8 Most Relaxing Montana Towns

Some Montana towns still make it easy to lose an afternoon, whether that means taking a boat out from Big Arm toward Wild Horse Island or lingering over galleries in Livingston after a walk by the Yellowstone River. In Whitefish, the lake and mountain backdrop make it easier to slow down, while Ekalaka settles in under some of the darkest skies in the state. These 8 Montana towns show how many different ways Montana can slow the day down.

Whitefish

Sitting near the northwestern border of Montana, Whitefish is one of the few gateway towns to Glacier National Park, a park known for glaciers, hundreds of miles of trails, and alpine lakes. It's a pristine alpine environment, one of the few glacial regions left in the continental U.S., alongside some high altitude spots in the Western U.S.

You don't have to drive out to the national park to see a lake, however, as the town sits right next to Whitefish Lake with a cobblestone beach for kayaking or swimming at Les Mason State Park. Downtown Whitefish has plenty of spots to escape for a bit, whether that's listening to a classical music performance with the Glacier Symphony and Chorale or enjoying a blast to the past at the Imagination Station Toys, which keeps old school toys in stock for those young and young at heart to enjoy.

Big Sky

One of Montana's nicknames is Big Sky Country, adopted in the 1960s after A. B. Guthrie Jr.’s The Big Sky. This town lives up to its name with its position in a beautiful mountain meadow. Firmly located in the Rocky Mountains, it is surrounded by lesser-known trails and broad mountain scenery.

In the winter, visitors can head out on Nordic skiing trails or take in views from the Kircliff observation deck at 11,166 feet above sea level. From town, there are several trailheads, including the 1.6-mile Ousel Falls trail to a waterfall, as well as more challenging hikes in nearby Custer Gallatin National Forest. In town, visitors can stop for a drink at Beehive Basin Brewery or settle in for a meal at Thai Basil Big Sky.

Livingston

Livingston sits on the shores of the Yellowstone River just north of Yellowstone National Park. Today, the town provides context for the beautiful land that makes up Yellowstone at the Yellowstone Gateway Museum of Park County, with information on the railroad, wolves, and the Ice Age's influence on Yellowstone. One reason folks come to this town is to slow down and appreciate the art inspired by Montana's countryside.

Livingston is filled with museums and art galleries, such as the Danforth Museum of Art, displaying both paintings and photographs, and the Medicine Bird Gallery, showcasing original works by local and Indigenous artists. You don't have to drive down to the national park to get out into nature in Livingston; you can hike along the Yellowstone River with the Myers' River View Trail.

Ennis

Ennis sits between the Madison Range, Tobacco Root Mountains, and Gravelly Range, with the Madison River flowing through town. Named after an Irish settler, Ennis prides itself on being a base camp for further Montana adventures and as a gentler destination for spending hours fishing in the Madison River. One of the best places to fish is at the Madison Valley Ranch, which provides fly fishing amenities and meals if you don't catch anything! Downtown Ennis has several art galleries and drinking holes, with the RiverStone Gallery displaying paintings inspired by the rich fishing culture, and Willie's Distillery pouring whiskey and spirits in an old-timey western setting. You can find several walking trails following the Madison River, such as the Bear Trap Canyon Trail, which is a favorite for folks fishing in the autumn months.

Stevensville

Stevensville is the oldest town in Montana, founded in 1841 by a group of Jesuit missionaries who aimed to convert the local Bitterroot Salish people. The spot of their mission is preserved today as part of the Historic St. Mary's Mission & Museum. It includes all aspects of the town's history, from a log house to a restored chapel to Chief Victor's Cabin, which contains Salish artifacts. Further north, you can delve deeper into the area's history at Fort Owen State Park, which features an adobe-style East Barracks and various interpretive signs. You can take a piece of more recent history home with you at the Creamery Antique Mall, which houses vintage furnishings, collectibles, and other western souvenirs.

Lewistown

Lewistown sits at the approximate geographic center of Montana, with the spring-fed Big Spring Creek running through it. It challenges visitors to "find your center" with hiking trails up mountain peaks, along the Crystal Lake, and a crystal-clear waterfall visible from the Crystal Cascades Trail. Lewistown also honors the old ways of the prairie at the American Prairie National Discovery Center, which explains in detail how this ecosystem functions. Lewistown's best features are found in its walkable downtown, with a variety of boutiques, gift shops, and galleries to explore. One such place is the MOB Studios & Gallery, offering art, coffee, beer, and wine all in one location, or Central Montana Variety, which gives off a general store vibe with how many different items it keeps in stock.

Ekalaka

Located in southeastern Montana, Ekalaka is named after a Sioux woman whose name translates to "Restless." Despite the town's name, it is especially quiet at night. Medicine Rocks State Park is a certified Dark Sky Sanctuary, meaning it has exceptionally dark, protected night skies. The park itself is gorgeous during the daytime, with its weathered sandstone formations that resemble Swiss cheese. Within the park is Camp Needmore, a former Civilian Conservation Corps Camp from the 1930s. Ekalaka also stands out for its Carter County Museum, the first county museum in Montana, established in 1936. Today, it holds some of the most unique fossils ever found. For food here, there's Mexican cuisine at the TSO Cantina.

Big Arm

Big Arm sits in Northwestern Montana with a tiny population of just under 220 people. What makes this town special is its location by Flathead Lake. At 28 miles long, it's the largest natural freshwater lake in the Western United States by surface area. From Big Arm State Park, you can go canoeing, motorboating, camping, or sit by the pebble beach. If you have a kayak or boat, make sure to take it out to Wild Horse Island. This protected area is filled with old-growth Ponderosa pine trees and is home to a small population of wild horses. If you don't have a boat with you, Big Arm rents them out at Boat Rentals and Rides.

Where Montana Slows Down

All of these towns allow you to sit back and really take in the scenery in a way that's not always possible in more populated areas. It's easy to forget about the night sky when light pollution makes it difficult to even see the North Star. In these Montana communities, you have access to a beautiful night sky, whether that's a certified Dark Sky Sanctuary in Ekalaka or the protected landscapes near Whitefish and Livingston. These Montana towns offer a reminder of why it can be good to take things slow.