Montana is home to 56 different state parks, each with its own character and appeal. Here are a few favorites:
Sluice Boxes State Park: If you’re looking for rugged, you’re sure to find it among the limestone cliffs of Sluice Boxes State Park, located in Central Montana. Just about 45 minutes outside of Great Falls, this area was once rich in precious metals that lured miners and now provides access to an array of recreational activities throughout the year, including hiking, fishing, river floating and wildlife viewing.
Big Arm State Park: Almost nothing beats a day on Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. Visitors can camp on its western shores at Big Arm, which offers hiking, boating and swimming among the ponderosas that line this picturesque mountain lake.
Chief Plenty Coups State Park: Just south of Billings, you’ll find Chief Plenty Coups State Park. This National Historic Landmark is a day-use park that’s open year-round, and makes for a great day trip to learn more about the Crow Tribe in Indian Country, or a picnic spot to stop by while you’re passing through.
Medicine Rocks State Park: Swiss-cheese looking rock formations paired with mule deer, antelope, sharp tailed grouse and some of the darkest skies in the lower 48 make Medicine Rocks a top park to explore in Eastern Montana.
Makoshika State Park: Eastern Montana badlands make up Makoshika State Park, Montana’s largest state park. With scenic hiking trails winding through the unique rock formations, it’s unlike any other park in Montana. Here, you can bike, hike, camp and stargaze year-round, and winters provide a beautiful backdrop for snowshoeing through the snow-capped badlands. The park is also a stop on the Montana Dinosaur Trail, which consists of 14 museums across the state that give visitors a look into Montana’s dinosaur discoveries and prehistoric past. The trail has been a popular attraction since it started in 2005.
Bannack State Park: Tucked among rolling hills between the Beaverhead and Pioneer mountains of Southwest Montana is Bannack State Park, a site for adventure seekers and history buffs alike. Here, you can set up camp in one of Montana’s best-preserved ghost towns through all four seasons. Explore this historic boom town on foot in summertime or on skis in winter! Ice skating on the town’s pond (dependent on winter conditions) is another popular wintertime attraction.
Missouri Headwaters State Park: Just north of the town of Three Forks sits Missouri Headwaters State Park. It marks the convergence of the Jefferson, Gallatin and Madison rivers to create the wide Missouri River. There’s plenty to enjoy at this year-round park, from camping in a tipi at the same site as Lewis and Clark, to snowshoeing along the banks of the rivers, to floating and fishing on the nation’s longest waterway.
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