Montana



Parks

  • National Battlefield

    Big Hole

    Wisdom, MT

    On August 9, 1877 gun shots shattered a chilly dawn on a sleeping camp of Nez Perce. By the time the smoke cleared on August 10, almost 90 Nez Perce were dead along with 31 soldiers and volunteers. Big Hole National Battlefield was created to honor all who were there.

  • National Recreation Area

    Bighorn Canyon

    Fort Smith, MT,WY

    The vast, wild landscape of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area offers visitors unparalleled opportunities to immerse themselves in the natural world, and experience the wonders of this extraordinary place. With over 120,000 acres, one can find an astounding diversity in ecosystems, wildlife, and more than 10,000 years of human history to explore.

    Storm clouds roll over the Big Horn Mountain and Devil Canyon

  • National Historic Site

    Fort Union Trading Post

    Two States: MT,ND

    Between 1828 and 1867, Fort Union was the most important fur trade post on the Upper Missouri River. Here, the Assiniboine and six other Northern Plains Indian Tribes exchanged buffalo robes and smaller furs for goods from around the world, including cloth, guns, blankets, and beads. A bastion of peaceful coexistence, the post annually traded over 25,000 buffalo robes and $100,000 in merchandise.

    View of Fort Union Trading Post NHS from Bodmer Overlook

  • National Park

    Glacier

    Northwest Montana, MT

    Come and experience Glacier's pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, and spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a hiker's paradise for adventurous visitors seeking wilderness and solitude. Relive the days of old through historic chalets, lodges, and the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Explore Glacier National Park and discover what awaits you.

    Sunset From Apgar Fire Lookout

  • National Historic Site

    Grant-Kohrs Ranch

    Deer Lodge, MT

    Wide open spaces, the hard-working cowboy, his spirited cow pony, and vast herds of cattle are among the strongest symbols of the American West. Once the headquarters of a 10 million acre cattle empire, Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site preserves these symbols and commemorates the role of cattlemen in American history.

    Image of bunkhouse row.

  • National Geologic Trail

    Ice Age Floods

    WA,OR,ID,MT

    "At the end of the last Ice Age, some 12,000 to 17,000 years ago, a series of cataclysmic floods occurred in what is now the northwest region of the United States, leaving a lasting mark of dramatic and distinguishing features on the landscape of parts of the States of Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon." Public Law 111-11, March 30, 2009

    Stev Ominsk's painting depicts debris and ice filled water filling and rushing through a basalt walled canyon.

  • National Historic Trail

    Lewis & Clark

    Sixteen States: IA,ID,IL,IN,KS,KY,MO,MT,NE,ND,OH,OR,PA,SD,WA,WV

    The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is approximately 4,900 miles long, extending from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Columbia River, near present day Astoria, Oregon. It follows the historic outbound and inbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition as well as the preparatory section from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Wood River, Illinois.

    photo of a replica keelboat with a crew member on the bow at sunset

  • National Monument

    Little Bighorn Battlefield

    Crow Agency, MT

    This area memorializes the US Army's 7th Cavalry and the Lakotas and Cheyennes in one of the Indian's last armed efforts to preserve their way of life. Here on June 25 and 26 of 1876, 263 soldiers, including Lt. Col. George A. Custer and attached personnel of the US Army, died fighting several thousand Lakota and Cheyenne warriors.

    Historic painting of aftermath of the Battle of the Little Bighorn

  • National Historical Park

    Nez Perce

    four states ID,MT,OR,WA

    Since time immemorial, the valleys, prairies, mountains, and plateaus of the inland northwest have been home to the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) people. Extremely resilient, they survived the settling of the United States and adapted to a changed world. Nez Perce National Historical Park consists of 38 places important to the history and culture of the Nimiipuu. Explore these places. Learn their stories.

  • National Park

    Yellowstone

    Yellowstone National Park, ID,MT,WY

    On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal and geologic wonders. While the hydrothermal features of Yellowstone continue boiling, steaming, and erupting in winter, life within the park must adapt to the seasonal changes.

    Winter visitors experience the magic of erupting geysers.

By The Numbers

These numbers are just a sample of the National Park Service's work. Figures are for the fiscal year that ended 9/30/2019.