This was a terrific day. SMR and I took the pup and headed to Bozeman for a day of ‘other’. We walk, eat meals, and all that stuff in Helena every day.
Somehow, doing the same things a few miles away feels special. And it was special. On the one hand, Hyalite canyon is just a reservoir and US Forest Service area with trails. On the other hand, it is a beloved, area for the folks who live in Bozeman and the FS has spent a lot of time and money making it feel almost like a National Park unit. It is decently signed, has great roads, lots of parking, and regular maintenance.
We did the Grotto Falls walk and were amazed at the profusion of wildflowers, well maintained pathway, reasonable lack of crowds, and opportunities for hiking, or relaxing along the edge of the reservoir, or just sitting and taking in the scenery in a place that feels a bit like a cross between Yellowstone and Glacier.
Grotto Falls was a very nice and the Lab had a terrific time swimming and shaking, and then repeating the same. There were a lot of pretty flowers in the spray zone that were absent along the rest of the 2.4 mile round trip, and the Pikas were cute as all get out doing their Pika thing in the basaltic talus.
The Argentinian food from a food truck in Bozeman for lunch, and the dryland walk at Missouri River Headwaters State Park made for a lovely day away. As a special bonus, the two daughters that were home made a gourmet dinner for us upon our return.
We ended the day with a quick 2.25 mile after dinner walk on Mt. Helena, a nice cool glass of New Zealand white, and watched some Women’s World Cup Soccer together.
This was a terrific day, indeed!
Nature, every day. 
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