Want to experience the best Montana has to offer? It will likely take an entire lifetime to do that. There’s so much to do and see in the Treasure State, especially when you take different hobbies and tastes into consideration. But if you manage to do this wonderful list of things, you can feel pretty good about your Montana bucket list. So come along as we show you what we think is some of the best of the best!

1. Visit Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
Troy Smith / Flickr
It's hard to believe any Montanan could reach adulthood without visiting Glacier National Park, but it happens. This is one place you'll want to prioritize.

2. Visit Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park, United States
Andrew Parlette/Flickr
We may share most of Yellowstone National Park with Wyoming, but it's definitely part of a Montanan's rite of passage to see it. Besides, the entrance towns like Gardiner and West Yellowstone are really fun.

3. Hike Missoula’s “M” Trail

The M, Missoula, MT 59803, USA
Brett Davis / Flickr
It's a fairly easy path, and you won't find better views of the city anywhere.

4. Check out the Huckleberry Festival held in Trout Creek every August.

Jeremy Yoder / Flickr
Just trust us on this one.

5. Take a summer vacation to Flathead Lake

Flathead Lake, Montana, USA
Eric Gross / Flickr
Montana has hundreds of beautiful lakes, but there's really something special about Flathead Lake.

6. Visit Bannack State Park

Bannack, MT 59725, USA
Arthur T. LaBar / Flickr
Bannack State Park is interesting, beautiful, and just plain cool.

7. Explore Virginia City and Nevada City

Virginia City, MT 59729, USA
Nevada City, MT, USA
Arthur T. LaBar / Flickr
Try to go during tje beautiful Montana summer, when costumed characters wander the streets and there are plenty of fun events.

8. See as much of the Dinosaur Trail as possible.

Museum of the Rockies, 600 W Kagy Blvd, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
Museum of the Rockies Facebook page
If nothing else, at least make it a point to visit the Museum of the Rockies

9. Eat some pasties.

Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr
Yum!

10. Experience a good old-fashioned small town Montana 4th of July.

Tracy Hunter / Flickr
Almost every city and town in Montana celebrates the 4th in style, from parades (this one is from Livingston's) to fireworks displays. Montana has some totally cool small towns, afterall!

11. Drive across the Fort Peck Dam

Fort Peck Dam, Nashua, MT 59248, USA
maryv861 / TripAdvisor
It is one of the most beautiful waterways in the Treasure State.

12. Tour Havre Beneath the Streets

Havre Beneath the Streets, 120 3rd Ave, Havre, MT 59501, USA
Pattys-photos / Flickr
A lot of people visit Havre without ever knowing that an underground tour is available. But exploring Havre Beneath the Streets is a great way to learn about the area's history.

13. Visit Butte and learn about our mining history.

Butte, MT, USA
Ken Lund / Flickr
In Butte you can visit the World Museum of Mining, check out the Dumas Brothel Museum, and have a meal at the Pekin Noodle Parlor, Montana's oldest restaurant.

14. Go to the Polebridge Mercantile

Polebridge Mercantile & Bakery, 265 Polebridge Loop, Polebridge, MT 59928, USA
Don Barrett / Flickr
Bonus points if you have a huckleberry bear claw! Note: Polebridge Mercantile is only open seasonally, so be sure to check the website for seasonal days and hours.

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15. See the Northern Lights

Troy Smith / Flickr
It is possible to see the Northern Lights in other parts of the world, of course, but can you think of a better place to enjoy them than Big Sky Country?

16. Have an ugly burger from Rod’s Drive Inn in Havre.

Rod's Drive In, 1827 5th Ave, Havre, MT 59501, USA
Mary Rector/Google Maps

17. Visit the Virgelle Mercantile

Virgelle Mercantile, 7485 Virgelle Ferry Rd N, Loma, MT 59460, USA
Virgelle Mercantile/Facebook
One of our oldest general stores has become a charming antique shop with rooms and cabins available for rent.

18. Head to Wolf Point for the Wadopana Pow Wow in early August.

Wolf Point, MT 59201, USA
karendesuyo/Flickr
This celebration is the oldest traditional pow‑wow in Montana. Even if you're not Native American, it's nice to learn more about (and respect) the culture.

19. Find your perfect camping spot

Jonathan C. Wheeler / Flickr
Whether that means pitching a tent under the stars or hooking up your RV at a campground, finding your ideal way to be close to nature will help you enjoy Montana even more.

20. Wander through the Daly Mansion in Hamilton

Daly Mansion, 251 Eastside Hwy, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
sea turtle / Flickr
Once the home of Mr. Marcus Daly and his family, the Daly Mansion has been purchased and preserved by the state of Montana.

21. Visit the Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine

Gem Mountain Philipsburg, 201 W Broadway St, Philipsburg, MT 59858, USA
Gem Mountain/Facebook
Located in Philipsburg, it is one of the coolest places in the state!

22. Have a cinnamon roll from Wheat Montana

Wheat Montana Bakery & Deli, 10778 US-287, Three Forks, MT 59752, USA
Wheat Montana Facebook Page
This is a bucket list item you'll want to complete many times.

23. Experience the Gates of the Mountains Tour

Gates of the Mountains Wilderness, Helena, MT 59602, USA
Gates of the Mountains/Facebook
Take a boat ride through the Gates of the Mountains , located about 20 miles north of Helena.

24. Spend the night at one of our haunted hotels...

Grand Union Hotel, 1 Grand Union Square, Fort Benton, MT 59442, USA
Don Barrett / Flickr
...like the Grand Union Hotel in Fort Benton... if you dare.

25. Spend a relaxing weekend at Chico Hot Springs

Chico Hot Springs, Pray, MT 59065, USA
Flickred! / Flickr
It is one of the best hot springs in Montana.

26. Visit the Little Big Horn Battlefield

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Interstate 90, Battlefield Tour Rd, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA
Susan Tryforos/Flickr
It's important to learn from our history.

27. Check out the Montana Bail Trail

Hobson, MT 59452, USA
Utica, MT 59452, USA
Central Montana Website
Every September, the good people of Hobson and Utica gather for "What the Hay," the Montana Bale Trail. The creativity that goes into each display is so impressive.

28. Head to Miles City for the Bucking Horse Sale in May.

Miles City, MT 59301, USA
David Schott / Flickr
It's an experience like no other.

If someone were to ask “What are the best things to put on a Montana bucket list,” you’d know what to tell them! This list is a small fraction of all the beautiful experiences you can have in Montana, but it’s definitely a great start. Here’s some more information on Havre Beneath the Streets and Montana’s oldest restaurant.

How many of these things have you done? What do you think are some of the best things to do in Montana? What are your favorite natural wonders in Montana? We’d love to read about your experience in the comments section below!

If you’d like to explore hikes around any of these destinations you can find some great trails by going to the overall AllTrails website. Want to crank your hiking game up to 11? Check out AllTrails Plus.

If you’re still in the mood for more Montana adventures, take a look at this video:

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More to Explore

Montana Bucket List

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | December 01, 2023

Where can we find animal adventures in Montana?

  • The Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary in Red Lodge provides a permanent home for wildlife deemed unreleasable due to numerous factors.
  • Big Sky Safaris, which travels the state, offers animal adventures like horseback riding, bird watching, and wildlife viewing.
  • ZooMontana in Billings is a zoological park, botanical garden, and arboretum rolled into one.

Read on to learn about some of the many other exciting animal adventures in Montana.

Where can we go camping in Montana?

  • The Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area has several campgrounds ranging from easily accessible to primitive including some only accessible by boat or by hiking in.
  • Glacier National Park has over a dozen different campgrounds totaling over 1,000 sites in all.
  • Makoshika State Park offers well over a dozen campsites perfect for RVs or tent camping.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other great places to go camping in Montana.

Where can we find ghost towns in Montana?

  • Garnet is Montana’s best preserved ghost town and visitors will find several remnants of this former mining town.
  • The Granite Ghost Town State Park in Philipsburg is the home of an old mining camp from around 1872 that was once the world’s richest silver mine.
  • Virginia City was the state of Montana’s original capital, and from here can embark upon a train ride to nearby Nevada City, which is also an abandoned ghost town.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other spooky ghost towns in Montana.

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