Unusual Montana: natural sites, historic landmarks, and craft distilleries

Bighorn Canyon is part of Montana's collection of unusual natural sites. This water reservoir formed by the Yellowtail Dam stretches for 114 kilometers between walls of red limestone that rise about 300 meters above the water surface. The canyon tells the geological story of the region and shows visitors how water and time have shaped this landscape.

Makoshika State Park near Glendive showcases Montana's geological wonders. The park displays badlands formations with visible rock layers from the Cretaceous period. Visitors discover dinosaur fossils and walk trails that traverse the landscape. Red and brown rock walls reveal the passage of millions of years.

Glacier Distilling Company fits into Montana's range of natural sites, historical monuments, and craft distilleries. This independent distillery was founded in 2011 and produces spirits in small batches from Montana grain. Visitors can tour the production facilities and taste the whiskies at the adjacent bar, Josephine's.

The Kootenai suspension bridge crosses the Kootenai River near Libby and is part of Montana's collection of natural sites and historic places. The 64-meter structure sways under visitors' footsteps as it spans the river close to waterfalls. It connects with other locations throughout the state, from the limestone canyons of Bighorn Canyon to the badlands of Makoshika, as well as rock formations bearing the marks of historical explorers and craft distilleries that shape modern discoveries.

This exhibition in Billings honors Yellowstone Kelly, a scout and explorer of Montana. Historic panels tell the story of his travels and show how this man crossed the region. The exhibition helps visitors understand Montana's past. It fits with the collection that highlights natural sites, historic monuments, and craft distilleries in the state. Yellowstone Kelly played an important role in exploring Montana.

Pompeys Pillar is a sandstone formation that rises 45 meters (148 feet) above the Yellowstone River. This historic site bears an inscription carved by William Clark in 1806 during the Lewis and Clark expedition. The rock also displays ancient petroglyphs left by Native American peoples. As part of Montana's collection of natural and historic sites, Pompeys Pillar tells the story of early exploration and the presence of Native peoples in the region.

The Boiling River at Gardiner is a natural phenomenon in Montana's collection of natural sites. At this location, natural hot springs flow into the Gardner River, creating pools where thermal water mixes with cold currents. Visitors can experience the sharp contrast between the warm spring water and the cold river flow. This site shows Montana's geothermal features and offers a unique way to appreciate the natural forces of the state.

The Gates of the Mountains form a limestone canyon along the Missouri River where visitors navigate by boat through Holter Lake. Meriwether Lewis named this natural passage during the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805. This site is part of a collection showcasing natural sites, historical monuments, and craft distilleries across the state.

The Isaak Walton Inn is part of Montana's collection of unusual places. This 1939 hotel transformed old railroad cars into rooms. Located near Glacier National Park, it shows how Montana converted its railroad heritage into lodging. Visitors can sleep in a living piece of Montana's railroad past while exploring the region's natural surroundings.

The Blue Horses of Three Forks are an art installation featuring 39 dark blue metal sculptures positioned on a hilltop along Route 287. These works shape the landscape and demonstrate how contemporary art integrates into Montana's natural environment. The sculptures are visible from great distances and represent the artistic discoveries that travelers encounter while exploring the state.

The National Bison Range is part of this collection of unusual places in Montana where visitors observe herds of wild bison and other native species in their natural habitat. The reserve spans a large area and offers the chance to see these animals living freely in the mountain landscape. Along with limestone canyons, badlands filled with dinosaur fossils, hot springs, and artistic installations, the Bison Range shows the varied nature and history of the state.

The Jardin des Mille Bouddhas in Arlee is an unexpected cultural site in Montana that offers a spiritual space set in the mountains of the Flathead Valley. White concrete Buddha statues are arranged in a wheel pattern that invites visitors to walk around and learn more about Buddhist traditions. This garden demonstrates how Montana blends natural landscape with cultural discovery and shows the variety of experiences the state has to offer.

Castle Town is a ghost town in Meagher that was once a major silver mining center, founded in the 1880s. The site still shows stone structures and wooden buildings from that era. Castle Town is part of Montana's broader collection of unusual sites, ranging from natural formations to historical locations and craft distilleries. These ruins tell the story of Montana's mining boom and provide insight into daily life during that period.

This mining site in Bear Creek stands as a memorial to one of the worst disasters in coal mining history. A methane explosion in 1943 killed 74 coal miners here, leaving scars on the landscape and in local memory. The concrete structures that remain tell the story of the dangers miners faced and the critical role coal played in developing this region.

This working wooden carousel in downtown Helena is part of the Unusual Montana collection showcasing natural sites, historic monuments, and artisanal distilleries. The carousel features 37 carved animals representing Montana's wildlife and historical figures. It offers visitors a place to enjoy and discover local culture, just like other regional attractions ranging from the limestone gorges of Bighorn Canyon to repurposed railroad infrastructure.

Swan Lake Day Use Area is part of Montana's varied attractions, where visitors can explore natural spaces. This place offers direct access to the lake with designated swimming areas, a boat ramp, shaded picnic tables, and spaces for water sports. The site welcomes those seeking relaxation by the water.

The Hungry Horse Dam is part of Montana's collection of natural and historical sites. Built in 1953 on the Flathead River, this concrete arch structure generates electricity for homes across Montana. Visitors exploring the region encounter this engineering work while traveling through the state's varied landscapes. The dam stands as a functional structure that demonstrates how human engineering integrates with Montana's natural setting.

This museum occupies a former penitentiary building that operated from 1871 to 1979. The Old Montana State Prison Museum in Deer Lodge tells the story of the state's prison system through watchtowers, original cell blocks, historical photographs, and personal items left by inmates and staff. Visitors walk through spaces where daily life unfolded behind bars and learn how this institution shaped Montana's history.

This cemetery in Philipsburg holds the history of Montana through its old gravestones. The burial site preserves the memory of people who lived and died in this region across generations. Walking through, you see names and dates that tell stories of settlers, miners, and families who shaped the area. The cemetery connects to Montana's broader collection of historical sites that reveal how people lived in this part of the American West.

The Ousel Waterfall at Superior represents one of Montana's natural water formations. Water flows through the mountainous terrain, creating a sight that draws visitors seeking out the state's natural features. This location shows how water shapes Montana's landscape and is part of the diverse natural sites the state offers.

Granite Ghost Town State Park in Philipsburg tells the story of Montana's silver mining boom. Visitors can still see the structures that remain from the mining era. The park offers insight into the extraction work that shaped the region's economy. This site is part of Montana's larger collection of historic monuments that reflect the state's past.

Located near Absarokee, Crater Lake is part of Montana's natural water sites. The mountain landscape surrounding it offers a place where visitors can observe local wildlife and explore the waters of the region. This lake shows the hydrological features of the area.

The Garnet gold mine ruins at Missoula tell the story of gold extraction in Montana. The remaining structures show how miners worked and lived in this location. These ruins are part of Montana's network of historic mining sites and reveal the state's industrial past. Walking through the site, visitors see the buildings and equipment that miners left behind, gaining a sense of what daily life was like during the mining era.

The Hardy Bridge in Arlee is a historic stone structure that crosses a waterway and shows how people in Montana solved transportation challenges long ago. The bridge demonstrates the engineering skills of its time. It is one of several constructions that tell the story of how communities developed across Montana's landscape.

The Sentinelle rock formation at Lewistown is one of Montana's natural geological wonders. Stone walls rise from the landscape, showing how powerful natural forces have shaped the region over time. Visitors can see directly how the earth's movements created these formations and understand the long history written in the rock.

This hot spring near Missoula is part of Montana's collection of geothermal features. Hot water flows from the ground, revealing the region's underground thermal activity. Visitors can experience the natural properties of these springs as they emerge from the mountainous terrain.

The Black Mountain Caverns at White Sulphur Springs are underground formations that reveal the geology of Montana's terrain. Visitors can walk through the caves and see how water and rock have shaped these spaces over time. The formations show the natural forces that have worked beneath the surface to create these passages.

The covered bridge at Nevada City is a wooden structure that preserves the building traditions of Montana's past. Visitors can see the craftsmanship and construction methods used in the 19th century as they walk through or near this historic landmark. The bridge stands as a tangible connection to the region's architectural heritage and the way people traveled and built communities in earlier times.

The Old Elk Distillery in Missoula is part of Montana's collection of craft spirit producers. Visitors can see how spirits are made from local ingredients and tour the production facilities to learn about the craft of distilling.