Avid cyclists don’t have to give up their passion when winter arrives in Montana. Fat biking uses big, snow-friendly tires (fat tires) that give riders the ability to traverse snow-packed trails during the winter months. Many snowmobile trails are also fat bike-friendly, and local bike shops throughout the state can provide trail maps and recommendations on the best place to plan your adventure. Stop by one of the following shops this winter to plan your winter biking adventure:

Missouri River Country: Cherry Creek Gear Shop

• Try biking at Hell Creek Arm of Fort Peck Lake

Southeast Montana: The Spoke Shop 

• Try biking at Makoshika State Park 

Montana’s Yellowstone Country: Dan Bailey’s 

• Try biking at Crosscut

Central Montana: Bighorn Specialists

• Try biking at Giant Springs State Park

Southwest Montana: The Derailed Bike Shop 

• Try biking at Helena South Hills Trails

Western Montana’s Glacier Country: Wheaton’s Cycle 

• Try biking at Round Meadow

If the word “snowcoach” is new to you, just picture a yellow school bus with extra large wheels and raised up a few feet to tackle driving over large snow drifts. Since 1955, Yellowstone National Park has welcomed visitors to its snowy landscapes and offered tours on snowcoaches and snowmobiles. While riding in the snowcoaches, you can expect to learn about the history of the park while spotting wildlife and beautiful winter landscapes in the comfort of a heated bus. 

There’s no better way to warm up in the winter than with a gingerbread stout or a seasonal porter! Southeast Montana is home to a talented community of local brewers making delicious seasonal beverages that capture the cozy flavors you crave in winter. When visiting the area, be sure to check out these local breweries: 

Beaver Creek Brewery, Wibaux

• Seasonal beer: Girl Scout Porter 

High Plains Brewing, Laurel

• Seasonal beer: Oatmeal Stout 

Meadowlark Brewing, Billings

• Seasonal beer: Snowflake Gingerbread Spiced Amber Ale  

Canyon Creek Brewing, Billings

• Seasonal beer: McCreek Stout

Otium Brewing, Miles City

• Seasonal beer: Gingerbread Imperial Stout

Cross Country Brewing, Glendive

• Seasonal beer: Jack Horner’s Delight: Campfire Brown 

Angry Hanks, Billings

• Seasonal beer: Dog Slobber Brown Ale

With more than 4,000 miles of groomed trails that crisscross sweeping mountain-meadow playgrounds, deep untouched backcountry, rugged ridgelines, frozen alpine lakes, old mining country and Forest Service roads, it’s safe to say that Montana’s snowmobiling terrain is some of the best in the country.  

The Glaciers to Geysers program helps everyone from seasoned snowmobilers to first-timers know where to go and how to plan the perfect trip in Montana’s backcountry. 
 

Ranging from steep, double black moguls to gentle, wide-open runs, Montana’s 15 different ski areas have terrain for every type of rider and boast more than 300 annual inches of fresh powder a year.

Whether you are a downhill skier, park-rat snowboarder or family with young kids, Montana’s ski scene is built around friendly faces that carry on small-town traditions (without the crowds and pricey lift tickets). 

The fun doesn’t stop when the lift closes for the day, as many ski areas offer seasonal events, concerts and parties to keep the energy high into the evening. 

Learn more about every ski area in Montana by going to (link to winter guidebook will be provided this week).
 

Ever heard of Livingston or Fishtail, Montana, before? With populations of 8,790 and 478 people respectively, these small towns in South-Central Montana aren’t on many people's radar. But if you're a food enthusiast, you'll want to make a trip to taste the unique, local flavors being prepared by Montana chefs gaining national attention at Campione in Livingston and MontAsia in Fishtail. Campione chef Joshua Adams and MontAsia chef Lee Johnson were named semifinalists for the prestigious James Beard awards for Best Chef from the Mountain region earlier this year. And in 2023, the James Beard award committee included the Backporch– a barbecue spot located in the small, historic town of Roundup (population: 1,916)– on its list of nominees for best new restaurant. 

Montana State Parks is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year, making it a perfect time tovisit. Here are some of our favorites:

Makoshika State Park. Makoshika is the largest state parkin Montana (11,538 acres)and home to balands and dinosaur fossils. Starting this summer, visitors can stay in yurts on the property for a glamping experience under some of the darkest skies in theworld.

Sluice Boxes State Park. Hike along limestone cliffs, follow trails that historically served as mining routes for gold prospectors and explore old cabin remains where mining families used to live and work.

Missouri Headwaters State Park. Camp where Lewis and Clark stayed in 1805 during their cross-country trek and soak in the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin Rivers—where the Missouri River begins.

Tower Rock State Park. View the breathtaking 424-foot-high rock formation used as a landmark by many Native American tribes and noted in the journal of Capt. Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis & Clark Expedition.

When the leaves start to turn in Montana’s Missouri River Country, anglers, hunters and wildlife enthusiasts flock to the wilderness areas in and around Fort Peck Lake to marvel at elk and test their luck catching Chinook salmon, both of which become most prevalent this time of the year. Start your wildlife excursion in the small towns of Zortman, Fort Peck or Glasgow and book a guided wilderness tour with an outfitter like Redbone. Be sure to plan a stop to Slippery Ann Wildlife Viewing Area for the best chance to see bugling elk.

If connecting with nature and some of our country’s most iconic wildlife is a focal point of your travel, then exploring the 18,500 acres of wildlife conservation land found in the Bison Range is your ticket. Managed by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT), the range is home to 350 bison in addition to elk, deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, bears and more than 200 species of birds. Visitors can navigate the range by foot on a series of nature trails or by two different wildlife drives:

1.Prairie Drive (open year-round)

2.Red Sleep Mountain Drive (open mid-May to Mid-October, weather permitting).

Each season brings different wildlife encounters. In late summer, plan to get out early to beat the heat and spot deer and elk calves, bighorn sheep and rams or bears hunting for berries. When the temperatures drop in the fall, you can encounter bugling and sparring elk with a backdrop of golden aspens. Stop by the visitor’s center for your day-use access pass. Just remember to bring bear spray and keep a safe distance when viewing wildlife.

While many people gravitate toward warm destinations and beaches for spring break, here in Montana, we tend to think that spring break is best spent playing in a snow-covered winter wonderland, enjoying adventures from downhill skiing and snowboarding, to exploring our two national parks and charming towns. Springtime is when the landscape itself comes alive with rushing rivers from mountain runoff, meadows and hillsides awash with wildflowers, fertile green hues and emerging wildlife. The days get longer, and the temperatures begin to warm up. We ski well into the spring here—surfing the soft snow and celebrating a winter well-played.