Mountains? (Billings, Bozeman, Livingston: living, property, summer)

[jumpshooter]

I'm from Colorado and in Colorado the mountain/plains line is about I-25. So where do the mountains start from the east in Montana? Around Billings? Farther west or east?

[NYMTman]

In the southern portion of the state, there's no clear mountain front as there is in Colorado, but I'd say the tallest mountains begin around Livingston, a bit east of Bozeman. So that would put you well east of Billings, which is quite flat (except for the rimrocks). In northern Montana, the front is much more defined. I haven't been up there lately, but as I recall the mountains begin very abruptly around glacier park, and once you get east of there it's very flat. So I'd trace a line from Browning (just east of Glacier) to Livingston, and west of that line is where the vast majority of the mountains are.

[MHT]

Originally Posted by NYMTman

In the southern portion of the state, there's no clear mountain front as there is in Colorado, but I'd say the tallest mountains begin around Livingston, a bit east of Bozeman. So that would put you well east of Billings, which is quite flat (except for the rimrocks). In northern Montana, the front is much more defined. I haven't been up there lately, but as I recall the mountains begin very abruptly around glacier park, and once you get east of there it's very flat. So I'd trace a line from Browning (just east of Glacier) to Livingston, and west of that line is where the vast majority of the mountains are.

Livingston is west of Billings.

[NYMTman]

Right, I made a typo >_<

[jumpshooter]

Thanks for the help, I was planning on driving from north Minnesota back to Denver and want to go through Montana and see the Montana rockies. But if time is limited and I can only go through Eastern Montana (glendive to Billings then south into Wyoming) is it worth 5 extra hours over driving through Nebraska and Iowa which I have seen many times and are pretty ugly in my opinion (especially Nebraska)?

[YOU-CANT-EAT-SCENERY]

This is a good topic, as I was kinda wondering the same thing. I would like to get property at the base of the hills, or at least as close as I can afford.

[MHT]

Originally Posted by jumpshooter

Thanks for the help, I was planning on driving from north Minnesota back to Denver and want to go through Montana and see the Montana rockies. But if time is limited and I can only go through Eastern Montana (glendive to Billings then south into Wyoming) is it worth 5 extra hours over driving through Nebraska and Iowa which I have seen many times and are pretty ugly in my opinion (especially Nebraska)?

I think it's worth it myself. The drive down through WY is nice. O.K. maybe there's parts that aren't but most of it is. The Bighorns are great! I 25 goes by Sheridan and Buffalo right at the base of the Bighorns. At Casper you have mountains and then Douglas, Wheatland and on down south. I have spent many hours driving across NE and IA and would recommend the WY route.

[jumpshooter]

Originally Posted by MHT

I think it's worth it myself. The drive down through WY is nice. O.K. maybe there's parts that aren't but most of it is. The Bighorns are great! I 25 goes by Sheridan and Buffalo right at the base of the Bighorns. At Casper you have mountains and then Douglas, Wheatland and on down south. I have spent many hours driving across NE and IA and would recommend the WY route.

Thank you very much. I will go for the new scenery then.

[jlunsetter]

Jumpshooter,
Actually my family and I were planning a trip this summer, and were wondering if you took the trip through Montana...we are from N. Minnesota and were wondering if we would have to travel very far W. from Billings to see the mountains...our plan is to spend a little time in Medora and travel E. to Billings...any suggestions.
Thank You

[GLS]

Originally Posted by jumpshooter

Thanks for the help, I was planning on driving from north Minnesota back to Denver and want to go through Montana and see the Montana rockies. But if time is limited and I can only go through Eastern Montana (glendive to Billings then south into Wyoming) is it worth 5 extra hours over driving through Nebraska and Iowa which I have seen many times and are pretty ugly in my opinion (especially Nebraska)?

Hey! I spent 7 years in Nebraska and it has it's own type of beauty. Kind of like learning to love a woman with a 32A bra.