The Top Things to Do in Montana, from Yellowstone to Glacier

Written by Erin Hoppe Updated on 08/12/2026

Montana is a big state, but its greatest hits are easy to string together into an unforgettable trip. In a single visit, you can watch wolves in Lamar Valley, drive one of the most scenic roads in the country, cast a line into a blue-ribbon trout stream, and two-step your way through a honky-tonk.

Whether you're planning a quick long weekend or a two-week road trip across the state, here's a rundown of the top things to do in Montana.

1. Watch Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone holds the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48, with 67 species and nearly 300 kinds of birds. Bison herds of 4,500 to 5,000 wander the Lamar and Hayden valleys. Head to the North Entrance for Lamar Valley, often called "America's Serengeti," which is the most reliable place on Earth to spot wolves. Grizzly and black bears share the same ground here, and fall brings bugling elk to the Mammoth and Madison River areas.

Wildlife watching is best at dawn or dusk. Keep your distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves, 25 yards from everything else.

Don't miss the geothermal side either: Norris Geyser Basin, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are all near the West Entrance.

Belgrade, Montana makes a great location to stay for visiting Yellowstone. Situated in Southwest Montana, Belgrade is about two hours north of the West Entrance, and 1.5 hours northwest of the North Entrance.

2. Fly Fish the Madison and Gallatin Rivers

The Lower Madison River, about 25 minutes from Belgrade and the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, offers some of the finest fly fishing in the country, with long runs, deep pools, and healthy brown and rainbow trout populations.

The Gallatin River is another favorite; much of the movie “A River Runs Through It” was shot on the portion of the river running through Gallatin Canyon. The stunning scenery isn't the only draw — both the Madison and Gallatin rivers carry blue-ribbon trout status among fly fishers.

New to the sport? Fins and Feathers, Montana Angler Fly Fishing, and Montana Angling Company can get you started. Belgrade is a great jumping off point for both rivers — book your stay today!

3. Go Horseback Riding

Few things feel more Montana than saddling up and riding through the backcountry, and trails across the state suit riders of any level.

In the southwest, easy rides along the North Fork of the Gallatin River and through Gallatin Canyon wind past open meadows and rivers, while backcountry routes into Hilgard Basin and Spanish Creek push deeper into the Lee Metcalf Wilderness.

In Glacier National Park, guided rides depart from corrals at Lake McDonald, Apgar, and Many Glacier, and trails through Paradise Valley toward Yellowstone round things out, with multi-day pack trips available for those who want to disappear into the wilderness.

Outfitters like Jake's Horses in Big Sky, Bear Paw Outfitters in Paradise Valley, and Swan Mountain Outfitters in Glacier offer everything from one-hour rides to multi-day pack trips, suited to first-timers and experienced riders alike.

4. Float or Whitewater Raft a Montana River

For a relaxing float, the Madison River from Warm Springs Access to Black's Ford covers about eight gentle miles, best from late June through early August. (It’s also one of the best things to do in Belgrade in summer.) Montana Whitewater and Madison River Tubing handle gear and shuttles if you’d like to avoid planning your own transportation.

For whitewater, the Gallatin River carves through a limestone canyon along US-191 with continuous Class II–IV rapids, including the legendary "Mad Mile." Near Gardiner, the Yellowstone River offers a wider, family-friendly Class I–III ride, good for first-timers.

5. Catch a Montana Rodeo

Rodeo is woven into the fabric of Montana, a genuine expression of the state's ranching heritage rather than a show put on for tourists. Nearly every town has some version of it, from casual weekly amateur nights to full PRCA-sanctioned events, and catching one is one of the best things to do in Montana.

Near Belgrade, Valley View Rodeo in Bozeman runs every Thursday evening, June through August, with bull riding, bronc riding, and barrel racing. The Three Forks Rodeo, about 25 minutes from Belgrade, has been a tradition since 1946 and draws thousands over two nights each July. 

6. Enjoy a Classic Montana Steakhouse

When in Montana, you'd better try a steak. Cattle ranching runs deep in the state's identity, and a good steakhouse dinner is practically a rite of passage after a day spent outdoors.

There are over 10 Mint bars and restaurants all over Montana — rumor has it that the miners went to The Mint, while cattlemen went to Stockman’s. The Mint Cafe and Bar in Belgrade has been around since 1904, and is the kind of timeless Montana steakhouse built around straightforward, well-cooked steaks and a genuine local atmosphere. It's an easy way to cap off a day outdoors without a dinner reservation two towns over.

7. Dig Into Montana's Dinosaur Past

Montana is one of the richest fossil-hunting grounds in the world. Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman is home to a mounted T. rex and the near-complete "Big Al" Allosaurus.

Beyond Bozeman, the Montana Dinosaur Trail links museums and dig sites across Montana, with a "Prehistoric Passport" for checking off stops along the way. If you’re into paleontology, this is one of the best things to do in Montana!

8. Hike Some Gorgeous Trails (for Every Skill Level)

Montana's trails range from stroller-friendly to strenuous, and every region has its own standout. Belgrade sits near many excellent hiking trails, including Palisade Falls in Hyalite Canyon, a paved, one-mile trail to a graceful, ribbon-like waterfall over a limestone cliff. Near Big Sky, Beehive Basin climbs 6.6 miles round trip to an alpine cirque with views of Lone Peak, consistently ranked among the best day hikes in the country.

In Glacier, the Highline Trail traces a narrow ledge along the Garden Wall from Logan Pass, one of the park's most iconic hikes. In Yellowstone, Mount Washburn is a moderate 6- to 7-mile round trip to a fire lookout with panoramic Hayden Valley views.

Near Red Lodge, the Glacier Lake Trail climbs a steep 4.4 miles to a crystal-blue lake on the Montana-Wyoming border. And in Eastern Montana, Makoshika State Park offers badlands trails like the Caprock Trail, past hoodoos and dinosaur fossil sites tied to the Hell Creek Formation.

9. Ride the Lifts (or Trails) at Big Sky

The drive down US-191 through Gallatin Canyon toward Big Sky is scenic enough on its own, so plan time for stopping at some of the many pullouts for photos.

Big Sky Resort spans roughly 5,800 skiable acres across four connected mountains, making it one of the largest ski resorts in North America, with over 400 inches of snow a year and terrain for every ability level, from long beginner groomers to the legendary Lone Peak Tram and its extreme couloirs.

Beyond downhill skiing and snowboarding, winter visitors can go snowshoeing, cross-country ski, or take a guided snowmobile tour into the surrounding backcountry.

Come summer, the resort turns into a mountain playground: ride the tram to Lone Peak, hit the lift-served bike park, golf, or hike the trails.

10. Trace Montana's History, from Gold Rush Towns to Lewis and Clark and Native Nations

There’s lots of things to do in Montana for history buffs! Virginia City and Nevada City, located just a mile apart, mark the richest placer gold strike in the Rocky Mountain West, with original boardwalks, working saloons, and a narrow-gauge steam train connecting the two towns.

Three state parks under an hour from Belgrade tell a different piece of the state’s history. Missouri Headwaters State Park marks where the Corps found the source of the Missouri in 1805. Lewis and Clark camped within sight of Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park along Antelope Creek; today, guided tours descend into the limestone caverns instead. At Madison Buffalo Jump State Park, Native Americans drove bison over the limestone cliffs for thousands of years.

The state's Native history is just as central. Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, on the Crow Reservation, memorializes the 1876 battle between the U.S. 7th Cavalry and an alliance of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors, with tours led by Crow guides. 

Elsewhere, Blackfeet-led Sun Tours of Glacier, tribal museums, and summer powwows offer more ways to connect with that living history.

11. Explore Glacier National Park

Glacier's centerpiece is Going-to-the-Sun Road, a 50-mile route crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass past glacial lakes and jagged peaks. It's only fully open mid-June through mid-October, depending on snowfall.

Key Stops Along Going-to-the-Sun Road include Jackson Glacier Overlook for views of an incredible glacier, Weeping Wall for water cascading down a mountainside, and the short Hidden Lake Overlook Trail off Logan Pass for sweeping alpine views.

12. Catch a Montana Music Festival

Under the Big Sky, held every July on a 350-acre working ranch in Whitefish, has grown into one of the state's premier Americana and country festivals, with a rough stock rodeo and family activities alongside the music.

Red Ants Pants Music Festival, held annually outside White Sulphur Springs, blends live music with a celebration of rural Montana life.

Smaller local festivals and street dances also pop up statewide all summer. Free concert series like Bozeman’s Music on Main, Belgrade’s Belgrade Summer Nights, and Big Sky’s Music in the Mountains are popular among locals.

13. Kick Up Your Boots with Country Dancing

Montana has a lively honky-tonk scene. Bozeman, in particular, is a great place to learn the ropes, with weekly dance nights built around country swing and line dancing.

The Jump and The Westerner are the spots for country swing, while Bourbon hosts both line dancing and country dancing. All three pair a beginner-friendly lesson with open dancing afterward, so no partner or experience is required to hit the floor.

14. Drive the Beartooth Highway

The Beartooth Highway is a roughly 68-mile stretch of U.S. Route 212 connects the Yellowstone area to Red Lodge, climbing to 10,947 feet at Beartooth Pass, one of the highest paved points in the Northern Rockies.

Charles Kuralt called it "the most beautiful drive in America," and the route passes 20 peaks over 12,000 feet, alpine lakes, and glaciers. Keep your eyes peeled for mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pikas, and more!

This road is open seasonally, typically from Memorial Day through mid-October.

15. Play on Flathead Lake

Flathead Lake, just south of Glacier, is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western U.S., about 27 miles long and 190 square miles. Public access sites offer swimming, boating, and fishing.

Wild Horse Island, boat-access only, is home to wild horses and bighorn sheep, and the east shore's cherry orchards are worth a stop in late July.

Whether your priority is watching wolves in Lamar Valley, floating the Madison, or wandering a gold rush ghost town, Belgrade puts all of it within reach without the crowds or high costs of other resort towns.

Ready to start planning? Browse Belgrade hotels and start building your southwest Montana itinerary today!