Montana is well-known for its numerous outdoor activities, including an array of winter sports...

10 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Montana

Written by Bryan Dearsley

http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/montana-usmt.htm

One of the most northerly of the US states - and possessing one of the country's longest stretches of border with its northerly neighbor, Canada - Montana is well-known for its numerous outdoor activities, including an array of winter sports; water sports such as fishing, canoeing, and kayaking; as well as hiking and biking. Often referred to as Big Sky Country, its spectacular, rugged scenery and plentiful wildlife, particularly around the Rocky Mountains in the west, is also popular for scenic drives and activities such as bird watching (the state's very name suggests a strong connection to nature, and is taken from the Spanish for mountain: montaña). Although the fourth largest state, it's one of the least populated, ensuring plenty of wide-open space to explore outside of its larger cities, such as the capital, Helena. In addition to the Rockies, Montana is also the perfect place from which to explore magnificent Yellowstone National Park (although largely in the State of Wyoming, Yellowstone can be accessed from the North and Northeast Entrances in southern Montana).

1 Glacier National Park: "Going-to-the-Sun Road"

Glacier National Park: "Going-to-the-Sun Road"

Glacier National Park is an area of spectacular mountain ranges, alpine meadows, thick forests, tall waterfalls, countless sparkling lakes, and numerous glaciers. It's a paradise for adventurous outdoor-types thanks to its more than 700 miles of hiking and biking trails. It's also easily accessible by car, a highlight being the 50-mile-long Going-to-the-Sun Road connecting St. Mary via the 7,747-foot-high Logan Pass to West Glacier. Rated one of the most beautiful mountain roads in North America, its breathtaking views include the Triple Divide, the watershed between three drainage systems to the Pacific, the North Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico. The views of St. Mary Lake and the surrounding peaks from the wide bend beyond Rising Sun are probably the most photographed scenes in the park and are worth seeing before hitting the Logan Pass Visitor Center, above which tower the imposing peaks of Reynolds at 9,128 feet and the 8,773-foot-tall Clements Mountain.

Official site: www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm

Accommodation: Where to Stay in Glacier National Park - TripAdvisor.com

2 Editor's Pick Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

One of the best-known historical landmarks in the US - and one of the most important in terms of the reconciliation that has taken place since - the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument commemorates the 1876 clash between the US Army and Sioux and Cheyenne Indians. This must-see attraction includes a visitor center, museum, the Custer National Cemetery, the 7th Cavalry Memorial, and the Reno-Benteen Battlefield. The site also acknowledges the Indians who fought and fell defending their way of life, with markers indicating the final resting place of a number of warriors scattered among those of US troops.

Address: 756 Battlefield Tour Road, Crow Agency

Accommodation: Where to Stay in Crow Agency, near Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument - TripAdvisor.com

3 Museum of the Rockies

Museum of the Rockies Tim Evanson

The Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman is a must-visit while in Montana. Along with its planetarium, the museum - part of the Smithsonian Institution - is renowned for its excellent displays of dinosaurs and dinosaur eggs, including skeletons and realistic models of the numerous species found in the state. The museum's dinosaur collection is in fact the largest in the US and includes the world's biggest Tyrannosaurus skull, a T-Rex thighbone with soft-tissue remains, as well as "Big Mike," a T-Rex skeleton at the museum entrance. Other highlights include displays of Plains Indian artifacts; pioneer and Western art exhibits; and Tinsley House, an original pioneer log home from the late 1800s.

Address: 600 W. Kagy Blvd, Bozeman

Official site: https://www.museumoftherockies.org/

Accommodation: Where to Stay in Bozeman - TripAdvisor.com

4 Winter Fun in Big Sky Montana

Winter Fun in Big Sky Montana

One of the most popular winter sports destinations in the US - and certainly the largest by area - Big Sky Montana is an always-bustling ski resort an hour's drive from Bozeman. The resort's slopes are well known for their abundance of snow and their claims to possessing some of "the biggest skiing in America" (snowfall averages 400 inches per year) and boasts 5,750 skiable acres along with an impressive 4,350 feet of vertical terrain suitable for all levels. With its 33 lifts capable of carrying 29,000 skiers each hour, Big Sky also features a large selection of accommodations, restaurants, and a variety of entertainment and après ski opportunities.

Official site: http://bigskyresort.com/

Accommodation: Where to Stay near Big Sky Resort - TripAdvisor.com

5 Helena: The State Capital

Helena: The State Capital

Montana's capital, Helena, originally known as Last Chance after a group of disheartened gold-diggers decided to have one final dig before striking gold, possesses one of the most attractive State Capitols in the US. Reflecting the Greek Renaissance style of architecture, the building is faced with sandstone and Montana granite. It's topped with a copper dome and houses a number of important murals featuring themes of Montana's past, including one by Charles M. Russell showing explorers Lewis and Clark meeting the Flathead Indians. Helena also makes for a good jumping-off point to explore some of Montana's best scenery, including the million-acre Helena National Forest, famous for its fishing in the Blackfoot and Missouri Rivers; hiking along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail; and the chance to view big game in the 129,000-acre Elkhorn Wildlife Management Unit. It's also where you'll find the spectacular 1,200-foot tall limestone canyon walls of the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Area with its bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, great horned owls, peregrine falcons, and American white pelicans.

6 The C.M. Russell Museum Complex

The C.M. Russell Museum Complex Roger

In the city of Great Falls, the C.M. Russell Museum celebrates the life and work of famed US artist Charles M. Russell, perhaps best known as the Cowboy Artist. As well as its large collection of original paintings, the museum includes numerous documents and artifacts relating to the artist's career spanning the end of the 19th and the early 20th centuries, along with a number of important works by his contemporaries showcasing the state's flora and fauna. A highlight is a chance to visit the original log cabin housing Russell's studio and now designated a National Historic Landmark. Also of interest is the museum's sculpture garden with its statues of area wildlife. Less than an hour's drive northeast of Great Falls is the Old Trail Museum in Choteau, an interesting tourist attraction set in a Western village and detailing the history of the area from the time of the dinosaurs, along with hands-on geology and paleontology field programs.

Address: 400 13th Street N., Great Falls

Official site: www.cmrussell.org

7 The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center

The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center Nomadic Lass

Undoubtedly the one and only time you'll be happy to see a bear or wolf up close, the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center is a must-see excursion when visiting Montana. Opened as a sanctuary for animals that had grown too comfortable around humans or were orphaned, the center offers a chance to see huge grizzly bears and gray wolves in a natural habitat while learning about their behavior, history, and population decline. Highlights include watching the bears forage for food, play in their ponds and with each other, as well as the chance to hear the haunting howls of the wolf packs (best in mornings and evenings).

Address: 201 S. Canyon Street, West Yellowstone

Official site: www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.org

8 The World Museum of Mining in Butte

The World Museum of Mining in Butte

The World Museum of Mining offers a fascinating insight into the tough life of Montana's miners. In the town of Butte, the museum centers around a restored mining camp featuring mining relics along with more than three dozen historical buildings and structures - part of the old community known as Hell Roarin' Gulch at the base of an inactive silver and zinc mine. A highlight is the huge headframe - the winding tower at the head of the mineshaft, known as Orphan Girl - along with underground tours of the mines. Other mine-related highlights in Butte, once the copper capital of the US, are the Copper King Mansion constructed in 1888 and home to interesting collections of dolls, hats, toys, and clocks, and the Mineral Museum featuring more than 1,300 specimens, including fluorescent minerals, a 27-and-a-half-ounce gold nugget, and a 400-pound quartz crystal.

Address: 155 Museum Way, Butte

9 The Moss Mansion

One of the most important landmarks in the city of Billings, the historic Moss Mansion is a large red sandstone manor that dominates its neighborhood. Designed by renowned New York architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh - famous for his designs of the Waldorf Astoria, Plaza, Willard, and Copley Plaza hotels - this rather austere 28-room mansion was built in 1903 and features original draperies, fixtures, furniture, Persian carpets, and artifacts. Guided tours are available, and the site is used to host temporary displays and exhibits, including seasonal events and festivals.

Address: 914 Division Street, Billings

Official site: www.mossmansion.com

10 The Western Heritage Center

Another Billings attraction worth a visit is the Western Heritage Center. Housed in the old Parmly Billings Library built in 1901, the center features a diverse collection of more than 16,000 artifacts, including more than 1,000 photos covering the history and culture of the Yellowstone River region. Opened in 1971 and now affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, the museum also houses a broad collection of materials focusing on the history of the Northern High Plains and Yellowstone River Valley, as well as a special focus on the preservation of the histories of the Cheyenne and Crow Indians. Other highlights include lectures, educational programs, and workshops.

Address: 2822 Montana Ave, Billings

Official site: www.ywhc.org