Breweries, Wineries, & Culinary Delights
16 days/15 nights

Day 1: Fly into Minneapolis, St. Paul & Bloomington where a cultural metropolis awaits. Situated on the banks of the Mississippi River, Minneapolis, St. Paul & Bloomington are home to world-class shopping, entertainment and culinary experiences. Popular restaurant districts in Minneapolis, St, Paul & Bloomington include the Eat Street District and Nicollet Mall/Hennepin Ave. in Minneapolis, the Selby Avenue Restaurant District in St. Paul and the expansive Mall of America in Bloomington. You’ll be sure to find delicious eats and drink no matter where your nose leads you in Minneapolis, St. Paul & Bloomington!

MSPB Breweries:

Summit Brewing Company (St. Paul)

Town Hall Brewery (Minneapolis)

Fulton Brewery (Minneapolis)

Surly Brewing Company (Minneapolis)

Great Waters Brewing Company (St. Paul)

Flat Earth Brewing Company (St. Paul)

Vine Park Brewing Company (St. Paul)

612Brew (St. Paul)

Badger Hill Brewing Company (St. Paul)

Overnight in Minneapolis, St. Paul & Bloomington

Day 2: In the morning, depart for Fargo, North Dakota via Interstate 94.  Settled on the Minnesota-North Dakota border, this thriving university city has a bustling downtown, a ginormous replica of a Viking Ship at the Heritage-Hjemkomst Center, a museum dedicated to hometown hero Roger Maris at the Roger Maris Museum and the world-famous wood chipper from the movie named after the city. Spend the morning and early afternoon exploring Fargo, enjoy lunch and a cold beer or glass of wine before departing for Bismarck-Mandan, North Dakota’s version of the Twin Cities!

Fargo Breweries:

Fargo Brewing Company

Fargo Wineries:

4e Winery (open seasonally, Casselton exit)

Uncorked (wine bar)

Maple River Winery (Casselton-just west of Fargo)

Red Trail Vineyards (Buffalo-just west of Fargo)

The twin cities of Bismarck and Mandan are divided by the Missouri River. Go back in time at the newly renovated North Dakota Heritage Center and walk in General George Armstrong Custer’s footsteps at Fort Abraham Lincoln. Bismarck’s downtown area is home to a number of delicious eateries sure to delight any appetite.

Bismarck Breweries:

Bird Dog Brewing Company (Mandan)

Edwinton Brewing Company (Bismarck)

Laughing Sun Brewing Company (Bismarck)

Bismarck Wineries:

Vintners Winery (Bismarck)

Overnight in Bismarck

 

Day 3: Get an early start and travel west on Interstate 94. Head south of Gladstone for a little Americana on the Enchanted Highway, a 32-mile stretch of paved county highway that features giant concrete and metal sculptures.

Venture back toward I-94 and head to Dickinson and visit the unique Dakota Dinosaur Museum before heading into pristine Theodore Roosevelt National Park. These sprawling badlands are fittingly named after Theodore Roosevelt, the US President notorious for his conservation efforts.

 

After spending the afternoon in the park, head south on US-85 into South Dakota toward Belle Fourche. Visit Belle Joli, the local winery, before continuing onto Spearfish. Lying on the plains below the Black Hills, Spearfish is a small town with a large cultural scene. Walk the downtown shops and enjoy one of the many local restaurants. Spearfish is also proud of South Dakota’s largest craft brewer, Crow Peak. Spend the evening enjoying their finely crafted ales on their deck.

Overnight in Spearfish

Day 4: Start the morning with a beautiful drive through the spectacular Spearfish Canyon, which features windy roads, towering limestone cliffs and a number of roaring waterfalls. Continue on to the Old West town of Deadwood. Famously known for the HBO series, Deadwood is a rough and tumble town where the legends of Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane live on.

Spend the morning and afternoon walking the downtown area, visiting museums, exploring Mt. Moriah Cemetery or indulging in some handcrafted South Dakota wine!

Breweries in Deadwood:

Dakota Shivers Brewing (Lead)

Wineries in Deadwood:

Belle Joli Winery Tasting Room (Tasting room; winery located in Belle Fourche, SD)

Schadé Winery (Tasting room; winery located in Volga, SD)

 

Head back toward Interstate-90 through Boulder Canyon to Sturgis, home of the world-famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Visit the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum or check out the various biker bars throughout town.

*Note: Many of the Rally bars in Sturgis are closed except during the Rally.

Return to Interstate-90 and travel east toward Rapid City, the second largest city in South Dakota. Rapid City is home to a number of wonderful museums and shops as well as a newly-revamped downtown scene that is home to a number of wonderful places to eat and drink. Spend your afternoon exploring the wide variety of places in Rapid City.

Breweries in Rapid City:

Firehouse Brewing Company

Hay Camp Brewing

Independent Ale House (Tap Room)

 

Wineries in Rapid City:

Firehouse Wine Cellars

Overnight in Rapid City

 

Day 5: Get an early start and travel southeast on SD-44 toward Badlands National Park. This seldom-driven highway offers visitors a unique ride through evolving landscapes while on the way into the park. Badlands National Park offers awe-inspiring views of other-worldly terrain, whose erosive qualities makes the park one of the richest fossil beds in the world.  After spending the morning exploring the park, travel north to the small town of Wall and visit the world-famous Wall Drug store, known for its free ice water, quirky Americana and delicious donuts!

Travel back toward Rapid City on Interstate-90 and follow the exits for America’s Shrine of Democracy, Mount Rushmore National Memorial. This American centerpiece is most famously known for the laborious efforts of the brave workers who painstakingly carved the effigies of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln into Black Hills granite in the 1920s & 30s.

Nearby Hill City offers visitors a pleasant surprise with its unique art scene, tasty restaurants, local breweries and award winning wineries.  Grab dinner at the Alpine Inn, known for its filet mignon and decadent dessert menu.

Hill City Breweries:

Miner Brewing Company

Sick N Twisted Brewing Company

 

Hill City Wineries:

Prairie Berry Winery

Naked Winery

Stone Faces Winery

Overnight in Hill City

Day 6: Head south of Hill City where another face is emerging from the granite outcroppings of the Black Hills. Crazy Horse Memorial is the homage to the great Lakota Sioux warrior who dedicated his life to preserving the culture of his ancestors.

The nearby town of Custer is home to a number of great restaurants and even has its own brewery, Bitter Esters, located on Mount Rushmore Road. Grab lunch at the Bugling Bull, who also features its own house brews and head out to explore the surrounding area. East of Custer lies Jewel Cave National Monument, the second largest cave in the world. West of Custer is Custer State Park, the second largest State Park in the United States. Custer State Park is also home to approximately 1,500 bison that oftentimes can be viewed a few feet from your vehicle. Please keep in mind that bison are wild animals and can become dangerous if provoked.

Depart for Wyoming in the afternoon. Stop by Devils Tower National Monument, the nation’s first national monument, before heading to Buffalo or Sheridan for the night. Located in the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains, these communities are home to some authentic Western dining experiences and a couple of great breweries.

Breweries in Buffalo & Sheridan:

Clear Creek Brewing Company (Buffalo)

Blacktooth Brewing Company (Sheridan)

 

Restaurants in Buffalo & Sheridan:

Historical Occidental Hotel

Overnight in Buffalo or Sheridan

Day 7: Depart for Billings, Montana in the morning via Interstate-90. Stop by the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument on the way to learn about the fateful day in June where General George Armstrong Custer and his men met their demise at the hands of the Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors.

Arrive in Billings in the early afternoon. Billings is the largest city in Montana and is settled on the banks of the Yellowstone River, which feeds into the larger Missouri River in North Dakota.

Billings also boasts a bustling downtown with a number of delicious eateries and microbreweries all within walking distance as well as a unique distillery offering finely-crafted cocktails. Explore nearby Pompey’s Pillar, which contains the only physical evidence of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, or check out Pictograph State Park which features pre-historic cave drawings. Head back downtown and spend the evening enjoying this fine Montana community.

Billings Breweries:

Angry Hank’s Microbrewery

Yellowstone Valley Brewing Co.

Überbrew

Carter’s Brewing

Montana Brewing Co.

Billings Wineries:

Yellowstone Cellars & Winery

Billings Distilleries:

Trailhead Spirits

Overnight in Billings

 

Day 8: Begin the morning by continuing your exploration of Billings. Grab a late breakfast and head west on Interstate-90 toward Livingston. This spectacular interstate drive takes you by the beautiful Crazy Mountains.  Take a relaxing stroll down Main Street Livingston and grab a cold pint at Neptune’s Brewery before heading north on US-89 through White Sulphur Springs. Stop by the Castle Museum and take in the Victorian architecture and historical museum.

Continue the journey on US-89 toward Great Falls. This section of road is known as the Kings Hill National Scenic Byway and offers breathtaking views of the Montana countryside.

Arrive in Great Falls, an authentic Western town located in the foothills of Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front Range. Located only two hours from Glacier National Park, Great Falls serves as an excellent gateway to the park. Spend the afternoon doing some active adventure in the nearby Bob Marshall Wilderness or Giant Springs State Park. In the evening, walk amongst the various shops, dine at more than 100 restaurants or delve into the past at one of Great Falls’ wonderful museums such as the Charles Russel Museum or the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. Hit the hay early because you will want to hit the road early tomorrow for Glacier National Park!

Breweries in Great Falls:

Mighty Mo Brewing Company

The Front Brewing Company

 

Overnight in Great Falls

Day 9: Early bird gets the worm! Get an early start for a beautiful drive into Glacier National Park. There are three entrances to East Glacier, St. Mary, Two Medicine and Many Glacier Entrances. All three entrances can be reached by taking Highway 89 north from Great Falls to the town of Browning (approximately 125 miles) and then following signage to the respective entrance. The St. Mary Entrance is the east entry point of the Going-to-the-Sun-Road and provides access to the St. Mary Visitor Center and services at Rising Sun. The Many Glacier Entrance provides access to the Many Glacier Valley and visitor services at the Many Glacier Hotel and the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn.

Glacier National Park is the largest concentration of glaciers in the lower 48 states. Spend the day exploring this expansive area of glacial-scoured valleys and towering peaks. Enjoy a nice meal at one of the park’s various restaurants before retiring to your lodging within the park.

*Note: lodging in Glacier National Park fills up fast so be sure to make reservations months in advance.

 

Overnight in Glacier National Park

Day 10: Start the day with a brisk morning hike in Glacier National Park. Explore the park to your heart’s content and travel west out of the park into the Flathead River Valley. The Flathead Valley craft breweries produce more than 40 varieties of ales and lagers using unique ingredients such as Montana grown malts, hand-picked local hops, Montana huckleberry juice and Flathead Cherries. Small batch spirits are hand crafted and bottled at area distilleries producing unique and award-winning whisky, gin, absinthe, rum and vodka. Three local wineries offer a range of wines from locally grown Montana fruit to Northwest pinots and merlots. You can also find many of these local beverages served in Kalispell bars and restaurants. Travel toward the bordering town of Columbia Falls where you can visit Flathead Lake Winery or nearby Glacier Distilling.

 

Continue your journey to Whitefish. This small ski town packs a big punch, with numerous options for an exquisite lunch. After lunch, enjoy a pint or two at The Great Northern Brewing Company before departing for Kalispell. On the way to Kalispell, test your palate at Glacier Sun Winery.

 

Kalispell is the largest town in the Flathead River Valley of Northwestern Montana. The town of Kalispell and the nearby wilderness areas offer a wide variety of opportunities for sightseeing, active adventure, shopping and dining. Venture onto the crystal-clear waters of Flathead Lake or visit one of many downtown art galleries. Enjoy a relaxing dinner and finish the night with some beer sampling at Kalispell Brewing Company.

Kalispell Breweries:

Kalispell Brewing Company

Tamarack Brewing Company

 

Overnight in Kalispell

Day 11: Enjoy a relaxing morning in Kalispell with some outdoor activity or shopping. Both eastern and western shores of Flathead Lake are home to breweries, wineries and distilleries for those interested in afternoon libations. On the east shore of the lake near Bigfork are Whistling Andy Distillery and Flathead Lake Brewing. The western shore of Flathead Lake is home to Tamarack Brewing, located in Lakeside just south of Kalispell, and Mission Mountain Winery near Dayton.

Head south 90 miles to the college town of Missoula. Nestled in the Northern Rockies of Montana, surrounded by seven wilderness areas and at the confluence of three rivers, Missoula is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. In addition to the boundless opportunities for outdoor recreation, popular sites in Missoula include the Smokejumpers Visitor Center, the Montana Natural History Center, the shops on Higgins Avenue, the nearby communities in the Bitterroot Valley and of course, a wide selection of handcrafted brews and wines. Take your time and take in your beautiful surroundings. Spend the evening enjoying a nice meal at one of numerous Missoula eateries and enjoy a few drinks at one or more of the local breweries, wineries or distilleries.

Missoula Breweries:

Big Sky Brewing Co.

Kettle House Brewing Co.

Draught Works

Tamarack Brewing Co.

Bayern Brewing Inc.

Flathead Brewing Co.

Blacksmith Brewing Co.

Missoula Wineries:

Ten Spoon Vineyard and Winery

Missoula Winery and Event Center

Missoula Distilleries:

Montgomery Distillery

Overnight in Missoula 

Day 12: Start the morning by traveling southeast toward the mining town of Butte. On the way, stop in Philipsburg to mine for authentic Montana sapphires! Arrive in Butte in late morning. This copper mecca was once one of the most thriving cities in the west. Explore historical downtown which includes the Copper King Mansion, the former residence of copper tycoon William Andrews Clark.  Stop by Headframe Spirits for a delicious cocktail or one of the local breweries before continuing on to Virginia City and Nevada City.

Butte Breweries:

Butte Brewing Company

Quarry Brewing Company

The Old West mining towns of Virginia City and Nevada City have been restored to reflect the boom days when settlers and miners migrated to Montana in the late 1800s. Spend the afternoon exploring the historic shops, theatres and houses before continuing on to the cattle-driving town and cultural epicenter of Bozeman.

Bozeman, MT, the home of Montana State University, is a relatively large community that has attracted residents from all over the country. The result is an eclectic cultural mix that maintains its Western heritage. Popular sites in Bozeman include the Museum of the Rockies, the Gallatin History Museum and the numerous local art galleries and shops that line Main Street. Bozeman also has a large selection of microbreweries, wineries and distilleries to choose from. Take in all this beautiful mountain town has to offer and enjoy a nice meal before heading back to the hotel. Off to Yellowstone in the morning!

Bozeman Breweries:

Bozeman Brewing Co.

Bridger Brewing Co.

406 Brewing Co.

Madison River Brewing Co.

 

Bozeman Wineries:

Corx- Bozeman’s Boutique Winery

Wine Gallery

Bozeman Distilleries:

RoughStock Montana Whiskey

Bozeman Spirits Distillery

Overnight in Bozeman

Day 13:  Get an early start in the morning for the nation’s first national park, Yellowstone National Park. This awe-inspiring landscape covers an expansive 2,000,000 acres and visitors need ample time to explore the park. Drive through the park’s north entrance, going under the famous Roosevelt Arch.  Popular sites in Yellowstone include Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful, Lamar and Hayden Valleys and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with its inspirational view of Lower Falls. Spend the day and evening exploring the park and keep an eye out for wildlife! Enjoy a decadent meal at Lake Hotel, which lies on the shores of Yellowstone Lake before returning to your lodging for the evening.

*Note: lodging in Yellowstone National Park fills up fast so be sure to make reservations months in advance.

Overnight in Yellowstone National Park

Day 14: Begin the morning by traveling south out the park toward Grand Teton National Park. This spectacular mountain range is one of the most recognized and most photographed mountains in the world. Spend the morning exploring Grand Teton National Park. Popular stops within the park include: Grand Teton National Park Visitors Center, the 42-mile Scenic Loop Drive, Jenny Lake and outdoor recreation. Continue on to the vibrant town of Jackson Hole.

Located a short distance from Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole embodies much of what makes Western culture so great. Enjoy a Wildlife Safari or visit the National Elk Refuge to view some majestic Rocky Mountain wildlife; ride a tram to the top of a mountain ridge and view the expansive valley below; saddle up at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar or visit the world-famous Silver Dollar Bar located in the Wort Hotel. Walk the shops on Main Street; enjoy a cold pint at Snake River Brewery or a fragrant glass of wine at Jackson Hole Winery.

Overnight in Jackson

 

Day 15: Travel south of Jackson to the small community of Pinedale. Nestled in the foothills of the Wind River Mountains, is home to the Museum of the Mountain Man as well as the Wind River Brewing Company. Explore Pinedale and grab a quick lunch before continuing to Laramie.

Laramie, home of the University of Wyoming, is another Western town whose heritage runs deep. Nature enthusiasts can explore the nearby Medicine Bow National Forest, Snowy Mountain Range or Vedauwoo while history enthusiasts can visit the Wyoming Territorial Prison and Old West Park and the University of Wyoming Geological Museum. Head over to Altitude Chophouse & Brewery for some fine dining and small batch ales.

Overnight in Laramie

 

Day 16: The final day of the voyage has arrived! Depart for Cheyenne in the morning. Located 50 miles from Laramie, Cheyenne is the home of Frontier Days, the largest rodeo and western celebration in the world. Options in Cheyenne include the Cheyenne Depot and Depot Museum, the Wyoming State Capitol and State Museum, the Big Boy Steam Engine or Downtown Cheyenne. Grab lunch and a quick pint at Freedom’s Edge Brewing Co. or Accomplice before traveling south on Interstate-25 to Denver.

Tour Denver, with its outstanding collections of museums as well as excellent shopping in Cherry Creek Shopping Center and Larimer Square, tasty microbreweries, a restored section of Victorian Denver filled with quaint old buildings, gas lamps, courtyards and gardens, and legendary Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre.  Explore Denver to your hearts content until your flight departure. If you’re not ready to return home, spend some extra time taking in all that Denver and the surrounding area has to offer. Cheers!

Denver Breweries:

Breckenridge Brewery

Denver Beer Co.

Prost Brewing Co.

Great Divide Brewing Co.

Vine Street Pub & Brewery

Strange Craft Brewing Co.

River North Brewing Co.

Denver Wineries:

The Infinite Monkey Theorem

Balisteri Vineyards

Spero Winery

Mile High Winery

Denver Distilleries:

Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey

Mile High Spirits

Leopold Bros. Distillery

Departure or Overnight in Denver

Fish the Great American West

The best trout fishing in North America runs right through The Great American West, with thousands of uncrowded lakes and streams and over 40 species of gamefish.

South Dakota
More than 1,100 square miles of water and a fishing season that never closes await you in South Dakota.  Nearly 30 species of fish inhabit the streams and lakes of South Dakota. The Missouri River and Glacial Lakes area offer trophy walleye, northern pike, bass, sauger, salmon, catfish, bluegill and perch. The Missouri River near the Oahe Dam by Pierre is yielding massive trout.  Rainbow, brook and brown trout fishing is available in the 14 lakes and 481 kilometers of mountain streams of the Black Hills.

Whether you fly fish for trout in a Black Hills stream, reel in trophy walleye from a Missouri River reservoir, or land bass or crappie from a glacial lake, South Dakota has fishing opportunities for everyone from the pro angler to the weekend enthusiast.

Wyoming
In Wyoming, the Bighorn River near Thermopolis is one of the top five trout fishing waters in the country and yields cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout. Public access is available along most of the rivers, and local guides and outfitters take fishermen to areas of the river where the number of fish caught depends entirely upon the enthusiasm and skill of the fisherman. The North Platte River near Saratoga yields over 2,000 catchable trout per kilometer, and is accessed by local guides and outfitters in flat-bottomed boats.

The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area offers 150 kilometers of shoreline surrounded by steep canyon walls. Trout, bass and kokanee salmon grow to record size in the 150 meter deep lake. The Snake River near Jackson is also one of the country’s top five, and the recent site of the World Fly Fishing Federation competition.

Montana
Three of the five highest rated blue-ribbon trout fisheries in North America are within easy reach of West Yellowstone and Bozeman.  The Madison River, which is considered by many fly-fisherman to be the top rated river in all the country, produces thousands of rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout per kilometer. The Gallatin River challenges anglers to some of the most spectacular scenery and fighting trout in the region. And don’t forget the Yellowstone River, also a treat for anglers, which provides awesome scenery as it travels north out of Yellowstone Park.

Anglers can wade in a stream, walk along the stream bank below the high-water mark, or float fish on any waters large enough to carry a boat.  Let a Montana outfitter or guide show you the fishing vacation of your dreams.  They know Montana’s waters well, and will help you enjoy Big Sky angling.

North Dakota
Fishing across the state is excellent.  North Dakota has fabulous fisheries like Lake Oahe, Lake Sakakawea and Devils Lake. Devils Lake is known for outstanding Walleye and Lake Sakakawea has a large number of walleye, northern pike and bass.  Lake Sakakawea is named for the Native American woman who joined Lewis and Clark 200 years ago and is the third largest manmade lake in the US.  It’s filled by the Missouri River and contained by Garrison Dam, the country’s fifth largest.  This huge lake, with more shoreline than California, is home to numerous species, such as walleye, northern pike weighing more than 20 pounds, Chinook salmon, smallmouth bass, white bass, yellow perch, crappie and sauger.

The Missouri River enters North Dakota from Montana just west of Williston.  The free-flowing river offers a good setting for sauger and walleye in the spring and fall.  The western reaches of the river offer one of the better spots in the country to snag a giant paddlefish in late spring and you will see northern pike and catfish in this area too.  The Missouri River system slices through west and central ND and has good catches throughout the system. No matter where you cast in North Dakota, you’ll find our walleye, northern pike and perch (to name of few) waiting to hit your line.  Plus our fishing is year round.

Golf the Great American West

There are hundreds of excellent golf courses throughout The Great American West, and golfers are constantly surprised at what they can find in places they never thought possible. They’re also surprised to find out that they can play golf on many courses six to seven months a year amid national parks and spectacular scenery. But in addition to the variety of courses throughout the region, there are world-class resort courses rated in Golf Digest’s “America’s 75 Best Resort Courses” as well as by the National Golf Foundation.

Denver
The international gateway city of Denver is blessed with an extraordinary landscape, perfect for dramatic golf courses. It offers plenty of golf in the summer months and has a solid mix of both municipal-run golf courses all the way up to very high-end, famous private clubs.

South Dakota
The Black Hills, Badlands and Lakes area of South Dakota features several golf courses surrounded by majestic pine-covered mountain where golfers will find 22 courses to challenge their game.  Home to several fine courses including the 18-hole par 72 Meadowbrook course in Rapid City that’s rated in the top 50 public courses in the nation.

Southern Hills Golf Course west of Hot Springs is a nine-hole course chosen by the National Golf Foundation as one of the best in America’s heartland.  Dakota Dunes, east of Sioux City, designed by Arnold Palmer, has been named the best course in South Dakota by Golf Digest and Golfweek.  A number of course are open year-round, making it possible to ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon.

The northeast region of the state is dotted with serene lakes and 29 beautiful, quiet golf courses that offer golf lovers the chance to unwind on wide-open courses.  The great lakes in the central region offer expansive Missouri River reservoirs, gently sloping prairie hills and waving grasses.  Here, links style courses along jagged river bluffs will challenge any skill level.

North Dakota

Hawktree in Bismarck takes advantage of the landscape’s watering holes and naturally rolling hills.  In 2006 it was Golf Digests #19 of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses and also was on Golf Digest’s 2011-12 ranking of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.

The Links of North Dakota, near Williston, was the number one course in North Dakota in 2013-14 and rated 53^rd among the 100 Greatest Courses. It was also voted a Must Play Golf Course by Zagat’s Survey’s American’s Top Golf Courses from 2003-2010.

Bully Pulpit in Medora is a challenging course in the beautiful Badlands near Medora.  It was ranked America’s #1 Affordable Public Course in 2006 by Golf Digest.

Triple Challenge – Hawktree Golf Club has joined with these two other outstanding North Dakota golf clubs – Bully Pulpit Golf Club, and The Links of North Dakota, to provide an unbelievable opportunity for golfers that are ready for a real challenge.

Consider a visit to the eastern part of the state to King’s Walk at Grand Forks, designed by Arnold Palmer, which lies in a natural prairie setting that evokes the great courses in Scotland and Ireland.  In 2009 Palmer rated it among his favorite 16 courses from the nearly 200 his company has designed.

Montana
Montana boasts more than 70 golf courses.  The challenging “Old Works” Course (designed by Jack Nicklaus) in Anaconda, Montana is gets rave reviews. It incorporates mining relics and black slag sands with premier facilities. Nearby, the Fairmont Hot Springs golf course boasts a ‘mile high, mile long’ hole, one of the most challenging in Montana.

Destination golf vacations are a popular part of the many things Montana’s Flathead Valley area has to offer, as it has been named in the top 50 by Golf Digest.  World-class courses include Buffalo Hill, Eagle Ben, Meadow Lake, Polson Country Club and Whitefish Lake, with over 10 courses to choose from.

Bridger Creek Golf Course and Cottonwood Hills Golf Course in Bozeman offer spectacular views of the scenic Gallatin Valley.  Head east to Billings which has several enjoyable and challenging courses. Then head south to Wyoming.

Wyoming
Once in Wyoming, you will find that golf courses in this state satisfy those seeking views of the Teton Mountain Range, wildlife spotting or championship course designs.  Plus, the state’s wide-open terrain facilitates long links, and its strategically converted natural landscapes provide challenging holes.

The Powder Horn Golf Course near Sheridan is a 27 hole championship golf course designed by The Bailey-Isaksen Group.  It boasts one of the best practice facilities in the US.  Or swing away with landmark views of Devils Tower from almost every tee box at the Golf Club at Devils Tower in Hulett.  This 18 hole, par 72 course is spread over about 1560 acres.

Work a history lesson into your round at Trails Ruts Golf Course in Guernsey, which in on the Oregon Trail and close to the State Historic Site.  Visitors can camp right on the golf course at Larson Park Campground, or visit the Oregon Trail Ruts.

Jackson Hole boasts two top 50 courses in sight of the Grand Tetons, including the par 72 Jackson Hole course (#10) designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. & Jr., and the par 72, 18 hole Teton Pines (#49) designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay.  Besides golfers, frequent visitors to the fairways and greens include moose, deer, elk, bald eagles, fox, geese and osprey.

National Parks, Monuments, & Memorials
19 days/18 nights

Many of America’s greatest national landmarks are located within the four-state region, including America’s first national park: Yellowstone. The crown jewel of the continent: Glacier. The only National Park named after an American President: Theodore Roosevelt. The most well-known symbol of America: Mt. Rushmore. This is perhaps the region’s most popular itinerary.

Day 1/2: Begin your journey in the gateway city of Denver, CO. Rocky Mountain National Park offers 412 square miles of scenic beauty with waterfalls, meadows filled with wildflowers, scenic vistas and abundant wildlife. Trail Ridge Road through the center of the park is the highest continuous roadway in the world with a restaurant that is two miles above sea level.

Overnight Denver

Days 3/4/5: Denver to Black Hills of South Dakota

Head north through Wyoming, perhaps stopping at Fort Laramie National Historic Site, the first garrisoned post in Wyoming, is located adjacent to the town of Fort Laramie near the confluence of the North Platte and Laramie rivers. It was the most important outpost on the major emigrant trails – the Oregon, Mormon and California. The fort was named in honor of Jacques La Ramie, a French fur trapper who worked in the tributaries of the North Platte in the early 1800s.

Continuing into South Dakota, definitely plan a stop at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the 60-foot-high mountain carving of U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The half-mile Presidential Trail around the mountain’s base affords spectacular views of the memorial, while the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center and Museum features exhibits, photographs and artifacts.

Also gaining international renown is the Crazy Horse Memorial currently under construction 17 miles from Mount Rushmore. The massive granite carving honoring the Native American warrior will stand 563 feet high and 641 feet long when complete; until then, visitors can view progress on the memorial while taking in the exhibits of the Indian Museum of North America, which houses some 20,000 authentic Native American artifacts.

The strikingly hued spires, pinnacles and geological formations of Badlands National Park provide a colorful backdrop for camping, hiking and bicycling amid the diverse wildlife that call the park home.

For a subterranean adventure, visit Jewel Cave National Monument. Located near Custer, Jewel Cave boasts the second-longest cave in the world, with nearly 150 miles of crystal-lined passages. Then travel on toward Hot Springs and nearby Wind Cave National Park, where rangers lead tours of some of the park’s 132 miles of underground passageways, and antelope, bison and prairie dogs roam free aboveground in the park’s 28,000-acre wildlife park.

Overnight Hot Springs, Custer or Rapid City

Days 6/7: Black Hills to Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Just north of South Dakota’s Black Hills is Theodore Roosevelt National Park. This national park memorializes the 26th President for his enduring contributions to the conservation of our national resources. Here the Badlands have been shaped by millions of years of wind, rain, erosion, fire and the meandering Little Missouri River. The area was described in 1864 by Gen. Alfred Sully as “hell with the fires out.” The main access to the South Unit is through the historic town of Medora. The North Unit entrance is along U.S. Highway 85, and is approximately 70 miles distance by road from Medora.

Overnight in Medora

Day 8: Medora to Billings via Devils Tower

Devils Tower National Monument was America’s first national monument and reaches 364 meters into the western sky. Devils Tower is a favorite destination for rock climbers seeking to tackle its hundreds of parallel cracks, some of which reach up to 400 feet long. All climbers are required to register before (and check in after) at the climber registration office. The National Park Service also has implemented a “voluntary climbing closure” during the month of June out of respect for local Native American tribes, for whom Devils Tower is considered sacred.

To the northwest, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (formerly Custer Battlefield National Monument) serves as a symbol for both sides – the U.S. Cavalry and Native American Indians including the Sioux and Cheyenne, who fought on the banks of the Little Bighorn River.

Overnight Billings

Day 9: Billings to Big Hole National Monument

The Big Hole Battlefield National Monument, near Wisdom, is the site of the 1877 battle between Colonel John Gibbon’s troops and Chief Joseph’s Nez Perce Indians. One of Montana’s three units of the Nez Perce National Historic Park, the Big Hole Battlefield features a visitor center, museum and battlefield tours.

Overnight Butte

Days 10/11/12: Butte to Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park, in the northwest corner of Montana, features the spectacular 88.5 KM Going-To-The-Sun Road and over 1126 KM of foot and horse trails. Nowhere is Montana’s breathtaking beauty and abundant wildlife more apparent than in Glacier National Park. Known as the “Crown of the Continent,” Glacier offers more than a million acres of towering mountain peaks, tumbling waterfalls, verdant forests and wildflower-strewn meadows. The spectacular scenery creates a picture-perfect backdrop for the park’s resident wildlife: from grizzly bears and imposing elk to snow-white mountain goats and bighorn sheep, Glacier is the place to see a diverse array of species in their native habitat. Of course, the park’s mountains, lakes and rivers also attract plenty of two-legged visitors, who revel in Glacier’s opportunities for outdoor adventure. From hiking the park’s 700 miles of trails to fishing, boating and camping, Glacier is as good as it gets.

Overnight Glacier or Flathead Valley

Days 13/14/15: Glacier to Yellowstone National Park

The world’s first national park is Yellowstone National Park, where over 10,000 thermal features and hundreds of animal species run wild. Blessed with an abundance of natural beauty – lakes, waterfalls and scenic mountain vistas to name just a few – Yellowstone is best known for the geysers, hot springs and mud pots that make the park one of the most active geothermal areas on the planet. The most famous of these features is the legendary Old Faithful: For more than a century, this extremely punctual geyser has erupted 18 to 21 times a day, shooting water columns more than 130 feet in the air in just 15 to 20 seconds and discharging up to 8,000 gallons of water. Be sure to visit the state-of-the-art Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, or stop by the Old Faithful Inn: A National Historic Landmark, this 1903 masterpiece of rustic American architecture has served as the design inspiration for many contemporary lodges and resorts.

Overnight Yellowstone

Days 16/17: Yellowstone to Grand Teton National Park
Equally impressive is Grand Teton National Park. Located to the south of Yellowstone, Grand Teton offers the wonders of Yellowstone on a more compact scale – the park is about one-sixth the size of its larger neighbor – set against the Grand Tetons, a 40-mile mountain range that is part of the famed Rocky Mountains. Popular with hikers and mountain climbers – the Teton range boasts several peaks that reach 12,000 feet or more – Grand Teton also attracts water sports enthusiasts, who enjoy fishing and boating on the park’s lakes and rivers. Prefer to simply soak up the scenery? Try a scenic float trip down the Snake River, or enjoy a breakfast or dinner cruise on picturesque Jackson Lake.

Overnight Grand Teton or Jackson Hole

Day 18: Grand Teton to Kemmerer

Wyoming’s newest national monument, Fossil Butte, was established on October 23, 1972. The monument contains 8,198 acres and protects a portion of the largest deposit of freshwater fish fossils in the world. The richest fossil fish deposits are found in multiple limestone layers, which lie some 100 feet below the top of the butte. The fossils represent several varieties of perch, as well as other freshwater genera and herring similar to those in modern oceans. A large, deep-bodied fish with many curious plates is common. Other fish such as paddlefish, garpike and stingray are also present.

Overnight Kemmerer

Day 19: Depart to Denver

Native America
11 Days/10 Nights

The Plains Indians, the proud first residents of The Great American West, still make the region their home. In recent years, a new sense of vision and cultural awareness has grown between among local communities and Native American nations.

Days 1/2: Denver
The Denver Art Museum has what is often acknowledged as the world’s greatest collections of American Indian artwork, representing all of North America’s tribes. There are many traders in the city who deal in Indian artwork, jewelry and blankets. The Denver Pow Wow is held every March. Overnight Denver.

Days 3/4: Wyoming
Both the Shoshone and Arapaho tribes share the Wind River Indian Reservation near Lander, Wyoming. Cultural tours of the reservation are available. Guide and outfitting services are available from Native American guides to explore the spectacular Wind River Mountain Range. Fishing, camping and horseback riding are offered during an authentic Indian cultural experience.

Days 5/6:  Montana
The Assiniboine, Sioux, Blackfeet, Chippewa, Cree, Confederated Salish & Kootenai, Crow, Gros Ventre, Northern Cheyenne and Little Shell Indians all reside in Montana. State parks, historic trails, and national monuments, as well as various museums and events, across Montana honor Montana’s first residents. In early July, the Blackfeet host the Northern American Indian Days in Browning. The eight-day Crow Fair is hosted each August at the Crow Agency near Hardin. This event includes rodeos, dances, parades, games, food and craft displays.

Days 7/8: North Dakota
Native American people of North Dakota – They are the Mandan, Hidatso, Arikara, the Yanktonai, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa, and other Dakotah/Lakotah tribes, along with the Pembina Chippewa, Cree and Metis. The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara tribes farmed the area along the Missouri River. Today there are reconstructed earthlodges, near Mandan, New Town and Stanton, that showcase the some of the oldest settled cities in America. Throughout the year, Powwows are held around the state, with the United Tribes Technical College’s International Powwow finishing the season on the second weekend in September each year. This “Contest Powwow” attracts hundreds of American Indian dancers, drum groups, showcase of American Indian culture, and is home of the champions. It is a celebration showcasing “champion” dancers and drums from across the U.S. and Canada, competing for top honors.

Days 9/10: South Dakota
The are nine Sioux Indian tribal governments, six of which have reservations in South Dakota. This is the land of Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Red Cloud and Black Elk. Authentic Indian beadwork, quillwork, fine arts and pottery can be found at over a hundred museums and art galleries. Visitors can attend pow wows and tour museums/art galleries such as the Akta Lakota Museum in Chamberlain, the Red Cloud Heritage Center in Pine Ridge and the Tekakwitha Ah Arts Center in Sisseton. Tipi stays and unique cultural experiences are also available. The Pine Ridge Reservation is the site where the infamous Wounded Knee Massacre took place.

Day 11: Minneapolis/St. Paul/Bloomington
Depart from MSP on any number airlines that have direct international connections.

Note on Etiquette:

In the Great American West, our focus on the great states of Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming has always been centered on their natural beauty, their thriving tourism industries and the part each played in shaping America’s west into the diverse and vibrant enclave it is today. One central aspect of each state’s history and modern culture is the fascinating role Native Americans played – and continue to play – in America’s West.

As a visitor to the Great American West, you have the opportunity to learn and experience firsthand how Native American tribes continue to provide valuable economic and cultural contributions to the American Rockies region. As you begin to explore, however, it is very important to keep in mind that customs and Native American laws should at all times be heeded in order to make this experience as productive and meaningful as possible for all parties. Below are several points that should be considered as you venture into Native American territory:

• If you are witnessing a tribal ceremony, discretion is always the best route – at least initially. Always assume the role of “fly on the wall” spectator during a ritual, making certain to never get in the way of those conducting or participating in the ceremony. There are instances, of course, when outside participation is welcomed by the emcee, at which point you should feel free to volunteer and join in!

• Please refrain from touching or handling any of the feather or buckskin outfits of dancers or those in regalia, unless expressly invited to. These items often have ceremonial and personal meaning to the owner, and many of these outfits may be identified as family heirlooms.

• While photographs and video recording is a great way to capture the authentic beauty of Native American customs and regalia, it is never a good idea to do so without first having express permission. Furthermore, certain rituals that require intense concentration from the participants (such as dance and drum ceremonies) can be disrupted by flash photography. Always use your best judgment and be certain to have permission before shooting or filming.

• Respect and obey all tribal laws. Tribes are sovereign nations on American soil and have jurisdictional rights.

• It is unlawful to harvest, gather or remove plants, medicines or trees from tribal grounds without express permission from a tribal representative.

• It is highly illegal to pick up or loot artifacts from sacred sites, burial, traditional and cultural properties. It is equally forbidden to trespass on any of these sites without proper escort.

• It can be construed as a sign of disrespect to openly discuss burials, burial sites, and those who have passed on.

• As a sign of deference (and a sign of common sense!) do not ever bring drugs or alcohol on any reservation or tribal territory. Alcohol and drugs are forbidden at all ceremonies, powwows and tribal events.

• Remember: When in doubt, ask first!

Part of the exceptional culture and history in the featured states of Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming are firmly rooted in Native American tradition. As you explore everything these states have to offer, simply keep in mind these few guidelines. As you immerse yourself in the American West’s Native American history, please keep in mind the few guidelines above and respectfully enjoy all they have to offer!

Paleontology

We’ve gathered some of the best paleontological and natural wonders that The Great American West has to offer. There is a big advantage to viewing the many dinosaurs in Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, compared to those in “Jurassic Park.” Our dinosaurs are dead and have been for 65 million years. Long before paleontology became popular, sites within our region were famous worldwide for the extremely rich fossil beds and accessible dinosaur skeletons. New and exciting finds are still being made every year, including the first-ever discovery of dinosaur eggs in Montana and the first full-sized Allosaurus in Wyoming. The region was, and is, a true “Jurassic Park.”

Denver
One of the most extensive dinosaur exhibits in the nation is at Denver Museum of Natural History. Called “Prehistoric Journey,” the $7.7 million exhibit offers visitors a unique look at prehistoric life, following a cobblestone path and entering an “enviroroama” where they’ll be immersed in a 3.5 billion year old landscape. After visiting Denver, head north into The Great American West.

Wyoming
The Geology Museum at the University of Wyoming in Laramie is the only museum west of the Mississippi River featuring a full-sized Brontosaurus, as well as many other exhibits. Just north of Laramie, Como Bluff has given up some of the most outstanding dinosaurs ever discovered. Many Como Bluff finds are in museums in the U.S. and Europe. What is left of the treasures is a fossil cabin, a small cement structure that uses dinosaur bones in place of logs.

Head east through Cheyenne to Pine Bluffs, the site of a superb archaeological dig featuring 11,000 years of human migration. The project extends for miles and includes thousands of stone teepee rings, Native American burial grounds, prehistoric trails and bison jumps.

From here head north into South Dakota.  You will return to see more finds in western Wyoming at the end of this tour after your visit to Montana.

South Dakota
The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs has captured world-wide attention for containing the largest concentration of Columbian mammoths found in the world. This National Natural Landmark is the only on-site display of fossil mammoths in America. It has been cited as one of the top exemplary fossil interpretive programs in North America. Guided tours take visitors within feet of the 26,000 year-old fossils. Sixty-one Columbian mammoths have been unearthed so far under the roof at the site.

Badlands National Park is a wonderland for archaeologists and paleontologists featuring some of the most diverse landscape imaginable.  Relentless erosion that created Badlands National Park exposed a vast array of exotic animal and fish remains which are on display along walkways throughout the Park.

Rapid City features the Museum of Geology, a world-class collection of dinosaurs, sea lizards, ancient camels, horses, and a mother oreodont with the skeletons of unborn twins encased in her bones. The Black Hills Petrified Forest near Piedmont has Barasosaurus bones dated to the Jurassic period. The Black Hills uplift has also exposed the remains of a cypress forest. The Black Hills Institute of Geologic Research in Hill City prepares fossils and mineral specimens for museums and collectors worldwide.

When traveling further east, stop to see Mitchell’s Prehistoric Indian Village & Acheodome, nearly 1,000 years old, which was the home of early Plains Woodlands Indians, a tribe of around 1,000 people.

North Dakota
Near the northern border in South Dakota, near Lemmon, is the Petrified Wood Park, a collection of petrified logs, stumps, fossils, and prehistoric mudballs found within a 35-mile radius of Lemmon. Over 6.4 million tons of ancient wood have been used to construct structures within the park.

The Pioneer Trails Regional Museum and Paleontology Department in Bowman studies, collects and curates fossils from all of the different aged outcrops present in the region. These include vertebrates, invertebrates and plants from 73 million year old marine deposits up to the latest deposits of the area, which are 28 million years old. Some of the animals that have been found are mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, dinosaurs, and early mammals that include camels, rhinoceroses, horses and giant pigs. The Paleontology Department conducts Public Day Tours out to active research sites in the field. The museum also offers a more intense summer field activity through their annual Summer Field School.

The Dakota Dinosaur Museum in Dickinson brings dinosaurs to life.  Mighty T-Rex guards the lobby and full-scale models of an assortment of dinosaurs stalk the main gallery.  See realistic baby dinosaurs hatching from eggs in an original sculpture and view beautiful hand-painted murals depicting landscapes that dinosaurs knew.

The State Museum at the North Dakota Heritage Center, in Bismarck, features life-sized skeleton casts of Tyrannosaurus rex and a Triceratops ready to battle.

Continue further west to the Petrified Forest within the Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness which is believed to be the third largest petrified wood area in the United States.  As Congressionally designated wilderness, this area has the highest level of protection and will remain undeveloped, allowing retention of its primeval and wild character. It offers the opportunity for solitude, contemplation, discovery, and the ability to experience this unique area in its natural state.  You are welcome to wander and explore throughout the area and make your own discoveries. Please remember that all rocks and fossils are clues to the area’s geologic past and must be left where they are found for other visitors to enjoy and scientists to study. Collecting of any kind is prohibited.

 

Montana

Near Glendive, Makoshika State Park contains fossil remains of such dinosaurs as tyrannosaurus and triceratops. The visitor center features the skeleton of a juvenile triceratops unearthed in this State Park. Head west to the Garfield County Museum in Jordan which houses the full-sized replica of a complete Triceratops and has an impressive display of fossils taken from the area.

The Fort Peck Interpretive Center and Museum showcases wildlife, history and paleontology discoveries, including the life-size Peck Rex.  In nearby Malta, the new Great Plains Dinosaur Museum is home to the world’s best preserved dinosaur Leonardo. In Havre, the H. Earl Clack Museum features fossil and geological displays.  The museum is the starting point for tours of a nearby buffalo jump site.  Visitors can see dig areas, with layers of bone, ancient processing and cooking hearths.

The beginning of the movie Jurassic Park was based on the finds near Choteau, where Egg Mountain exhibits and fossils are on display at the Old Trails Museum. Egg Mountain Dinosaur Dig site near Choteau is accessed only by special arrangements with the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, but displays one of the most unique sites ever found in the world. Nearby in Bynum, the Two Medicine Dinosaur Center, take in a dig or see the world’s largest full-size skeletal dinosaur model.

Famed dinosaur hunter Jack Horner is the curator of the large dinosaur exhibit at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, one of the best dinosaur exhibits in North America. The museum houses several important dinosaur finds, including the skulls of Triceratops and Styracosaur.

From here head south to the western side of Wyoming.

Wyoming
The Wyoming Dinosaur Museum in Thermopolis is one of the few museums in the world to have its own excavation within driving distance.  It features over 30 mounted skeletons, a preparation lab with visitor viewing and hundreds of displays and dioramas.  The center’s resident rock star is Jimbo, a 106 foot long sauropod found near Douglas, Wyoming.  He is the largest Supersaurus ever discovered.

Head south from Thermopolis into the Wind River Canyon which is literally “a drive through the ages.”  The winding highway takes you through the history of the earth carved out by the Wind River and other geological forces. 

In Fossil Butte National Monument, northwest of Rock Springs, resides one of the most extensive concentrations of fossilized fish in the world, all of which were found locally. There are also six private quarries outside the boundaries of the Monument, and several offer digging opportunities and fossils for sale. The Natural History Museum and Dinosaur Collection in Rock Springs, located on the campus of Western Wyoming Community College, is open year-round, and features full-sized life-casts of Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Camptosaurus, and Xiphactinus audax, a rare monster fish.

Depart Rock Springs for Salt Lake City for your departure flight for home.

River Adventures & Hot Springs

The Great American West region offers pristine and scenic rivers and lakes that attract avid whitewater paddlers and vacationers looking for a thrill as well as those who prefer to float leisurely along at a more relaxing pace or soak their cares away.  No matter what your preference, you’ll find a lake or a stretch of river suited for you in our region.  Come out, away from the crowds, and enjoy these water activities!

Minneapolis/Saint Paul/Bloomington
The international gateway of Minneapolis/Saint Paul/Bloomington is known for nearby water-based activities, whether it is canoeing on one of the lakes or boating on the rivers. A good way to ease into the variety of water adventures that await you in the following itinerary is to take an Anson Northrup Paddlewheeler and Betsey Northrup Party Barge excursion on the mighty Mississippi River from Saint Paul.

North Dakota
The Missouri River in North Dakota offers opportunities for boating, kayaking, canoeing and more.  Relax on the deck of the Lewis and Clark Riverboat on the Missouri River at Bismarck during afternoon or evening cruises aboard this 150-passenger paddlewheel riverboat.  Or enjoy a pontoon cruise on the S.S. Ruby on the Red River at Fargo.

Many are surprised at North Dakota’s only registered waterfall: breathtaking Mineral Springs Waterfall in Sheyenne State Forest near Lisbon.  There is a marked trail leading to the falls but keep your eyes open for wildlife on the way.  The falls come from an underground spring that drops 8 feet and runs into the Sheyenne River.  This State Forest is also home to mineral springs.

At Cross Ranch State Park near Hensler you can rent a canoe or kayak and explore the Missouri River.  Beaver Lake State Park near Napoleon offers canoeing and boating.  Fort Ransom State Park in the scenic Sheyenne River Valley offers canoeing.  Lake Metigoshe State Park provides canoeing and boating activities.  At Sully Creek State Park in the Badlands near Medora, you can canoe the Little Missouri River.  The Pembina River is the state’s only “whitewater river,” offering excellent canoeing in the beautiful Pembina Gorge.  Those are just a few of the many locations to enjoy North Dakota’s waterways.

Montana
In Montana, whitewater, scenic and fishing float trips occur throughout the state.  Experienced guides on the Flathead Wild and Scenic River, which border’s Glacier National Park, offer a variety of trips on the rives, as well as wildlife and scenic or paddle and saddle tours.  Trips range from half-day to five days, including lunch and dinner floats.  Whitewater and scenic floats take off on the Gallatin and Yellowstone Rivers from locations in Bozeman, Gardiner and Livingston.  Travel in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark as you float the Wild and Scenic Missouri River near Great Falls or the Yellowstone River near Billings. Your water adventure can be as calm as a lazy float or as exhilarating as a rafting adventure, either way, Montana’s cool mountain waters await your voyage of discovery.

Chico Hot Springs in Pray is a local favorite, featuring mineral hot springs, fine dining and summer and winter recreation, including dog sledding, fly fishing and mountain biking – with Yellowstone National Park only a short drive away.  Lolo Hot Springs is a Lewis & Clark historical site. Year-round facilities include a saloon, restaurant, gallery and natural mineral hot springs pools and lodging.   The Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, located between Butte and Anaconda 3 miles off I-90, features two Olympic size swimming pools with temperatures ranging from 31° to 41° C (88° to 104° F). Guests have 24 hour access to the pools, as well as a good location for exploring central Montana. The historic Boulder Hot Springs in Boulder features outdoor and indoor pools.

Wyoming
In Wyoming, Jackson’s Snake River offers whitewater below town and scenic floats above. Grand Teton Lodge Company offers a popular series of relaxing float trips on the Snake River at the Base of the Tetons. Whitewater trips also headquarter out of Cody, on the east side of Yellowstone, and the scenic Wind River Canyon is floated by companies based in Thermopolis. Near Saratoga, scenic, fishing and whitewater trips through Northgate Canyon are available on the North Platte River.

For hot springs in Wyoming, Thermopolis, Greek for “Hot City,” has two large hot spring complexes, the Star Plunge and Teepee, as well as a free public bathhouse. Temperatures range from cool to 41° C (106° F), and visitors have a choice of a soak or the water slides. Hotels in the park offer massages, mineral pools and deluxe accommodations. Saratoga Hot Springs in Saratoga features several private springs and pools, as well as a free public soaking pool open 24 hours a day all year.

South Dakota
Hot Springs in South Dakota feature the Evans Plunge, the world’s largest natural warm-water indoor swimming pool, which is a consistent 30.5° C (87° F). Besides the swimming area, there are three water slides, sauna, steam room, two spas, executive center and more.

The Missouri River, which divides the state of South Dakota in half, offers swimming, boating, camping, picnicking, and hiking. Watercraft rentals are available in Chamberlain, and float trips and houseboats are available in Wagner.

The Pierre/Fort Pierre area has abundant opportunities for sailing, jet skiing and other water-bound activities.  Watersports center around the area’s two major lakes – Oahe and Sharpe.  With more than 2,200 miles of shoreline along its 231-mile length, Lake Oahe has plenty of room for waterskiing, windsurfing, sailing, jet skiing and other outdoor water sports.  Single and multi day kayak trips are also available.

Trains, Tracks, & Historic Trails

As the United States developed from a fledgling country and westward expansion continued throughout its history, the Great American West was firmly entrenched in the timeline of human migration. Go back in time as you experience the triumphs and tragedies of the old west by following one of the many historic tracks and trails in the American West.

Lewis & Clark Trail

In 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out at the behest of President Thomas Jefferson to explore the massive new “Louisiana Territory” which had just doubled the size of the United States. For the next two and a half years, Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery party traveled 8,000 miles through present day Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The results of the mission “opened up” the American West and did much to define the nation’s character and destiny.

Ascending the Missouri River through present-day South Dakota they had their first encounter with the Great Sioux Nation. The expedition wintered in North Dakota, then set out up the river in the spring of 1805. They forged westward through country “on which the foot of civilized man had never trodden” in present-day Montana, reaching the headwaters of the Missouri River near Three Forks.

With aid from Sacajawea and her Shoshone people, the party crossed the Bitteroot Mountains into present-day Idaho and secured the services of a Lemhi-Shoshone guide and actually followed portions the northern route of the Nez Perce trail (the trail was an Indian trail before it was the Lewis and Clark Trail). When the Expedition encountered the Nez Perce, Lewis and Clark’s men were cold, starving and sick. The Nez Perce fed them, nursed Expedition members back to health and spared their lives.

Navigating down the Clearwater, Snake and Columbia Rivers, the explorers reached the Pacific Ocean in November 1805. On their return, the party resided with the Nez Perce Indians, waiting for the snow to melt in the Bitteroots. The party then split near present day Missoula, Montana with Lewis exploring the Blackfoot, Sun and Marias Rivers in Northern Montana and Clark heading southeast to the Yellowstone. They met again at the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers and continued back east.

Modern day explorers can follow the Lewis and Clark route through, South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana by car, water, hiking trail or by horseback. Most of the trail is well marked, and there are many interpretive sites, many located within National Forest Boundaries.

In South Dakota, near today’s city of Yankton. The Lewis & Clark visitors center at Gavin’s Point Dam has exhibits covering the Missouri River and the expedition. The Lewis & Clark recreation area offers canoe and boat rentals, and hiking trails. Moving west, Chamberlain has one of the finest collections of Lakota art and artifacts. Lower Brule offers tipi stays through the tribal office and heart of the Sioux Nation tours. In Pierre, visit the Cultural Heritage Center and the “Oyate Tawich’an” exhibit that explores American Indian culture. A Jefferson Friendship Medal, which the explorers gave to the tribes they met, is also on display.

The North Dakota Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center located in Washburn, north of Bismarck provides an overview of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, with special emphasis on the time spent at Fort Mandan during the winter of 1804-1805. The Interpretive Center’s Bergquist Gallery showcases the art of Karl Bodmer, one of only four galleries in the world to house a complete collection, rotating the prints on a seasonal basis.

The reconstructed Fort Mandan rests in the riparian forests of the Missouri River and features refurnished rooms filled with the equipment of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. On-site interpreters provide programs and year-round tours of Lewis & Clark’s 1804-1805 wintering post. The Headwaters Fort Mandan Visitor Center, inspired by a Mandan earthlodge, provides modern restroom facilities, a welcoming orientation area, gift shop and classroom center complements the cottonwood bottomlands near Fort Mandan.

In Montana, the expedition covered more miles than any other state. Today, you can paddle the Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic River, preserved as the Corps saw it. In Great Falls, the Lewis And Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center tells the story of the entire 8,000 mile journey with special emphasis on the Indian people they encountered along the way. In Helena, the “Gates of the Mountains” of the Missouris River can be seen via a commercial boat tour, with hiking, history and wildlife viewing available. Travelers Rest State Park, outside Missoula, contains what is believed to be the camps used by the expedition in September 1805 and July 1806. East of Billings, at Pompeys Pillar is the carved signature of W. Clark, the only physical evidence along their journey.

Oregon Trail
From Courthouse Square in Independence, Missouri to Oregon City on the Willamette River, the Oregon Trail was the first road west for Americans migrating from the east 150 years ago. The length of the trail was 1,923 miles, and it was used from 1843 to 1868. The trip took five to six months to complete, and most emigrant wagons traveled at an average speed of 12-20 miles per day.

The highest point of the Oregon Trail was at 7,500 feet at South Pass near Lander, Wyoming. Over 350,000 people are estimated to have traveled the Oregon Trail during its working days, making it the greatest mass migration in human history. As many as 35,000 people perished along the route. The Trail allowed the United States to expand west through Oregon and achieve its national “Manifest Destiny” to reach from “sea to shining sea” by sheer force of population.

History has left its mark, carved into the stoney hills just outside of Guernsey, WY. Although many remnants of the trail can be seen in Wyoming, the Oregon Trail tracks here are notable because they were cut into solid rock. A short trail leads uphill to four-foot deep gouges cut by the wheels of thousands of wagons. Register Cliff, located two miles southeast of Guernsey provided travelers with a “chalkboard” where they placed their names.

For a first-hand feel of emigrant travel, climb aboard the wagon at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, WY. Bump along in an ox-drawn wagon as you ford the North Platte River at its last crossing. Also visit Fort Caspar to see a replica of a ferry used by emigrants to cross the river before the first bridge in this area was constructed. From Casper take Wyoming Highway 220 west in an hour-long drive to Independence Rock (the most noted landmark on the Oregon Trail) and then visit the nearby Handcart Visitor Center at Devils Gate, where you can push and pull an actual Mormon handcart.

To continue following the trail west to Fort Bridger, travel north on U.S. 287, west on Wyoming Highway 28, south on Wyoming Highway 372, and then west on Interstate 80. It will take you about five hours to drive from Independence Rock to Fort Bridger without stops, but you can break the trip up with an overnight stay along the way.

Fort Bridger, an important trail supply point built “in the road of the emigrants” in 1843, was operated by mountain man Jim Bridger and Louis Vasquez and later became a U.S. Army post. Today you can stock up on 19th-century goods at the recreated Fort Bridger Stockade and explore the military-era buildings.

Nez Perce Trail
One of the most tragic and heroic chapters of the American West occurred in the summer and early fall of 1877, when Chief Joseph’s band of 750 “non-treaty” Nez Perce Indians were ordered to turn over their land in the Wallowa country of north-eastern Oregon and move onto a small reservation. Conflict ensued and the Nez Perce engaged in an epic flight, by foot and horseback, through present-day Idaho, Wyoming and Montana in a futile effort to escape to Canada.

The Nez Perce had only 250 warriors among them but fought in some 20 battles and skirmishes against a total of more than 2,000 soldiers aided by numerous civilian volunteers and Indians of other tribes. Their route went through three states, dictated by topography and skillful strategy. The Nez Perce traveled over 1,500 miles before they were trapped and forced to surrender at Montana’s Bear Paw Mountains in October of 1877. They were stopped just short of the Canadian border where safety awaited them. General William Tecumseh Sherman called the saga of the Nez Perce “the most extraordinary of Indian wars.”

Surviving Nez Perces were sent to several years of exile in present-day Oklahoma before they were allowed to return to reservations in the Northwest, where their descendants still live.

 

Starting in present-day Spalding, The Nez Perce National Historic Park visitor center features a museum, movie and tours to better acquaint the visitor with the Nez Perce Culture. Near present-day Kamiah, visitors can observe the significant cultural site of the “Heart of the Monster.” The actual trail loops and cuts northeast across the Idaho panhandle along the Lolo Trail on the banks of the Lochsa River ( U. S. Hwy 12) and enters Montana through Lolo Pass near present-day Missoula. The band turned sharply south, fleeing down the Bitterroot River Valley until they encountered Col. John Gibbon’s troops and fought a battle that is commemorated by the Big Hole National Battlefield Monument and Visitor’s Center, Route 43 near Wisdom.

Entering Yellowstone Park from the west, the Nez Perce encountered some of the earliest tourists and prospectors and two white men were killed. The Nez Perce exited Yellowstone two weeks after they entered, narrowly missing an encounter with their enemy, General William Tecumseh Sherman, East of Yellowstone, the Nez Perce plotted a masterful escape from two columns of Army forces. They feinted up the Shoshone River near present-day Cody, WY and escaped along a route that took them straight up the narrow Clark’s Fork Canyon. Highway 296 northwest from Cody now bears the name, “The Chief Joseph Highway.” Yellowstone’s Nez Perce Creek, which feeds the Firehole River, is named for this desperate bid for freedom.

The band entered present-day Montana along the Clark’s Fork and ventured north until engaging in the Canyon Creek battle against U.S. Calvary General Sturgis.  The site of the battle is 7.5 miles north on Secondary Highway 532 and is now the location of the Chief Joseph Statue and Canyon Creek Battlefield Marker. South of Chinook, the Bear Paw Battlefield is now a National Park and the final stop on the Nez Perce National Historic Park.  A self-guided trail marks the Battlefield, while the Blain County Museum in Chinook serves as the interim Visitor Center for the National Park Service.

 

Trains & Tracks

The building of the transcontinental railroads to allow access into the American West ushered in a new era of settlement and development and lead to the population and development of the region as we now know it. And whether by Amtrak, museums or historic steam trains, the legacy of the Iron Horse lives on in the Great American West.

In Cheyenne, Wyoming visit a variety of railroad attractions. Big Boy #4404, on display at the Holliday Park, is known as the largest successful steam locomotive built. At Lions Park, another display portrays the heritage of the railroad in the west. The Wyoming Transportation Museum, housed in the historic Union Pacific depot, is a must for train buffs. Gillette, WY is home to the Rockpile Museum, a Burlington Northern Caboose display. To enhance the visit, the museum also provides general history on the railroads.

The Black Hills Central Railroad, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, offers a 32 km (20 mile) train ride between Hill City and Keystone along an old mining route once used by settlers. While traveling through the breathtaking scenery offered by the Black Hills, passengers also step into the past and experience the history of the region. The Adams Museum in Deadwood offers visitors a chance to see the first locomotive in the Black Hills region.

The Peter Yegen Jr. Yellowstone County Museum in Billings, Montana offers visitors a peek into the past with the American locomotive the #1031 on display. Further north, the Sheridan Depot proudly displays a locomotive that was ahead of its time. This locomotive made the trip from Aurora, IL to Savanna, IL in 1957 with a 12-car excursion train in 1 hour and 11 minutes. The Izaak Walton Inn was built on the Burlington Northern mainline, and today hosts activities for railroad enthusiasts of all personalities…including an overnight stay in a restored caboose.  Hike, cross-country ski or snowshoe into Glacier National Park.

Anaconda, MT is home to the Copper King Express.  Ride the rails from Anaconda to Butte and see historic sites and natural beauty or enjoy a dinner or play, all from the comforts of these newly refurbished train cars. During the weekends, Virginia City features the 1911 Baldwin steam locomotive and offers visitors a chance to journey between the historical mining towns of Virginia City and Nevada City. While in Lewistown hop aboard the popular Charlie Russell Chew Choo and enjoy a classic dinner excursion.

In North Dakota you can visit the state railroad museum in Mandan and experience Railroad Days every summer. The Fort Lincoln Trolley outside of Bismarck is where you can ride a restored 1890s streetcar that ran along Fourth Street in Bismarck in the 1920s. For a real thrill, check out the Highline Bridge. At 3,860 feet long and 162 feet above the riverbed, it is one of the longest and highest single-track railroad bridges in the United States.