Montana, United States: Towns to Explore on Foot

Things to do in Montana range from exploring Rocky Mountain scenery and prairies to discovering mining towns, museums and places shaped by Indigenous history and American expansion. Known as Big Sky Country, Montana combines wide-open distances with rivers, lakes, ranching communities and two of the United States’ most famous national parks. Neywo has free audio guides for 4 cities in Montana, covering 30 narrated places in total through 3 walking tours.

What to see and do in Montana

Travel from the Rocky Mountains to the prairies

Montana changes dramatically from west to east. The Rocky Mountains fill much of the western part of the state, while the east opens into prairies and badlands, broken up by smaller mountain ranges. Mountains, grasslands, rivers and long distances are not simply scenery here: they are central to Montana’s character.

The Continental Divide crosses much of the state and separates its waterways. Rivers west of the divide flow toward the Columbia River. To the east, the Missouri River begins where the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin Rivers meet.

Montana is the fourth-largest state by area and one of the least densely populated in the country. Its unofficial names include Big Sky Country, the Treasure State and the Land of the Shining Mountains.

Visit Glacier National Park and Montana’s Yellowstone landscapes

Montana contains Glacier National Park and parts of Yellowstone National Park. These protected landscapes are among the main reasons visitors come to the state, alongside Flathead Lake, the Missouri River headwaters and the wide spaces between its communities.

Water is a major part of the landscape. Montana has thousands of named rivers and creeks, as well as about 3,000 named lakes and reservoirs. Flathead Lake is the state’s largest natural freshwater lake.

Outdoor recreation is part of life in Montana throughout the year. Trout fishing has a long tradition, while skiing takes place both downhill and cross-country. The state’s mountains, waterways and open country provide the setting for activities that remain closely connected to the land.

Understand Montana’s Indigenous and frontier history

Montana’s story begins with thousands of years of Indigenous life. American expansion brought rapid change. Much of the land that later became Montana came under American sovereignty through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and the Lewis and Clark Expedition explored the area soon afterward.

Fur trappers followed, making trapping the main economic activity for a time. The discovery of gold then brought new settlers, while the Homestead Act offered free federal land to people who could claim it and prove it up. As settlement grew, conflict and disputes with Native Americans unfolded.

Montana Territory was formed, and railways eventually arrived from both the west and the east. Montana became a state in 1889. Its history can still be found in places connected with Indigenous life, exploration, settlement, railroads, ranching and resource extraction.

Explore Montana’s mining and ranching heritage

Mining, particularly around Butte and Helena, remained a central force in Montana’s economy until the middle of the twentieth century. Ranching also became deeply rooted in the state’s history. Railroads, farming and resource extraction helped shape communities across this large territory.

Today, agriculture remains important, especially ranching and cereal grain farming. Oil, gas, coal, mining and lumber continue to be significant resources, alongside health care, services, defense and government. Tourism is now Montana’s fastest-growing sector.

For a closer look at the state’s mining heritage, explore Butte, where Neywo covers 11 narrated places including Our Lady of the Rockies, Copper King Mansion, the World Museum of Mining and the Butte-Anaconda Historic District. Nearby Anaconda has 5 narrated places, including Morel Bridge, the Anaconda Smelter Stack and the Methodist Episcopal Church of Anaconda.

Discover Montana’s towns and museums

Montana’s communities reflect the state’s varied past. Billings, the largest city, has 9 narrated places on Neywo. Its highlights include Moss Mansion, the Western Heritage Center, Yellowstone Art Museum and Saint Patrick Co-Cathedral.

The state capital, Helena, was also shaped by mining and remains part of Montana’s political and historical story. In Bozeman, Neywo covers 5 narrated places, including the Museum of the Rockies, the American Computer & Robotics Museum, First Presbyterian Church and Methodist Episcopal Church.

These towns offer a different way to experience Montana. Instead of seeing the state only through its natural scenery, you can follow the buildings, museums and public places that show how communities developed around mining, religion, culture, education and industry.

Plan your Montana trip with Neywo

Neywo offers free audio guides for 4 Montana cities, with 30 narrated places in total and 3 walking tours. The guides cover Anaconda, Billings, Bozeman and Butte.

Each story plays as you reach the place, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages, so you can explore Montana’s towns while the app explains the history and significance of the places around you. Download Neywo and discover Montana one narrated stop at a time.