commitment to excellence is reflected by our longtime clients returning year after year as friends. Our life ambition is to share this incredible area with our personal service and world class hospitality. We live in a valley called Paradise! https://blackmountainoutfitters.com/
SKIING
During the winter months, take a short drive to ski the deep powder at Bridger Bowl, the huge vertical at Big Sky, or the solitude of Moonlight Basin. Backcountry skiers and snowboarders have endless opportunities in the eight major mountain ranges surrounding the cities of Southwest Montana. Locals thrive on the uncrowded lifts, huge terrain, and epic snow found in these mountains.
Bridger Bowl – The Gem of the Northern Rockies. Located 16 miles from Bozeman, Montana, and popular with locals and tourists alike, this outstanding ski area is well-known for offering some of the most exciting skiing anywhere in the country. This is not your typical ski resort. Bridger Bowl is a non-profit community ski area, which means that it offers great skiing at an affordable price. With the expansion of the new Slushmans’s lift, Bridger Bowl has grown by a third, and now offers even more vertical and backcountry access.
Big Sky Resort – Big Sky offers instant access to some of the most diverse skiing and snowboarding amongst breathtaking views. With over 3,000 skiable acres and 150 named runs, Big Sky has terrain suitable for all skill levels. The iconic tram leading to the top of 11,000 foot Lone Peak provides serious vertical and big mountain terrain. Down low, skiers and snowboarders will find awesome groomers, the only super pipe in the area, minimal lift lines, and difficulty skiing the same run twice.
Moonlight Basin – A ski day on the north face of Lone Peak may find you on long groomers, hidden powder glades, or wild chutes. You’ll discover an exhilarating satisfaction while gliding down these pristine slopes. Explore the mountain, sit by the lodge fire, or soak up the sun. Moonlight Basin is Montana’s newest ski resort with plenty of room to grow.
Backcountry – Welcome to the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. Based in Bozeman, Montana, the GNFAC covers an area of approximately 10,000 km2, including the Bridger, Gallatin, Madison, and Washburn Ranges, the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone, and the Beartooth mountains around Cooke City. The goal of this site is to help provide the public with current snowpack and mountain weather information, as well as to assists
MOUNTAIN BIKING
The surrounding mountains and foothills of Livingston and Bozeman offer superb mountain biking. With hundreds of trails to choose from, it’s easy to find trails suitable for all experience levels. Check out these shops in Bozeman for gear, advice, maps and info: Summit Bike & Ski, Owenhouse Bike Shop, Chalet Sports, Roundhose Ski & Sports Center, or Bangtail Bicycle Shop. In Livingston: Timber Trails. In West Yellowstone: Freeheel & Wheel.
DOG SLEDDING
Experience Montana as it is meant to be. Include Absaroka Dogsled Treks in your visit to Yellowstone National Park in the Winter. While visiting Yellowstone National Park, animal lovers will be thrilled to see buffalo, elk and wolves. Tie it in with the thrill of a dogsled team taking you up a mountain trail in the Gallatin Range of the Northern Rocky Mountains. Based at Chico Hot Springs, you can finish the experience with dinner and a swim in Chico’s natural hot springs.
LODGING
Paradise Gateway – On the banks of the Yellowstone River and tucked away in the majestic Absaroka Mountains, the Paradise Gateway B&B is just minutes away from scenic Yellowstone National Park. The surrounding area boasts of many activities including hiking, horseback riding, fishing, rafting, skiing, sight-seeing, hunting, and much, much more, right outside the doorstep! For reservations, click here, or call 800-542-4113.
Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa – is the perfect location for your Montana getaway. Our historic resort is located in the heart of Paradise Valley, just north of Yellowstone National Park – and nestled in the foothills of the breathtaking Absaroka Mountain Range. We invite you for a family vacation, romantic getaway, business conference, weekend escape, wedding, family reunion, intimate dinner, or a dip in the natural hot spring pools. Chico offers an extraordinary variety of accommodations, exceptional dining, outdoor adventures, live entertainment, and ultimate relaxation — all with a warm smile and welcoming spirit from our friendly staff. For reservations, click here, or call 800-468-9232.
Yellowstone Valley Lodge – We are ready to serve all of your fishing, dining, and lodging needs in Paradise Valley, Montana. Along with some changes and improvements in scale and scope of activities, the Yellowstone Valley Lodge is excited to bring back many of the same services you have grown to count on in years past. Our lodge is set at the base of some of Montana’s most beautiful mountains and boasts an enormous amount of wildlife right on the property. You can sit on your patio and take in the incredible view just inches away from the comfort of your cabin. For reservations click here or call or call (800) 626-3526.
The Murray Hotel – Since its grand opening in 1904, the Murray Hotel’s guest registry has been more like a Who’s Who of history and Hollywood. Celebrities such as Buffalo Bill and Calamity Jane have graced the threshold of what was once “The” elegant railroad hotel. The Murray was also home to Walter Hill, son of railroad tycoon James J. Hill. More recently, colorful personalities like motion-picture director Sam Peckinpah rented what had been the largest suite in the place, built originally for an heir to the Burlington railroad fortune. The Queen of Denmark once spent the night, but her impressions went unrecorded. Humorist Will Rogers and his buddy Walter Hill must have been satisfied; they liked the place well enough that they tried to bring a favorite saddle horse to a third floor suite via the hand-cranked, 1905 Otis elevator. To this day, The Murray attracts a steady stream of writers, musicians, and movie stars. For reservations, click here, or call 406-222-1450.
Rivers Bend Lodge – Our newly built lodge and two vacation homes sit just feet from the banks of the Yellowstone River in the heart of Paradise Valley Montana, with 120 private acres including two trout ponds and a mile of premium fly fishing riverfront and exclusive views of Emigrant Mountain. We can host up to twenty-two people as a group (for corporate events, reunions, and weddings), or three separate groups of up 4-8 with their own private lodging, kitchen, and bathrooms. All of our facilities are modern and eco-friendly…and our guests continually claim that we are the “best” around.
Emigrant Creek & Emigrant Gulch Cabins – Our cabins are located on 82 private acres, bordered by National Forest and has one mile of Emigrant Creek flowing through it. Take advantage of our intimate knowledge of the area, as our family has been here since 1873. In every direction outdoor activities abound. The cabins are perfectly situated in Paradise Valley Montana, near Yellowstone Park, Chico Hot Springs, and Bridger Ski Resort.
Mountain Home Montana Vacation Rentals – We only represent properties that are special – the kind that you wouldn’t think would be available to rent. Private, scenic, secluded, beautiful, impressive. Minutes from Montana’s fabled trout fishing, alpine hiking, horseback riding, great powder skiing, and our quaint towns with friendly folks. Conde Nast Traveler magazine has named Mountain Home’s Lisa Orr one of the best villa rental agents in the world – for the sixth year in a row! In the April 2011 issue she was one of only five in the continental U.S. recommended in their “affordable guide to villa vacations”. We hope that she earns the same great reputation with you! For reservations please call us at 800-550-4589 or click here.
MORE RESOURCES
RealEstateAbout.com – Real Estate Directory, Real Estate Agent Resource, Property Guide.
Conservation – Our dedication to the protection of Montana’s landscape is a driving force in our business philosophy.
Real Estate IRA – One of the greatest tools available to real estate investors is government-sponsored retirement plans, such as IRAs and 401(k)s.
IRC 1031 – Many Montana investors have reaped the benefits of exchanging like properties using a 1031 tax-deferred exchange.
