Montana is vast, and its beauty has no limits. From the stunning scenery of the national parks to its snowcapped mountain ranges, this state is worth exploring fully. But if you’re unable to make it everywhere, at least do yourself the favor of exploring as many of these 15 places as you can.
- Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr The northern part of this national park is located in southern Montana. The scenery is just as beautiful as the other parks in the state, and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can take a guided kayak trip through it.
- The Missouri River
Bitterroot/Flickr The longest river in North America officially starts in Western Montana.
- The Kerr Dam
Jim Handcock/Flickr Located near Polson, this dam stands 54 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Thanks to a 1,000-foot boardwalk, you can get up close and personal with the dam and see some beautiful views.
- Glacier National Park
Cody Wellons/Flickr No Montana must-see list would be complete without a mention of Glacier, nature’s raw and untamed beauty at its finest.
- Virginia City and Nevada City
Arthur T. LaBar/Flickr Watch the past come to life in these two historic towns, which offer an Old West experience unlike any other. Catch a show, pan for gold, and don’t miss the museum.
- The Berkeley Pit
ccarlstead/Flickr You’ll find this former open pit copper mine in Butte. The water is highly acidic and far too dangerous to swim in, but the colorful land around it makes for an interesting sight.
- Giant Springs State Park
Tim Evanson/Flickr Giant Springs was discovered by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805. Today it is a gorgeous state park in Great Falls. The world’s shortest river, the Roe River, is also here.
- The Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman
Tim Evanson/Flickr This prominent stop on Montana’s Dinosaur Trail has the largest dinosaur collection in the country. Between the T-Rex skeletons and the planetarium, it’s a Montana must.
- The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center
Derek Bruff/Flickr This wildlife sanctuary in West Yellowstone gives you the opportunity to see bears and wolves up close without having the misfortune of running into them in the wild.
- Little Bighorn Battlefield
Jasperdo/Flickr The monument memorializes the U.S. Army’s 7th Cavalry and the Sioux and the Cheyenne and is an important part of Montana’s history.
- The geothermal areas of Yellowstone National Park
Nicholas Trandem/Flickr Yellowstone is home to thousands of thermal spots including hot springs, geysers and mud pots. Check out one of the hot spots that make it so famous.
- Lolo National Forest
Tim Schleicher/Flickr Need to get away from it all? The Lolo National Forest spans two million acres. There’s plenty of recreation available, or you can simply camp under the stars.
- Daniels County Museum and Pioneer Town
Facebook If you can, head to this spot just west of Scobey for Pioneer Days, held the last weekend in June. Between the 35 restored historic buildings and the variety shows, you’ll feel like you’re living in the early 1900s.
- Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park
Troy Smith/Flickr Montana’s best known state park is home to one of the most decorated limestone caverns in the country.
- Flathead Lake
Wikipedia The water in this northwest Montana lake is so clear, it often looks shallow—but at its deepest point, it’s about 370 feet deep.
What would be on your Big Sky Bucket List?
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
The northern part of this national park is located in southern Montana. The scenery is just as beautiful as the other parks in the state, and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can take a guided kayak trip through it.
Bitterroot/Flickr
The longest river in North America officially starts in Western Montana.
Jim Handcock/Flickr
Located near Polson, this dam stands 54 feet higher than Niagara Falls. Thanks to a 1,000-foot boardwalk, you can get up close and personal with the dam and see some beautiful views.
Cody Wellons/Flickr
No Montana must-see list would be complete without a mention of Glacier, nature’s raw and untamed beauty at its finest.
Arthur T. LaBar/Flickr
Watch the past come to life in these two historic towns, which offer an Old West experience unlike any other. Catch a show, pan for gold, and don’t miss the museum.
ccarlstead/Flickr
You’ll find this former open pit copper mine in Butte. The water is highly acidic and far too dangerous to swim in, but the colorful land around it makes for an interesting sight.
Tim Evanson/Flickr
Giant Springs was discovered by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805. Today it is a gorgeous state park in Great Falls. The world’s shortest river, the Roe River, is also here.
This prominent stop on Montana’s Dinosaur Trail has the largest dinosaur collection in the country. Between the T-Rex skeletons and the planetarium, it’s a Montana must.
Derek Bruff/Flickr
This wildlife sanctuary in West Yellowstone gives you the opportunity to see bears and wolves up close without having the misfortune of running into them in the wild.
Jasperdo/Flickr
The monument memorializes the U.S. Army’s 7th Cavalry and the Sioux and the Cheyenne and is an important part of Montana’s history.
Nicholas Trandem/Flickr
Yellowstone is home to thousands of thermal spots including hot springs, geysers and mud pots. Check out one of the hot spots that make it so famous.
Tim Schleicher/Flickr
Need to get away from it all? The Lolo National Forest spans two million acres. There’s plenty of recreation available, or you can simply camp under the stars.
If you can, head to this spot just west of Scobey for Pioneer Days, held the last weekend in June. Between the 35 restored historic buildings and the variety shows, you’ll feel like you’re living in the early 1900s.
Troy Smith/Flickr
Montana’s best known state park is home to one of the most decorated limestone caverns in the country.
Wikipedia
The water in this northwest Montana lake is so clear, it often looks shallow—but at its deepest point, it’s about 370 feet deep.
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