18 Top Things to Do in Montana
Enjoy an all-inclusive dude ranch experience at the Resort at Paws Up
Montana is home to a number of all-inclusive dude ranches, which give travelers the chance to experience Western culture (think: horseback rides, nightly campfires and fly-fishing) in a luxurious setting. For example, The Resort at Paws Up, located about 30 miles northeast of Missoula in Greenough, is home to 28 luxury homes and 36 luxury glamping tents. The resort offers more than 50 activities for travelers to enjoy on its 37,000-acre cattle ranch. Options include backcountry tours, canoeing, dog sledding, fly fishing, geocaching, snowshoeing, photography and more. The rate includes all meals and more than a dozen activities that can be enjoyed solo, and more than 50 guided activities for an additional charge. Travelers describe the resort as “unreal,” “intimate” and a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Other top-rated all-inclusive dude ranches in Montana include the Ranch at Rock Creek, Blacktail Ranch, the Hawley Mountain Guest Ranch and Elkhorn Ranch.
Address: 40060 Paws Up Road, Greenough, MT 59823
Drive the Hi-Line
The northernmost route in the state traveling east to west, U.S. Highway 2, is called the Hi-Line by locals. If you’re visiting Glacier National Park, the western edge of the roughly 650-mile highway is close by. As you drive the Hi-Line, you’ll come across small towns that will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. The farther you get from glacier country, the landscape morphs into great rolling plains with isolated volcanic peaks, which are sacred to the local Native American tribes. Keep going, and you’ll come across reservoirs, rivers, historic homes and shops, breweries and distilleries and so much more.
Travelers say you can easily spend a week exploring all of the places you come across along the way. Depending on how far you plan to travel along the highway, check local towns for lodging options.