As a local roofing company located in Western Montana, our team loves to get out and enjoy all that our home state has to offer. While Western Montana most popularly draws people to Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park (and rightfully so), there is a whole world to discover beyond these two parks.
Whether you’re passing through Montana on a visit or you’ve lived here for years, there are too many fun activities to count! Check out this list of 10 things to do in Western Montana in every season.
1) Check Out an Authentic Rodeo🐴
While you’re in Western Montana, you should a cowboy hat and a classic pair of cowboy boots to your wardrobe. Then, put your outfit together and check out a local rodeo. There are numerous small-town and large professional rodeos hosted throughout the year. Watch talented cowboys and cowgirls compete in events like bronc riding and calf roping.
The Brash Rodeo offers both a summer and winter series.
- The summer series takes place in Columbia Falls, MT, from May – September each year.
- The winter series is in Kalispell, MT, from December – April.
2) Watch the World Skijoring Championships⛷️
Have you ever heard of skijoring before? It’s a unique winter sport where a person on skis is pulled by a horse! And the world championships just so happen to be held right here in Whitefish, MT.
The World Skijoring Invitational began as a part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival back in the 1960s and has been consistently occurring every year since 2003. If you’re in Western MT in January, don’t miss this special event!
3) Find the Best Bison Burger Around🍔
Feeling hungry? Why not indulge in the local cuisine? A visit to Montana wouldn’t be complete without a bison burger. Make a game out of it with your travel buddies and go on a hunt for the best bison burger in the area.
We’ll help you get started with some of our favorite restaurants that serve this delicacy:
- Tamarack Brewing Company – Missoula, MT
- Hops Downtown Grill – Kalispell, MT
- Backslope Brewing – Columbia Falls, MT
4) Get Tickets to the International Wildlife Film Festival🎥
If you’re a film fan who appreciates supporting indie filmmakers, then the International Wildlife Film Festival is for you. The festival takes place at the Roxy Theater in Missoula each spring. You can catch a wide range of feature-length and short wildlife films, with categories such as:
- Animal Behavior
- Living with Wildlife
- Wildlife Conservation
And much more!
5) Enjoy the Outdoors at Kootenai Falls🏊
It’s no secret that Western Montana is chock full of beautiful nature. One of the most breathtaking attractions is Kootenai Falls. Kootenai Falls are the largest undammed waterfalls in the entire state.
If you’re not afraid of heights, you can cross the swinging bridge to the other side of the Kootenai River.
Kootenai Falls and River are prime spots for the following outdoor activities:
- Archery and rifle hunting
- Fishing
- Wildlife viewing of bighorn sheep, mule deer, elk, bald eagles, and more
6) Catch a Show at the Bigfork Summer Playhouse🎭
If you’re feeling like you need a break from the outdoor activities, or if you’ve run into a rainy day, what better way to spend an evening than at the Bigfork Summer Playhouse in Bigfork, MT?
This local theatre has been offering live professional theatre ever since 1960. The Bigfork Summer Playhouse operates with a repertory-style calendar. Each season, four musicals are constantly rotating. You can stay for four days and see four different shows!
Professional actors are hired from around the country to bring excellent live entertainment to Western Montana each summer.
7) Relax & Get Creative at Purple Mountain Lavender Farm🪻
How many times can you say you’ve been to a lavender farm? Well, when you’re in Western Montana, you shouldn’t miss it! Purple Mountain Lavender Farm is located in Lakeside, Montana. At this beautiful farm, you’ll view 35 varieties of all-natural lavender plants that attract butterflies, birds, and honey bees.
You can participate in unique classes and activities at Purple Mountain that include:
- Aromatherapy
- Wedding ideas
- Lavender oil demos
- Bouquet making
- Culinary treats
- Tours of the farm
8) Take in the Beautiful Sights by Train🚂
There is simply no better way to romanticize your life than to look out the window of a train that’s trekking through Glacier Country.
Amtrak’s Empire Builder train takes passengers across Northern Montana. You can hop on at a stop in Western Montana in Libby, Whitefish, West Glacier, or Essex. The train will pass by Glacier National Park and continue through the Rocky Mountains. The views are unbeatable, and you’ll probably get to see big horn sheep, eagles, and osprey out the window.
You can ride the route strictly through Montana, or you can continue on in either direction and head toward Spokane and Seattle or Minneapolis and Chicago, respectively.
9) Go Zip Lining at Whitefish Mountain Resort🏔️
If you’ve ever wanted to try zip lining, Whitefish Mountain Resort is the place to go! During the summer months, you can glide through trees over ravines and ski slopes on Montana’s longest zip line tour.
Zip lining here involves a half-mile uphill hike to get to the location, and the entire experience is about 2 hours long. Zip line tours are led by two professional guides who ensure your safety and your fun!
Zip lining isn’t the only thing you can do at Whitefish Moutain Resort. You can also:
- Ski & snowboard
- Mountain bike
- Enjoy hiking trails
- Visit the aerial adventure park
- Ride down alpine slides
10) Take a Dip in a Natural Hot Spring 🌡️
Natural hot springs can be found across Montana— yet another unique feature that makes our state so special. Hot springs offer many health and wellness benefits, and you’d regret it if you visited Western Montana without taking a dip in a hot spring.
There are many hot springs across the state, but one of our favorite locations in Western Montana is Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort. You don’t have to stay at the resort in order to access the hot springs, but the resort has cabins and lodges that definitely offer a fantastic, picturesque place to stay for a few nights.
Enjoy All That Western MT Has to Offer
Wow, this list of things to do in Western Montana has just started to scratch the surface of all the unique things to do and see here. It would probably take an entire lifetime to check out every nature attraction or activity here in Big Sky Country.
Our team at Montana Roofing Solutions is rooted right here in Kalispell, MT, and we love that we get to enjoy all of the wonderful sights while helping local homeowners with high-quality roofing services.
If you’re a local resident in need of roofing services or this blog has convinced you to move to Western Montana, reach out to Montana Roofing Solutions whenever you need us!