10 Reasons Why You Need To Visit Montana At Least Once in Your Life

Located in the North West of the USA, Montana is one of the most beautiful states you can visit. There are so many things to do and it’s an absolute paradise for outdoor lovers.

As a tour leader and travel writer, I got the chance to travel to many places in the world and Montana is one of my favorite.

I completely fell in love with this state and that’s why I want to share all my tips with you now. In this article, you’ll find all the reasons why you need to visit Montana at least once! 

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1. Glacier National Park is one of the most beautiful National Parks in Northern America

mcdonald falls in glacier

Located at the Canadian border, in the western part of Montana, Glacier National Park is by far one of the best national parks you can visit in North America.

It might not be quite as famous as Yellowstone or Banff but it’s just as beautiful!

It’s the best place to discover the Rockies in Montana and the scenery is incredible.

The mountains were carved by the glaciers which created very unique landscapes.

You’ll love driving along the Going-to-the-sun road and discover all the beautiful mountains, lakes and waterfalls.

2. It’s the perfect place for a Wild West adventure

main street in virginia city

Montana is one of the states that were part of the Wild West. If you want to learn more about the Old West, the gold rush and discover many ghost towns, Montana is the place for you!

It’s such an unique place and it’s completely different to the rest of the USA.

There are loads of ghost towns in Montana that you can visit including Virginia City where you can find the oldest saloon in the state.

3. You can go to a rodeo

columbia falls rodeo

If you’ve always wanted to go to a rodeo, you’ll be in for a treat in Montana. You are definitely in cowboy country here!

There are many rodeo grounds around the state and they all have events all year round.

4. It’s a paradise for outdoor lovers

whitefish scenic lift

Montana is both the 4th largest state in the USA and the 3rd least populated which means that you get to enjoy nature here.

There are so many outdoor activities you can do including hiking, fishing, skiing and more.

It’s definitely a great destination to experience the wilderness and enjoy a stress-free environment.

5. The wildlife is incredible

bears in yellowstone

There are so many animals you can see in Montana including elks, moose, bison, bears, pronghorns and more.

Wildlife watching is a popular thing to do in Montana and definitely something that you will enjoy but remember to also be careful and carry bear spray.

Of course, with so many ranches you will also see a lot of horses and cows in the fields.

6. It’s the perfect place for a dude ranch vacation

ranch in montana

If you love horse riding, then Montana will be your paradise. 

This was actually the reason why I decided to go to Montana at first. I wanted to go horse riding and stay in a ranch and let me tell you something, boy was it amazing!

This was one of the most unique and best travel experiences of my entire life!

Staying in a dude ranch will give you the opportunity to discover the surrounding nature on trail rides but also learn new skills such as roping or whip cracking.

7. There are some amazing ski resorts

whitefish ski in montana

When it comes to ski resorts, we usually think of Colorado first but Montana is also home to some great ones!

Whitefish and Big Sky are particularly well known and offer endless opportunities on the slopes!

8. You can visit the world’s first national park, Yellowstone

grand prismatic overlook in yellowstone

While it’s true that Yellowstone is almost entirely in the state of Wyoming, two of the main entrances are located in Montana which is why most people fly to Montana to visit Yellowstone.

These entrances are Gardiner (north) and West Yellowstone (west).

This is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world and something everyone should experience at least once in their life.

9. There are loads of cute small towns

strolling in downtown livingston

There aren’t many cities in Montana and to be honest, the ones that are technically considered as cities are pretty small so if you are looking for city vibes, Montana is not the right place for you.

If what you are looking for though is small town America vibes, then Montana will be your paradise!

There are so many cute small towns you can visit in Montana and they make for the perfect stops on a road trip. You’ll love how charming they are and the activities available.

10. You can go on an amazing road trip

Ennis in montana

The best way to explore Montana is by car. Firstly, there aren’t really any public transport options but more importantly, the scenery is best enjoyed by car.

You can go on a road trip of a lifetime here, especially if you are driving from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone.

The entire state of Montana is so pretty and you can add as many stops as you want!

I hope this article has made you want to visit Montana. I know you will love it as much as I did and I can’t wait to hear from your adventures!

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