9 Stress-Free Montana Towns For A Weekend Retreat
Most folks driving through Montana keep their eyes on Glacier and Yellowstone. That is their mistake. The real finds sit in the little towns scattered across the prairie and tucked into the mountain valleys. Butte still shows off the copper money that built its Victorian storefronts. Stevensville has been around since 1841 and calls itself the spot where Montana began. Glendive sits on a graveyard of dinosaur bones out in the Badlands. Lolo has hot springs that locals have soaked in for generations. Nine towns. Nine reasons to take the slow road.
Kalispell
Kalispell is surrounded on all sides by beauty. Glacier National Park is easily accessible to the northeast, where you can enjoy some of the country's best hiking with even better views of the awe-inspiring glaciers that give the park its name. To the south, Flathead Lake is a great place to swim or kayak in crystalline blue water with an unblemished view of the mountains in the distance. After a day outside, stop by local favorites Bias Brewing and Waters Edge Winery to decompress. For lodging, the Clark Farm Silos provide refurbished silos where you can relax in solitude and comfort.
Stevensville
Deep in the Bitterroot Valley, Stevensville is in one of the most remote regions of the country. Photographers should check out the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge for a chance to snap a close-up picture of osprey, eagles, marmots, and mink, among many others. History buffs will enjoy a tour of St. Mary's Mission, a Jesuit settlement founded in 1841 that claims to be "Where Montana Began." The Stevensville Historical Museum is another place to learn about the early days of Montana, when it was a frontier territory on the fringes of the ever-growing United States. The Stevensville Hotel and Alpenglow Bed and Breakfast will give you a feel for the local hospitality that makes this place such a perfect destination.
Big Sky
Just outside Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky is only 30 miles from the border with Wyoming and one of the country's most beloved parks. Old Faithful and the Yellowstone Grand Canyon are at your fingertips for day trips, and the area immediately surrounding Big Sky serves as the perfect retreat for anyone in need of some nature time. Fly fishing, whitewater rafting, mountain biking: whatever you need to unwind, Big Sky probably has it. This mountain town is famous for its world-class skiing and snowboarding. If you happen to be in the area in the winter, the Big Sky Resort is the place to stay if you want to be as close to the fresh powder as possible.
Butte
Butte was founded as a copper mining camp in 1864 and quickly exploded into a boom town. Its rich history is recorded in the World Museum of Mining, and echoes of the past remain in the town's Victorian business district. There are plenty of ways to fill your weekend outside town, too, with endless trails for hiking and streams for trout fishing. Aspiring spelunkers need not travel far to reach the Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park for a tour of the winding limestone tunnels and their unique cave formations. To get the full Butte experience, stay overnight at one of the historic Copper King or Hodgens Ryan mansions.
Lewistown
Square in the geographic center of the state, Lewistown sits in the middle of rolling prairie with mountains to the south and west. If you want a slower, calmer weekend, this is the perfect destination. This is pure ranch country with wide open spaces, but the mountains are only a short drive away. Lewistown was a railroad hub in the nineteenth century for transporting bricks, and one of the most impressive brick buildings in town is Big Spring Brewing. For accommodations, the Cottonwood Cabins and Pine View Retreat will give you all the room you need to take a deep breath and savor your surroundings.
Red Lodge
The Beartooth Highway in southern Montana is one of the most gorgeous drives in the country, and it passes straight through Red Lodge. Sitting in the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains, Red Lodge boasts 23 buildings on the National Historic Register. If you want a deep dive into the wild west, look no further. Visit the site of the Sundance Kid's 1897 bank robbery or take a walking tour and learn about the town's role in bootlegging during Prohibition. Follow the Beartooth Highway into Wyoming, and you will reach Yellowstone for an unforgettable day trip. The variety of private cottages available in the foothills outside Red Lodge will have you ending the day watching the sun set over the Beartooth Mountains.
Eureka
Just 15 miles from the Canadian border, Eureka is about as far from the hustle and bustle as you can get. The imposing Hoodoo limestone formations await just outside town in the bay where the Tobacco River meets Lake Koocanusa. If camping is your cup of tea, check out the Tobacco River campground to the west of town or any of the other campsites along the lake. Koocanusa Brewery is the quintessential small-town brewery, with the mountains in the background. Hikers of all skill levels have countless places to get away from the noise and find the perfect trail in Eureka.
Glendive
The spirit of eastern Montana's wide-open plains is alive and well in Glendive, a small town 40 miles west of the border with North Dakota. Wedged between the Yellowstone River and the Badlands, Glendive is a rich archaeological site of fossils and dinosaur bones. The Frontier Gateway Museum and Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum are must-sees, and if you feel lucky, go out for a hike and keep an eye out for fossils! The nearby Makoshika State Park has campgrounds along the unique Badlands rock formations that will make you feel like you are staying on a different planet entirely.
Lolo
For centuries, people in need of rest and relaxation have sought out natural hot springs to let their cares trickle away with the steaming spring water. In Montana, the place to go for hot springs is Lolo, a small town outside Missoula. If you want to walk in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, Traveler's Rest State Park can bring you back to the rustic pioneer days. This was historically a spot where weary travelers stopped for a rest, and the sense of peace in the area is palpable. If you enjoy horseback riding, consider lodging at the Dunrovin Ranch and spend your time away in the saddle.
Unwind in Endless Beauty
The land of Lewis and Clark is home to all the beauty, ruggedness, and history of the wild west. Whatever your fix, be it horseback riding, mountain climbing, or sipping a beer with a pretty view, you are sure to find it somewhere in Montana. In its small towns, that spirit still feels close enough to touch.
