For those in search of dramatic landscapes and breathtaking scenery, there are few destinations more appealing than Glacier National Park. On the border with Canada, and connected to the Canadian Waterton Lakes National Park, Glacier National Park is an incredible place to visit in Montana to see unparalleled flora and fauna. Shuttles and guided tours are readily available, but the best way to see the beauty of the park is on your own two feet.

Many tourists wish to visit the Glacier National Park at least once in a lifetime. Believe the hype because this park is incredible with abundant wildlife, crystal-clear waters, and the most picturesque stars you can ever see. Glacier National Park is unspoiled, unsullied nature at its most natural form.

Lake McDonald is the park's largest and possibly clearest lake. The lake is approximately ten miles long, with a backdrop of surrounding mountains that is ideal for a photoshoot. The lake is not to be missed, especially if you enter through the West Glacier entrance. Furthermore, there are several designated picnic areas where you can stop and enjoy the beauty of the lake. The Highline Trail, which begins at Logan Pass, is a formidable challenge for hikers. The last mile of the trail is quite steep, but the incredible views at the end will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
• Address: Glacier National Park, West Glacier, Montana
• Opening Hours: Daily
• Admission: Adult $10.50, Senior $9.00, Youth free, Family/Group $21.00, Commercial Group, per person $9.00
• Official Website: https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm

Bighorn Canyon is one of the most convincing reasons to stop by the Treasure State, with its unrivaled natural splendor. It has a recreational area covering 120,000 acres with vast forests, deep gorges, wetlands, valleys, and the renowned Bighorn Lake. Interestingly, the Yellowtail Dam established Bighorn Lake, which is one of the main attractions in the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.

The 60-mile-wide lake touches the boundaries of Wyoming and Montana, providing exceptional fly fishing opportunities. You will also enjoy boating, camping, and biking at the Bighorn, with 27 miles of scenic trails to hike. Most tourists to Bighorn Canyon prefer to fish and boat at the Bighorn River and Afterbay Lake, with excellent brown and rainbow trout fishing areas. Bighorn Canyon averages 250,000 tourists annually, ensuring some alone time for you on the trails.

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is a lesser-known treasure waiting to be discovered. It boasts breath-taking scenery, countless varieties of wildlife, and abundant recreational opportunities, such as boating, fishing, ice fishing, camping, and hiking. Bighorn Canyon offers visitors what few other National Park areas can, that of solitude, serenity, and beauty.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Address: Fort Smith, MT 59035
  
• Opening Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Admission: $5 per Vehicle
  
• Official Website: https://www.nps.gov/bica/

Yellowstone, one of the best places to visit in Montana, is America’s first and foremost National Park. Established in 1872 by the United States Congress for preserving its many wonders and for the people's enjoyment. Yellowstone National Park – is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming, and includes small areas of Montana and Idaho as well. Yellowstone is a treasure that inspires awe in travelers from around the world, boasting more geysers than anywhere else on the globe.

Yellowstone in its early days was known simply as “Wonderland.” It is the destination of a lifetime for all ages. Yellowstone National Park and the larger Yellowstone region feature numerous hotels and other lodging facilities. Lodging inside Yellowstone is highly desirable but limited. In addition to its superb Rocky Mountain scenery, the park is one of the world’s principal wildlife preserves. It’s also the site of America’s greatest concentration of geysers and hot springs, which form a visible and spectacular link with the primeval forces of the Earth’s creation.

Yellowstone is also the oldest national park in the country. The original idea of setting aside natural resources like Yellowstone began here when some of the territory’s first explorers began a unique campaign to preserve the beauty of these lands for generations to follow. Here more than two million acres of a high mountain-ringed plateau have been set aside for permanent protection as a natural preserve. It’s been called America’s finest and most diverse vacationland.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
• Location: Montana
• Opening Hours: Daily
• Admission: Single Vehicle (Private): $35, Buses/Vans (Private): $20 per person, Single Motorcycle/Snowmobile: $30, Individual Person: $20
• Official Website: https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

With 185 miles of shoreline and over 200 square miles of water, Flathead Lake is the largest natural lake in the Western United States. The lake is supplied with fresh water by two rivers, the Flathead and Swan Rivers, creating a fishing and outdoor recreational paradise.

The southern half of Flathead Lake is located within the Flathead Reservation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, so visitors must purchase a tribal recreation permit to enter and enjoy the stunning scenery.

The lake features several state recreation areas complete with boat launches, camping, swimming and picnic facilities, and restrooms, along with Wayfarers, Finely Point, Elmo and first-class fishing sites. The west shore of the lake is home to Wildhorse Island, a 2,165-acre state park that can serve as a pleasant day picnic venue and is only accessible by boat. The Bigfork Whitewater Festival is held every year around Memorial Day. If you are looking for pretty places to visit in Montana, Flathead Lake is a great stop.

Summer activities include swimming, boating, fishing, and hiking. It is a boater's paradise for the locals. Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are also options in the winter. If you happen to be in Flathead during the summer cherry season, be sure to pick up these famous local cherries that only grow in this area. They'll be for sale on the side of the road!

• Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
• Location: Montana
• Opening Hours: Daily
• Admission: Free
• Official Website: http://flatheadlake.us/

When you visit Great Falls, you will be astounded by the spectacular vistas that surround you. The city is one of the best Montana destinations, located on the mighty Missouri River and surrounded by five waterfalls, snow-topped mountains, and towering buttes. Great Falls is frequently thought of as a stopover for those traveling across Montana or visiting nearby national parks, but the city has a lot to offer on its own. You could, for example, spend a day at the Ryan Dam, which has miles of surrounding hiking trails and is where the Electric City got its name.

If you turn around, you will see vast plains all the way to the horizon. It is a magnificent landscape that ranges from huge wheat farms to picturesque valleys and steep river gorges. And in the city, its 58,000 residents enjoy a rich cultural life that revolves around the Mansfield Center for Performing Arts, the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art and the C.M. Russell Museum.

Great Falls has a special place in the history of the region, and the best way to learn about it is by visiting the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center. Located on the bluff above the Missouri River, the center offers a view of the same terrain the explorers Lewis and Clark saw in 1805 when they tried to navigate the area’s river and falls.

The River's Edge Trail is the main pedestrian corridor that runs along both sides of the Missouri River in the city. It connects several breathtaking outdoor attractions, including Giant Springs State Park, which is home to one of the country's largest natural freshwater springs. First People's Buffalo Jump State Park, just west of Great Falls, has more outdoor appeal and is the site of ancient buffalo hunting grounds.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Address: 100 1st Ave N Lower Level Suite, Great Falls, MT 59401-2580
• Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Admission: Private Vehicle Pass · $20 ; Individual Pass · $10 ; Motorcycle Pass · $15
  
• Official Website: https://visitgreatfallsmontana.org/
  

Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park was the first state park established in Montana and is thus the most well-known. This state landmark is located just east of Whitehall and contains one of the world's largest known limestone cavern systems.

Despite the fact that local Montana residents have been exploring the caves for hundreds of years, the Lewis and Clark Caverns were only discovered officially in 1892 by a group of local hunters. The spectacular-looking caves lined with stalactites, stalagmites, and various other natural formations captivate visitors to the Lewis And Clark Caverns State Park. Natural air currents and passages run through the caves, as well as electrical lighting.

Visitors come from all over to explore the limestone formations with their vibrant colors in the lit caverns. You can take a guided tour to learn about the geologic development and history of early exploration in the area, and the caverns are safe and well-lit, not to mention well-ventilated, making the underground experience pleasant enough.

The park also has trails, a visitor center with interpretive programs, an amphitheater, picnic areas, and a campground that are all open year round. The site spans over 3,000 acres and reaches elevations of over 5,000 feet. This site is an ideal location for visitors to the region to use as a base from which to explore a few other state parks and attractions in the vicinity, including the adjacent Jefferson River.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Address: 25 Lewis & Clark Caverns Road, Whitehall, MT 59759
• Opening Hours: Winter hours, Wed - Sun 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Summer hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM daily; Open until 6:30 PM in Mid-Summer
• Admission: $15 - $25 for Adult 15+, free - $5 for Child
• Official Website: https://fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/lewis-and-clark-caverns

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, located in southeastern Montana, commemorates the site of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, which took place on June 25-26, 1876 between the United States Seventh Cavalry Regiment led by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and the Sioux and Cheyenne led by Sitting Bull's political and spiritual leadership. Custer Battlefield National Monument was the original name for the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. On December 10, 1991, President George H.W. Bush renamed the site.

A visitor center and museum contain exhibits about the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn, in which 263 US Cavalrymen were killed in action by Sioux and Northern Cheyenne warriors. The Museum also includes exhibits about the battle's history, Custer, weapons, archaeology, Plains Indian life, and a walking tour with interpretive markers. It is handicapped accessible. Custer National Cemetery is adjacent to the visitor center and contains interments from abandoned frontier military posts, both world wars, Korea, and Vietnam.

The Custer Battlefield and the Reno-Benteen Battlefield are linked by a 4.5 mile self-guided tour road. Handicapped parking is available at both of these locations, as well as at the visitor center. Ranger programs are available throughout the summer, and bus tours of the battlefield are available from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. A 17-minute documentary film is shown at the visitor center during the off-season.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Address: I-90 Frontage Rd, Crow Agency, MT 59022
  
• Opening Hours: Daily 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Admission: $10 per private vehicle and $5 for pedestrians, including motorcycles
  
• Official Website: https://www.nps.gov/libi/index.htm

While your mental image of Montana might be filled with prairies and tumbleweeds, the truth is that it’s also a thriving wintertime destination. It can receive as much as 300 inches of snowfall each year, much of it in the mountains, and it can become quite the winter wonderland with glittering white snow capping the cliffs and covering the tree tops.

Located in southwest Montana, approximately 50 miles south of Bozeman and an hour north of West Yellowstone, Big Sky Resort provides visitors with many different amenities, a well-developed infrastructure and over 5,850 acres of skiable terrain. Big Sky Resort isn’t the only place to enjoy the snow in Montana, but it’s one of the best.

Big Sky services its 4,350 feet of vertical via 24 chair lifts and 12 surface lifts. The ski area has a summit elevation of 11,166 feet and sees an average annual snowfall of more than 400 inches. The resort has been lauded for it's incredible vertical drop and also the very minimal wait times due to it's advanced lift system. It’s also a popular site for snowboarding, snowshoeing and “snow biking” on motorized bikes.

Other activities are offered when the snow starts to melt, including golf, archery, paintball and horseback riding. All things considered, Big Sky Resort is one of the nicest of Montana’s attractions. It doesn’t even matter when you visit since every season has something new and exciting to do. If you’re looking for awesome places to visit in the northwest, you won’t want to miss this one!

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Address: 50 Big Sky Resort Rd, Big Sky, MT 59716
• Opening Hours: Daily 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Admission: $200 (adult 15-69), $115 (Junior 7-14), $1 (kids 6 and under), $140 (Seniors over 70)
• Official Website: https://bigskyresort.com/lift-tickets

Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa is a natural hot spring transformed into a luxury resort and day spa equipped with modern facilities. Guests can come here for a day's visit or an extended stay; it accommodates everyone. Be it a family outing or a romantic weekend-the resort is certainly the best bet. As far as lodging options are concerned, you can choose from lavish rooms to cozy cabins, each equipped with requisite amenities.

Slide into the natural mineral spring pools in Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa, which steam in the cold air of the mountains and provide many health benefits as well as an amazingly relaxing experience.

There are many other places to go in the resort as well, so if you are interested in staying there, be prepared for a full roster of entertainment options that includes hiking, skiing, river rafting, horseback riding, painting classes, wagon rides and more. If all these strenuous activities leave you famished, then look no further beyond the on-site dining room and saloon serving excellent food and drinks.

Apart from that, you can also comfort your tired soles and souls at the Chico Day Spa that offers various skin treatments and healing therapies that make you feel refreshed. Setup on a picturesque backdrop, the resort is known to provide fantastic service and entertainment options; while also serving as an ideal venue for hosting conferences and events.

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.0/5
• Address: 163 Chico Rd, Pray, MT 59065
  
• Opening Hours: Daily
• Admission: Under 3 Free, 3 to 6 $3.50, 7 to 64 $ 7.50, 65 Plus $ 3.50
  
• Official Website: https://www.chicohotsprings.com/

Montana is one of the most beautiful places in the US, and the proof can be found in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The largest National Forest in the state of Montana, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest was originally established in 1908 as two separate regions that were merged together in 1996. It is located in Southwestern Montana and is home to several distinct mountain ranges.

Evergreen forests dominate the mountainous landscape of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge. These forests are composed mostly of Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir, though you’ll also find spruce, juniper, and several types of19th-century deciduous trees peppered throughout. Unlike the remote rock formations that dominate so much of the state, this forest is lush, green and teeming with life from the bugs in the dirt to the birds flying high.

Do you want to swim and fish? Hit up the water with your fishing rod. Do you prefer camping under the stars and cooking hot dogs over an open fire? Head to the campgrounds. There are even driving trails for you to enjoy nature the best while you’re cruising in an air-conditioned vehicle and viewing it from your window.

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is one of the top destinations of Montana. Its beauty is unparalleled, and its size means that you’ll never run out of new things to try. You could have an entire vacation without ever leaving the borders of the forest!

• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Address: 420 Barrett St, Dillon, MT 59725
  
• Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
• Admission: Free
  
• Official Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/bdnf