Montana, also known as Big Sky Country, is one of the large states belonging to the Great American West, a vast area that also includes Wyoming, Idaho, and North and South Dakota. It features grand mountain landscapes, with snow-capped peaks, glacial valleys, immense forests, and crystal-clear lakes. The epitome of nature’s creativity in Montana is in the area near Glacier National Park, close to the border with Canada. However, the things to see in Montana go beyond just nature. Here in the many ghost towns, there are still traces of a history of gold miners, outlaw bandits, and cowboys. So let’s take a look at the state’s main attractions.
Contents
Things to Do in Montana
Parks and Natural Attractions
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is one of the most important and famous parks in North America as well as one of the 54 parks in Montana. It extends into Wyoming and Idaho, but a major part of the park is, in fact, right here in the fourth largest state in the United States. Of the five entrances to Yellowstone National Park, three are located in Montana: the west entrance (from West Yellowstone), perfect for visiting the geyser area and usually one of the recommended entrances; the northeast entrance, near the beautiful Lamar Valley that can be reached via one of the most beautiful scenic mountain roads in the West, the Beartooth Highway; and the north entrance, which is ideal if you wish to visit the area around the striking Mammoth Hot Springs.
The best way to visit the park is by car along Loop Road, a 140-mile road connecting the five entrances. To visit the park, I recommend you plan for at least 3 days. If time is a constraint, however, we also have a Yellowstone itinerary that can be adjusted to be completed between 1 and 4 days so that you can best organize your time and not miss the main attractions.
- Read our guide to Yellowstone National Park
Glacier National Park
Located in northwestern Montana, Glacier National Park covers 1,583 square miles near the border with Canada. The terrain makes it one of the most beautiful parks in the state, and it is a must-see attraction also because, unfortunately, due to global warming, part of its 25 glaciers are melting at an ever-increasing rate. Before your eyes are not only majestic glaciers, but splendid waterfalls, streams, imposing mountain peaks and green valleys that seem endless.
Within Glacier National Park is the famous Going to the Sun Road, a 50-mile road which traverses the park from east to west at an elevation that reaches 6,646 feet above sea level at its highest point, Logan Pass. It takes about 2 hours to complete it, but it is virtually impossible not to stop and admire the various landscapes and take a few pictures. Therefore consider at least a whole day or so to fully enjoy the magnificence of this national park.
- Read our guide to Glacier National Park
Bighorn Canyon
Bighorn Canyon is located inland near the Bighorn National Forest, a mountainous area of breathtaking scenery on the Montana-Wyoming border. In fact, the Bighorn River originates in the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming. However, the upper part of the river, before it enters Montana, is called the Wind River. It only becomes the Bighorn River just after the rapids of Wind River Canyon.
Just past the border, the river enters Bighorn Canyon and then flows into Yellowtail Dam, which forms Bighorn Lake. This spectacular canyon and wild landscapes are part of the North District, an area that is part of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Walk along the North District trails or rent a canoe at Ok-A-Beh Marina to see the canyon up close.
- Read our guide to Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Beartooth Highway
The Beartooth Highway, the section of U.S. 212 from Red Lodge to Cooke City, is one of Montana’s most spectacular scenic roads. Keep in mind that you can travel on it only during good weather, from Memorial Day through October, as heavy snowfall on the pass often blocks the road or otherwise makes it dangerous to drive on. The westernmost point of the road is the North-East entrance to Yellowstone, and that is perhaps part of the reason the road is so well known.
As you travel along Beartooth Highway, you will see majestic peaks and pass through various ecosystems, from verdant forests to alpine tundra. Among the mountains here, there is Montana’s highest peak, Granite Peak, at 12,807 ft. Grizzly bears, brown bears, elk, deer, mountain lions and red lynx live in these parts, and it is not uncommon to see them. The area is also famous for its numerous lakes that make the landscape even more picturesque.
Makoshika State Park
Gullies, natural arches and hoodoos are what you will find in Makoshika State Park. It spans over 11,500 acres, making it Montana’s largest park. I suggest you start your visit to the park by stopping at the Visitor Center to learn not only what scenic beauty awaits you, but also the history of the many dinosaur fossils found among these rocks. The permanent exhibit is quite interesting.
If you love hiking, the park offers plenty of trails of varying difficulty to allow you to discover up close the sublime masterpiece created over time by weathering, which has formed the park’s unique rock formations in a slow and continuous process.
- Read our guide to Makoshika Park
Big Sky
Big Sky is popular among tourists and mountain lovers. It is located in Gallatin and Mason Counties in southwestern Montana. Big Sky is known as the largest ski area in the United States with territory spanning as many as four mountains. Whether you are coming come from Bozeman or West Canyon, you will travel along the Gallatin River within Gallatin Canyon with incredible scenery.
The valleys and mountains in this area are equally picturesque. In summer you can go horseback riding or mountain biking, golfing, camping, rafting, and fishing, and even visit Yellowstone. In winter you’ll love going on the many ski and snowboard trails, and all the other activities like riding dog sleds or horse-drawn carriages or going on one of the several discovery tours throughout the area.
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park is located about 20 miles from the small town in Jefferson County called Whitehall in Jefferson County. The park includes two visitor centers, a camping area, hiking trails and striking limestone caves, among the largest in the American Northwest. The Lewis & Clark Caverns area can only be visited on a guided tour and with the purchase of admission. There are two tour options available for both adults and children. The easiest one is the Paradise Tour, which lasts about 90 minutes, while the Classic Cave Tour is somewhat more difficult and lasts about 2 hours.
National Bison Range
The bison is one of the most iconic symbols of the United States. If you wish to admire this imposing mammal, which can weigh as much as 900 pounds, you need only travel to the National Bison Range in Montana. This nature reserve protects between 400 and 500 American bison. There is a visitor center and directions for the two scenic roads that lead to outlooks over areas where the animals often pass through. In addition to bison, this reserve is home to coyotes, brown bears, elk, squirrels, muskrats, and even the North American cougar.
Flathead Lake
In northwestern Montana, you find Flathead Lake, a glacial lake fed by the Flathead River and the Swan River that is renowned among fishermen. At its widest point, it stretches about 15 miles while the maximum length from one end to the other is almost 31 miles. The average depth is 164 ft although the deepest point reaches 370 ft. Precisely because of its origin and size, this is one of the cleanest lakes in the world.
The mountains surrounding the lake make it a perfect place to take unforgettable souvenir photos. You can rent boats, kayaks, dinghies and other equipment at Arrowhead RV Park and Marina, Bigfork Marina, Big Arm Lake Marina or Marina Cay Resort. Salish Point Beach along the south shore is ideal for a swim, although the water is really ‘ice cold’!
Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Area
You won’t find the snow-capped peaks of Glacier National Park in this vast 44 square miles of beautiful land. In Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Area, gentle verdant mountains and dry gorges carved over time by water and wind are the main protagonists. And if you love to hike this is the place for you. There are plenty of trails and none of them are particularly difficult or dangerous.
Among the most famous trails is Refrigerator Canyon Trail from North York to Meriwether along the Missouri River and through a very narrow, cold gorge. Another renowned spot is Bear Prairie, a large meadow where it is also possible to spend the night. From here you can also climb Candle Mountain for spectacular views of the Helena Valley and Rocky Mountain Front.
Taking a boat tour down the canyon in Gates of the Mountains is the best way to relive the emotions that explorers Lewis and Clark felt when beholding the majesty of the imposing cliffs that tower over the Missouri River.
Montana’s Ghost Towns
Montana is also home to many ghost towns, which are particularly popular attractions for fans of westerns but also for tourists who are curious to discover what life may have been like in the late 1800s in this part of America. The Gold Rush that characterized that period gave rise to many small towns near mines and deposits where prospectors and their families flocked, hoping to find fortune and have a better future.
Bandits and outlaws were drawn here too, creating havoc and legends that are still passed down today. By the early twentieth century, most of these towns were gradually abandoned, although some of them are now lively tourist destinations. Several can be found in Montana, and some are along or near the Vigilante Trail.
The three must-see ghost towns in Montana in my opinion are:
- Virginia City and Nevada City: Just about a mile separate these picturesque towns. Virginia City is a true Wild West-themed tourist town with more than 60 historic buildings and multiple activities that will make you relive the Gold Rush. Nevada City, accessible by car or even by taking a historic train from Virginia City, is more of an open-air museum and will give you a more authentic feel than its ‘neighbor’.
- Bannack is among the first towns created in Montana by gold miners, and in 1864 it also became the state capital. The last resident died in 1970. Don’t miss Bannack Days during the third week of July when the town comes back to life and hosts events and performances. During the celebration, there is no shortage of gold panning, horseshoes, wagons, and, of course, shootouts. A similar event called Bannack Living History is held in September.
Best Cities in Montana
Helena
Helena is the capital of Montana, and with its population of 32,000, it is the fifth least populous capital city in the United States. Its appeal lies in the fact that it is a modern city without betraying its historic soul as a town born in the days of the Gold Rush. It was precisely the discovery of the deposit of gold at Last Chance Gulch that led to its rise at the foot of Mount Helena in 1864. Among the things to see in the historic downtown in Helena are the Montana State Capitol, the Cathedral of St. Helena, the Original Governor’s Mansion, Reeder’s Alley, and its main street, Last Chance Gulch. Helena is also the perfect starting point for visiting Gates of the Mountains, Blackfoot Pathways and the caves at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park.
- Read our guide to Helena, Montana.
Missoula
Missoula is at the heart of five valleys and five mountain peaks. The town is located in western Montana and is far larger than the capital city of Helena. It was founded in 1860 to provide a place to rest for pioneers traveling along the Mullan Road. With the arrival of the railroad, the town grew considerably richer and became an important economic and cultural center, so much so that Montana’s first university was established here in 1863.
Today the city is vibrant and full of things to do and see, from art galleries to water parks, from clubs along the Clark Fork River to the main square Caras Park, from golf to rafting in Alberton Gorge or hiking along the Riverfront Walking Trail, the Lewis and Clark Trail or on Mount Sentinel. And if you love hot springs, there are several around for you to visit.
Bozeman
Bozeman is Montana’s fourth-largest city and is continually expanding given its rapid economic and population growth. The town is named after its founder John M. Bozeman, who is also responsible for the Bozeman Trail. From Bozeman, you will easily reach both Virginia and Nevada City, ghost towns we talked about earlier that are definitely worth visiting, as well as the northern entrance to Yellowstone Park.
Among the things to see in Bozeman, I recommend the MOR, or Museum of the Rockies, with its rich collection of dinosaur fossils and a planetarium, Main Street, the American Computer and Robotics Museum, and the Gallatin History Museum. Then stroll through Burke Park or reach nearby attractions, like Montana Grizzly Encounter, Bridger Canyon, Glen Lake Rotary Park, Custer Gallatin National Forest, and, of course, Yellowstone.
Billings
Billings is Montana’s largest city, with a population of about 120,000, and has its own major international airport. Located on the banks of the Yellowstone River in southern Montana, Billings is famous for its spectacular surrounding terrain and numerous well-maintained trails. Among the things to see in Billings are Moss Mansion Historic House Museum, an elegant mansion dating back to 1903, the Western Heritage Center with its 35,000 artifacts that help to understand the history of this area, the Yellowstone Art Museum, the Alberta Bair Theater, as well as Riverfront Park and Danwalt Gardens.
There are also countless nature attractions near this town. Besides the famous Yellowstone and Bighorn Canyons, there are Lake Elmo State Park, The Rimrocks, and Pictograph Cave State Park with its cave paintings that are over 2,000 years old.
Whitefish
This small town in northwestern Montana is famous for skiing and the many outdoor activities on offer. You can spend the day at Whitefish Lake, relax on Whitefish City Beach, go boating, canoeing or do other water sports. For hikers, I recommend the Whitefish Trail.
Because it is located about 40 miles from the western entrance to Glacier National Park and also not far from Flathead National Forest, Flathead Lake, Kalispel, and Hungry Horse Dam, one of the tallest dams in the United States, Whitefish is an excellent starting point for discovering the scenic beauty of northern Montana.
Butte
Butte, which we have already told you about in our article on the Vigilante Trail, is one of Montana’s most important historic towns, and its history began as a gold and silver mining center in 1872. Later on, beginning in the early 1900s, copper made it rich and popular.
Although today it has a population of about 30,000 people, this beautiful town has preserved its late nineteenth-century soul with fascinating and beautiful historic sites to see, for example, Copper King Mansion, the World Museum of Mining, and the Mother Lode Theater at the Berkeley Pit. Nearby you can easily travel to visit the aforementioned Lewis and Clark Caverns, or the magnificent statue of Our Lady of the Rockies.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is a memorial to the battle called the Battle of Little Bighorn that occurred on June 25 and 26, 1876 between the U.S. Army and the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes. At this site, not far from Crow Agency, Montana, young men on both sides lost their lives.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is now one of the most famous national monuments in the United States. In addition to the visitor center, you will find a museum, the 7th Cavalry Memorial, the Reno – Benteen Battlefield, and the large Custer National Cemetery. The memorial is located at Interstate 90 Frontage Road, Crow Agency, Montana.
