State · Montanhas Rochosas

Montana

Montana has Glacier National Park, with the Going-to-the-Sun Road, and the north and west entrances to Yellowstone, at Gardiner and West Yellowstone.

In the photo: Saint Mary Lake, Glacier National Park

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The state

Get to know Montana

Montana is in the northwest of the United States, on the border with Canada, with the Rocky Mountains to the west and great plains to the east. The capital is Helena. With few people and lots of space, the state is called Big Sky Country.

In the northwest, Glacier National Park together with Canada’s Waterton Lakes forms the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Going-to-the-Sun Road crosses the park for about 80 km, passing Logan Pass, between glacial lakes, waterfalls and mountain goats. West Glacier is at the west entrance, and Whitefish, near Kalispell, has a lake and a ski resort.

In the south, two towns are gateways to Yellowstone: West Yellowstone, closest to the geyser area, and Gardiner, by the Roosevelt Arch at the north entrance, the only one open to cars year-round. From Gardiner the road goes through the park to Mammoth Hot Springs and the Lamar Valley.

Bozeman, about 130 km from West Yellowstone, has the Museum of the Rockies, with dinosaur fossils. On the table: bison, trout and huckleberry, a mountain berry that appears in pies, jams and ice cream.

When to go

July through September is usually the best time for Glacier: the Going-to-the-Sun Road typically opens fully between late June and early July and closes in mid-October, depending on snow. Yellowstone’s high season is June through September. Winter is long and cold, with skiing in Whitefish and Big Sky from December to March.

Getting there

For Glacier, Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) in Kalispell is about 20 km from Whitefish and 40 km from West Glacier, and Amtrak stops in both towns on the line between Chicago and Seattle. For Yellowstone, Bozeman Airport (BZN) is the most used. Connections from Brazil typically involve a stop in another U.S. city. Confirm before booking. Gardiner and West Yellowstone are about one-and-a-half and two hours by car from Bozeman.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Montana

Do you need a reservation for the Going-to-the-Sun Road?

For much of the summer, the park has required vehicle reservations for the road, and rules change each year: check before you go.

How many days for Glacier Park?

Two to four days allow you to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road, hike from Logan Pass and visit the Many Glacier side on the east. Whitefish and West Glacier serve as bases.

Which Yellowstone entrance to use coming from Montana?

West Yellowstone is about 50 km from Old Faithful and is the most used entrance for the geysers. Gardiner leads to the north of the park, to Mammoth Hot Springs and the Lamar Valley, and is open year-round.

Can you go to Canada from Glacier?

Yes. The Canadian side, Waterton Lakes, is to the north, and the most-used border crossing operates only in summer. Brazilian travelers need whatever entry documents Canada requires: confirm before you travel.

Tap a state to see its destinations. Limites: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (domínio público). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.