Montana is a ruggedly beautiful state that perfectly encapsulates the wild American West. The national parks in the state encapsulate the many different environments found in the region, from wide-open prairies to high mountain peaks, as well as several important historical events. Each park offers visitors a distinct and beautiful trip. Find out more about the state’s many national parks and monuments, and the top things to do at each location.
National Parks in Montana & National Park Service (NPS) Units
- Glacier
- Yellowstone
- Big Hole National Battlefield
- Bighorn Canyon
- Fort Union
- Grant-Kohrs Ranch
- Little Bighorn Battlefield
- Nez Perce Historical Park
- Lewis & Clark National Trail
Bighorn Canyon
The Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is located near the Montana-Wyoming border. It features one of the most dramatic landscapes in the region, with the picturesque canyon cutting through the Pryor Mountains. The canyon runs through both Carbon County, Montana, and Bighorn County, Wyoming.
The stars of Bighorn Canyon are, of course, the bighorn sheep, but wild horses are a close second.
acres of cliffs, rivers, and desert plateaus
Visitors enjoy hiking on more than 17 miles of established trails, fishing in the Bighorn River, kayaking in the shadows of the canyon walls, and camping in several different locations with varying levels of remoteness. Many avid backpackers also venture into the backcountry for off-grid stays, making it one of the best places for getting out of the house and going wilderness camping.
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In the Montana side of the park, guests can camp in Afterbay Campground, Grapevine Campground, Medicine Creek Campground, Black Canyon Campground, and the Dayboard 9 Campground. Each campground has different rules regarding open season and making reservations.
The park features 15 established trails. Some of the most popular routes include Beaver Pond Nature Trail, Sykes Mountain Trail, Sullivan’s Knob Trail, Two Eagles Interpretive Trail, and Barry’s Island Trail.
Bighorn Lake allows personal watercraft, including motorized boats, kayaks, and canoes. You must get them inspected and purchase an Aquatic and Invasive Species (AIS) inspection sticker, which can be obtained at the Conoco Gas Station nearby.
Any time you camp in a park in Montana, be aware of how to keep yourself and your belongings safe from bears. Always use bear-proof boxes for your food and other fragrant items. Hang supplies from a tree or keep them in a locked car for more protection. Bears that grow accustomed to being fed by people or stealing their food may need to be euthanized, so it’s imperative to avoid encouraging the behavior.
Big Hole National Battlefield
This historic site was established in honor of the 1877 battle between the U.S. Army and the Nez Perce tribe. It commemorates the Nez Perce (also called nımí·pu· or Nimiipuu) tribespeople who were killed in an ambush launched while they slept.
Located in western Montana near Missoula, about 90 miles southwest of the city of Butte, the national battlefield site is mainly for education and bearing-witness purposes, but it also features some nice hiking trails. The park is open year-round, but is best visited from late spring to early fall, when the access roads are clear of snow and ice. It's one of the many historic places in the state dedicated to American Indian history and commemoration.
Discover more about the events in Big Hole’s history with guided battlefield tours and other ranger-led programs. The park also frequently features educational events with Nez Perce tribal members.
There are three short-to-moderate-length trails at the park, perfect for a day trip: Nez Perce Camp Trail, Siege Area Trail, and Howitzer Trail. In the winter, the trails can be traversed with snowshoes or cross-country skis.
The park is a burial site and place of mourning for the Nez Perce people. Practice utmost respect within the park, including leaving memorial offerings in place, not collecting any items, including rocks or artifacts, staying on the trail, and not bringing pets on the trails.
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
In the early 1800s, Fort Union served as the busiest trading center in the Upper Missouri River region, connecting traders from local tribal nations, settlers, and explorers. Today, the rebuilt post is a great example of frontier life in the West. Local tribespeople from the Assiniboine, Plains Cree, Crow, Blackfeet, Plains Ojibwa, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Lakota, and Dakota nations traded furs, hides, and other goods in exchange for imported items.
Notably, the events in the blockbuster movie “The Revenant” were focused on the real-life figure, Hugh Glass, who helped establish the Fort Union Trading Post.
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Visitors can explore the fort on their own or take a guided tour. During the summer, reenactors dress in period-accurate clothing and demonstrate the goings-on in the fort.
The Fort hosts many fun activities for children, including the Jr. Ranger and Jr. Trader programs, and many art and craft activities.
Historically, trading posts would host an annual rendezvous, where traders could bring beaver pelts to trade for other supplies. Today, Fort Union’s annual rendezvous each June is full of engaging historical programs, reenactments, artisan demonstrations, historical vendors, and fun activities.
Glacier National Park
Located in the northwest corner of the state, near the city of Kalispell and the town of West Glacier, the park is one of the largest protected ecosystems in North America. It's only about 45 minutes away from Kalispell, and 3 and a half hours away from Helena.
It links to Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park to the north. Within the park, you can see beautiful alpine meadows among carved-out valleys and glacial lakes.
acres of wilderness
As one of the foremost nature parks in the world, visitors particularly enjoy hiking, camping, horseback riding, rafting, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and nature photography. There are many waterfalls to visit, such as Bird Woman Falls, Running Eagle Falls, and Appistoki Falls.
There are many guided experiences in Glacier: boat tours, rafting tours, bus tours, hiking tours, horseback riding tours, and Glacier Institute Field Courses.
There are 13 drive-up campgrounds within Glacier National Park. Reservations fill up quickly and far in advance, so book as soon as you’re able! Some sites are only available on a first-come, first-served basis. Wilderness camping in the backcountry is available by permit and reservation only, to protect the environment and ensure campers are adequately prepared.
Going-to-the-Sun Road is the main attraction at the park. Note that the upper portions usually close in the winter due to snow and ice. Other places to go within the park include Apgar Village, Logan Pass, Lake McDonald, Rising Sun, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier.
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
Grant-Kohrs Ranch was once a working ranch, but today it serves as a historical record of the open-range cattle industry in Montana, which lasted only three decades in the late 1800s. Today, the ranch consists of maintained grazing lands and preserved buildings, such as the historic ranchhouse, barns, and blacksmith shop.
Visitors can explore the 88 different historic places on the premises and opt for guided tours to learn even more. It sits at the northwest edge of the town of Deer Lodge.
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The ranch has a few seasonal walking trails on the property: The Nature Trail, the Superfund Interpretive Trail, and Big Gulch Trail.
In the summer, you can see live demonstrations in the blacksmith shop, see how cowboys used the chuckwagon in their travels, and learn about real cowboy life.
Lewis & Clark National Trail
The Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail is over 4,900 miles long, extending from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, all the way to the Pacific Ocean at the Oregon/Washington border, crossing through 16 modern-day states. The entire trail traces the route of the Corps of Discovery’s journey to discover the western portion of the New Land from 1804 to 1806.
The Montana portion of the trail winds through rivers, mountains, including the Rocky Mountains, and passes by landmarks like the town of Great Falls and the city of Helena, as well as Missoula.
Along this section of the trail, visitors can see some of the most important historic markers in the travelers’ journey. Lewis and Clark traveled from East to West through Montana with the help and guidance of Sacagewea. On their return, West to East journey, they split up to explore more ground. As a result, Montana is covered with many different trail sections.
When hiking along the trail, be sure to bring plenty of water and stay hydrated! Additionally, check conditions on the trail using the official website before you head out.
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Popular sites along the Montana Lewis & Clark trails include Travelers’ Rest in Lolo (near Missoula), the Yellowstone Gateway Museum, Decision Point, Pompeys Pillar, Beaverhead Rock, and White Cliffs, though there are many others as well.
Naturally, there are many hikes along the trail.
Helena Ranger District: Ten Mile Creek Environment Trail, Trout Creek Canyon, Refrigerator Canyon, Rodney Range Trail, and Willard Creek Trail.
Townsend: Crow Creek Falls
Lincoln: Alice Creek, Webb Lake
Rocky Mountain: Our Lake, Willow Creek
Backpacking: Bob Marshall Wilderness, Scapegoat Wilderness, Big Belt Mountains, Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
There are dozens of sites along the trail, including Interpretive Sites, museums, Indian Reservations, pioneer towns, geological formations, fossil sites, and major cities like Helena, Kalispell, Missoula, Bozeman, Butte, and Great Falls. Visitors can also find guided tours throughout the historic trail.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
Situated near Billings and Hardin, the battlefield marks the site of “Custer’s Last Stand,” where the U.S. Army forces were defeated by the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors in the 1876 Great Sioux War. Within the monument’s boundaries, visitors can walk on several different paths, drive along a self-guided tour path, participate in ranger-led programs, and visit the Custer National Cemetery and Indian Memorial.
There are 2 national parks and 5 NPS (National Park Service) units in Montana.
You can see on the Montana national parks map that Bighorn Canyon is close by, making the battlefield a great addition to a road trip in the area. Note that the park is currently undergoing construction, so it’s only open Friday to Sunday, and large vehicles are not allowed into the parking lot at this time.
Every year, the monument holds anniversary celebrations in June. 2026 is the 150th anniversary, so it ought to be an exciting event! The itinerary has not yet been revealed, but there will likely be battle reenactments.
Drive along the 4.5-mile road with pull-off points to read informational plaques and learn more about the nearby Reno-Benteen Battlefield. Some stops even offer a cell phone audio tour, accessible by dialing the informational phone number posted.
The Deep Ravine Trail is another self-guided tour. It’s a very short trail, making it an interesting, quick stop.
Nez Perce National Historical Park
The Nez Perce Historical Park is a massive park with 38 distinct sites spread across four states. The Nez Perce National Historic Trail, which is the path several Nez Perce chiefs led their people through while trying to escape the U.S. Army, links all the sites together. The park honors the Nez Perce (nimíipuu) people’s deep and long-standing connection with the land and continuing cultural traditions.
The park works with local tribal communities on land management and stewardship, and to educate more people about Indigenous perspectives and histories. Visitors can learn through guided tours, self-guided trails, and exhibits. The visitor center is a hub for all the information at the park.
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The park is a great place to spend a few hours learning about local history, picnicking, and taking easy and informative walks. Discover the Bear Paw Battlefield and the Historic Trail in Sula, and learn more about the history of the local Indigenous people.
There are some burial sites located in the park. Be respectful and avoid taking or leaving anything from the cemeteries, even grave rubbings.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone’s main location is in Wyoming, but the park extends into Gallatin County and Park County in Montana. Yellowstone is the first national park in the world, having been established in 1872.
Key places in the Montana region of the park include Mammoth Hot Springs, the Roosevelt Arch, and scenic drives between the city of Bozeman and the city of Livingston. Visitors can enjoy the great outdoors with activities like fishing, hiking, river rafting, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, wildlife viewing, and ranger-led activities.
If you don't want to camp, you can find a nice hotel in the nearby town of West Yellowstone.
Pick up suitable maps before your trip to make sure you don't get lost!
Mount Washburn, DeLacy Creek, Clear Lake and Ribbon Lake Loop, Avalanche Peak, Fairy Falls, Storm Point Nature Trail, Purple Mountain, Mammoth Terraces, Yellowstone River Picnic Area, Beaver Pond Loop.
There are no official campsites in the Montana portion of Yellowstone. The closest campsites to the Montana border are Mammoth Campground, Slough Creek Campground, Pebble Creek Campground, and Madison Campground. However, campers can enjoy primitive backcountry sites all across the park.
In the surrounding Yellowstone Country, Montana, some favorite scenic drives include the All-American Beartooth Highway and Paradise Valley.
Montana is full of beautiful, scenic views and rugged wilderness, both inside and outside of national parks. Taking a road trip through the state is guaranteed to be worthwhile. There are so many places to camp, lodge, hike, paddle, cross-country ski, and do anything else you can imagine! For an even bigger trip, consider visiting the national parks located in Alaska!
References
- Big Hole National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). In www.nps.gov. https://www.nps.gov/biho/index.htm
- Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). In www.nps.gov. https://www.nps.gov/bica/index.htm
- Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). In www.nps.gov. https://www.nps.gov/fous/index.htm
- Glacier National Park (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). In www.nps.gov. https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm
- Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). In www.nps.gov. https://www.nps.gov/grko/index.htm
- Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). In www.nps.gov. https://www.nps.gov/lecl/index.htm
- Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). In www.nps.gov. https://www.nps.gov/libi/index.htm
- Nez Perce National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). In www.nps.gov. https://www.nps.gov/nepe/index.htm
- Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). In www.nps.gov. https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm
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