We’ve compiled a list of our favorite must-do Western Montana activities, like places to visit on and off the beaten path, can’t-miss attractions and fun things to do in and around Glacier National Park. Heads up…you’re not going to be able to fit all of these into one trip, so plan on coming back again real soon.
Enjoy the scenery from above with an aerial adventure tour.
Sleep under the stars at one of Western Montana's many campgrounds, and maybe catch a glimpse of the northern lights or the Milky Way while stargazing Montana's incredible night sky.
Visit Missoula's Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and learn about the role the foundation plays in elk conservation.
Pick your own sweet cherries from a U-Pick orchard in Montana's Flathead Valley.
Mush your own team of sled dogs or go along for the ride on an exhilarating dog sledding adventure.
Try fat biking through the snow in our wintry wonderland.
Marvel in the 58 hand-painted murals adorning the walls and ceiling of the St. Ignatius Mission.
Experience Broadway in Montana at a performance by the Alpine Theatre Project in Whitefish or the Bigfork Summer Playhouse in the village of Bigfork.
Cast a line into one of Western Montana's blue-ribbon trout streams.
Discover the rich cultural heritage of the Blackfeet, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes by visiting the Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning and Three Chiefs Cultural Center in Pablo.
Donnie Sexton
A short drive from Polson, admire the spectacular views from this dam that's 54 feet higher than Niagara Falls.
Discover the unique habitat and hundreds of species of birds at the Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge. (followed by a visit to Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana) or spot a great horned owl at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge.
Of all the ways to relax in Montana, soaking in a natural hot spring is at the very top of the list.
Find the perfect souvenir at one of Glacier Country's many antique stores.
Western Montana is home to many species of wildlife—keep your eyes open and your camera ready at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge in Stevensville, Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge near Marion or Pablo Wildlife Refuge in Pablo.
Rediscover your inner child by sledding down the snowy hills of Glacier Country.
Try the increasingly popular watersport of stand-up paddleboarding on one of Montana's pristine lakes or rivers.
Sign up for a class, tour or camp at the Glacier Institute for a hands-on educational adventure.
The Smokejumper Visitor Center in Missoula is the nation's largest smokejumper base. Displays give you a glimpse into the life of Montana's heroes—specially trained, parachuting wildland firefighters.
Rent a canoe or kayak and paddle the Clearwater Canoe Trail near Seeley Lake.
Plan a rock climbing trip with an experienced guide.
Take a cultural tour of the Blackfeet Nation, exploring natural treasures and historical sites like buffalo jumps, the Museum of the Plains Indian, and short hikes and plant walks..
Join Missoulians for lunch in the park with food trucks and live music at Caras Park every Wednesday from June through August.
Take a hike in the Bob, aka the Bob Marshall Wilderness—the third-largest wilderness area in the lower 48.
Sink your teeth into a bison burger for some real Montana flavor.
Plow through fresh powder on world-class snowmobiling terrain.
Take a self-guided or guided walking tour in Missoula, or, in Kalispell, take a trolley tour or a self-guided historical walking tour.
Hike the Montana portion of the PNT through some of the country’s most breathtaking scenery and crossing the Continental Divide.
Experience a Montana tradition and channel your inner cowboy or cowgirl at a local small-town rodeo.
Donnie Sexton
Take in a wildly fun skijoring competition (skiing behind a horse).
Pan for sapphires near Philipsburg. Complete your day with a visit to The Sweet Palace.
Spend the night in a rustic Forest Service lookout and experience epic views.
Take advantage of the region's noteworthy snowfall and go snowshoeing in a woodland winter wonderland.
Spend the night in one of Glacier Country's many cozy cabins.
Experience an authentic American Indian pow wow.
Catch a live concert on the banks of the Blackfoot River.
Rent a motorcycle and cruise the roads and byways of Western Montana.
Kayak or surf the man-made Brennan's Wave on the Clark Fork in downtown Missoula.
Take a guided hike with a llama and leave the carrying of the gear to these fun and friendly animals.
Swan Mountain Llama Trekking
Go camping and fishing at Painted Rocks Reservoir near Darby in the Bitterroot Valley.
Race go-karts off U.S. Highway 2 in Coram.
Admire our mountainsides and meadows awash with wildflowers in the springtime, like Indian paintbrush, bitterroot and beargrass (to name a few).
Bike through 10 tunnels and over seven sky-high trestles along the Route of the Hiawatha Scenic Bike Trail.
Spending the night in a teepee is one of the most unique ways to experience a stay in Montana.
Cool off at a water park in Columbia Falls or Missoula.
Watch bison and other wildlife, and take in stunning Mission Mountain views at the CSKT Bison Range in Moiese.
Check out the view of Kootenai Falls (between Libby and Troy) from the swinging bridge.
Take a dip in one of our pristine mountain lakes.
Relax and enjoy beautiful scenery along the Going-to-the-Sun Road on a historic red bus tour or on a Sun Tour, where you'll learn about Glacier National Park from an American Indian perspective.
Colton Stiffler
Enjoy a game of disc golf at a local disc-golfing course.
Take a gondola ride at Whitefish Mountain Resort and enjoy the spectacular surrounding views.
The eclectic shops, funky boutiques, art galleries, book shops, second-hand stores, gift shops and old-fashioned candy stores that line our community main streets are a big part of our small-town charm, and Montana has no statewide sales tax.
Savor an award-winning Montana beer at one of our local breweries.
Watch the sunrise over Flathead Lake from Big Arm State Park.
Tour a historic mansion, like the Daly Mansion in Hamilton (once owned by Copper King Marcus Daly) or the Conrad Mansion in Kalispell (once owned by fur trader Charles Conrad).
Watch an epic wildlife film at the International Wildlife Film Festival.
Ride the hand-carved carousel in Missoula.
Experience the Old West on a wagon ride or cozy up on a sleigh ride with Bar W Guest Ranch or Cripple Creek Horse Ranch.
Rent a sailboat and set sail on scenic Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi.
Visit a local art gallery or stroll a downtown art walk in one of our charming small towns.
Get in the holiday spirit at Montana's biggest Christmas Village in Bigfork.
Go rafting (with a guide) on the Alberton Gorge or the Middle Fork of the Flathead River.
Stop in at the Montana Natural History Center in Missoula to view artifacts and videos of Glacial Lake Missoula and the Ice Age floods.
Montana has expert guides for world-class adventures. Take a guided trip, with options ranging from llama trekking to hiking and fishing to horseback trail rides.
Walk in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark at Travelers' Rest State Park and other historic sites along the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Fill up on wild huckleberries or grab a stash of coveted morel mushrooms at a local farmers market.
Discover remnants of Montana's gold rush at Garnet Ghost Town.
Participate in North American Indian Days—one of the largest gatherings of United States and Canadian tribes.
Swing your clubs against the backdrop of stunning views at one of our many golf courses.
Take a road trip around Hungry Horse Reservoir.
Embark on a park-to-park adventure between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks.
Design your own western-inspired hat at The Hat Edit in Stevensville.
Kick up your heels and enjoy our bars and nightlife.
Attend a spring, summer or fall festival, concert or county fair in Western Montana.
Find your Zen at the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas in Arlee.
Visit the Historic St. Mary’s Mission and Montana’s first pioneer community in Stevensville.
Keep history alive with a stroll through the Tobacco Valley Historical Village in Eureka—a collection of restored buildings and structures from the 1880s to 1920s.
Explore the interpretive trails at Savenac Nursery, a National Historic Site in Haugan.
Fly through the air on the zip lines at Snowbowl, Glacier Highline and Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Drive or cycle the Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway.
Celebrate Montana's much-loved purple berry at The Huckleberry Festival in Trout Creek.
Taste the spirit of Montana at one of Glacier Country's local distilleries.
Attend the Kootenai Country Montana Chainsaw Carving Championship for some authentic western fun.
Drive or pedal the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park.
Take to the streets for Winterfest in Whitefish.
View a collection of scarecrows at Stevensville's annual Scarecrow Festival.
Enjoy a delicious dinner and stunning views at the Belton Chalet in West Glacier.
Explore 340,000+ Americana curiosities at the “world-famous” Miracle of America Museum in Polson.
Take a short hike and try to wrap your arms around 1,000-year-old cedar trees that have grown up to 8 feet in diameter at Ross Creek Cedar Grove.
Andy Austin
Take an off-road adventure on an all-terrain vehicle.
Ride Amtrak's Empire Builder with stops in Libby, Whitefish, West Glacier, Essex, East Glacier, Browning and Cut Bank.
Plan a relaxing getaway and indulge in some Montana spa treatments.
Treat yourself to some local Montana flavor with ice cream or gelato.
Catch a live music show at the historic Wilma Theatre in Missoula, the Wachholz in Kalispell, or at a local music festival.
Explore the charming community of Cut Bank before crossing the border into Canada.
Drive the Looking Glass Highway (State Highway 49) along the eastern edge of Glacier National Park for incredible views of the park and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
Visit one of Western Montana's 24 diverse state parks.
Live like a local and wander around any of our charming, eclectic, welcoming downtowns.
Drive the North Fork dirt road to Polebridge and enjoy some baked goods at the famous mercantile.
MOTBD
Take in the sights, scents and events at Purple Mountain Lavender in the charming town of Lakeside on Flathead Lake.
Take in the golden colors of our fall foliage. Try a drive along the southern border of Glacier National Park, through the Seeley-Swan Valley or down the Bitterroot Valley.
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