Above the northern plains and beneath the endless sky, Montana is untamed and unforgettable. You can find adventures around every corner, from tracking wild wolves to glimpsing raptors carving through the wind overhead.
This guide to the best things to do in Montana spotlights the Big Sky Country’s most meaningful experiences. Whether you’re paddling the Missouri River alongside conservationists or listening to Blackfeet stories beneath snow-capped peaks, each activity offers a deeper connection to the people, science and landscapes shaping the American West.
Montana’s National Parks Through a Conservation Lens
You will find a breadth of ecology, conservation and cultural heritage in Montana’s rugged national parks. With stunning wilderness as your backdrop, you can observe climate science in action and deepen your understanding of ecological stewardship.
Glacier National Park
To look in on the story of geology and ecological change, head to the vast alpine terrain and vanishing glaciers of Glacier National Park. Activities like ranger-led hikes and Indigenous-led tours contribute to its preservation. Options include:
- The Citizen Science Program: Undertake self-led fieldwork training to then collect data on mountain goats, pikas and loons.
- Sun Tours: Learn from Blackfeet guides as they share ecological and cultural insights along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
- Dark Sky Stargazing: Experience ranger-led night sky programmes in this designated International Dark Sky Park.
From Gardiner and Cooke City, you can access the lesser-visited northern Yellowstone, which is rich in wildlife. Lamar Valley teems with wolves, bison, elk and grizzlies. Activities include:
- Biologist-Led Tracking: Join small-group expeditions focused on wolves and bison, guided by wildlife experts.
- Yellowstone Forever Seminars: Explore natural science, conservation and cultural history through day or multi-day educational programmes.
- Citizen Science Projects: Contribute to raptor, pika and wildflower monitoring while gaining field research skills.
Montana’s Living Indigenous Heritage
Montana is home to twelve tribal nations. For those seeking respectful, authentic connection, Indigenous-led activities offer deep insight into land stewardship, oral traditions and ecological knowledge. These experiences are not performances for tourists, but rather opportunities to listen, learn and contribute through authentic partnerships with tribal communities.
Blackfeet Nation and Glacier Region
- Sun Tours: Experience the ecological and spiritual significance of the region through Blackfeet-led interpretation.
- Museum of the Plains Indian (Browning): Discover historical and contemporary tribal arts with exhibitions and artist-led workshops.
Apsáalooke (Crow) Nation
- Crow Fair: Attend the world’s largest gathering of teepees and respectfully observe powwows, parades and cultural celebrations.
Cultural Programmes and Protocols
- Iron Shield Creative Hikes: Join storytelling walks guided by tribal educators.
- IndigiPalooza: Celebrate Indigenous-led food, music and performance at this multi-day cultural festival.
Field-Based Conservation Efforts
For enriching, hands-on conservation, work side-by-side with wildlife biologists, track species through remote terrain or join safaris that focus on habitat recovery.
American Prairie Reserve
- Rewilding Experiences: Visit over 3 million acres of restored grasslands where bison, elk and prairie dogs roam.
- Educational Safaris and Monitoring: Assist conservationists on guided hikes and wildlife tracking focused on predator-prey dynamics.
Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge
- Wildlife Viewing: Spot bald eagles, bighorn sheep and sandhill cranes on ranger-led tours.
- Ecosystem Restoration: Learn how invasive species are removed and native habitats revitalised in this vast prairie landscape.
Citizen Science in the Field
- Montana Wildlife Federation: Track wolves and raptors or support native fish studies with expert supervision.
- Native Plant Societies: Join habitat and pollinator surveys coordinated with local land trusts.
Your Role in Montana’s Story
In the American prairie, the land is changing — and so might you. These wide-open spaces shape ecosystems but also the people who choose to walk them meaningfully. As you learn beside scientists and park rangers, you’ll gain insights that you’ll carry home with you, as well as a sense of purpose shaped by place.
When you stand beneath a sky brushed with stars, hear a Blackfeet elder speak of ancestral lands or log data beside a field biologist, you help write the next chapter of Montana’s survival story. The best things to do in Montana aren’t found in guidebooks but discovered through connection, curiosity and the choice to travel with purpose.
Interested in the Best Things to Do in Montana?
Journeys With Purpose offers private, conservation-focused adventures in Montana, with tailor-made itineraries built around your passions. We also plan hosted journeys, including our Montana expedition which takes place June 2026. Get in touch with our expert travel specialists today on +44 20 8044 9538 or at connect@journeyswithpurpose.org.
