The June Edit

June in Montana. I won't oversell it, but I also won't pretend it isn't the reason a lot of us are here. There's still snow up on the high peaks, the valleys have gone soft and green, and the light in the evenings does this thing around nine where everything goes gold and warm and you sort of have to put down what you're holding and just take it in. It's a lot. In the very best way.

A little note on this year in particular. It's been a warm, dry winter, the snow came off early, and the rivers are running ahead of schedule. Which mostly means the good stuff is arriving a little sooner than usual, so don't wait around for it. 

Here's what I'm loving this month and what I recommend to make the most of it! 

What I'm doing

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Getting on the water before everyone else realizes that it's ready. Normally June is high, fast, muddy runoff and you write off the rivers. Not this year. They came down early and the window's open now. Hire a guide and let someone else read the water for you. The Yellowstone and the Madison are my two favorites. Book it early.

This is also the month to lock in the Fourth of July, because the good stuff sells out months ahead and June is your last clean shot at it. The rodeo is the one thing all week you actually have to plan for, and the two historic ones are the two I'd choose between. 

The Livingston Roundup Rodeo is the big one, four nights, July 1st through the 4th, at the Park County Fairgrounds, with real PRCA and WPRA talent and fireworks closing out every night right over the arena. Tickets go through Afton, the only official seller, and they sell out, so buy now. The Ennis Rodeo is the smaller, more unvarnished version, the 3rd and 4th with rough stock grazing in the pasture beside the grounds. Get whichever fits your week on the calendar before it's gone.

While you're booking, build the rest of the week around the things that don't cost a thing. Music in the Mountains, the free Thursday-night concert series at Len Hill Park in Big Sky, runs a dedicated Fourth of July show every year. Expect a lawn full of families and dogs, coolers with Lone Peak going pink behind the stage. Pair it with the Wednesday farmers market in Town Center, this has ninety-some vendors and a real market. Market in the daytime, concert at dusk. It makes for the perfect day!

Then be sure to leave room for a slow afternoon on the water. The best hours of the week are usually the unscheduled ones, floating the Madison or the Yellowstone with nothing to reserve and nowhere to be. Book a half-day float with an outfitter in Bozeman, Big Sky, or Livingston and leave the rest of the day open. It slides right between a morning parade and an evening rodeo, and it's usually the part people remember most.

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Hike Beehive Basin in Big Sky. It's my favorite in the region, and June is the moment for it, with snow still lingering up high so it looks like you've wandered into the Swiss Alps. The full loop is a commitment, but an hour out and back still hands you the view.

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Drive out to Sage Lodge for sunset. It's the most beautiful sunset I know. A glass of wine, the ponds, the light moving across Paradise Valley. Worth the drive on its own, and the right pairing with a Yellowstone day.

What to wear

I pulled together a Montana Summer Collection of the things actually in my closet that I think are the staples when you come, from cowboy boots to hiking boots to fishing waders. It's all there!  June is a layering month no matter what, so start with a fine base layer and something soft over it, and let the collection handle the rest. You can shop the whole edit here.

Remember to keep it comfortable, as there are days where you’ll be in the car quite a bit and then getting out for dinner. I love a great pair of jeans and boots, which is easy to go from day to night.

Where I'm eating on the way back from Yellowstone

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The drive back through Paradise Valley is half the reason to go. I love the deep-dish at the Engine Room in Livingston. It's amazing and the design of the space is almost as good as the pizza, which is saying something. Stop in if you're driving back from the park. If you'd rather make a longer evening of it, drive out to Sage Lodge for sunset first, a glass of wine and the ponds and the light across the valley, then dinner on the way home.

On the nightstand

A River Runs Through It. It's a Montana staple. Whether you're driving through the park and need a book, or you're cozied up by the fire after the kids are asleep, this story will instantly make you feel like you're living inside the setting. It's a classic, and I love it, especially this time of year. Magic! 

The June moment to lock in

Whatever you've been meaning to book for the rest of summer, do it this week. Montana fills up fast, and with the season running early, the good dates, the good rooms, and the best guides are already going. The parades and the rivers are free and open to whoever shows up, but the rodeo seats and the dinner tables are not. Treat this like a checklist and make the calls now. The best spots don't have last-minute tables.

And if you find yourself needing a more personalized recommendation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team! We’re so excited to have you here.