Gallatin Valley

Gallatin County is nestled between four mountain ranges, offering access to thousands of acres of the National Forest and hundreds of miles of blue ribbon trout streams.

The largest city in Gallatin County is Bozeman, also the county seat. A unique small city, Bozeman is a cross-section of ranchers, artists, professors, ski enthusiasts and entrepreneurs, and is also home to Montana State University.  Bridger Bowl ski resort, a non-profit community ski resort with world-class terrain and notorious ‘cold smoke’ powder, is a short 16-mile drive from downtown Bozeman. Bozeman’s historic Main Street is loaded with delicious restaurants, eclectic shops, music and theatre venues and is home to museums, talented artists and excellent galleries. In addition, Bozeman has been ranked on numerous top ten lists in the past decade for a variety of accolades.

Located nine miles to the west of Bozeman is the City of Belgrade.  Built originally as a railroad town, it was named by Serbian financiers who invested in the Northern Pacific Railroad.  Belgrade has established itself as an independent community with a small-town feel. Belgrade is located in the center of the Gallatin Valley allowing for grand views of the surrounding mountain ranges. The blue-ribbon Gallatin and East Gallatin rivers flow just a few miles from the historic downtown area. Yellowstone International Airport is located in Belgrade.

Just to the south of Spanish Peaks, The Yellowstone Club is a private residential community that features a private ski resort and golf club with world class terrain and amenities.  The resort is closed to the general public. The Yellowstone Club is a premier location for luxury ski homes and condos. There is access via Southern Comfort lift at Big Sky for Yellowstone Club members to access Big Sky Resort.

Manhattan is located 20 miles to the west of Bozeman and is a quaint agricultural community with a growing manufacturing sector. For history buffs, there is a wealth of information in local museums, libraries and state parks about the Lewis and Clark Expedition who explored this area in the summers of 1805 and 1806. Views are open and sweeping from the greater Manhattan area, with the rolling Horseshoe Hills to the north, the Bridger Mountains to the east, the Tobacco Root Mountains to the west and the northern Madison Range to the south. Special community events such as the Manhattan Potato Festival celebrates its heritage and rural lifestyle.

Three Forks is located 30 miles to the west of Bozeman, just to the south of the headwaters of the Missouri river, where the ‘Three Forks’, the Gallatin River, the Madison River and the Jefferson River, come together to form the Missouri River. Steeped in history, the area features many state parks and recreational activities. Missouri Headwaters State Park is located just to the northeast of town, and features historical exhibits, interpretive signs, scenic viewpoints, picnic areas and hiking trails. Montana's first state park, Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, is located 17 miles west of Three Forks. It features one of the most highly decorated limestone caverns in the Northwest. The Madison Buffalo Jump State Park is located off I-90 near Three Forks. This buffalo jump vividly demonstrates a hunting technique used in Montana 2,000 years ago.