The wide open US state of Montana, bordering three Canadian
provinces, boasts no major big cities, but is the fourth largest
state in the Union, stretching across the prairie of the Great
Plains, known as 'Big Sky Country'.
Plains? 'Montana' is Spanish for mountains, and indeed the State
is usually regarded as mountainous because the Rocky Mountain chain
traverses its western zone. Sixty percent of the state, though, is
prairie. Agricultural lands provide Montana's bread and butter, and
some of the USA's most attractive and renowned national parks,
wildlife refuges and forests provide a tasty topping.
In Montana are the renowned Yellowstone National Park, the
Glacier National Park and the Bighorn Canyon, to name just a few
natural attractions under the big sky. Yellowstone, with more than
two million acres of geysers, is the largest and most famous
national park in the world, spilling over into Idaho and Wyoming,
while the magnificent Glacier park covers one million acres of
rugged mountain terrain, forests, waterfalls and glaciers.
Montana is thus an outdoor enthusiast's paradise, with a
multitude of opportunities for hiking, riding, hunting, and fishing
in summer, and skiing in winter. Native American culture also
features high on its list of attractions, the prairies having been
home to legendary tribes like the Cheyenne, Crow and Blackfeet. The
various reservations are strongholds of their heritage where
traditional dress is worn, rituals are performed and arts and
crafts produced. Also fascinating for visitors is to explore the
'ghost towns' that were left behind after the 1862 gold rush, the
many museums and art galleries, and the historic buildings and
battlefields of this multi-faceted state.
Time Zones
Climate Info
Montana's east and west regions, separated by the Continental
Divide, experience different climates, although generally the state
tends to be hot and dry in summer and cold in winter, with snow.
The west tends to have a milder climate than the east, with warmer
winters, cooler summers and lighter winds, and rainfall is more
evenly distributed throughout the year. The east, however, tends to
have less humidity than the west, as well as more sunny days on
average. Montana's cold winters are frequently broken by warm,
windy spells in the east, known as 'Chinook' weather, which can
last for several days at a time. The heaviest snowfall throughout
the state is from November to March, and most cities receive an
annual average of 30 to 50 inches (76 to 127cm). Rainfall is
generally light, with most falling between May and July.
The airport is two miles (3km) north west of
Billings.
Time Difference:
GMT -7 (GMT -6 from March to
November).
Contacts:
Tel: +1 406 247 8609.
Getting to the city:
Taxis are available and the MET 2P bus passes south of the
airport, but does not call there. Phidippides Shuttle Service also
provides a service to and from the airport but should be
prearranged.
Car rental:
Enterprise, Hertz, National and Alamo have car rental agencies
represented at the airport.
Airport Facilities:
ATMs are situated in the main lobby. There is a fine dining
restaurant, deli, gift shop, information booth, play areas for
children and the Peter Yegen Jr. Yellowstone County Museum opposite
the terminal building. There is also Internet access and a post
office.
Car Parking:
Short and long-term parking options are available.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Moss Mansion
was the 1903-built home of the Preston Boyd Moss family, and has
been preserved to capture the family life of the well-to-do of the
era. The house was designed by New York architect, Henry Janeway
Hardenbergh, whose best-known work wa....
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Moss Mansion
was the 1903-built home of the Preston Boyd Moss family, and has
been preserved to capture the family life of the well-to-do of the
era. The house was designed by New York architect, Henry Janeway
Hardenbergh, whose best-known work was New York's Waldorf
Astoria.
The Western Heritage Center in downtown Billings, affiliated to
the Smithsonian Institution, has a collection of more than 16,000
artefacts documenting the life, culture and history of the
Yellowstone River Valley. The centre's constantly changing gallery
exhibitions draw around 22,000 visitors a y....
The Western Heritage Center in downtown Billings, affiliated to
the Smithsonian Institution, has a collection of more than 16,000
artefacts documenting the life, culture and history of the
Yellowstone River Valley. The centre's constantly changing gallery
exhibitions draw around 22,000 visitors a year.
The popular Yellowstone Art Museum exhibits contemporary and
historic art of the Rocky Mountain West region. Established in
1984, the museum now contains more than 3,000 works, including the
Virginia Snook Collection, the largest public display of the
drawings, paintings, books and memorabilia of c....
The popular Yellowstone Art Museum exhibits contemporary and
historic art of the Rocky Mountain West region. Established in
1984, the museum now contains more than 3,000 works, including the
Virginia Snook Collection, the largest public display of the
drawings, paintings, books and memorabilia of cowboy illustrator
Will James.
Montana's zoological park and botanical garden plays host to
around 70,000 visitors a year and is one of the State's most
popular tourist attractions, the only zoo within 600 miles (965km)
of Billings. The complex covers 70 acres to the west of the city,
exhibiting animals and plants native to the ....
Montana's zoological park and botanical garden plays host to
around 70,000 visitors a year and is one of the State's most
popular tourist attractions, the only zoo within 600 miles (965km)
of Billings. The complex covers 70 acres to the west of the city,
exhibiting animals and plants native to the northern Rockies and
high plains, and similar latitudes in Europe and Asia, in
state-of-the-art natural habitats.
The Custer National Forest is scattered across Montana, North
Dakota and South Dakota, but the forest headquarters are in
Billings, Montana, and most hiking and camping is undertaken in the
part of the forest located about an hour's drive to the south of
the city. The Custer is the most ecologicall....
The Custer National Forest is scattered across Montana, North
Dakota and South Dakota, but the forest headquarters are in
Billings, Montana, and most hiking and camping is undertaken in the
part of the forest located about an hour's drive to the south of
the city. The Custer is the most ecologically diverse forest in the
north of the USA, renowned for its lake and stream fishing and home
to mountain goats, big horn sheep, elk, muley and white-tailed
deer, black bear, cougar and moose. A popular outing from Billings
is to follow the spectacular Beartooth Scenic Byway. The Beartooth
area is also one of the gateways to the Yellowstone National
Park.
The world's first national park, Yellowstone was established in
1872 and despite its popularity today, most of the park still
remains an undeveloped wilderness of magnificent mountain scenery,
waterfalls, alpine lakes and rivers. It is renowned for its
geothermal wonders and abundance of wildlife. ....
The world's first national park, Yellowstone was established in
1872 and despite its popularity today, most of the park still
remains an undeveloped wilderness of magnificent mountain scenery,
waterfalls, alpine lakes and rivers. It is renowned for its
geothermal wonders and abundance of wildlife. Spilling over into
Wyoming and Idaho, the enormous park is situated on top of the
Yellowstone Caldera, a collapsed volcanic crater that was formed
600,000 years ago and holds within it the greatest geothermic area
in the world. This unique environment includes features such as
exploding geysers, thousands of steaming fumaroles, hot springs and
bubbling mud pools, and is where the park's most famous attraction,
the Old Faithful Geyser is to be found, drawing thousands of
tourists to witness its regular eruption of steaming water.
Yellowstone is also home to the largest concentration of wildlife
in lower USA, including grizzly and black bears, wolves, moose, and
large herds of bison and elk. The two narrow waterfalls of the
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River cut a striking picture in the
yellow-coloured rock that gives the park its name, with superb
views and hiking trails for all abilities. The large alpine
Yellowstone Lake fills the eastern part of the caldera and offers
opportunities for boating and fishing expeditions in summer. All
places of interest are accessible along the loop roads, but the
intensity of visitors in summer, especially between July and
August, means that one needs to hike away from the main paths to
experience the true wilderness of Yellowstone National Park.
Transport:A bus service from Bozeman to West Yellowstone is
available all year. Commercial transportation from Bozeman to
Gardiner is available during the winter and summer
seasons
Opening Time:The five major visitor centres are open in summer
only, generally from 8am to 7pm daily, except the Albright Visitor
Center, which is the largest and is open year-round with reduced
hours in winter. Of the park's five entrances, the North Entrance
near Gardiner is the only one that remains open year-round to
traffic. Some areas and roads are not accessible during
winter
Admission:$25 (vehicle), $12 (individual hiker or cyclist). The
entrance fee is valid for seven days
The 'Garden City' doesn't have much in the way of gardens but it
is an outdoor sportsman's Eden. Situatyed right in the middle of
cowboy-land, this is a liberal hub of hippies, students and outdoor
nuts. Downtown is a collection of unique shops and lively bars
where it is easier to walk or bike tha....
The 'Garden City' doesn't have much in the way of gardens but it
is an outdoor sportsman's Eden. Situatyed right in the middle of
cowboy-land, this is a liberal hub of hippies, students and outdoor
nuts. Downtown is a collection of unique shops and lively bars
where it is easier to walk or bike than drive. The University of
Montana starts right where the hill ends and is a beautiful campus
to wander, or catch a football game to see the definition of school
spirit. Tourists often visit for outdoor activities of all kinds
from skiing, kayaking, hiking and rock climbing to hang-gliding and
mountain biking. Festivals from Ale Fest (beer) to Testy Fest (cow
balls) make their home here, so come ready to celebrate and
play.
