Livingston: Rodeo, Museums, and the Yellowstone River

If you’re looking for a hotel in Livingston, your trip interests can help guide your planning. The annual Livingston Roundup, museums featuring regional and Western history, and trails and recreational activities along the Yellowstone River offer different focuses. First decide which of these matter for your stay; for seasonal activities and events, be sure to check the specific dates.

Rodeo and Local History

The Livingston Roundup is an annual rodeo in the Livingston area featuring PRCA and WPRA participants. The organizers describe it as Montana’s oldest rodeo; the Roundup is now in its second century. Since event programming can change, check the dates and program if you’re planning your trip around it.

Exhibits at the Yellowstone Gateway Museum commemorate the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The collection includes artifacts that are more than 12,000 years old. The permanent exhibits also explore the connection between regional history and the founding of Yellowstone National Park. The museum’s perspective thus ranges from early artifacts to a history connected with the park.

The historic Livingston Depot was built in 1902 as the original Northern Pacific Railroad departure point for trips to Yellowstone National Park. The Depot Museum is a restored 1902 Northern Pacific Railroad station and offers insights into the history and art of the American West. Together, these subjects give railroad history its own place alongside exhibits on regional history.

Art and Culture in Livingston

The Shane Lalani Center for the Arts offers arts programs, classes, and events. It is located in the repurposed historic East Side School. Here, a contemporary cultural program meets the history of an older school building.

The statue “At the Yellowstone” also brings together art and history: it depicts nine-foot-tall Sacajawea on horseback with the infant Pomp. The subject can make it a separate stop for travelers interested in public art as well as museums.

Trails, Parks, and Riverside Recreation

The Myers’ River View Trail is a one-mile gravel path along the Yellowstone River. Described activities range from a scenic walk and a family picnic to an afternoon run. The Livingston Mural Trail is also about a mile long, but it follows a loop; it takes approximately half an hour to walk. The River View Trail’s riverside setting and range of uses are its main features, while the Mural Trail’s loop and approximate duration make it easy to plan for.

Sacajawea Park has soccer fields, play structures, Pompey’s Playground, a pavilion, a shelter, and a picnic shelter. The tennis courts include six courts open to the public. Those planning for exercise or time in a park will find different options here than at the museums and cultural attractions.

The Livingston Golf Course is a nine-hole course on the Yellowstone River with views of the Absaroka and Crazy Mountains. Leagues, tournaments, and other events take place there during the season; their dates can change. The Yellowstone River also offers fly-fishing opportunities in Livingston. Golf, fishing, and riverside trails are distinct activities, even though they all relate to the same river.

Seasonal Activities and Local Products

The Livingston Farmers Market offers food from local farms and ranches. It also features prepared foods, local craft beer, baked goods, and arts and crafts. The market is seasonal, and participating vendors and offerings may vary from one market day to another. If you’d like to include it in your travel plans, check the dates and current offerings in advance.

Explore more destinations: Gardiner, Cooke City, Pray.

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