America's 10 Best Outdoor Towns

From Alaska to Maine, these spots offer a walk on the wild side for fans of everything from windsurfing to fly-fishing. You can even try the luge.

For MSN City Guides

In choosing the “101 Best Outdoor Towns: Unspoiled Places to Visit, Live & Play” (The Countryman Press, 2007), authors Sarah Tuff and Greg Melville researched access to national and state parks, major bodies of water, hiking and mountain biking trails, and ski and snowboard terrain; population; affordability; and such downtown resources as gear shops, brewpubs and coffee houses.

This top 10 is adapted from the book; these towns have not only back doors to some of the country’s best adventure terrain, but also lively, livable communities that are dedicated to playing in and preserving the great American playgrounds.

Livingston, Montana - Ranked #6

Hollywood loves Livingston, having unpacked its cameras several times for major motion pictures—including “A River Runs Through It”—in this Montana town of 7,000. Still, Hollywood hasn’t spoiled Livingston; though well-known artists and writers have settled here, the place retains its Western charm and authentic connection to the outdoors. The angler-friendly Yellowstone River runs along the southeastern side of town, while Yellowstone National Park sits just 60 miles south. More than 2,000 miles of trails spider-web through the adjacent Gallatin National Forest, and the state’s tallest mountain, 12,799-foot Granite Peak, is found in Livingston’s backyard of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Finally, prodigious snowfall makes for excellent skiing and riding at Bridger Bowl, a 30-mile drive, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing just about anywhere. Visit Dan Bailey’s Fly Shop (406-222-1673) for fishing tips, Timber Trails (406-222-9550) for hiking and biking gear and Chico Hot Springs Resort (406-333-4933) for a place to sleep—it’s a rustic lodge with a dash of Hollywood.

Listing Search

Monthly Market Watch

America's 10 Best Outdoor Towns