The 12 Top National Parks in Montana

Located at the top of the continental U.S. Montana offers vistors a rugged landscape to explore. The best places to experience the outdoors is in a national park. Though national park sites also preserved cultural and historical sites and Montana offers several top sites to learn more. From Glacier National Park to Little Big Horn to Nez Perce National Historical Park, here are the top National Parks in Montana.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone  at a Glance 

Yellowstone National Park is primarily located in Wyoming, though part of the park is in Wyoming.  Known as the first national park in the world, it protect jewels like Old Faithful Inn and Old Faithful Geyser. 

In an area larger than Rhode Island, it’s home to the world’s largest concentration of geysers and protects the largest log cabin hotel in the world–Old Faithful Inn. So iconic of an American destination, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is one of the Top National Parks in Montana.

It takes close to a week to see the park and offers unique areas to see like the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Lake Yellowstone. Additionally, lots of wildlife are found in Yellowstone, especially in Hayden and Lamar valleys.

Yellowstone National Park is open 365-days a year and 24-hours a day. Use an America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) or purchase a 7-day pass for $35 per vehicle.

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Glacier National Park

Glacier at a Glance 

As the crown of the continent protecting one million acres of the Rocky Mountains along the Canadian Border, Glacier National Park is a top 10 national park. This is one of the Top National Parks in Montana.

With a short summer season, there is a lot to see, from  wildflowers, mountain goats, glaciers along with its many lakes. Visitors can hike to the glaciers and waterfalls during their stay then spend the night in a historic lodge.

Hiking and scenic drives are just some of the top things to do, though the main route, Going-to-the-Sun Road opens in late June or early July. Guided boat cruises and horseback riding are other top activities.

Glacier National Park offers historic lodges along with camping and both should be reserved in advance. The park requires vehicle passes to enter the park during the summer season thought those with lodging or camping reservations are exempt.

Glacier National Park is open 365-days a year and 24-hours a day. Use an America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) or other annual pass. Purchase a 7-day pass for $35 per vehicle for a 7-day summer pass (May 1 until October 31) or $20 per vehicle for a 7-day winter pass.

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Nez Perce National Historical Park

With sites in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Montana, the Nez Perce National Historical Park preserves the sites of the Nez Perce Flight of 1877. The Native American people traveled over 1,170 miles from their original homelands.

The Big Hole National Battlefield is one of the more well-known sites of the Nez Perce National Historical Park. Though the Canyon Creek Battlefield and the Bear Paw Battlefield are also in Montana.

Big Hole National Battlefield

In August 9, 1877, the U.S. military fired on the Nez Perce camp in 1877. During this time, over 800s members of the Nez Perce, including family and children, along with 2,000 horses were headed to Montana in the Nez Perce Flight of 1877.

As one of the sites in the Nez perce National Historical Park, it featues a viewing platform to see the site’s tipis, a monument along with a howitzer cannon. The Big Hole National Battlefield offers hiking trails through its 655-acre site.

Located at 16425 Hwy 43 West in Wisdom, Montana. This is a day-use park and it is free to enter.

Canyon Creek Battlefield

After the Nez Perce left Yellowstone National Park, Col. Sturgis and the Seventh U.S. Cavalry pursued them. In the second to last skirmish, the Nez Perce warriors engaged with the U.S. Cavalry.

Visitors will find a pull-out with interpretive information at the site. In addition, visitors can take the Nez Perce Trail Auto Tour, a downloadable guide from the NPS site.

From Laurel, Montana, vistors take I-90 to exit 434. Drivers should turn north onto S. 1st Ave and drive 2 miles to Buffalo Trail Road then drive 6.3 miles. Next  right onto Lipp Rd. and the site is on the left. This site is open from sunrise to sunset and free to enter.

Bear Paw Battlefield 

On October 5, 1877 the final fight between the Nez Perce people and the U.S. Calvary happened at this site. After 1,100-mile journey and 40 miles from the Canadian border, Chief Joseph and his people laid down their weapons.

The site includes a moderate self-guided 1.25-mile interpretive trail with an available brochure or downloaded from the NPS.

Located 16 miles south of Chinook in north-central Montana on Route 240. This site is open from sunrise to sunset and free to enter.

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

In a 120,000-acre park located about 100 miles southeast of Billings, Montana, the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is preserved for fun, especially boating. Along the border with Wyoming, the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is divided into two districts.

The North District features the Afterbay Reservoir, Ok-A-Beh Marina along with a boat launch and campgrounds. Visitors will find the seasonal Yellowtail Dam Visitor Center.. Kayakers can access the Three Mile River.

To reach the North District, drivers pass through Hardin, Montana, and head south thorugh the Crow Indian Reservation. It is primarily a summer destination with most boating amenities open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The South District offers the Horseshoe Bend Marina, the Devil Canyon Overlook and the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range.  Visitors will find 12 hiking trails along with campgrounds.

The Cal Taggart Visitor Center is open year-round. In addition, there is four historic ranches open for self-guided tours. Custer National Forest is also in the area.

Located south of Billings, visitors drive to Lovell, Wyoming and into the park on Route 37. Both units of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is free to enter though camping is additional.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

The battle between Lakota Chief Sitting Bull and his warriors and Lt. Col. George A. Custer and his U.S. 7th Cavalry soldiers is legendary. This area was the site of one of the last armed battles between the Native Americans and the U.S. Army.

On June 25 and 26 of 1876, the Lakotas, the Cheyennes, the Crow and Arapaho along with the Arikara scouts engaged with Custer and the U.S. Cavalry. Known as Custer’s Last Stand, this battle was a decisive win for the Native Americans as Custer died along with his men in the battle along the Little Bighorn River. Soon after the Plains War drew to a close.

The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument features several sites to visit. The Indian Memorial  is dedicated to the Native Americans in the battle. The 7th Cavalry Memorial sits on the Last Stand Hill. The Custer National Cemetery has close to 5,000 graves. Along Tour Road, visitors can see the the Reno-Benteen Battlefield.

 Located just south of Crow Agency, Montana, drivers Exit 510 at Jct 212 then take Battlefield Tour Road 756 to the entrance. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the year and closes at 6 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It is $25 for a vehicle pass or use an America the Beautiful annual pass ($80).

Fort Union Trading Post

Along the Upper Missouri River the Fort Union Trading Post was used as a fur trading post from 1828 to 1867.

John Jacob Astor Fur company agents met with fur trappers and traded for goods, like clothing, guns and ammunition along with cookware. It all over $100,000 of goods exchanged at this spot.

 Fort Union Trading Post visitors can see a living history presentation during the summer at the Trade House. Explaining the significance of the NPS site, the visitor center runs a year-round interpretive film

The visitor center is in North Dakota, off Highway 1804 that runs close to the Missouri River. It is open year-round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and free to enter. It offers a picnic area though no camping or a lodge.

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site

 Originally a  10-million-acre cattle ranch created by Canadian Johnny Grant, the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site preserves 88 historic buildings. Visitors can see a working cattle ranch and  learn how open range cattle ranching shaped the western U.S.

One of the buildings is the ranch house, complete with heirlooms and antiques. Visitors will also find 10 miles of trails including a .25-mile nature trail.

Located at 251 Grant Circle in Deer Lodge, Montana, in-between Yellowstone and Glacier Park. It is day-use park and open year-round from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. during the summer). It is free to enter.

National Trails in Montana

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

From its origins in Pennsyvania to the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon, this trail travels for 4,900 miles retracing the route of the famed North American explores. In 1803, the Corps of Discovery Expedition led by William Clark and Meriweather Lewis.

This trail flows through 16 states as it follows several rivers, like the Missouri River. Several historic sites and state parks dot the trail and are dedicated to the journey.

In Montana, Captain Clark inscribed on the rock face and it found at Pompeys Pillar National Monument. This site offers a visitor center and managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It is located at 3039 US Highway 312 in Pompeys Pillar. Open daily from May 1 to September 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is $7 for a day-use pass per vehicle.

 In Great Falls, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center is a 25,000-foot museum dedicated to the journey. Its address is 4201 Giant Springs Road. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission (16+) is $8.

Top Oregon Sites to Learn about Lewis and Clark

Ice Age Floods National Geologial Trail

At the end of the Ice Age, a flood scarred the landscape in four states, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. Called the Missoula Floods, this trail showcases the geological features that remain.

The Glacial Lake Missoula is where the flood originated, located at 12 miles north of Perma, Montana. In addition, there are several state parks featured on the Ice Age Floods National Geological Trail. For more information, visit the NPS site.

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