Amazing Hidden Gems in Montana You Might Not Know About

With summer in full swing and COVID-19 restrictions lifting throughout the state, now is the time to journey! While a beach vacation or a big city might be what you’re looking for, consider looking in your own backyard for several nearby destinations you may not even know exist. TheCrazyTourist.com came up with 28 destinations you should definitely check out. Here are few of the list’s highlights, with the full list available at https://www.thecrazytourist.com/28-amazing-hidden-gems-in-montana.

Jim’s Horn House, Three Forks: A privately owned collection of antlers, gathered over 60 years by a local man, Jim Phillips, from Three Forks. You will need to ask politely to be given permission into the shed where he keeps his astounding collection; contact him in advance, don’t just show up at his home unannounced! None of the 15,000+ majestic antlers have been purchased; Jim Phillips preferred to grow his collection naturally, keeping a keen eye open for stray horns and foraging in the wild.

Castle Town Ghost Town, Meagher: Yet another of Montana’s deserted and long-abandoned places, Castle Town has the added claim to fame of having once been the home of Calamity Jane. Neglected and unloved since the 1930s, the haunting remains of the town today stand silently, the raucous laughter and banter of gruff miners no longer filling the air and the giggles and coquettish smiles of women of the night no longer tempting men into their beds. Do note that the town is now private property. Should you wish to stroll the deserted streets, you will need to arrange a convenient time for a visit.

Yaak Valley, Yaak: Often referred to as Montana’s rainforest, the unusually named Yaak Valley is tucked away in the northwestern corner of the state, close to the border with Canada. The word Yaak means arrow in the native language. A good choice of activities lets you enjoy the valley in various ways; from camping, hiking, fishing, and mountain biking in the summer, to cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter, there’s something to keep everyone active.

Be sure to step into the Yaak River Tavern and Mercantile or the gritty Dirty Shame when in the area too.

The Berkeley Pit, Butte: If you’ve ever wondered where bacteria, microbes, and other microscopic life forms like to hangout and breed, look no further than the Berkeley Pit in Butte, Montana. The open-pit mine once played an integral role in helping America to see the light … copper mined from here helped in electrifying the nation. Water now fills the gigantic hole, creating a breeding ground for rare and new organisms.

The water shimmers in the sunlight, its multi-coloured layers rather enchanting. The surface is a reddish colour, caused by high concentrations of iron. Moving down, however, the water takes on a pale green tint. A waterfall filled with iron flows over the rim. It’s almost impossible to believe that a place with such vibrant and otherworldly beauty could be so hazardous.

Prairie County Museum and Evelyn Cameron Gallery, Terry: Born in 1975, the Prairie County Museums lets visitors travel back in time and discover plenty of interesting details about the area’s past. The former building of the State Bank of Terry houses the museum’s diverse collections, itself dating back to the early 1900s.

There are several other buildings within the grounds too, including a pioneer homestead, a red wooden railway car that once houses the train crew, and an old steam-heated outhouse.

On the fringes of the badlands and all their majestic raw beauty, the museum peers intently into the lives of early pioneers. Learn more about the challenges and triumphs of the early settlers, as well as their regular day-to-day existence. The archives let people trace family histories and there are many old photographs. The Evelyn Cameron Gallery contains a stunning selection of photographs that perfectly capture life and the land back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, taken by a once-wealthy lady who gave up her privileged lifestyle in Mother England to move to Montana with her husband.

The American Computer & Robotics Museum, Bozeman: Often referred to by its previous name of The American Computer Museum, Bozeman’s American Computer & Robotics Museum is a top place for any tech geeks and computer nerds. It’s also interesting for anyone that likes to see how so much has developed in the computing field over the years. There are plenty of quirky and rare exhibits too that will pique your curiosity.

The award-winning museum often slides off people’s to-do lists when they are distracted by other attractions and activities. Don’t let that happen to you!