The Best Places To Visit In The State Of Montana

For the outdoor enthusiasts among you, the state of Montana needs to be high on your bucket list of places to visit. With its vast stretches of wilderness and scenes of otherworldly beauty, including snow-capped peaks, hiking trails, and amazing lakes just begging to be explored, you will be in seventh heaven in this dream paradise. With winter and water sports to try too, as well as places of rich historical significance to spend time in, this beautiful state has much to offer anybody.

Here are just a few of the places we think you should add to your itinerary when thinking about exploring this fabulous part of the USA.

The Glacier National Park

Probably not the place to visit if you’re looking for a relaxing vacation, as this isn’t the spot for lazing on your behind under the warm summer sun; well, not for very long, anyway! With over one hundred acres incorporating lush forest scenery, sparkling lakes, soft green meadows, mountain ranges, and some incredible glaciers, this is the place to be if you’re happy to put on your hiking boots to explore as much of the land as you are able to. Of course, you aren’t confined to hiking. There are outdoor activities galore here, including rock climbing, mountain biking, and in the winter, cross-country skiing, so there is much on offer for all types of adventurer. And there’s good news if you are a wildlife lover, as there is much to see, including mountain goats, golden eagles, and wolverines (no, not Hugh Jackman). There are camping grounds and rustic village lodges aplenty if you’re looking for accommodation, which you really should, as you are never going to see all that you want to on a one-day trip.

The Big Sky Resort

For winter sports enthusiasts, this bustling ski resort is definitely the place to be. With over 5,800 acres of skiable terrain, and with slopes that are thousands of feet in size, this is a must-visit destination if you’re keen on hitting the slopes. Other winter vacation activities include snowshoeing, dog sledding, and ice skating, so be sure to wrap up warm if you’re heading here this winter time. However, there is more to this locale than winter-based fun, as summers in Big Sky, MT are just as exciting, with boating adventures on the Gallatin River, outdoor festivals featuring the likes of Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, and the nearby Yellowstone Park (no, not Yogi Bear’s residence of choice), which in itself is a bucket list summer destination of wildlife, waterfalls and geological wonders. Whatever time of year you visit then, you are sure to have a fabulous time.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

Southeastern Montana was the location for Custer’s last stand, and this national monument stands as a place to preserve this moment and the rest of the 1876 battle which took place between the US Army and the Cheyenne Indians. With a visitor’s center, historical museum, and the Custer National Cemetery, this is your opportunity to get an insider’s look at one of the greatest historical landmarks in the US. It also affords you the chance to reflect and pay tribute to the Indians and US troops who lost their lives here, so remember to be respectful during your visit. You can find out more information about the monument here, so take a look if you’re interested in seeing this essential piece of US history.

Museum of the Rockies

History buffs won’t want to miss this must-see destination located in Bozeman, Montana. Known as one of the finest history and research museums in the world (part of the Smithsonian Institute no less), there is an extensive collection of dinosaur exhibits, including skeletons, thighbones, fossilized eggs, and the world’s largest T-Rex skull. Thankfully, this is no Jurassic Park, but while these prehistoric creatures won’t come to life in real terms, they will in your imagination. But it’s not all dinosaurs at the museum, as there are other highlights on offer, including an original log home from the 1800s, a living history farm, and an interactive exhibition detailing the life of Genghis Khan. Now, what that feared ruler had to do with Montana we don’t know, but at least you have plenty to look at if you tire of dinosaur bones and fossilized eggs!

The Castle Ghost Town

One of many towns in Montana that was ruined by the silver rush in the late 1800s, this is another place to visit for anybody with an interest in western history. At its peak, the town had over 2,000 residents (including Calamity Jane), seven brothels, fourteen saloons, several merchant stores, and also a school. Sadly, as the name of the location suggests, this is now a ghost town, but it’s still a place of activity during the summer thanks to the numerous tourists passing through the town’s streets, and you can still get a feel of how life used to be when exploring the now abandoned locations of this old mining town. Sadly, there are no ghosts (as far as we know), but the town’s residents might come to life in your mind when you visit the nearby museum. For this and other Montana ghost towns, check out this article, and add any that take your interest to your itinerary.

The City of Helena

Montana’s capital city (also known as The Queen of the Rockies), is a fun place for anybody, be you a history buff or wildlife explorer. Check out the city park with over 600 acres of green spaces and walking trails. Take a walk along Reeder’s Alley, which contains buildings and other architectural landmarks dating back to the 1800s. Visit the Montana Historical Society which details (amongst other things), the connections of famous explorers Lewis and Clark to the area. And visit the Original Governor’s Mansion which is now an antiquated home operated by tour guides. For a taste of the outdoors and Montana’s historical heritage, this should probably be your gateway to the state at the beginning of your vacation. Check here for more.

Finally

So, have you packed your hiking boots yet? Are you ready to hit the slopes? Does the idea of a picnic sat atop a mountain with only a goat for company appeal to you? If so, start to form your itinerary now, and book your stay, be it in an old hotel or on a woodland camping ground. We think you will have a fantastic time; just don’t forget to send us a postcard!