Whether it’s a lakeside camping weekend or a day of Nordic skiing across badlands you’re after, a range of options — including 56 state parks — means you can find your ideal outdoor escape.
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Central Montana
If you’re looking for rugged, you’re sure to find it among the limestone cliffs of Sluice Boxes State Park. Just about 45 minutes outside of Great Falls, this area that was once rich in precious metals that lured miners now provides access to an array of recreational activities throughout the year, including hiking, fishing, river floating and wildlife viewing.
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Glacier Country
There’s nothing that compares to a day on Flathead Lake, and Big Arm State Park offers visitors camping, hiking, boating and swimming among the ponderosas that line this picturesque mountain lake. When the temperatures dip and snow starts to fall, Big Arm becomes a great place for Nordic skiing and ice fishing. This park is located on the Flathead Reservation, so note that you’ll need a tribal fishing license if you cast a line here.
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Indian Country
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 people, or a picnic spot to stop by while you’re passing through.
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Missouri River Country
Ready for a swim? The deep waters of the namesake lake at Brush Lake State Park are perfect for all your favorite water activities, including swimming, boating and waterskiing. The surrounding landscape lends itself to great Nordic skiing and snowshoeing if winter conditions allow. Complete with 12 campsites and a lakeside picnic area, it’s a great spot for your next weekend getaway.
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Southeast Montana
Eastern Montana badlands make up Makoshika State Park, Montana’s largest state park. With scenic hiking trails through the unique rock formations, it’s an experience unlike any other park in Montana. It’s also a stop on the famous Montana Dinosaur Trail, which has been a popular attraction taking visitors to prehistoric sites across the state since 2005. Here, you can bike, hike, camp and stargaze year-round, and winters provide a beautiful backdrop for snowshoeing through the snow-capped badlands.
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Southwest Montana
Tucked among rolling hills between the Beaverhead and Pioneer mountains 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 the summertime, or on skis in the winter! Ice skating on the town’s pond is another popular wintertime attraction, depending on the conditions.
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Yellowstone Country
Just north of Three Forks sits Missouri Headwaters State Park. It marks the convergence of the Jefferson, Gallatin and Madison rivers to create the wide Missouri. 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, or floating and fishing on the nation’s longest waterway.
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