United States Montana Top 10 Things to Do Near Missoula, MT By Angela Brown Angela Brown Facebook Twitter Angela has been writing about life, travel, and recreation in the Northwest, where she grew up, since 2000. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 04/28/22 Marisa Fox / EyeEm You don't have to venture too far from Missoula, Montana, for great outdoor recreation and exciting attractions. The wide-open spaces and stunning skies are the backdrops to captivating historical sites, majestic mountains, and incredible wildlife watching. Along with Missoula's local attractions, the lively Montana town makes an excellent base for an active, extended vacation to go camping and flyfishing during the spring and summer or skiing during the wintertime. It's easy to string several of these attractions together and create a day's driving tour. 01 of 10 Float Down Bitterroot River St. Mary's Mission in Stevensville MT View Map Address 251 Eastside Hwy, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA Get directions Phone +1 406-363-6004 Web Visit website Enjoy magnificent scenery and the charming towns of Darby, Hamilton, and Stevensville as you drive the US 93 highway through the idyllic river valley. The Bitterroot River runs for over 80 miles through the valley and is perfect for floating, paddling, and boating. Flyfishing is a massive sport in this part of the country, and the Bitterroot River is packed full of an assortment of game options, including rainbows, browns, and salmon. 02 of 10 Trek the Lewis and Clark Trail TripSavvy / Tanya Nikolic View Map Address Lewis and Clark Trail, Missoula, MT 59801, USA Get directions Explore local sites along the Lewis & Clark Trail, including Travelers' Rest and Lolo Pass. The Travelers' Rest location is where Lewis and Clark camped and is now preserved as a Montana State Park. The expedition faltered during their attempts to cross the Bitterroot Mountains, but they eventually accomplished the feat via Lolo Pass. You can learn more about this episode of Lewis and Clark's journey at the Lolo Pass Visitor Center or by reading the posted signed while hiking parts of the trail. 03 of 10 Photograph Wild Bison National Bison Range Visitor Center in Montana View Map Address 58355 Bison Range Rd, Charlo, MT 59824-9439, USA Get directions Phone +1 406-644-2211 Web Visit website Created by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 to preserve North America's bison, this wildlife refuge is home to a large herd. Visitors can take a driving tour through the sanctuary to view herds of bison along with other wildlife, including elk, deer, chipmunks, and coyotes. Resident critters that are more bashful include mountain lions and bears, which you are less likely to see. Don't miss a stop at the National Bison Range Visitor Center to view exhibits, get current road and trail conditions, and find the most recent places where the herds are currently grazing. 04 of 10 Drive on Glacial Lake Missoula Angela M. Brown View Map Address 120 Hickory St # A, Missoula, MT 59801-1820, USA Get directions Phone +1 406-327-0405 Web Visit website As you drive along the highways just west and north of Missoula, you'll see ample evidence of a vast lake that existed during the recent ice age. Start your tour at the Montana Natural History Center in Missoula to get an overview of Glacial Lake Missoula and the ice age floods, and learn about sites to visit on your drive. The most popular stops include the Eddy Narrows and the Camas Prairie. The best interpretive viewpoints to take photos are the KooKooSint Sheep Viewing Interpretive Site, off of Highway 200 near Thompson Falls, and the summit of Red Sleep Mountain Drive within the National Bison Range. Continue to 5 of 10 below. 05 of 10 Explore the Ninemile Remount Depot Ninemile Remount Depot and Historic Ranger Station View Map This historic site offers a visitor center and walking tour to learn about United States Forest Service pack animals and early forest firefighting practices. Created in the 1930s, the Depot was a central location to house pack animals and train staff. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and still maintains an active animal workforce of mules and horses to ferry supplies up the mountain. 06 of 10 Visit a Ghost Town Garnet Ghost Town View Map Address Drummond, MT 59832, USA Get directions Phone +1 406-329-3914 Web Visit website Experience nature and history as you explore the old abandoned buildings of this mining-boom-era town. This is a real ghost town—a once-thriving community that started in the 1800s, went bust after the gold and silver rush and was then left abandoned. The buildings and artifacts around the property provide a peek into everyday life during a long-forgotten era. After exploring Garnet, there are excellent nearby outdoor activities, including hiking trails, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, and camping grounds. 07 of 10 Tour the Daly Mansion Jessica Horn / Getty Images For a glimpse into how the rich lived back in the early 19th century, take a tour of the Daly Mansion. The house was built by a local copper baron, Marcus Daly, and the 24,000-square-foot home features over 50 rooms, with 25 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, and seven fireplaces. Located in the center of the Bitterroot Valley, the venue sees more than10,000 visitors annually and has 100 volunteers dedicated to preserving the grounds and main house. There are guided and self-guided tours available. 08 of 10 Picnic at St. Mary's Mission Svetlana Zhukova / Getty Images To understand the origins of Montana, St Mary's Mission is where you want to start. The location is known as "Where Montana Began” as Pierre De Smet, a Jesuit priest, founded the Mission in 1841, and the state grew out of the initial settlement. Free tours run from April 15 to Oct. 15, and the grounds are open for visitors to picnic. Consider supporting the Mission by swinging by the gift shop. On the shelves are books devoted to the history of Montana's star contributors like Lewis and Clark and guides to the best hiking trails in the state. Continue to 9 of 10 below. 09 of 10 Appreciate Art galamik/Getty Images Established in 1893, The Montana Museum of Art & Culture is one of the oldest art collections in the Northwest region. Housing over 11,000 objects, paintings, and sculptures, many parts of the museum are dedicated to works that highlight artists from the Western U.S. and contemporary Native American art. The museum regularly has live events to discuss new works and hosts receptions for emerging artists featured in the gallery—an excellent opportunity to meet a few locals with a shared passion. 10 of 10 Go on a Waterslide Patrycja Polechonska / EyeEm / Getty Images Splash Montana is an outdoor waterpark featuring a trio of three-story waterslides, an Olympic-sized pool with lap lanes, and a lazy river. The theme park also has a kiddie pool, cabanas for rent, and food concessions. The venue offers swim lessons for children and adults using the foundation of the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Program. Group and private lessons are available. While Splash Montana is only open during the summer months, there is a year-round indoor Aquatics Center on the grounds for those that need a swim during the winter. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Share Pin Email