Best Things to Do in Montana

It’s home to Montana State University and just about every outdoor activity you can imagine. The result is a unique rugged, hip vibe and a young population that might blow up as soon as word gets out. For a chill afternoon, grab classic Southern fried chicken at Roost, then have a pint at MAP Brewing while overlooking “Bozeman Beach.” Adventurers, take your skis to Bridger Bowl or your paddle to the Yellowstone River. Historians: head to the Museum of the Rockies.

It doesn’t get the coolness cred that Bozeman and Missoula do, but Helena has history, folks. There’s the Cathedral of St. Helena that looks plucked out of medieval Italy and the throwback Last Chance Ranch. But your number one destination should be the Gates of the Mountains, sheer rocky cliffs on either side of the Missouri River, a place named by Lewis and Clark. For meals, don’t miss Bad Betty’s Barbeque and Lucca’s.

Like everywhere else in Montana, Missoula offers plenty of wilderness jaunts (see: Rattlesnake National Recreation Area & Wilderness). But it does two things better than its cross-state counterparts: beer and music. KettleHouse Brewing Co. has a trophy case full of awards and some interesting beers (especially scotch ales and sours). And the Top Hat Lounge is one of Montana’s coolest small venues to catch local bands and national touring acts.

Mountaineers, your time has come. Nestled among Lone Mountain, Gallatin Peak, Sphinx Mountain and more, it’s the premier spot for snow sports in the winter and mountain biking in the summer. Big Sky Resort is the place to stay, and its proximity to Yellowstone makes it great for day treks. You might even run into Tom Brady, who often spends his off-seasons here.

Livingston is the Old West with an artsy spin. If you want to feel like a gunslinging outlaw sauntering past retro saloons and kitschy shops, this is the place. The cowboy-creative aesthetic is on full display at Murray Bar and Murray Hotel. While you’re here, listen to live music at Old Saloon and check out intimate art galleries that showcase local talent, like the Parks Reece Gallery.

In a state full of scenery, Whitefish has some of the best. Glacier National Park is the star of the show, but some of Whitefish’s fine dining is just as stunning. Tupelo Grille and Cafe Kandahar (see below) are the places to go for a hearty, true Montana meal. Whitefish Lake and Whitefish Mountain Resort are perfect spots to ski, hike, bike or relax. See our full guide here.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road is, to some, the most beautiful drive in the country. But don’t spend the whole time in the car. The park’s 700 miles of hiking trails wind along dramatic peaks and cliffs. Some of the best include Grinell Glacier, Highline Trail and Hidden Lake Overlook.

Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring are touristy spots, but you won’t find them anywhere else. But don’t miss the stunning hikes around the North Rim and Clear Lake, either.

With 185 miles of shoreline, it’s the closest thing Montana has to a beach. And, like everything else in the state, it’s surrounded by mountain views. A hot spot for boating and water sports.

It’s more rugged than neighboring Yellowstone but no less inspiring. Boating and fishing are popular on the Bighorn River, while the canyon’s ridge offers hikes with exhilarating views.

Beef is great, but you’re in a state where bison and elk roam free. Get some on a platter. Cafe Kandahar’s tenderloins are pricey, but they’re some of Montana’s best.  

Don’t be put off by the taxidermied heads watching you eat their friends. Just order a whopping 24-oz. Montana Steak and chow down. It’s a perfect fit for the hunting lodge ambiance. 

If you’d rather not pluck fresh huckleberries from a mountainside, this Missoula mainstay is the next best place to get them (plus an assortment of locally sourced meats and produce).

They’ve got handmade huckleberry ice cream at locations in Missoula, Helena and Billings. 

Right outside Glacier National Park, this cozy cafe is a longtime favorite of avid hikers. Plus, they’re one of the only places with 100%-huckleberry pie (instead of a huckleberry-blueberry mix). 

Its 5,850 skiable acres contain beginner trails for your little cousin all the way up to daring double black diamonds for your uncle who claimed he was cheated out of the Olympic trials. Stand atop the 11,166-foot-tall Lone Mountain peak and you’ll know why Big Sky claims to have the “Biggest Skiing in America.” Even better: you’ll rarely ever wait in a lift line. 

This mountain’s difficult runs draw a lot of advanced skiers, but it’s got easy ones too. Whitefish has a reputation for fogginess, but on a clear day, you’ll get jaw-dropping views of Glacier National Park in the distance.

It’s the longest undammed river in the United States, flowing north from Yellowstone National Park toward Paradise Valley and Livingston. Fishing is most popular between Yellowstone Lake and the Upper Falls, where you’ll find cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout.

Remember that movie scene from above? That’s the Blackfoot. Its scenery and clear waters are unmatched, especially around the Box Canyon.

In the Siebel Dinosaur Complex, you’ll find the skeletons of several dinosaurs, including an Allosaurus named Big Al and the “tyrant lizard king” himself. 

Formerly a town of 2,500 outside Helena, Elkhorn was largely abandoned in the ’70s. Now, it’s Montana’s smallest state park. 

There are several places across the country where you can find this iconic North American bovine. But if you want to see them roaming their natural habitat, go here. 

Only one percent of Montana’s population is Buddhist, so it’s not somewhere you’d expect to find a shrine of one thousand meditating Buddha statues. But here they are, on the Flathead Native American Reservation north or Missoula.