Best things to do in Montana

Glacier National Park

This pristine, high-country wonderland of untamed forests, rugged peaks and glassy lakes is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Visitors can hike, bike, raft, star gaze and more as they explore the area, which is over two million years old. The immense valleys showcase incredible biodiversity; animal viewings can include black and grizzly bears, moose, wolverine and bighorn sheep. The park is worth visiting throughout the year, though different seasons have their own special features. Some roads may be closed during winter but Glacier is quiet at this time, meaning travellers who're looking for solitude will find some unforgettable snowy hikes. Flowers are in full bloom during spring and summer allows for rafting and swimming, as the lakes are warm enough.

Website www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm

Moss Mansion Historic House

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Moss Mansion was built by the Moss family in 1903 for a cost of $105,000 versus an average of $5,000 for homes built in the area. It's been preserved to capture the family life of the well-to-do. Designed by New York architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, who's best-known for creating New York's Waldorf Astoria, most of its original fixtures are still present and visitors can view them during informative guided tours of the property. The SpringFest is an annual favourite, with many artists, chefs, and artisans showing off their wares on the mansion's lawn. Moss Mansion is also available for private rental.

Website www.mossmansion.com

Western Heritage Center

Affiliated to the Smithsonian Institution, the Western Heritage Center in downtown Billings has a collection of more than 16,000 artefacts documenting the life, culture and history of the Yellowstone River Valley and the Northern High Plains. The building itself is considered its most valuable treasure, having been built in 1901 and existing on the National Register of Historic Places. Alongside constantly changing exhibitions drawing around 22,000 annual visitors, the centre also hosts activities such as lectures, storytelling hours and scavenger hunts.

Website www.ywhc.org

Yellowstone Art Museum

Montana's premier art museum, the popular Yellowstone Art Museum exhibits contemporary and historic art of the Rocky Mountains West region. Established in 1964, it now contains more than 3,000 works, including the Virginia Snook Collection, the largest public display of the drawings, paintings, books and memorabilia of cowboy illustrator Will James. He was one of the most influential western artists and writers of his generation. The museum hosts events throughout the year, including art auctions and semi-annual festivals.

Website www.artmuseum.org

ZooMontana

Montana's zoological park and botanical garden hosts around 70,000 visitors a year and is one of the state's most popular tourist attractions. It's the only zoo within 600 miles (965km) of Billings and has pristine natural habitats; the complex covers 70 acres (28 ha) to the west of the city. It exhibits animals and plants native to the northern Rockies and high plains, and similar latitudes in Europe and Asia. The grounds have also recently opened up as a concert venue, with musicians and fans alike revelling in the gorgeous surrounds.

Website www.zoomontana.org

Custer National Forest

The Custer National Forest is scattered across Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, but the forest headquarters are in Billings, Montana. Most hiking and camping is undertaken in the part of the forest located about an hour's drive to the south of the city. Custer is the most ecologically diverse forest in the north of the USA, and is renowned for its lake and stream fishing. It's home to mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, black bear, cougar and moose. A popular outing from Billings is to follow the spectacular Beartooth Scenic Byway, with the area being one of the gateways to Yellowstone National Park.

Website www.fs.fed.us/r1/custer

Yellowstone National Park

The world's first national park, Yellowstone was established in 1872. Despite its popularity today, most of the park still remains an undeveloped wilderness of magnificent mountains, waterfalls, alpine lakes, and rivers. It's renowned for its geothermal wonders and abundance of wildlife.

Spilling over into Wyoming and Idaho, the enormous park is situated on top of the Yellowstone Caldera, a collapsed volcanic crater that was formed 600,000 years ago and holds within it the greatest geothermal area in the world. This unique environment includes features such as exploding geysers, thousands of steaming fumaroles, hot springs, and bubbling mud pools. The park also includes one of the state's most popular attractions, Old Faithful, a geyser which draws thousands of tourists to witness its regular eruption of steaming water.

Yellowstone's wildlife includes grizzlies, black bears, wolves, moose and large herds of bison and elk. The two narrow waterfalls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River cut a striking picture in the yellow-coloured rock that gives the park its name, and have superb views and hiking trails for all abilities. Yellowstone Lake fills the eastern part of the caldera and offers opportunities for boating and fishing expeditions in summer.

All places of interest are accessible along the loop roads, but the intensity of visitors in summer, especially between July and August, means that one needs to hike away from the main paths to experience the true wilderness of Yellowstone National Park.

Website www.nps.gov/yell

Missoula

The 'Garden City' doesn't have much in the way of gardens, but Missoula is an outdoor sportsman's Eden. Downtown is a collection of unique shops and lively bars where it's easier to walk or bike than drive. The University of Montana starts right where the hill ends and is a beautiful campus to wander or catch a football game to see the university's Montana Grizzlies playing. Tourists often visit Missoula for outdoor activities of all kinds, from skiing, kayaking and hiking to rock climbing, hang-gliding and mountain biking. There are a number of festivals in Missoula too, so visitors should come ready for celebrations of craft beer, rodeos and a host of country markets.

Website www.ci.missoula.mt.us

Beartooth Highway

Beartooth Highway winds through the Beartooth Mountains of Montana and Wyoming, and offers a breathtaking journey through rugged alpine scenery. Spanning 68 miles (109km), it reaches heights of over 10,000 feet (3,048m), showcasing dramatic switchbacks, pristine lakes and panoramic vistas. This challenging yet rewarding drive connects the towns of Red Lodge and Cooke City, Montana, and serves as a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Designated a National Scenic Byway, the highway attracts adventurers, photographers and nature enthusiasts, and is a must-see destination in the American West.

Going to the Sun Road

This unforgettable 52-mile (84km) highway winds through Glacier National Park and crosses the Continental Divide in Montana at Logan Pass. Easily one of the most spectacular scenic drives in the US, it carries adventurers into a wonderland of impressive glaciers, dense forests, cascading waterfalls, rugged peaks and alpine meadows dotted with colourful wildflowers. Visitors are likely to spot wildlife such as mountain goats as well. Hairpin turns and narrow lanes provide both a challenge and excitement for travellers as they journey through diverse ecosystems and pristine landscapes; visitors who'd prefer not to drive themselves across Going-to-the-Sun Road will find alternatives such as the famous Red Bus Tours and the complimentary National Park Service Shuttles.

Pictograph Cave State Park

Located just six miles (10km) south of Billings, Pictograph Cave State Park is a wonderfully scenic and historically fascinating day trip. The 93 acre (38 ha) park is a National Historic Landmark that's home to a complex of three caves (Ghost, Middle and Pictograph) linked by a walking trail. Two contain evidence of habitation dating back over 4,500 years ago. More than 30,000 historical artefacts such as bone tools, arrow heads and beaded jewellery have been discovered within the park; the pictographs themselves date back more than two millennia, and their meanings are still being debated by archaeologists today.

Website fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/pictograph-cave

Chico Hot Springs

Though they're hardly in a fashionable area, the unpretentious Chico Hot Springs are quickly becoming a popular attraction in Montana, drawing guests from New York and Hollywood. Set in the aptly-named Paradise Valley near the town of Emigrant, the springs contain two open-air mineral pools with temperatures around 93°F (34°C), making them perfect for relaxing. There's a restaurant and a lively bar onsite, and outdoor activities such as horseback riding, dog sledding, hiking, fly fishing, white-water rafting and cross-country skiing are on offer.

Website www.chicohotsprings.com

Montana

Attractions

Glacier National Park

Moss Mansion Historic House

Western Heritage Center

Yellowstone Art Museum

ZooMontana

Custer National Forest

Yellowstone National Park

Missoula

Beartooth Highway

Going to the Sun Road

Pictograph Cave State Park

Chico Hot Springs

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Glacier National Park

Moss Mansion Historic House

Western Heritage Center

Yellowstone Art Museum

ZooMontana

Custer National Forest

Yellowstone National Park

Missoula

Beartooth Highway

Going to the Sun Road

Pictograph Cave State Park

Chico Hot Springs