8 Most Photogenic Towns In Montana
Aptly known as “Big Sky Country,” the state of Montana is home to several awesome natural attractions, including Glacier National Park, Flathead Lake, and Granite Peak, making it ideal for the avid photographer, whether they are novice or professional. From Whitefish and Whitefish Lake to West Yellowstone and the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, majestic Montana offers ample photographic opportunities that are impossible elsewhere in America. Whether it is an iconic picture of wildlife within its natural habitat, a panoramic snapshot of the setting sun over Avalanche Lake, or a scenic photograph along the trails of Grinnell Glacier, that unique moment is just waiting to be experienced and captured in Montana. Let's take a look at the eight most photogenic towns in Montana.
Whitefish (Flathead County)
The picturesque town of Whitefish, known as one of the gateways to Glacier National Park (the western entrance is less than an hour away), features a vast variety of awesome photographic opportunities. Whitefish station (a Great Northern Railway depot) was constructed in the 1920s and later renovated, including the addition of a museum featuring exhibits related to the history of the railroad in general. It's reportedly the busiest Amtrak stop anywhere between Seattle and Minneapolis. Whitefish Trail offers 40 miles of prime landscapes, including several awesome scenic overlooks. The campground at Tally Lake is a great scenic spot as well, located as it is in Flathead National Forest. This stunning venue is excellent for capturing great photographs of the lake, the sunrise and sunset, and the majestic mountains in the distance.
Lewistown (Fergus County)
Home of the nearby Bear Gulch Pictographs, Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, and the Hutterite King Colony Ranch, Lewistown is possibly one of the most photogenic locations in all of Montana. Lewistown is filled with ample opportunities for some great photos, located as it is just near Lewis and Clark National Forest and below a 100-plus acre stretch of land that is set to become Montana’s 56th state park: Judith Landing State Park. This town of barely 6,000 people is also home to several awesome museums and a variety of festivals, including the Central Montana Historical Museum, which features informational exhibits on a variety of pioneer and frontier artifacts, and the Chokecherry Festival, held annually the first Saturday after Labor Day.
Polson (Lake County)
Along the southern bank of Flathead Lake, the quaint town of Polson is home to several excellent photography opportunities. From the waters of Flathead Lake at sunset to the Miracle of America Museum, with exhibits of antique airplanes, motorcycles, and specialty vehicles, to the Sacajawea and Point Salish parks, there is something unique and diverse around every corner of this approximately 5,000-resident town. There are also a variety of festivals held in the town of Polson, including the Montana Dragon Boat Festival, held at the Polson Fairgrounds, the Flathead Cherry Festival, and the Flathead Lake Festival of Art. The Courthouse Art Festival, another great social event, happens every fall at Lake County Courthouse.
Hamilton (Ravalli County)
Located in the Bitterroot Valley, around 50 miles south of the city of Missoula, the picturesque town of Hamilton (population about 5,000) has its own unique and diverse natural settings. From nearby Lake Como, which has become even more of a popular attraction recently, to Riverside (aka the Daly Mansion), purchased by Marcus Daly in 1886, a variety of phenomenal photographic choices abound in Hamilton. Plus, the Ravalli County Museum & Historical Society, situated in downtown Hamilton, has rare collections from local photographer Ernst Peterson, artifacts from the Salish, Kootenai, and Nez Perce tribes, and even wood hand-tool and agricultural implements. Each of these exhibits and displays carry their own historic tales.
Kalispell (Flathead County)
Whether it is Flathead Lake State Park, Wild Horse Island State Park, which can only be reached by boat, or Lone Pine State Park, the area around Kalispell has a vast amount of natural attractions ready to capture on film. Yet, this town is also known for possessing several great historic venues, including Conrad Mansion, built in 1895, and the Northwest Montana History Museum. There are also several festivities held in Kalispell that are well worth checking out for photo opportunities. The Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo takes place every August, while the Flathead Faerie Festival, offering several activities for the children, like face painting, faerie-wing making, and a “Magic: The Gathering” tournament, takes place at the end of July every year.
Livingston (Park County)
The picturesque town of Livingston, along the banks of the Yellowstone River, is an ideal spot for capturing some awesome pictures. Home of Sacajawea Park, which honors the Lemhi Shoshone girl who assisted Lewis and Clark in exploring the Louisiana Territory, and Music Ranch Montana, located in Paradise Valley, the town of Livingston is the place to take a camera. There are also several historic attributes worthy of being photographed, including the Livingston Depot Center and Yellowstone Gateway Museum. Not only housed in a public school which was built in the early 1900s, this great museum has a plethora of exhibits on display of recent and past expeditions, Yellowstone Park, railroad transportation, and famous pioneers of the area.
Anaconda (Deer Lodge County)
Another awesome photogenic town in the majestic state of Montana, the quaint city of Anaconda is an oasis of stunning natural venues, including Lost Creek State Park, which features Lost Creek Falls, Lower and Upper Seymour lakes, and Pintler Veterans’ Memorial Scenic Highway. The scenic highway offers a plethora of scenic vistas for 64 miles from the tranquil town of Anaconda to Drummond. There are a multitude of other historic, photographic choices in and around Anaconda as well. Anaconda Smoke Stack State Park displays the famous Anaconda Smelter Stack, the tallest masonry structure on Earth, rising almost 600 feet into the air as it has for over 100 years.
West Yellowstone (Gallatin County)
A much smaller town than most on this list, with just over 1,200, the town of West Yellowstone is known for being home to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, which not only features grizzly bears and grey wolves but also river otters and raptors. West Yellowstone is also home to the western gateway, the most commonly used entrance at Yellowstone National Park. Offering ample photographic choices, like photos of wild bison and elk in picturesque Madison Valley, snapshots of the glory of Gibbon Falls, reaching a total height of more than 80 feet, and pictures inside most of the geyser basins in Yellowstone, including the one holding Old Faithful, West Yellowstone and its environs are a photographer’s dream come true.
Conclusion
Whether you are a novice, an intermediate, or a professional, whether you have an inexpensive digital camera or an expensive Nikon D6, the majestic, rugged state of Montana is a true haven for capturing that perfect nature shot. From Wild Horse Island State Park in Flathead County to Anaconda Smoke Stack State Park in the town of Anaconda to Yellowstone National Park in West Yellowstone, a plethora of scenic opportunities abound in “Big Sky Country.” From one side of Montana to the other, these eight most photogenic towns in Montana are awaiting you, the avid photographer, to capture that truly magnificent shot.
