Shoulder Season

Recreation within city limits. 

Spring is a time of change, transition, and new beginnings for some, but certainly a shoulder season for most of us. As we say goodbye to Nordic skiing at Lindley and operational chairlifts at our beloved Big Sky and Bridger Bowl, let us say hello to some great opportunities in the valley as we transition from one season to the next.

For Everyone
To help you prepare for spring runoff, check out open-boating sessions at the Bozeman Swim Center. Dust off your kayak or canoe and start working on those strokes and rolls every Sunday evening through May 17. Standard pool-entry fee applies. Try your hand at Disc Golf at Rose Park, a user-friendly course that dries out early in the spring. It’s free and a ton of fun. Try the fastest-growing sport in North America—Pickleball—and see why it’s sweeping the nation. Join us at the courts at Southside Park on Fridays beginning May 1, 9am to noon. If triathlon training is your thing (or no-impact training) remember the Bozeman Swim Center is open 5:30am to 9pm. Lap-swim times vary so check the schedule before showing up in your trunks. Our in-town trails dry out faster than the Forest Service mountain trails, so get ready for race season on the 67-mile Main Street to the Mountains trail system, maintained by GVLT.

For Families
Family Swim Friday Nights at the Swim Center cost only $10 for your entire immediate family. Also, on Saturdays from 2-5pm there is a giant inflatable climbing apparatus for more family fun. T-Ball registration begins March 2! Register at Bozeman.net. Mark your calendars for the Bozeman Easter Egg Hunt in Lindley Park on April 4, 1pm sharp. Ages 1-12 are welcome to participate. And finally, prep the kids for mountain-travel safety with our little explorers’ tour of Grizzly Encounters in May, where they’ll learn about bear habitat and safety.

For a full list of programs and special events, check out bozeman.net/recreation.

Mitch Overton is the director of Bozeman Parks and Recreation.