Are You Ready to Escape to Montana Big Sky Country?

Are you ready for an escape to Montana and Big Sky Country? Whether you are a foodie exploring Billings, hiking the Absaroka Wilderness, or driving the Beartooth Mountain Scenic Highway, it may be time to explore Montana!

You may think “Big Sky” is something people just say about Montana. 

Not true.  The sky really does seem bigger here than anywhere else.  So are the rolling prairies, mountains, and rivers. Well, just about anything in nature seems bigger in Montana.

Did you know “Big Sky” is also Montana’s state logo and a destination in the state? Now you know.

What is there to do in Montana?

Lots. More than I could do justice to in one story, but let’s start with this… Camping, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, rafting, biking, kayaking, boating, fishing, plus almost any other outdoor activity you could imagine.

Did you know that Glacier National Park alone boasts 700 miles of hiking trails? Now you do.

You can also explore the Dinosaur Trail. In 1854, North America’s first identified dinosaur remains were found in Montana. I’m full of trivia today.

Add in Montana’s rich mining history, exploring the Lewis and Clark Trail, and the Little Bighorn National Monument. Well, there is something in Montana for almost everyone.

Montana’s outdoor activities are my favorites.

Outdoor activities are a great place to start our Montana experience.

Here is another fun fact. Montana is home to 2 national parks. Both North Yellowstone and Glacier National Park are in Montana. The state also is home to 55 state parks, 15 wilderness areas, and numerous national and state forests.

Papa Joe and I have visited Montana a couple of times. Our visit usually includes Glacier National Park. 

On our most recent visit, we returned to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks but also spent time exploring the Absaroka Wilderness, Beartooth Mountains, and Beartooth Scenic Highway. 

Click here for more information on our Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park visits.

During our last Big Sky visit, we hiked the Absaroka Wilderness. 

The Absaroka Wilderness is buried in the Beartooth Mountains. Now, if you get a chance to drive the Beartooth Scenic Highway or explore the Beartooth Mountains, do it.

I was surprised that our hike in the Absaroka Wilderness area was not more difficult. We hiked from the trailhead to Lake Sioux Charley – 7 miles round trip.

It was one of our easier hikes. It was also the most scenic hike I’ve ever taken. Even if it had been difficult, the hike would have been worth it. This is an incredibly beautiful country.

As a National Wilderness, hikers need to be prepared to “pack in and pack out”. What does that mean? It means you leave no human trace behind when your hike is done. Bury your pooh, carry out any garbage.

Leave this amazing wonderland as you found it.

A shout out to Austin Adventures for leading our Absaroka Wilderness Lake Sioux Charley hike.

We were joined by fellow travel bloggers on our Absaroka Wilderness hike. They helped create a one-of-a-kind Montana experience. 

We enjoy Montana’s outdoor activities.

So did this guy. We found him fishing during the Absaroka Wilderness Lake Sioux Charley hike.

This heavily-treed, scenic spot at the bottom of the Beartooth Mountain Pass was visible from the top of Beartooth Mountain Highway.

In our Montana video, you can hear Papa Joe saying “I see a campground down there”. Well, this was the campground area. It was even more beautiful up close.

Can you imagine camping or taking a break here? It was a great spot for a peaceful lunch. Papa Joe had a blast checking out the elk trails along the riverbanks while I shot some video.

We also enjoy catching glimpses of Montana’s wildlife. In Montana, visitors can spot both black and grizzly bears, grey wolves, elk, and moose, and heaven only knows how many species of birds.

This state really is a slice of heaven.

What else can you do on your Montana escape?

I hinted at a couple of other activities in the beginning. Montana’s history is composed of wild-wild-west stories. Native Americans, their culture, and rituals. Dinosaurs. Mining.

You can retrace the Lewis and Clark Trail in Montana. A great place to access the trail is at the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness. The Gates of the Mountains Wilderness is said to be one of the most recognized landmarks on the Lewis and Clark Trail.

Just to name a few of Montana’s activities.

Let’s start with Montana’s mining history.

Are you interested in mining history? If so, Butte is the place for you. The World Museum of Mining in Butte offers a fascinating insight into the tough life of Montana’s miners.

This museum features 50 exhibit buildings, countless artifacts, and 66 exhibits in the mine yard. Um, you could spend the day here.

The museum highlights silver and zinc mines once active in the area. Visitors can even take underground tours and explore the mines.

Are you a rock-nerd like my nephews? Check out the 1,300 rock specimens at the museum. Specimens include fluorescent minerals, a 27-and-a-half-troy-ounce gold nugget, and a 400-pound quartz crystal.

Neat huh.

Do you have any “tiny paleontologists” in the family?

You would know if you do. Tiny Paleontologists are kids who like dinosaurs. Just another fun fact.

The Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman is known for its dinosaur exhibits. As it should – remember, the first dinosaur remains in North America were found in Montana. In fact, the museum’s dinosaur collection is the largest in the US.

Featured exhibits include the world’s biggest Tyrannosaurus skull, a T-Rex thighbone with soft-tissue remains, as well as “Big Mike,” a T-Rex skeleton at the museum entrance.

Montana’s Big Sky country is a bucket-list item for any dinosaur-lovers in the bunch. I have a couple of those in my family too. It almost sounds like I need a family vacation to Montana…

Our home base for our last Montana Big Sky visit was Billings. 

Billings was more than a pleasant surprise!

Did you know Billings has a booming culinary and brew culture?  Now you know. 

Imagine this. Billings’ population sits right at 110,000 residents, as of 2020. For a town of that size, would you imagine finding more than 300 restaurants and microbreweries?

In fact, Billings has dozens of restaurants and microbreweries within walking distance of downtown. Papa Joe and I had the distinct pleasure of visiting several of them. Unfortunately, we were shortsighted. We enjoyed the food and beverage but didn’t get any photos.

Visit Billings says it best:

Enjoy a taste of the authentic, seasonal cuisine and craft beverages that fuel our people and the local farms. Our city has earned local adoration and national accolades for ever-changing, delectable bites and beverages dreamt up and prepared by some of Montana’s most influential locals. Let the cravings begin!

VisitBillings.com

There is more to Billings than food and drink.

If you don’t check out the cultural scene, you will miss several gems. During our stay in Billings, we had the opportunity to explore a renovated railroad depot/event center and visit a local ranch where we were entertained by Native American dance ceremonies.

And there’s more.

Billings is home to the Western Heritage Center. Preservation of the region’s colorful cultural heritage is important to many. The heritage center is home to several featured exhibits designed to preserve that heritage.

The center’s featured exhibits include “Now a Montanan: Stories of Immigrant Women in Yellowstone County“, “When Culture Meets Fashion: Apsaalooke Crow Style“, and “Saints & Sinners: Women Breaking Tradition“, just to name a few.

There is also an online exhibit Art in Isolation, for those experiencing social isolation. That exhibit could be very helpful in today’s world.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun Billings and the surrounding area are.

Our lodging for the visit was the Yellowstone River RV Resort and Campground. While the campground wasn’t as fancy as its name, it does rest along the Yellowstone River and was quite pretty.

Billings and the RV resort were our home base while we explored the Beartooth Mountains, Beartooth Mountain Pass, and Absaroka Wilderness. Billings is located within an hour of each of these.

If you don’t mind driving a few hours through the Beartooth Mountains, Billings is a few hours’ drive from the northeast entrance to Yellowstone.

If you google the top cities in Montana to visit, Billings doesn’t come up as one of the top recommendations. I believe that is a mistake, but you will need to check it out on your own.

Time for the question of the day…

Are you up to a Montana Big Sky escape? Ready to explore the rich cultural heritage? Experience millennia of history with dinosaur bones? Can you find your inner zen communing with nature in Montana’s forests?

How about this. In an ever-changing world, are you ready for a destination where you can do all of this while keeping healthy?

I am. If you are looking for a destination that fills your soul, Montana’s Big Sky country will not disappoint!