Activities in Montana
-
Adventure Cycling HQ
The HQ for America's premier nonprofit bicycle travel organization is something of a pilgrimage site for cross-continental cyclists, many of whom plan their route to pass through Missoula. They're always afforded a warm welcome and plenty of cycling info.
reviewed
-
Clark Fork River Trail System
Sitting astride the Clark Fork River, Missoula has been bequeathed with an attractive riverside trail system punctuated by numerous parks. Caras Park is the most central and active green space with over a dozen annual festivals and a unique hard-carved carousel.
reviewed
-
Fly-fishing
Montana and fly-fishing go together like ham and eggs. This is where Montana's most famous movie, A River Runs Through It, was set (although it was filmed outside Bozeman) and the area around Missoula has some of the best angling in the state. Rock Creek, 21 miles east of Missoula, is a designated blue-ribbon trout stream and the area's best year-round fishing spot.
reviewed
-
Many Glacier
Anchored by the historic 1915 Many Glacier Lodge and sprinkled with more lakes than glaciers, this picturesque valley on the park's east side has some tremendous hikes, some of which link to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. A favorite is the 9.4-mile (return) Iceberg Lake Trail, a steep but rewarding jaunt through flower meadows and pine forest to an iceberg infested lake.
reviewed
-
Mount Sentinel
A steep switchback trail from behind the football stadium, forged in the early 1900s by local university students, leads up to a concrete whitewashed 'M'(visible for miles around) on 5158ft Mt Sentinel. Tackle it on a warm summer's evening for glistening views of this much-loved city and its spectacular environs.
reviewed
-
Trail Head
Maps, abundant advice, camping and kayaking rental gear.
reviewed
-
Snowbowl Ski Area
Advanced skiers love Snowbowl Ski Area, 17 miles north of Missoula, for its 2600ft vertical drop - one of the steepest in the USA.
reviewed
-
Glacier Park Boat Co
Rents out kayaks and canoes, and runs popular guided tours (adult/child $23/11.50) from five locations in Glacier National Park.
reviewed
-
Bridger Bowl Ski Area
Only in Bozeman would you find a nonprofit ski resort. But this excellent community-owned facility, 16 miles north of Bozeman, is just that. It's known for its fluffy, light powder and unbeatable prices – especially for children under 12.
reviewed
-
Bozeman Hot Springs
Located in the same geothermal ecosystem as Yellowstone, the area around Bozeman is home to around a dozen of Montana's 61 hot springs. Soak away your aches and pains in the pools, sauna and steam-room at Bozeman Hot Springs, 8 miles west of town off US 191.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
A
Big Sky Resort
Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the expansive beauty around the Gallatin River, running through the Gallatin and Paradise Valleys, for days. Big Sky Resort, with multiple mountains, 400in of annual powder and Montana's longest vertical drop (4350ft), is the valley's foremost destination for skiing. Lift tickets cost less here than at many Rocky Mountain resorts, and if you are traveling with kids then Big Sky is too good a deal to pass up - children under 10 ski free, while even your teenager saves $20 off the adult ticket price. In summer it offers gondola-served hiking and mountain biking.
reviewed
-
Chico Hot Springs
Twenty miles south of Livingston, off US 89 en route to Yellowstone, unpretentious Chico Hot Springs has garnered quite a following in the last few years - now attracting celebrity guests from Hollywood. They, along with many regular folks, come to this relaxed place to soak in the two suave open-air mineral pools (admission for nonguests $8.50). The larger pool is the perfect temperature for floating (93°F or 34°C); the smaller pool is hotter (103°F or 54°C), but still not too hot to stay in long enough for wrinkles. The lively bar hosts swinging country-and-western dance bands on weekends. The on-site restaurant (mains $20 to $30) is known for fine steak and…
reviewed
-
Going-to-the-Sun Road
A strong contender for the most spectacular road in America, the 53-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road is a national historic landmark that skirts near shimmering Lake McDonald before angling sharply to the Garden Wall – the main dividing line between the west and east sides of the park. At Logan Pass you can stroll 1.5 miles to Hidden Lake Overlook; heartier hikers can try the 7.5-mile Highline Trail. The free shuttle stops on the western side of the road at the trailhead for Avalanche Lake, an easy 4-mile return hike to a stunning alpine lake in a cirque beautified with numerous weeping waterfalls.
reviewed