The State of Montana is a land of big skies, snow-capped peaks, and wide-open spaces. The Treasure State is known for its rich heritage, amazing wildlife, natural resources, and exceptional outdoor recreation.
Whether you’re interested in visiting Montana or moving there permanently, this guide will have you covered!
Here are some of the most popular facts and unique aspects of Montana and what the state has to offer. Let’s dive right in!
Geography and Climate
Largest Landlocked State
With a total area of 147,040 square miles, Montana is the fourth largest state in terms of size, following California, Texas, and Alaska.
However, it’s America’s largest landlocked state and its size is comparable to countries like Japan in Asia, Norway in Europe, and Zimbabwe in Africa.
The Great Plains
America’s Great Plains is a vast stretch of flatlands, prairies, and rolling hills extending over several states of America and Canada.
While these grassland plains cover many states like Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska, some of the most significant parts of the plains are preserved in Montana.
This iconic geography makes Montana a great place if you’re looking for vast stretches of unobstructed views. It’s also one of the main reasons why the state is also known as the “Big Sky Country”.
Mountains and Peaks
Besides Montana’s remarkable stretches of grassland, the state is also known for its huge variety of mountains, hills, and peaks.
In fact, the word Montana directly translates to “mountain” in Latin and is still used as the word for mountain in many languages to this day!
According to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names and the official state website, Montana is home to hundreds of mountain ranges and thousands of peaks and summits all over the state!
The highest natural point in Montana is the Granite Peak of the Beartooth Mountains. The peak is considered one of the most challenging summits to reach by climbers and mountaineers in all of America.
Diverse Weather
The state’s geography also has a remarkable impact on its climate. The weather can change dramatically over the course of a single day by over 50 degrees F, ranging from warm and sunny to cold and rainy.
That said, Montana has a fairly dry climate with characteristic weather that varies significantly according to the season.
Although not extreme, the weather in Montana ranges from quite hot in summer to freezing cold in winter.
In fact, the state has exceptionally long cold seasons, ranging from October to late April. However, this also means the state has a thriving winter activity scene!
History and Culture
Native American Culture
Montana is home to a diverse and vibrant Native American culture, with various tribes calling the state home. The state has 7 Indian reservations along with federally recognized tribes.
These include the Chippewa Cree, the Assiniboin, the Kootenai, the Blackfeet, the Crow, the Northern Cheyenne, the Salish, and more! Each one of these tribes has its unique culture, history, traditions, and even languages!
According to reports, Montana is the 4th largest state in terms of indigenous people representation, with Native Americans making up to 6.0% of the state’s population.
Cowboy and Ranching Culture
The cowboy and ranching culture is a deeply rooted way of life in the state of Montana, as cattle ranching and agriculture have been a big part of the state since the early 19th century.
Agriculture and cattle ranching has been a big business in the state since the early 19th century. The state’s vast landscape and climate are ideal for ranching, and the open stretches of land allow for year-round grazing.
This state’s weather also makes it an excellent spot to grow various crops, including wheat, apples, beans, canola, potatoes, and more!
Today, the state is home to over 28,000 farms and ranches, which cover more than half the overall land area of the state.
Bookshops Abundance
Montana’s love for books and reading is an unexplained phenomenon. In fact, the state has the highest number of bookshops per capita, compared to all other states in America.
This is likely due to the state’s strong literary tradition and the many published authors and writers who call Montana home. For instance, Montana Valley Bookstore is the state’s largest bookshop and has a collection of over 100,000 books!
After all, the state’s cozy lifestyle and beautiful sceneries make for the perfect inspiration to overcome the toughest writer’s block!
Landmarks
Yellowstone National Park
Although Yellowstone is mostly located within Wyoming, it has some of its most exciting parts in Montana!
The widely popular national park is one of the best tourist destinations in the state, as it has some of the most spectacular natural features in America, including lush forests, lakes, rivers, and canyons along with some of the oldest geysers in the world!
The park is also home to some of the most unique animals and birds you can find in the state, such as bison, elk, wolves, bears, and many more!
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is one of the crown jewels of Montana, with over 1 million acres of pristine wilderness and beautiful landscapes.
The park is home to stunning mountain scenery, glaciers, and crystal-clear lakes along with beautiful alpine meadows and lush forests.
The national park has an incredibly wide range of unique plants and animals, making it a perfect haven for nature lovers and adventure seekers.
The park is also home to the Triple Divide Peak, which is a picturesque point in the Lewis mountain range where you can enjoy amazing views of the park, making it a highly popular landmark for seasoned hikers.
Hot Springs
While swimming in Yellowstone hot springs is considered dangerous and prohibited, you can still enjoy a dip in hot springs in Montana.
The state has several open-air hot springs with comfortable temperatures, including various natural and man-made options heated with geothermal energy.
Little Bighorn Battlefield
If you’re a history buff, you should definitely have the Little Bighorn Battlefield on your visiting list.
This historical site is one of the most significant during the American Indian Wars. Here, in 1876, General George Custer and his 7th Cavalry Regiment were defeated by the native Lakota and Cheyenne forces.
The site now has a national monument that honors the lives lost in those battles and celebrates the unity of the state.
Going to the Sun Scenic Road
When it comes to road trips, there aren’t many roads in the American Northwest that beats the beauty of this one. The Going to the Sun is a 51-mile scenic road that takes around 2 hours to cross nonstop.
During the ride, you’ll get to enjoy some of the most iconic landscapes and beautiful views of Montana’s mountains and Glacier National Park.
Lewis and Clark Expedition Trail
The Lewis and Clark Expedition marked America’s first Westward expansion, which was led by Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
The State of Montana is home to a historical trail that allows you to retrace Lewis and Clark’s journey and discover the spacious plains of the state, with plenty of iconic landmarks along the way.
Wildlife
Animals and Birds
Montana’s wilderness areas are teeming with life, as the state is home to an incredibly wide range of majestic creatures, including wolves, bears, bison, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, deer, and much more!
Montana’s diverse wildlife is a testament to the state’s wild and rugged beauty. This doesn’t only include land animals, but also fish and birds.
The state also has some unusual creatures, including Caribous, Pygmy Rabbits, Northern Scorpions, Rubber Boas, Pronghorns, and Wolverines.
Many of these animals also migrate large distances every year, especially pronghorns and elks, so it’s a great spot to witness all that in real life!
Lake and River Fish
Despite being landlocked, Montana’s lakes have plenty of fish species, including perch, bass, trout, walleye, perch, and much more!
In fact, Montana is a hotspot for various techniques of recreational fishing, including angling, fly fishing, trolling, and much more.
Food Production
Wheat Montana Cinnamon Rolls
Wheat Montana Corporation started as a humble family-owned wheat farm in the 1990s near Three Forks.
The farm started producing delicious locally-sourced baked goodies, including their exceptionally large cinnamon rolls, which helped the brand skyrocket in popularity.
Today, Wheat Montana Cinnamon Rolls are among the most popular food items in the state and a must-try for any visitor. You can enjoy the local cinnamon rolls in various styles with plenty of frosting options!
Flathead Cherries
Montana is one of the largest cherry producers in the world, producing over 2 million lbs of the sweet fruit annually.
Besides the quantity, the quality of its produce is quite unmatched, especially the cherries grown in the Flathead region, hence the name.
This region has the perfect soil and climate to yield incredibly juicy and flavorful cherries, making them the perfect treat during its season and a staple in many recipes. You can also enjoy the Flathead Cherry Festival held in late July of every year!
Huckleberries
Montana is one of the few states where huckleberries grow naturally in their forests. These tiny berries look similar to blueberries but with a tangier flavor that adds a unique twist to the flavor of pies and cakes.
Since they grow in the wild, you’ll find them almost everywhere in the state during the summer, and you can also find plenty of restaurants serving huckleberry-based items on their menus.
Elk and Bison Burgers
If you’re in the mood for tasting something new and delicious, you should definitely consider elk and bison burgers, which are a specialty of Montana!
Each one of these burgers tastes quite different from your regular beef burger. Elk burgers are gamier with remarkable texture.
On the other hand, bison burgers are leaner and softer in texture, but still remarkably flavorful. You can find plenty of grill houses in the state selling this unique delicacy, such as Fuddruckers and The Corral.
Beef Production
Although Montana produces a lot of wheat and hay, the most produced food commodity of the state remains cattle!
According to the most recent reports, there are around 2.2 million cattle heads in the Treasure State. In other words, cattle make up around two times the human population (1.1 million) of the state.
Mining Industry
Yogo Sapphires
In addition to the thriving farming and ranching industry in Montana, the state is also the only state in America that produces sapphires.
The most common form of sapphire that the state produces is Yogo Sapphire, which is one of the finest types of sapphire on the planet. This gemstone is known for its astonishing blue color and lustrous quality.
Precious Metals and Minerals
The main reason Montana is called “The Treasure State” is thanks to its large deposits of precious metals, including gold, silver, and copper.
The mining of these minerals started during the state’s gold rush in the 1860s and is still going strong to this day!
Notable Figures
Montana is also the home state of many American figures in various fields. For example, Evel Knievel, one of the nation’s most popular stuntmen, was born in Butte, Montana in 1938.
The state is also the birthplace of David Lynch, which is one of the most talented filmmaker and movie directors in the history of Hollywood, receiving an honorary Academy Award in 2019 for his contribution to the movie industry.
Another popular actor that’s originally from Montana is Gary Cooper. The charismatic actor was one of the pioneering legends of the movie industry and participated in many great movies, such as Sergeant York, Meet John Doe, High Noon, and The Westerner.
Wrap Up
This marks the end of today’s guide that walks you through some of the most iconic aspects of Montana.
Whether it’s the beautiful and rugged nature of its state parks or the rich history that’s deeply rooted within its culture, Montana is an incredible spot to visit.
That being said, the Treasure State has even much more to offer, which you can experience yourself when you pay it a visit!
