Montana is a picnicking paradise. And now that spring is finally here, everyone is anxious to enjoy a meal under the big sky. There are thousands of beautiful places to spread out a blanket and open your picnic basket in our beautiful state, but these spots rank among the best.
- Fort Fizzle Historic Site Picnic Area, Lolo National Forest
PJ Johnson/Flickr This picnic area has grassy open areas surrounded by trees. Paths to the restroom are paved, and the beautiful Lolo Creek is nearby.
- South Park Gazebo, Billings
Billings Parks and Recreation Facebook This beautiful public park is a great place to host an event. It has picnic shelters, playgrounds, horseshoe pits, barbecue pits, basketball courts and baseball fields.
- Missouri River Headwaters State Park, Three Forks
Brett Whaley/Flickr Go during the week to avoid the crowds and you’ll be treated to beautiful views and a peaceful picnic.
- Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Crow Agency
Brett Whaley/Flickr Visitors can’t picnic at the historic parts of the monument, but Little Bighorn has several lawns throughout the park where you can enjoy a lunch. There’s also a museum, bookstore, visitors’ center and walking trail so you can make a day of it.
- Spring Meadow Lake State Park, Helena
Montana State Parks Facebook This is a beautiful state park in the city. Along with perfect picnic areas, you can enjoy a nice walk around the lake, fishing and bird-watching.
- Cook Lake, Miles City
David Schott/Flickr Cook Lake is a wonderful place to go fishing, and it’s also a beautiful spot to enjoy a nice picnic.
- Medicine Rocks State Park, Ekalaka
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr Have a picnic here and you might be lucky enough to see wildlife like mule deer, antelope and grouse.
- Kootenai Falls, Libby
irmiller/Flickr Enjoying a picnic with stunning waterfalls in the background sounds like the best day ever.
- Ferry Landing Picnic Area, Plains/Thompson Falls
Keith Ewing/Flickr You’ll find the Ferry Landing picnic area in the canyon bottom of the Clark Fork River. Enjoy a picnic at the beach, fishing, boating, hiking and horseback riding.
- Lake Elmo State Park, Billings
Lake Elmo State Park Yelp Located in the northern part of the city, this 64-acre reservoir is great for sailing, swimming and canoeing. There are plenty of picnic tables and places to spread out your blanket.
- Waterworks Hill, Missoula
Destination Missoula / Trip Advisor Take a picnic dinner up Waterworks Hill, spread out a blanket and enjoy a beautiful spring or summer sunset.
- Gibson Park, Great Falls
kelly_b/Flickr Beautiful flowers gardens, a pond with a waterfall and playground equipment are just a few of the treasures you’ll find at Gibson Park, which has plenty of places to picnic.
Where are your favorite local picnic spots?
PJ Johnson/Flickr
This picnic area has grassy open areas surrounded by trees. Paths to the restroom are paved, and the beautiful Lolo Creek is nearby.
Billings Parks and Recreation Facebook
This beautiful public park is a great place to host an event. It has picnic shelters, playgrounds, horseshoe pits, barbecue pits, basketball courts and baseball fields.
Brett Whaley/Flickr
Go during the week to avoid the crowds and you’ll be treated to beautiful views and a peaceful picnic.
Visitors can’t picnic at the historic parts of the monument, but Little Bighorn has several lawns throughout the park where you can enjoy a lunch. There’s also a museum, bookstore, visitors’ center and walking trail so you can make a day of it.
Montana State Parks Facebook
This is a beautiful state park in the city. Along with perfect picnic areas, you can enjoy a nice walk around the lake, fishing and bird-watching.
David Schott/Flickr
Cook Lake is a wonderful place to go fishing, and it’s also a beautiful spot to enjoy a nice picnic.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Have a picnic here and you might be lucky enough to see wildlife like mule deer, antelope and grouse.
irmiller/Flickr
Enjoying a picnic with stunning waterfalls in the background sounds like the best day ever.
Keith Ewing/Flickr
You’ll find the Ferry Landing picnic area in the canyon bottom of the Clark Fork River. Enjoy a picnic at the beach, fishing, boating, hiking and horseback riding.
Lake Elmo State Park Yelp
Located in the northern part of the city, this 64-acre reservoir is great for sailing, swimming and canoeing. There are plenty of picnic tables and places to spread out your blanket.
Destination Missoula / Trip Advisor
Take a picnic dinner up Waterworks Hill, spread out a blanket and enjoy a beautiful spring or summer sunset.
kelly_b/Flickr
Beautiful flowers gardens, a pond with a waterfall and playground equipment are just a few of the treasures you’ll find at Gibson Park, which has plenty of places to picnic.
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