Tubing the Madison

When summer heats up, one of the most laid-back ways to spend an afternoon near Bozeman is floating the Madison River on an inner tube. The classic "bikini float" run from Warm Springs Access to Black's Ford covers roughly 16 to 19 miles of shallow, slow-moving, and refreshingly warm water, about a 30-minute drive from town. It's an easygoing float rather than a whitewater adventure, making it a great fit for families and groups of all ages. Montana Whitewater runs a dedicated tubing shop right in Bozeman on West Main Street, with deluxe tube rentals, shuttle service to and from the river, and daily departures throughout the season, which typically runs from June through early September. Pack a cooler, grab some sunscreen, and let the current do the work.