Just may visit Montana

[AtlLaw]

Figured what the heck.     Kathie says we never go anywhere...  Thought we may fly in, rent a car and see the sights.  Sould be able to do that in a long weekend.   

Custer Battlefield and Yellowstone are about it, right?   

[AtlLaw]

Cummon fellas!  Help a brother out here!   

Don't tell me what I've heard is true!     That Montana is South Dakota without the technology or night life!?   

 

[prospector86]

custer battle field and pompei's pillar aren't to far from eachother get them both in a day.

[lucky guy]

Seems like it's hard to get much response on this forum.

How many days you thinking about?  I've been across most of the lower half of the state and in the western part - Flathead Lake, Missoula, Whitefish, Glacier Nat'l Park.  With flying into Butte or Bozeman and 3-4 days on the road you could see some of Yellowstone, the Custer monument out of Billings, and alot of different country.  My preference would be the mountains in the west and sw part of the state, but there's the prairie country in the eastern part of the state, the Missouri breaks are worth seeing too.  

If you like the mountains and Yellowstone here's a good trip.  Fly into Bozeman.  Drive east on I-90 to Livingston and south on Rt. 89 to Yellowstone entrance by Mammoth Hot
Springs (good place to spend the night).   Circle as much of the main Yellowstone loop as you want, then head out toward the northeast through the Lamar Valley and NE exit of the park.  Lots of wildlife, wolves in particular.  When you leave the park take Rt 212 northeast to Billings area and the Crow Reservation, and from there it's not far to the Custer monument.  Couple hours back to Bozeman on I-90 and cry as you get on the airplane to leave.   Some of the most spectacular scenery in the west.  

pm me if I can help you figure it out.  

  

[Cottonwood]

Richard you could do what has already been stated, and really enjoy yourself.  Fly fishing is great on the yellowstone, and out of Ennis, MT

[Double D]

Well, here my 2 bits.  Fly in to Billings, Run down to the Little Big Horn Battle field.  The go down and over the Bighorn Mountains to Cody.  From Cody through Yellowstone to West Yellowstone.  From West Yellowstone  via the Big hole, past the Big hole Battle field, and nice rest stop to Missoula. Missoula to Kalispell and the west entrance of Glacier Park.  Take the going top the sun road over Logan Pass to St. Mary.  Then north to Babb, and to Many Glacier.

From Babb you can drive straight south to Great Falls and fly out the there.  Or you can  go east a bit to Shelby and south on the freeway to Great Falls .  When you get to Cut Bank, just before you get to Shelby contact me and I will take you on the Sweetgrass Hills, Jerusalem Rock day tour.    
http://www.mapquest.com/mq/9-CI3WnW7x

[Empty Quiver]

Double D you have described the family vacation from 5 yrs ago. We didn't do the Glacier loop but up to Missoula I will vouch for as being spectacular. That isn't a weekend project though not even for a team truck driving operation. I would go so far as to say a trip to Y'stone needs three or four days.

Depending on what you are looking for I would spend the Custer time in Cody at the museum, then would get into Y'stone. The distances will kill a trip out west, they change the scale on the maps out west and it is deceiving as to how far things are from each other.

In no way should you take this as discouragement, rather as a reason to go more often and for longer stays. Yellowstone in one day means you will not get outta the car but will have to stay rolling except for fuel stops. Two days would be much better as you could stop and see the postcard spots but don't loiter much.  Custer battlefield stood out to me in its remote desolation, its unremarkableness. If you have seen all the Hollywood battles you will be quite suprised at what the real terrain is like.  Hell of a lousy place to give ones life is what I took from the place. Best to see it before Y'stone in my opinion. I'm glad I visited the site.

[lucky guy]

I haven't seen the Cody museum but heard great things about it.  It'll add a few hours driving to the trip though.  Speaking of Custer I held a 7th Calvary belt buckle yesterday - a real one I mean.   

The advice to keep the distances manageable is good advice.  If you're gonna fly in friday night and fly out sunday afternoon pick one thing and go see it.  If you have 3 nights you can do the loop I described or something like it and have plenty of time out of the car.  The distances aren't that long on that loop.   You could spend a month in Yellowstone and not see it all.  But you can see some of the highlights in a day.  We spent a day there last year on the way east and saw the Norris basin geysers and mudpots, Mammoth Springs, and the Lamar Valley, including wolves on an elk kill.  Then drove to Cody that evening.  Coming from Bozeman you could easily see Mammoth, Norris Basin, Yellowstone Falls and the Canyon and Lamar Valley on a relaxed day drive through there.     

The prairie is an acquired taste and harsh country but it is worth seeing.  I wish I could have seen it a couple hundred years ago.

[jshootr]

I like the north
the loop thru Glaciar park and Kalispell to me were the best.
Hunted out of Lewistown many times, but the Northwest was the best in my opinion

[Dee]

Richard, Linda and I did Yellowstone then slipped on over to Jackson Hole. Custer battle field was a waste of time, besides he deserved what he got. Of course I ain't takin sides or nothin.

[Double D]

Nobody flies from Atlanta to Montana for a weekend...it will take that long to get here.

[james]

Its a big state.  I've driven there three times and still not seen half of it.   Skied Blacktail, Turner, and Big Mountain ski slopes in the Kalispel area.  Hunted the Missouri breaks in the Charles M. Russell mgt area and also the Cabinet Mtns. in Western MT.  Shot a few P-dogs and a Mulie. Shot prairie chickens and grouse in eastern MT.  Passed up a small bull elk.  Its a good place to determine if there is a speed limiter on your vehicle.   I stood in one place in the Little Snowy Mtns, south of Lewistown, and watched whitetail and  mulie bucks, cow and calf moose, bald eagle and black bear all within ten minutes.  Its only a 24 hour drive by myself or about 30 hrs. if the family is with me.   

[Cottonwood]

And I live in Kalispell, and surrounded by what I call.... Vacation Land USA, as its kinda nice living exactly just 28 miles from the west enterance to Glacier National Park.

[dpe.ahoy]

Richard!  Ya old scutter!   Comin' to God's country, cool.  Custer won't take to long to tour, then on south to Cody to the Buffalo Bill Museum.  Plan on a few days in there, you will be in awe of what is there.  Haven't been there for about 15 years and they have added almost twice as much as they had.  From there head west thru the tunnel to Yellowstone park past the Buffalo Bill Res.  You can head on south out of Yellowstone to Teton National Park and after that to Jackson Hole.  Then back up thru the parks, taking the route you didn't take goin down, to Billings and out of Logan airport back to Jawja.  Next year ya can go thru the West and Northwest part of the state, plan on a couple of weeks for that.  Oh, and go ahead and list the house, yer gonna fall in love with Montana my friend.   Gimme a yell when ya head up, love to meet you and Kathie, you will be flying into Billings anyway.  Canon6 is also here in town.  Hope to see ya soon!  DP

[olydraft]

I see a new future Montana resident, especially if he trie the west side...


    I must amitt, I have my own Silver Dollar at the "Silver Dollar Bar"

[Skunk]

Well, here my 2 bits.  Fly in to Billings, Run down to the Little Big Horn Battle field.  The go down and over the Bighorn Mountains to Cody.  From Cody through Yellowstone to West Yellowstone.  From West Yellowstone  via the Big hole, past the Big hole Battle field, and nice rest stop to Missoula. Missoula to Kalispell and the west entrance of Glacier Park.  Take the going top the sun road over Logan Pass to St. Mary.  Then north to Babb, and to Many Glacier.

From Babb you can drive straight south to Great Falls and fly out the there.  Or you can  go east a bit to Shelby and south on the freeway to Great Falls.

Now that would be one heck of a great sight-seeing expedition in Montana.

[AtlLaw]

Thanks for all the input guys!     Soons we get back from Memphis I gwanna set Kathie down and go over it all with her.  It do seem like a long weekend ain't enough time though.   

[olydraft]

have they ever put guardrails in on the Sun hwy???  That`s probably why I`m afraid of hieghts now, I musta been tramatized as a child going over that road!!!!!!

[Blue Duck]

Sounds like you will have a great time.  I have been to the Buffalo Bill museum several time over the years and its a great stop.  Id also recommend eating at Martha's  ( I think thats the name). Cody built it for his daughter) good food, not too spendy and worth a look too.  I have a friend who lives in Red Lodge.  We go there most every summer.  From there we take a day trips in most every direction.  You can't go wrong.  Something great and unique to see about every where you go.

[AtlLaw]

Okay, We're back from out little ride to Memphis!  Nobody got shot, stabed or went to jail so it was a good run!   

Gonna sit down with Kathie ASAP.  Sure doesn't look like you could cover muxch in 3¹/₂ or 4 days though...    Might just have to stay in Billings and let DP buy me beer... 

[Empty Quiver]

If it's the difference between going and staying home, just trim that trip to a Yellowstone only trip.  Make it a point not to tary in town and getter done.

[dpe.ahoy]

Yer on Richard.  Yellowstone would make the trip worth while.  No bike, but ya might talk me out of a car or truck ta run around in.  Gimme a holler.  DP

[Double D]

As much as Yellowstone isn't Montana, it a worthwhile trip.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

   The Hotel Buffalo Bill built is called the IRMA...it is a neat place...while there is not a great deal to see at the Custer site, I was there in the evening in June...It was an experience being there as the sun set...maybe it would not be worthwhile for all...but if you are inthe area, I am glad I stopped...it is interesting to see where some of the battles occurred.some of the famous battle grounds are not very big......by far Montana is the gem of the west, with Idaho a close second...I was in Mt. last week and cannot wait to return...If you get in the area, as some one said Ennis is great fishing, but over the hill is a real neat old town called Virginia City...I am reading a history of the vigilanties...while many modern city folks put them down as brutes, I bet they would beg on bended knees for help from them if they lived with the crooks of that era...some vigilante work might not be out of place today in certain areas...Washington D. C. comes to mind .......

[FN in MT]

Wyo Coyote Hunter,

 In your Vigilante readings have you come upon the 3-7-77 theories?  That the Vigilantes carved, wrote or left a note with 3-7-77   on the cabin, saddle etc ... of evil doers...who they wanted to cease their activity or generally leave town. IF that warning wasn't heeded...they would find themselves in a standard GRAVE which is 3 feet wide, 7 feet long and 77 inches deep.

 To this day the Montana Highway Patrol displays that same 3-7-77 on the bottom of their official seal , which is used as the uniform shoulder patch and is also displayed on the doors of the cars.

  To the best of my knowledge there are only two Departments who display an inference to an illegal activity on their official seal or patch.  The  MHP  and the other is....  a hint...East coast Dept.

FN in MT

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

   FN, I did see the reference to those numbers and your explaination was one of the meanings suggested for the numbers...there was also something like they had 3 days, 7 hours, and 77 seconds to leave town...I think your idea makes more sense...in the things I have read, no one knows for sure the meaning of the numbers...It was truely and interesting time...in several of the accounts, they would see two or three robbers coming to the coach they were traveling in, and let them ride up and rob them...I cannot see, why they didn't draw their revolvers and fire at the first hint of any trouble...I guess being in that position would maybe make one think different, but it still makes me wonder...

[Skunk]

As much as Yellowstone isn't Montana, it a worthwhile trip.

DD, please elaborate on that a bit. Are you referring to location (isn't Yellowstone located in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana?), or maybe Yellowstone's commercialism compared to the rest of Montana? Just curious.

[Double D]

As much as Yellowstone isn't Montana, it a worthwhile trip.

DD, please elaborate on that a bit. Are you referring to location (isn't Yellowstone located in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana?), or maybe Yellowstone's commercialism compared to the rest of Montana? Just curious.

Well yes all of the above!!!

Even though Yellowstone NP has thin slivers in Montana and Idaho, it really is Wyoming.  Lucky them.  They do  a good job of promoting.  As much as I really don't like the commercialism, it do give people jobs.  Something there isn't a lot of up here.

[AtlLaw]

HEY!  According to the news today, they got bears that eat people around that yelly stone park!     Darn sure don't sound like Yogi and Boo Boo!   

[Norm1057]

Agree with all above. If you get close to Missoula, stop in at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation! And definately, the drive out the East entrance is worth your time. I would have loved to had at least another day in Cody!