Points of Interest: Parks, Gardens, and Zoos

In northwestern Montana’s Rocky Mountains, Glacier National Park is a wilderness area encompassing more than 1 million acres (404,686 hectares) of alpine peaks, valleys, glaciers, streams, forests, meadows, and crystal-clear lakes. These habitats are home to a diverse range of plants and animals, with regular sightings of bighorn sheep, mountain goats, bears, and elk. The 50-mile-long (80.5-kilometer-long) Going-to-the-Sun Road takes visitors through the park with incredible views along the way such as Logan Pass and Jackson Glacier Overlook. More than 700 miles (1,126 km) of hiking trails lead to sights like Virginia Falls, Hidden Lake, Avalanche Lake, Grinnell Glacier, and Lake McDonald, the park’s largest lake. Other activities include biking, camping, swimming, paddling, backpacking, picnicking, fishing, power boating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and photography. Three visitors’ centers—one near the east entrance, one near the town of West Glacier, and one in the center of the park on Going-to-the-Sun Road—provide park information, restrooms, and bookstores.

Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park offers a variety of recreational opportunities. A 3,015-acre (1,220-hectare) park, this was Montana’s first state park and features one of the largest known limestone caves in the Northwest. At an elevation of 5,300 feet (1,615 meters), the cavern is only accessible by guided tours from May 1 through September 30. The upper half of the cavern is lit by electric lights while the lower half features candle lanterns. Visitors can explore the park’s 10 miles (16 kilometers) of hiking and biking trails with scenic overlooks along the way. Fishing and canoeing occur on the Jefferson River while other activities include camping, picnicking, hunting, birdwatching, wildlife viewing, and photography. Several cabins and a teepee also are available for lodging. A visitors’ center provides interpretive displays about the area, an amphitheater, gift shop, and refreshments. Located 12 miles (19 kilometers) east of Whitehall in Jefferson County.

Missoula’s Playfair Park is a popular venue for recreational activities. A trail around the perimeter of the park offers a place for walkers and joggers to get some exercise. A variety of athletic fields and courts are available for playing tennis, volleyball, basketball, and baseball or softball. There’s also a playground, horseshoe pits, picnic areas, and ice skating during the winter. Open from June through August, the park’s Splash Montana is an outdoor waterpark. It offers three, three-story tube waterslides, spray features, a kiddie slide, lazy river, and floating play structure. An Olympic-size pool provides room for splashing and floating as well as lanes for serious swimmers. A café serves refreshments.

A park on the border of northern Montana where Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park meets the United States’ Glacier National Park, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park was created in 1932. The 1,130,789-acre (457,614-hectare) park features a diverse landscape of prairie, forest, and alpine terrain that provides habitats for a range of plants and animals. A variety of hiking trails provide overlooks for wildlife viewing and access to some of the area’s scenic views. Other activities include scenic drives, biking, photography, picnicking, stargazing, and snowshoeing during the winter. The park’s Waterton Lake, a chain of two lakes, provides a variety of water recreation such as power boating, swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. Guided hiking tours are available as well as bus and boat tours.

A 70-acre (28-hectare) zoological and botanical park, ZooMontana is home to more than 80 animals representing 56 species. Animals, including many rescues, include Amur tigers, a grizzly bear, sloth, wolverine, river otters, takin, and Canada lynx, among others. Interpretive displays throughout the park provide information about these animals of the Yellowstone ecosystem. ZooMontana provides events and activities such as outreach programs, scavenger hunts, breakfast with the animals, and summer camps. A gift shop offers a variety of animal-themed merchandise and souvenirs.