Montana Vacation (Billings, Missoula, Bozeman: camping, live, activities) - (MT) - City-Data Forum

Mesabi · 02-22-2010, 08:49 PM

Hey Everyone, this next summer/fall not exactly sure of the time, my girlfriend and I are going to be taking a roadtrip to Montana for a week. We will be coming from Minnesota and am wondering of some good places we should stop along our way.

We will be entering Montana on 94 to Billings, then going to head on 90 to Bozeman. From there we were planning on hopefully going North and going to both Helena, Missoula and maybe evern Glacier. We will be driving a Jeep Commander wich we may sleep in otherwise we will be camping. We plan to make it to Billings by the first night.

Now here is where I need some help. We are very big into the outdoors. We love to hike and would love to hike in the mountains. Also we would love to find some nice streams, rivers or lakes to do some swiming in. We will be taking our two Australian Shepherds with us as well. We want to see the outdoors beauty of Montana as well as some neat things in the city's and any fun things to see along the way. We just need help deciding exactly where to go hiking, which parks? Where we can find good camping, free or charge. Please help us plan an awesome couple days! Thanks for all your help and any idea's, suggestions or information is always welcomed!

Mt-7 · 02-22-2010, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesabi

Hey Everyone, this next summer/fall not exactly sure of the time, my girlfriend and I are going to be taking a roadtrip to Montana for a week. We will be coming from Minnesota and am wondering of some good places we should stop along our way.

We will be entering Montana on 94 to Billings, then going to head on 90 to Bozeman. From there we were planning on hopefully going North and going to both Helena, Missoula and maybe evern Glacier. We will be driving a Jeep Commander wich we may sleep in otherwise we will be camping. We plan to make it to Billings by the first night.

Now here is where I need some help. We are very big into the outdoors. We love to hike and would love to hike in the mountains. Also we would love to find some nice streams, rivers or lakes to do some swiming in. We will be taking our two Australian Shepherds with us as well. We want to see the outdoors beauty of Montana as well as some neat things in the city's and any fun things to see along the way. We just need help deciding exactly where to go hiking, which parks? Where we can find good camping, free or charge. Please help us plan an awesome couple days! Thanks for all your help and any idea's, suggestions or information is always welcomed!

Official State of Montana Vacation, Recreation, Accommodations and Travel Information Website
this has great information.
have fun!

MTSilvertip · 02-23-2010, 07:54 AM

If you want fastinating places to hike, don't be so quick to blast through eastern Montana.

Makoshika state park has lots of hiking trails, is part of the Hell Creek formation and is a gold mine of fossils from the Jurassic period. It is where many of the new dinosaur fossils are found and is part of the dinosaur trail along the highline which included Glendive, Glasgow and Malta among others.

The Medicine Rocks south of Baker are a fastinating day trip. Pioneers and Indians carved intitials into the rocks. Teddy Roosevelts autograph is on one of the spires.

Fort Peck Resevoir is the largest earthen impoundment in America with the CM Russell Wildlife Management area around it. Unlimited hiking, fishing and some unbeliveable beauty in the Badlands.

On your way to Billings, Stop at Pompeys Pillar. It is the site of the only remaining marker left by the Corp of Discovery where Captain Clark carved his name and the date into the Pillar.

That is just a quick sampling of some of the attractions you will be passing if you just go through eastern Montana looking for "better places".

Camping at fishing accesses, state parks or out on the open prairie is easy and an unbeliveable experience. Just carry some water with you and you can have a lot of fun.

If you need Mountains, the Bull Mountains north of Billings or the Pryors south east of Billings may not be the glacier carved monsters of the Absaroka-Beartooth range further west, but you also will have the trails to yourself.

Enjoy.

Mesabi · 02-23-2010, 08:15 AM

Thanks for the information Silvertip, sounds like we will be making quite a few stops before even making it to Billings! Would love to see Pompeys Pillar!

Montana Griz · 02-23-2010, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesabi

Thanks for the information Silvertip, sounds like we will be making quite a few stops before even making it to Billings! Would love to see Pompeys Pillar!

............Mesabi...........

Just something to consider...........

It's over 815 miles to Billings from Elk River. Throw in a couple of gas stops and 2 or 3 other stops for whatever.................and you've got a very long "1st day on the road". Just a thought.

Mesabi · 02-23-2010, 09:57 AM

Haha yeah it is going to be a really long day. We plan on leaving in the early morning hours maybe 2 or 3am, and will be taking turns driving.

Mesabi · 02-23-2010, 10:30 AM

One other thing I would like a suggestions on is which Park would fit what we are looking for? Gallatin National Park seems really nice. But we want a park that is High Elevation, Mountainous but must also have rivers lakes for swiming. Any suggestions would also be really nice!

Montana Griz · 02-23-2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesabi

One other thing I would like a suggestions on is which Park would fit what we are looking for? Gallatin National Park seems really nice. But we want a park that is High Elevation, Mountainous but must also have rivers lakes for swiming. Any suggestions would also be really nice!

One minor correction.............There is no GALLATIN National Park. There is the Gallatin National Forest.

Re National Parks in Montana......You have a choice of Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone actually is primarily in Wyoming, but over-laps into both MT & ID.

Mesabi · 02-23-2010, 12:07 PM

Sorry about that, we are not specifically looking for a National Park. We are interested in any National Forests, State Parks etc.

jdavid93225 · 02-25-2010, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesabi

Sorry about that, we are not specifically looking for a National Park. We are interested in any National Forests, State Parks etc.

Montana has some very nice state parks, and some of them offer amenities for camping. If you Google Montana State Parks, you should come up with some good info. Here are a couple links to get you started:

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks :: State Parks Map
This link is a map of the Montana State Park system. Each of the parks shown on the map is a link to that park's information page.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks :: Parks Site Detail
This link is an example of what you get when you click on one of the park names in the map above. This one is for the Missouri Headwaters State Park.

As you can see when you view the park info, they have information about camping, pet restrictions, area attractions/activities, and much more.