9 Underrated Small Towns to Explore in Montana

Montana has a number of invaluable wonders, both geographical and cultural. Among the Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Kutenai, Assiniboin, and Atsina tribes who have lived here for generations, Montana is a land of plenty. For prospectors, pioneers, and cowboys in the days of the Wild West, Montana has been rich with jewels and gems. It is also from Montana that the Triple Divide Peak shelters a wellspring that flows down to the Hudson Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific Ocean. Ultimately, however, you will find jewels and adventures and a wellspring of experiences from the most underrated small towns to explore in Montana. You will get to know the Rocky Mountains from Whitefish, appreciate Montana’s agrarian reforms in Hamilton and cool down from the sun’s heat at West Yellowstone. Neighboring many of Montana's national parks are definitely some excellent and beautiful small towns despite their underrated appeal.

Polson

Polson is an enthralling vacation spot for those who want to enjoy the clean waters of Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River in the contiguous United States. Native Americans once resided in the Flathead Native American Reservation, as best told by the Miracle of America Museum. These days, Polson is renowned for hosting the annual Cherry Festival during the last week of July. Among the many attractions in Polson are the Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam—originally called Kerr Dam—on the Flathead River and the National Bison Range at Moiese, where herds of elk, deer, antelopes, barn sheep, and bison graze. There is also a plethora of birds at the Ninepipes and Pablo Wildlife Refuge, while the Mission Valley and the Mission Mountains teem with innumerable wildlife like the mysterious “Flathead Monster.” Of course, you will not feel so afraid of the Flathead Monster and other strange creatures when you stay at either Kwataqnuk Resort & Casino or the Mission Mountain Resort.

Whitefish

Approximately 68 miles from the town of Polson, Whitefish is a stunning resort town in the humungous Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies. From atop such a splendid height, one can get a grand view of the Rockies from the Whitefish Mountain Resort on the slopes of the Big Mountain. It is also at this resort that you can go downhill mountain biking or skiing. The anglers among you can do actual fishing in several ideal locations, such as Whitefish Lake State Park, City Beach, and Whitefish Lake. You can also go exploring at Glacier National Park, which is so named since the many valleys, lakes, and features in the region were created by the glaciers during the last ice age. You can also travel to the Kootenai National Forest and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. If you are ever in need of warmth and relaxation in the chilly mountain airs of Whitefish, you can seek your desiderata at the Hidden Moose Lodge, the Duck Inn Lodge, or Grouse Mountain Lodge.

Choteau

The town of Choteau received its name from a French merchant, explorer, and fur trader, Pierre Chouteau Junior. One can find this humble settlement at Montana’s heartland and at the foot of the Rocky Mountain Front. From the Freezeout Lake Wildlife Management Area, birdwatchers can relish the songful sights of many avian species in the region. More of Montana’s untamed wilderness can be accessed via the Soroptimist Walking Path. If you are interested in seeing an authentic sheep wagon, a Metis Cabin, a workstation by Pulitzer Prize-winning author A.B. Guthrie Junior, and a Blackfeet teepee, then you are welcome to these exhibits and more at the Old Trail Museum. Meanwhile, at the Montana Dinosaur Center, you can admire the skeletal model of Seismosaurus Halli, the “earth-shaker” dinosaur. There are many more admirable attractions to find in this town that hails as far back as the Wild West, and you can feel safe and sound in fine lodgings like the Stage Stop Inn or Gunther Motel.

Anaconda

Fortunately for some with ophidiophobia, the town of Anaconda does not have the world’s largest snake species. Instead, Anaconda mainly refers to the Anaconda Ranges it is situated in and the fact that Copper King Marcus Daly established it as the main base of operations for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company. The relics of Daly’s company’s copper works and quarries can be found at Warm Springs Creek. In contrast, the Copper Village Museum and Art Center elucidates more about the Copper King’s enterprises. If you are not interested in the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, then perhaps you can go hiking and strolling through the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Georgetown Lake, and Smoke Stack State Park. But if you ever need to sleep comfortably in Anaconda’s evenings, then you ought to book a room at the Copperhead Lodge, the Forge Hotel, or Hickory House Inn.

Hamilton

Those with a green thumb and a keen curiosity about Montana’s agriculture can explore the agrarian communities of Hamilton. Initially, Hamilton was a central copper mining town that Marcus Daly, one of the three Copper Kings. But these days, Hamilton is renowned for its many bountiful farmlands and lush fields, particularly with its access to the Bitterroot Mountain and Canyon Peak. If you are interested in learning more about Hamilton’s past, you can tour the eloquent 1800s estates of the Daly Mansion or the Ravalli County Museum. The former was once the summer home of Marcus Daly, the Copper King, and is now a museum open to the public, while the latter is part of the National Register of Historic Buildings and deemed one of the best museums in Montana. No need to worry about accommodations because the Bitterroot River Inn and Conference Center provides all that you want to enjoy your stay in Hamilton.

Stevensville

Approximately 21 miles from Hamilton, Stevensville gives visitors access to several sweet attractions in the Bitterroot Mountains. For example, St. Mary’s Mission highlights the cultural and historic connections between the Jesuit missionaries and the Salish Native Americans. One can explore the historic grounds of the Fort Owen State Park, or you can always get some exercises in the Bitterroot Mountains at the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge. Stevensville also hosts a number of festivities, such as the Creamery Picnic every August and the Scarecrow Festival in October. Allow the laidback accommodations of the Bitterroot River Bed & Breakfast or the Stevensville Hotel to lull you to restful and refreshing sleep in Stevensville.

West Yellowstone

West Yellowstone is a convenient neighbor to the more popular Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Even though it is an underrated small town compared to the bigger attractions to the east, West Yellowstone has a cornucopia of attractions that you will most certainly enjoy. There are, for instance, the Old Faithful geyser, West Yellowstone Pioneer City Park, Hebgen Lake, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Wildlife lovers will definitely love seeing wild bears and wolves from the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. To learn more about West Yellowstone and the Yellowstone National Park, you can peruse the exhibits and displays of the Museum of Yellowstone. To spend a long and cozy time in West Yellowstone, you can always book a room in the White Buffalo Hotel, the Brandin’ Iron Inn, or Brook Trout Inn.

Big Timber

Big Timber, situated on the Yellowstone River and the Big Timber Creek, which derived its name, was one of the many places visited by famous explorer William Clark. Formerly known as Dornix until it was renamed after the big cottonwood trees growing in the area, Big Timber now serves as the gateway to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. There, you can expect to catch some of the best blue-ribbon trout in the state of Montana. Since it is relatively near to the Crazy Mountains and the Custer Gallatin National Forest to the south, there are a handful of routes and roads for you to take to traverse the snowy summits and slopes of Montana’s ranges. You might also be interested in visiting the first woolen mill in Montana in 1901. If you happen to see a tree falling, remember to warn and shout “Timber!” in the town of Big Timber.

Helena

Even though it is the capital of Montana, Helena exudes the ambiance of a small town for its relatively small population of over 33,000 citizens. Located at the eastern foot of the Continental Divide and near the Missouri River, Helena was a major gold camp during the Montana gold rush in the year 1864. By 1888, over 50 millionaires prospered in Helena and beyond, and many of the miners’ domiciles can still be seen today at Reeder's Alley. Before then, Lewis and Clark visited the early iteration of Helena in 1805 during their historic expedition across America. And way before the duo, the Blackfeet, Salish, Crow, and Bannock tribes herded many bison into the region.

These days, Helena is renowned for housing the most extensive Charlie M. Russell collection in the world and is the gateway to the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Those of you who want to peruse ceramics ought to see the Archie Bray Foundation, and the adrenaline-seekers among you should feel pumped by the fact that Helena was deemed a Silver-level Ride Center by the International Mountain Bike Association. Do not miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime when visiting the small-town atmosphere of the capital city of Montana.

Discover the Richness of Montana’s Small Towns

Montana is mainly called the Treasure State due to its richness in natural minerals like gems. But when you are exploring the most underrated small towns in Montana, you will come to uncover a different kind of treasure to cherish for all your lifetime. There are stories and legends to unearth in the mining towns of Anaconda and Hamilton. There are thrills and games to partake in thriving communities like Helena and Polson. There are also strange and wild creatures to see in West Yellowstone and Choteau.