12 Unforgettable Small Towns to Visit in Montana
Featuring magnificent Rocky Mountain ranges, wide open plains, thousands of trout-filled water bodies, beautiful rock formations, and expansive natural areas, there is no doubt that the Mountain State of Montana is affectionately called the “Big Sky Country.” While the 4th largest US State’s big cities like Helena, Billings, Missoula, and Bozeman often get all the tourist attention, the picturesque small towns dotting the state provide exclusive insights into some of Montana’s best-kept secrets. No matter which town you choose to visit, you can take in the stunning natural beauty, trace the history of the American West, and participate in endless outdoor recreations.
Whitefish
Whitefish, one of the country’s best ski towns, is located along the shores of the pristine Whitefish Lake at the foot of Big Mountain, on the Continental Divide’s western side, in Montana’s Flathead County. A short distance from Glacier National Park, this year-round destination offers vacationers a perfect amalgamation of serene small-town charm and modern amenities against a stunning backdrop of the Northern Rockies. Visitors to Whitefish must take a day trip to the national park, hike the 47-mile-long Whitefish Trail, and participate in multiple recreational activities at the Whitefish Lake State Park.
Take a stroll down Central Avenue and browse the countless quaint shops, art galleries, and diners like Cabin Creek Antiques, Polka Dot Sheep Yarns, Cawdrey Gallery, Loula’s Café, and Tupelo Grille. During winter, head to the Whitefish Mountain Resort which boasts a skiable area of 3020 acres with 93 runs catering to different ski levels. Moreover, throughout the year, Whitefish hosts various events including the Huckleberry Days Arts Festival, Taste of Whitefish, Whitefish Winter Carnival, Under the Big Sky Music Festival, Whitefish Arts Festival, Whitefish Trail Hootenanny, and Whitefish Trail Legacy Run.
Hamilton
Ravalli County’s seat, Hamilton was founded in the late 19th century by Marcus Daly, one of Montana’s prominent “Cooper Kings,” and named after J.W. Hamilton. Occupying the heart of the picturesque Bitterroot Valley, Hamilton is an outdoor lover’s paradise, with ample opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing. The town’s largely unchanged Main Street is packed with specialty shops, breweries, restaurants, and cozy bed & breakfasts. In addition, Hamilton is best known for the Ravalli County Museum housed in the former Ravalli County Courthouse, which showcases local art and history; the luxurious Daly Mansion – home to Marcus Daly; and the Bitterroot Performing Arts Center that hosts a variety of theatrical performances. The Bitterroot River that meanders through the town invites fly fishing enthusiasts to catch as many trout species as they wish from its crystal-clear waters.
Livingston
This historic railroad and ranching town that serves as Park County’s administrative center is situated on the banks of the Yellowstone River between the Absaroka and Crazy Mountain ranges in south-central Montana. Apart from being the foremost gateway town to the country’s first national park –Yellowstone National Park, Livingston’s Old West-style walkable downtown has a plethora of 19th-century brick buildings housing western-wear retailers, art galleries, well-stocked bookstores, old-school saloons, farm-to-table restaurants, and museums like the Livingston Depot Center, Yellowstone Gateway Museum, and International Fly-Fishing Federation’s Museum. Livingston also provides easy access to hundreds of miles of national park-quality trails including the Pine Creek Trail and the Myers’ River View Trail; several fishing access sites; Mayor’s Landing; Sacajawea Park; and Bridger Bowl ski resort.
West Yellowstone
As its name suggests, this quaint Gallatin County town is located adjacent to the western entrance of the Yellowstone National Park. Forming a part of the Bozeman, MT Micropolitan Statistical Area, West Yellowstone is an all-season mecca for outdoor recreation lovers, making it a primary base camp for exploring the national park as well as the surrounding wilderness areas. Wildlife watching is therefore a year-round activity here, with the town’s numerous souvenir shops, hotels, restaurants, and other establishments catering to the millions of tourists visiting the park annually. Do not forget to witness the grizzly bears, and wolves at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, learn about the park’s history at the Museum of the Yellowstone, enjoy horseback riding tours at the Diamond P Ranch, whitewater rafting at the Gallatin River, and the Yellowstone Zipline Adventure Park with more than 1000 ft of zip-lining thrills. In winter, the Rendezvous Ski Trails at the town’s edge provide 21.7 miles of well-maintained cross-country ski trails.
Stevensville
Settled in 1841 by the Jesuit Missionaries at the request of the indigenous Bitterroot Salish tribe, Stevensville christened after Isaac Ingalls Stevens, the territorial governor, is considered the state’s first permanent non-indigenous settlement. Ringed by the Sapphire and Bitterroot mountains, this tiny Ravalli County town besides offering sweeping views of the awe-inspiring Bitterroot Valley is a haven for history fanatics. One of the town’s most prominent attractions is the National Register-listed historic St. Mary’s Mission established by the Jesuit Missionaries. From April to October, the mission complex containing the log chapel and other structures remains open for public tours.
Art enthusiasts must tour various art galleries such as Stevensville Art & Sculpture, River’s Mist Gallery & Gifts, Sacajawea Gallery, etc., while the foodies can savor delicious meals at Mission Bistro, Frontier Café, Marie’s Italian Restaurant, and enjoy excellent local beers at the Blacksmith Brewing Company. Wildlife lovers can check out the interpretive trails of the 2,800-acre Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, where over 235 avian species, 37 mammalian species, and 17 amphibian and reptilian species have been recorded. The adjacent Kootenai Creek Trail rewards hikers with an excellent day hike experience.
Big Timber
Situated at the junction of U.S. Highway 191 and Interstate 90 Business Loop, close to where the Boulder River and Big Timber Creek flows into the Yellowstone River, this small town in south-central Montana is the Sweet Grass County’s seat of government. Initially a major wool-shipping depot and a stop on the Northern Pacific Railroad, Big Timber entices vacationers with multiple outdoor activities including hiking, blue-ribbon trout fishing, golfing, river floating, and ranch tours.
With the stunning Crazy Mountains providing an excellent backdrop for outdoor recreation, Big Timber also serves as a jumping-off point for several excursions including the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Spend a night at one of the turn-of-the-century decorated rooms of the Grand Hotel Bed & Breakfast, taste some of the state’s best cuisines at the countless eateries, and browse the locally-owned retail shops that line the quirky downtown. Learn more about the Sweet Grass Country’s history at the Crazy Mountain Museum, which also hosts a replica Norwegian stabbur, a detailed miniature diorama of Big Timber circa 1907, and a permanent rodeo display featuring the 1930s Cremer Rodeo.
Red Lodge
Home to only 2,257 inhabitants, this Carbon County seat in Southern Montana is snugged along the spectacular Beartooth Mountains and encircled by Custer Gallatin National Forest. The Red Lodge Commercial Historic District of which Red Lodge’s redeveloped downtown is a part, comprises several buildings that date back to the 19th century including the Carbon County Courthouse, Iris Theater, and the Carbon County Hospital & Sanitarium. Believed to have a saloon at every corner in its heydays, the downtown currently features the Carbon County Historical Society & Museum besides a variety of shops, boutiques, art galleries, cafes, and restaurants. The adjacent Red Lodge Mountain offers the finest skiing adventures to skiers and snowboarders amidst eye-catching alpine sceneries.
Ennis
Ennis, an idyllic town in Southwestern Montana’s Madison County along the meandering Madison River, is surrounded by three grand mountain ranges: the Tobacco Root Mountains in the northwest, the Gravelly Range in the southwest, and the Madison Range in the east. In addition to the panoramic mountain views, Ennis is famed as a ranching hub in the Madison River Valley as well as an angling destination for fly anglers who want to catch brown and rainbow trout. The town’s multiple resorts and fly shops cater to fly anglers with guided fishing trips in the Madison River and the adjoining Yellowstone National Park. Take an outdoor art tour and admire Ennis’s abundant outdoor art, go golfing at the Madison Meadows Public Golf Course, discover some Wild West history at the Madison Valley Historical Society Museum, taste some authentic cuisines at the Gravel Bar & Restaurant and Pic-A-Nic Basket, and try out the special Montana Moonshine plus Bighorn Bourbon at Willie’s Distillery.
Anaconda
Founded by Marcus Daly as “Copperopolis” in 1883 and renamed in 1888 as “Anaconda” after an important mining smelter, this mountain community is placed at the base of the Anaconda Range in Southwest Montana’s Deer Lodge County, about 23 miles northwest of Butte. The Anaconda Smoke Stack State Park houses the town’s most noteworthy attraction – the 585-foot-long Anaconda Smelter Stack, built as a part of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company’s Washoe Smelter and considered the world’s tallest surviving masonry structure. Catch a performance at the historic Washoe Theater, check out the impressive artifacts displayed at the Old City Hall Copper Village Museum & Art Center, camp in the Lost Creek State Park or along Georgetown Lake, play golf on the Old Works Golf Course, ski down the slopes of the Discovery Ski Area and explore the cross-country ski trails of Mount Haggin.
Philipsburg
Platted in 1867 and named in honor of the noted mining engineer Philip Deidesheimer, this Granite County seat is located on the Pintler Veteran’s Memorial Scenic Highway, approximately midway between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. The town’s closeness to wilderness areas and the unearthing of unique natural resources like Sapphire gemstones, have made Philipsburg a most sought-after destination for nature lovers. Tourists visiting Philipsburg can pan sapphires at the gem shops, tour the abutting ghost towns, spend time at the Granite Ghost Town State Park or the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, stop by the Philipsburg’s Granite County Museum & Mine Exhibit, savor some candy at the Sweets Palace and some extraordinary Montana-made beers at the Philipsburg Brewing Company.
Libby
Libby, a tiny Rocky Mountain town and seat of Lincoln County occupies the heart of Kootenai Valley, at the meeting point of Kootenai River and Libby Creek in the state’s extreme northwestern corner. Shadowed by the Cabinet Mountains and encircled by the Kootenai National Forest, Libby boasts many immaculate lakes, rivers, and mountain trails attracting hordes of tourists every year. Libby is often called the “City of Eagles,” as numerous eagle sculptures can be found in and around the town, with two 60-foot eagle statues at both ends and one perched atop the gateway to Downtown Libby. Some of Libby’s noteworthy attractions include the Kootenai Falls & Swinging Bridge, Turner Mountain Ski Area, Libby Dam Visitor Center, Libby Heritage Museum, and Libby Memorial Events Center.
Choteau
Initially, an 1873 trading post set up by A.B. Hamilton, Choteau named after Pierre Chouteau, Jr., the well-known French fur merchant, is placed at the foot of the majestic Rocky Mountain Front. This Teton County’s seat of government is a perfect blend of extraordinary views, outdoor recreation, and famous cultural attractions. Choteau is close to Egg Mountain, one of the most significant Cretaceous Period paleontology sites in the world. The town’s Old Trail Museum, which is a part of the Montana Dinosaur Trail, houses a life-size “Maiasaura” the state fossil, and other artifacts that shed information about the area’s history. Travelers can also hike the luxuriant trails of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and the Lewis and Clark National Forest, ski at the Teton Pass Ski Area, bird-watch at the Freezeout Lake Wildlife Management Area, and play a round of golf at the Choteau City Park & Campground.
From Whitefish which serves as the official gateway to Glacier National Park, to the quaint town of Choteau, hosting some impressive fossils and artifacts, these scenic small towns peppered throughout the Treasure State, offer unforgettable experiences for every visitor. If you are a history buff, an adventure seeker, or someone wanting to spend quality time amidst natural surroundings, look no further than these gorgeous small towns in Montana.
