Visiting Montana in the summer is the perfect getaway. The beautiful weather is perfect to get out and explore the gorgeous mountains, trails, and rivers. It’s another great time to see some of the museums and state parks.
Keep reading for 7 key things to do in Montana this summer.
Things to Do in Montana
Montana is known as Big Sky Country and has plenty of wide-open spaces for visitors to explore. This beautiful state is known for its numerous outdoor sports and activities, wildlife and rugged scenery. There is also plenty to do indoors for when you need a break from the great outdoors.
Let’s take a look at some of the top things to do in Montana.
1. Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park became a national park in 1910. It spreads out over one million acres and has two mountain ranges, more than 130 lakes, 1000 different species of plants and hundreds of different species of animals.
For those who love outdoor adventures, Glacier National Park has a lot to offer. Take a ride on a restored 1930s coach from the White Motor Company, known as the Red Jammers, and tour the park on the main roads. The drivers of the bus, known as Jammers, will give you a tour of the park and tell you some information along the way.
There are also historical wooden boats that date from the 1920s to tour around on some of the larger lakes to get a different vantage point. In January 2018, three of the boats were added to the National Register of Historic Places and have been in continuous operation since 1927.
There are over 700 miles of trails in the park so hiking rates high on the list of popular activities in the park. Visitors can also grab their camping gear and stay at one of the many campgrounds located throughout the park. If you enjoy fishing there are some of the best fly fishing spots in North America found in the streams in Glacier National Park.
2. Big Sky Resort
Known primarily for its winter activities, Big Sky Resort offers skiing, snowboarding, terrain parks, zip-lining, and snowshoeing. Before hitting the slopes, you can practice your hand-eye coordination with a skiing or snowboarding simulation game, or other lifelike style games in destiny forums.
In summer there is also archery, hiking, tennis, golf, horseback riding and mountain biking on the many trails that are available on the mountain.
Take a ride on the Lone Peak Tram, an aerial tramway that will take you from the Powder Seeker chairlift to the summit on Lone Mountain during the winter. In the summer, ride the tram for the Lone Peak Expedition.
3. Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park
The Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park has ten miles of hiking trails, a campground, and the limestone caverns. The Lewis and Clark Expedition camped near the caverns in 1805, giving them their namesake.
If you are interested in touring the limestone caverns, plan your visit between May 1 and September 30, or see the Winter Holiday Candlelight tour in December. These caverns are some of the largest limestone caverns in the world and are also home to western big-eared bats.
Other activities in the park include camping, hiking, fishing, mountain biking.
4. Museum of the Rockies
The Museum of the Rockies is located in Bozeman and is home to the largest collection of dinosaur fossils. The largest Tyrannosaurus Rex skull ever to be found is part of the museums’ collection.
Asides from its impressive paleontological collection, the museum also has exhibits that discuss the history and culture of the Rocky Mountain region, the Taylor Planetarium and a museum store that sells local products and crafts.
5. Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
This National Monument is located on the site of the Battle of the Little Bighorn that took place in June 1876. Preserving the location, the park has two major memorials honoring those who lost their lives on both sides of the battle.
The park also has a trail that visitors can walk after watching the orientation video discussing the battle that took place here. The on-site museum has a photo gallery with historical images that are related to the battle and photos from modern day events and reenactments of the battle.
6. Gates of the Mountains Wilderness
Meriwether Lewis gave this area its name and is known to be one of the famous landmarks along the Lewis and Clark Trail. The Gates of the Mountains giant canyon walls that line the shores of the Missouri River, making it seem as if you have to travel through their gates to get to the mountains.
Take a boat tour to see the natural wonders of the gates and follow the footsteps of Lewis and Clark during their exploration. You can also see some of the Indian pictographs that have been painted on the rock walls near Mann Gulch.
7. Conrad Mansion Museum
This beautiful estate was founded in the 19th century and gives visitors a glimpse into what life would have been as a wealthy founder of the town of Kalispell. Charles E. Conrad built the home in 1895 after becoming a millionaire through his business dealings in shipping, the railroad, and banking. The 13,000 square foot home was built in the Victorian style by architect Kirtland Cutter and was said to be Conrad’s wife’s dream home.
Visitors can see what would have been considered state of the art technology of the day, a freight elevator, dumbwaiter, and an intercom system. You will also walk through the many rooms that had luxurious amenities such as a music room, billiard and game room, and indoor plumbing. The rooms are still decorated in the fashion they would have been in during the days the family lived there with original furnishings, collections of clothing, and the children’s toys and dolls.
The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and hosts different events throughout the year. There are tours of the home and lectures discussing its history and events, murder mysteries, ghost tours, concerts, and even ice cream socials.
Are You Ready to Explore Montana?
These are just 7 of the top things to do in Montana. There are so many great summertime outdoor adventures awaiting you and your family, what are you excited to do?
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