Visiting Montana

Montana, home to Yellowstone National Park's north entrance and the gates are open! Gardiner welcomes travelers with outfitters ready to lead visitors on hikes, horseback rides and raft trips through Yellowstone Country. West Yellowstone, one of the park's most popular entrances, offers a variety of Montana Hotels, including three Best Western Inns. Yellowstone’s famous Old Faithful Geyser is just 30 miles from West Yellowstone. Remember, 2012 National Parks fee-free day include June 9th, Get Outdoors Day and September 29th, National Public Lands Days. Summer is a great season to enjoy Montana Big Sky Country.

Greeted by “howdy partner” in West Yellowstone doesn’t mean you're in the movies, you’re at the Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo. Featuring a full 2012-summer schedule, catch the rodeo excitement 6-miles west of West Yellowstone, along Targhee Pass Highway. The Rodeo calendar includes multiple nights in June, July and August, all beginning at 8pm. Load-up the family, all kids are welcome in the calf scramble at the Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo.

Mountain bike enthusiasts don’t miss West Yellowstone’s Annual Mountain Bike Biathlon. The 2012 event features a 7.5K bike course with both a prone and standing shooting bout. Look for the West Yellowstone Mountain Bike Biathlon on the June calendar.

Montana music fans be sure to mark July 20th through the 22nd on the calendar, for the Farmageddon Records 2012 Music Festival. This is the inaugural Farmageddon outdoor music festival on the shores of Hebgen Lake, 10-miles northwest of West Yellowstone. Hosted by Montana based record label, Farmageddon Records, the eclectic lineup features edgy roots musicians from Montana and the US.

Billings hosts the 2012 Big Sky State Games, July 20th through the 22nd. It's Montana’s Olympic style sports event. Drawing athletes of all ages and abilities from across the state, the weekend features events in 37 sports. With opening ceremonies including a torch lighting, the Big Sky State Games are a full weekend of fun and competition for athletes.

July also brings the Glacier Challenge Multi-Sport Relay Race to Whitefish south of Glacier National Park. Featuring six legs of running, biking, canoeing and kayaking over 50 miles of Montana’s Glacier National Park region. Enter the Glacier Challenge as an individual, family or team of up to seven members, and compete, or just enjoy the events and Whitefish scenery. The 2012 Challenge is July 14th.

The Montana towns of Kalispell and Polson anchor the north and south ends of Flathead Lake. Delightful in summer, the area offers visitors plenty of Montana festivities, events and hospitality. Polson, on the south end of Flathead Lake, hosts the Main Street Cherry Festival July 21st and 22nd, and in August, the Annual Sandpiper Art Festival.

Wrap-up your summer fun in Kalispell at the 2012 Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo. Continuing over 100 years of tradition, the NW Montana Fair is August 15th through the 19th. Featuring three nights of PRCA Rodeo, horse racing concerts and carnival rides and games, a visit to Kalispell is an ideal end to your summer.

Montana Hotel Map