Most visitors to Montana are headed straight for Glacier National Park and while you could spend an entire two weeks there and barely scrape the surface, the entire state is filled with beautiful places that are worth seeking out.

From northwest Montana’s mountainous peaks to the rolling hills of the east, this bucket list will cover all the best things to do in the state and help you uncover some of the hidden gems you can only find in Big Sky country.

This Montana bucket list will begin with some destinations inside Glacier National Park that you shouldn’t miss, before moving on to destinations in the rest of the state. Let’s take a look!

1. Plan a trip to Glacier National Park

Montana Bucket List: 22 Things To Do In Montana — Glacier National Park in Montana.

At the top of every Montana bucket list should be a visit to Glacier National Park. It is indeed Montana’s best asset and one of the most beautiful places in the entire world!

Glacier National Park is best known for its jagged sky high peaks, alpine meadows, stunning glacial lakes, and abundant wildlife.

It is an outdoor lovers paradise with over 700 miles of hiking trails in Glacier National Park that will help you explore this slice of heaven on earth.

However you don’t have to hike to see this national park’s highlights because many of the beautiful places here can be seen without even straying from the main road through the park.

There are four distinct sections of Glacier National Park and it does take time to get between all of them. If you have less than two days for your visit, it is recommended that you focus on spending time in only one or two areas.

West Glacier and Many Glacier are the most popular sections of the park to visit. The other two sections of the park are called Two Medicine and North Fork.

2. Drive Going-To-The-Sun Road

Ultimate Montana Bucket List! — Going-To-The-Sun Road in Montana.

Going-To-The-Sun Road is a spectacular drive through Glacier National Park. Visitors come from around the world to drive across this famous stretch of road and tick it off their Montana bucket list.

The road connects the east and west sections of Glacier National Park, traveling more than 50 miles through a majestic landscape full of mountain peaks, picturesque valleys, and stunning waterfalls.

There are many wonderful places to stop and visit along the way as well as turn outs to stop and take in the breathtaking scenery.

It is best that you dedicate an entire day for the drive, so you can truly appreciate the landscape and hike some of the short trails that can be accessed along the way.

Ideally, you should spend one night in West Glacier, then take the scenic drive across Going-To-The-Sun Road, and end the day in St Mary Village to stay the second night (or vice versa).

3. Hike to Iceberg Lake

The Iceberg Lake hiking trail is one of the best hikes in Glacier National Park!

This hiking trail will lead you to a stunning alpine lake with brilliant turqoise-colored water. The lake sits at the base of an enormous cirque with towering mountain walls.

Iceberg Lake will certainly take your breath away!

Along the way to Iceberg Lake you’ll see the peaks of Mount Wilbur, Mount Grinnell, and Swiftcurrent Mountain, and also pass Ptarmigan Falls. Learn more about the trail here.

4. Kayak on Lake McDonald

See Glacier National Park from a different perspective! Rent a kayak or canoe and enjoy the spectacular views of West Glacier from Lake McDonald.

Lake McDonald was carved out by a combination of erosion and glacial activity. The water in the lake is so clear that you can see the bottom even though this lake is very deep.

You’ll find canoe, kayak, and standup paddleboard rentals at Apgar Village and Lake McDonald Lodge.

5. See bison at National Bison Range

One of the best places to see wildlife in Montana is at the National Bison Range. This refuge is home to over 300 shaggy bison that roam 19,000 acres of grasslands.

The refuge is not only home to bison but also deer, antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, and coyotes.

To find the bison, take a drive through the park along Red Sleep Mountain Road or Buffalo Prairie Drive and keep an eye out for wildlife. If you own binoculars don’t forget to bring them with you.

Be aware that bison are dangerous and unpredictable animals. Although they may seem docile and slow moving, they can run as fast as a horse! So although you are welcome to get out of your vehicle during your visit, don’t put yourself in a position where they can charge at you.

The National Bison Range is open all year, even during winter!

6. Find Kootenai Falls

Kootenai Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Montana.

The Kootenai River runs parallel to Highway 2, so if you are traveling along this scenic byway between Sandpoint and Kalispell, you simply must make time to find Kootenai Falls!

Look out for a large parking lot with signs that indicate you have reached Kootenai Falls.

From the parking lot you will need to hike through a forest, and then cross a bridge before reaching the river’s edge. The hike is rated easy to moderate depending on your fitness level.

You can watch this video of Kootenai Falls to see what the waterfall looks like and learn what to expect when you get there.

7. Go tubing on the Clark Fork River

If you’re planning to visit Missoula in the summer time, don’t miss tubing down the Clark Fork River!

The Clark Fork runs right through downtown Missoula, so floating down the river allows you to see the city from a different perspective. It’s also a really fun way to experience the city!!

Don’t worry, you don’t need to bring your own floating equipment. There are plenty of float rental businesses in town like Love Boat Paddle Co.

8. Take a scenic drive on Beartooth Highway

The Beartooth Highway is one of the most scenic drives in America! This highway connects the towns of Cooke City and Red Lodge in Montana.

On the drive you’ll climb 5,000 feet through lodgepole pine forests to an enchanting world of alpine lakes, glacially carved cirques, and towering mountain peaks.

The 68 mile drive is nothing short of spectacular. If you are headed into Yellowstone National Park, this road will take you to Yellowstone’s northeast entrance.

9. Try a Huckleberry Shake

Montana is known for its huckleberry milkshakes so be sure not to miss sampling this local delight. Huckleberry shakes are on the menu in many restaurants across the entire state.

Don’t like milkshakes? That’s okay. You can try huckleberry flavored everything in Montana! There’s huckleberry lemonade, huckleberry coffee, huckleberry chocolate, huckleberry fudge, and so much more!

10. Plan a winter trip to Big Sky Ski Resort

Big Sky Ski Resort is the second largest ski resort in the USA. This ski resort is a premier winter destination and famous for its light and fluffy snow.

Winter activities besides skiing and snowboarding include cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, ziplining, and even sleigh rides.

Big Sky has everything one would expect from a modern ski resort including a ski village. Big Sky Mountain Village features a variety of dining, lodging, and shopping possibilities.

Staying at Big Sky Mountain Village can be expensive though, so if you are looking for somewhere to stay nearby that is more affordable, take a look at hotel rooms in Bozeman instead which is located an hour north of the ski resort.

11. Learn about grizzly bears and wolves at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center

Montana best Things To Do — Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in Montana.

The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center is a not-for-profit wildlife park that is home to several grizzly bears and gray wolves that have been rescued from the wild.

Animals at this park are unable to be released back into the wild, and now serve as ambassadors for their wild counterparts.

Both children and adults will love visiting this educational facility where you can get up close with magnificent North American animals and gain a better understanding of their biology and ecology.

Besides grizzlies and wolves, there are several other species here including the very popular cheeky American river otters which you can see at Banks of the Yellowstone River Otter Exhibit.

You can find the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone just outside of the entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

12. Indulge at Firehole Bar-B-Q in West Yellowstone

Firehole BBQ in Montana — Delicious BBQ in West Yellowstone, Montana.

Do you love a good barbeque restaurant? Then you do not want to miss this place!

Not only was it voted best restaurant in West Yellowstone, but it was also featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives.

This bbq joint is located just outside of Yellowstone National Park so once you’re done exploring the park you can appease your appetite at this top-rated smokehouse.

You can choose from smoked brisket, pork, ribs, turkey, and buffalo sausage served by the pound.

All the meat is smoked in house daily. They open at 4pm and close when they sell out. Don’t miss out!

13. Visit Nevada City

Nevada City In Montana — Nevada City, Montana.

Nevada City was once known as one of the richest gold strikes in the western United States and a major center of commerce in the 1880s, along with its sister city Virginia City.

The city fell into disrepair, but in the 1990s it was restored to its former glory. Nevada City is now a popular tourist destination known for its collection of 19th century buildings.

At this ghost town you can see 108 historic buildings, and on weekends visitors are treated to live interpretations of historic events.

If you want to experience what life was like in Montana in the late 1880s, be sure to add a visit to Nevada City to your Montana bucket list.

14. Plan a summer vacation at Flathead Lake

Flathead Lake is a stunning lake near Kalispell in the northwest corner of Montana. It is a popular tourist destination during the summer, and it’s not hard to see why.

Some of the activities you can partake in at Flathead Lake include boating, water-skiing, fishing, swimming, and camping.

There are a variety of lodging options scattered around the lake including several campgrounds. But if you really want to make the most of your vacation, skip the campgrounds and motels and get yourself a lakehouse!

You will be surprised by how affordable lakeside condos are at Flathead Lake. For example, this condo is only $129 per night. See all of the lakeside vacation homes and condos at Flathead Lake here.

Fun fact: Flathead Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the USA (by surface area) west of the Mississippi!

15. Take a road trip to Elkhorn Ghost Town

Elkhorn is a ghost town located in Jefferson County, Montana. But this ghost town isn’t completely abandoned yet. There is still a small population of ten people that continue to live here.

This former mining town was founded in 1872, and during the time when the mine was in operation here, it produced 14 million dollars worth of silver.

Today, you can visit Elkhorn Ghost Town and see two well-preserved buildings and several other buildings in a state of disrepair that are an example of what 19th century frontier architecture looked like.

16. Visit the World Museum of Mining

The World Museum of Mining is one of the few museums in the world that is located on an actual mine yard.

There are nearly 50 exhibits here along with countless artifacts.

The museum is located in Butte, an area that earned a reputation as being home to one of the world’s most productive copper mines of all time.

17. See the Berkeley Pit

The Berkeley Pit is a former open pit copper mine located in Butte, Montana. It is no longer in operation and now serves as a popular tourist attraction, albeit it being a strange place.

This open pit mine is filled with water that is extremely toxic, and laden with dangerous chemicals including copper, arsenic, cadmium, zinc, and sulfuric acid.

The water has an acidity level of 2.5pH which is equivalent to a can of Coke or lemon juice.

Obviously visitors are not permitted to get too close to the pit due to its toxicity, however there is a viewing platform that overlooks the pit which you can access with a $3 dollar admission ticket.

18. Explore Pictograph State Park

Pictograph State Park is an area of significance because it contains three caves; Pictograph, Middle, and Ghost Cave.

These caves contain rock “paintings” which were left behind by prehistoric hunters.

The oldest rock art in the caves is thought to be over 2,000 years old, and the most recent additions are probably somewhere between 200 to 500 years old.

There is a three-quarter mile trail that loops around to all three caves starting in front of the visitors center.

This historic state park is situated just outside of Billings so if you happen to be in town and looking for something cool to do, be sure to head out to see these fascinating caves.

19. Tour the Smokejumper Visitor Center

At the Smokejumper Visitor Center you can learn about smokejumping history and firefighting procedures through a variety of displays and short educational films.

In addition, there is a fire lookout that was built in 1937 that visitors are allowed to climb and explore. There are also tours that explain how jump gear, parachutes, and aircraft are utilized in emergency situations.

The Smokejumper Visitor Center is located just of Interstate-90 in Missoula, Montana.

20. Stop by St. Regis Gift Shop

The St. Regis Gift Shop is a fun stop on Interstate-90 for anyone traveling between Spokane and Missoula.

This massive gift shop sells fun and unique Montana-related souvenirs and it’s guaranteed you’ll find it hard to leave this place without buying something.

However, the best thing about St Regis Gift Shop is the free trout aquarium that both children and adults will love!

Also inside the gift shop is a specialty fudge store, ice cream shop, and even an onsite restaurant where you can order bison burgers, huckleberry shakes, and huckleberry coffee.

Read: Best Stops on a Road Trip Between Portland and Glacier National Park

21. Organize a guided fly-fishing trip on the Madison River

The Madison River flows through one of the most scenic valleys in Montana. This beautiful valley is flanked by towering mountain ranges including the Madison, Gravelly, and Tobacoo Root ranges.

But not only is this valley unbelievably beautiful, but the river that runs through it is regarded as one of the finest trout fisheries in the world.

If you’re looking for an excuse to visit this majestic place, then why not organize a fly-fishing trip?

Whether you’re an experienced flyfisherman or not, you are guaranteed to enjoy your time out here. Montana Anglers can take you out on half day and full day tours where you can choose to wade or float fish.

22. Visit Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument commemorates the 1876 clash between the US Army and Sioux and Cheyenne Indians.

It is one of the best-known historical landmarks in the United States, and one of the most important in terms of the reconciliation that has taken place since.

At the monument you’ll find a visitor center, museum, the Custer National Cemetery, the 7th Cavalry Memorial, and the Reno-Benteen Battlefield.

The monument is located not far from Interstate-90 about 60 miles east of Billings, Montana.

23. Discover Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park

Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park is home to some of the largest limestone caverns in America!

You can explore these impressive caves lined with stalactites and stalagmites on a guided tour led by park officials. There are two cave tour options: the Classic Cave Tour is two miles in distance and lasts two hours, while the Paradise Tour is one mile long and takes about an hour.

There are also several hiking trails at this state park. The four main trails in the park are: Limespur, Cave Gulch, Middle View, and East Side. Limespur Trail is only one mile or so in length and is rated easy. The other three are moderate to mildly strenuous as they gain about 1000 feet as they climb up a mountain toward the caves.

You’ll find Lewis and Clark State Park in Whitehall, about 50 miles west of Bozeman, Montana.

24. See the world’s largest T-Rex skull at Museum of The Rockies

Museum of the Rockies in Montana — Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana.

Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman is home to one of the largest dinosaur collections in the U.S. including the world’s biggest Tyrannosaurus skull.

All of the fossils are on display at the museum’s Siebel Dinosaur Complex. Inside the complex you’ll see one of the few mounted Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons, along with the bones of Big Al, a nearly complete Allosaurus that lived during the Jurassic Period.

There are several other exciting attractions at Museum of the Rockies such as the Taylor Planetarium and the Living History Farm.

At the Living History Farm, you can step back in time to experience what life was like at a Montana homestead between 1890 and 1910.

Learn more about the Museum of the Rockies and the Living History Farm here.

Resources To Help Plan Your Montana Road Trip

If you are planning a road trip through Montana, we’d like to share a few helpful resources to help with your trip planning.

Rental Cars: For car rentals we recommend Enterprise Rental Cars who always have the best rates along with great customer service. Enterprise have depots across Montana including Missoula, Kalispell, Billings and Bozeman.

If you would prefer to shop around, check RentalCars.com to compare rental car rates with other companies.

RV and Campervans Rentals: If you want to rent an RV or campervan for your road trip, visit Outdoorsy to find rentals near you. They have a huge selection that caters to all budgets!

Booking Hotel Rooms: Book your hotel room through Hotels.com. They have great rates and a good cancellation policy. In most cases, you don’t need to pay for hotel rooms upfront, you’ll pay for your stay once you arrive at the property.

Vacation Homes: If you prefer to stay in a vacation home rather than a hotel, check out some of the cute condos, cozy log cabins, and lakeside retreats in Montana on VRBO.