Come Play in Gold West Country
Camping
Whether it's finding a great swimming hole, catching frogs, or roasting marshmallows around a campfire. When it comes to camping, Gold West Country has it all, great camping spots with a variety of activities for every member of the family. Campers can enjoy more than 105 public and private campgrounds in Gold West Country. Other accessible public lands may also be used for family camping fun!
Fishing
Fishing is a favorite activity in Gold West Country, and places to fish are too many to count. You can cast a line in mountain streams or clear lakes and tempt a variety of fish including trout, whitefish and bass. Fishing and conservation licenses are required for almost all anglers in Montana, both residents and non-residents. To make it easy licenses are sold in angler shops, sporting goods stores, and many supermarkets, convenience stores and gas stations. For more information you can visit the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Biking
Gold West Country offers some of the most exciting mountain biking and trails anywhere. On a mountain bike you can experience Gold West Country up close and personal where you can feel the breeze, enjoy the Big Sky sunshine, and see wildlife in its natural surroundings.
In Gold West Country you'll find a wide variety of riding terrain. There are gentle quiet roads for beginners just learning how to handle their bikes and difficult single tracks to challenge the advanced biker. Just remember to be safe and wear your helmet.
Rodeos
Rodeo is a Spanish word meaning roundup. Many of the earliest rodeos in Gold West Country followed the autumn roundup. Today you can see rodeos and events in almost any month of the year. One of the favorite rodeo events in Gold West Country is the Last Chance Stampede in Helena. Grab your hat and saddle up your horse for some good old western fun.
Ice Skating
Skating is a great winter activity for the whole family. In Gold West Country, you'll find plenty of places to go ice skating, including indoor rinks, outdoor rinks, ponds, lakes and streams. Remember when skating outdoors to be aware of ice conditions. Ice on ponds, lakes and streams can be unpredictable and rough with cracks, holes or weak areas.
Skiing and Snowboarding
Gold West Country is the perfect location to go swooshing down the slopes. Ski season arrives late in Fall and will last until early Spring and comes complete with sunshine, fresh powder and uncrowded slopes. Take your turn on the hills at Discovery Basin, Great Divide Ski Area or Maverick Mountain while playing in Gold West Country.
Ice Boating
Gold West Country has one of the best locations in the world for ice boating. Canyon Ferry Lake's winter breezes and great size make it the perfect location to jump into an ice boat and sail across the ice.
Snowmobiling
Start your engines for some hot Montana fun on cold winter days. An extensive network of groomed trails in Gold West Country offers unrivaled riding and spectacular scenery. These trails are maintained by members of the Montana Snowmobile Association. For information on places to sled in Gold West Country, visit Snowtana.com
Featured Attractions
Lewis & Clark Caverns
Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park is Montana's first and best-known state park featuring one of the largest known limestone caverns in the Northwest. Naturally air conditioned, these spectacular caves, lined with stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and helictites, are electrically lighted and safe to visit. Above ground, a self-guided nature trail provides opportunities to understand the natural surroundings.
Our Lady of the Rockies
There's no better place to get a bird's-eye view of Butte than from Our Lady of the Rockies. This half-day tour winds up mountain roads high above town to "Our Lady." About the size of the Statue of Liberty, Our Lady was built by blue-collar volunteers. It's a great trip and an inspiring story.
Mt. Helena City Park
This city park in Helena includes 630 acres of trails, many of which start at the base of the mountain and wind their way to the peak 1,000 feet above. The maintained hiking and mountain biking trails offer spectacular views of the city and the gulches south of Helena.
Memorial Park
Memorial Park stands out due to its large public swimming pool, playground, ice-skating rink and band shell. Right near Memorial, sits Centennial Park, popular for its soccer fields. Along with the new Skate Park, with it's many ramps, rails & jumps it is great for skaters & boarders. For more information on other parks in Helena, contact the City of Helena Parks Dept. (406) 447-8463.
Great Northern Carousel
Step back in time to the days of good old-fashioned fun. The Great Northern Carousel is a handcrafted modern day masterpiece that will delight the child in everyone. The carousel features 37 different hand-carved animals including a wide variety of Montana's indigenous animals. After visiting the animals you can treat yourself to one of the 30 homemade ice cream flavors in the Painted Pony Ice Cream Parlor. 924 Bicentennial Plaza (406) 457-5353.
Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds
Home to the annual Last Chance Stampede Rodeo & Fair, the fairgrounds provide a ton of opportunities for fun. Between the rodeo, midway & animal exhibits, the fair has something for everyone. And when the fair is not in town, there are still fun things to do at the Fairgrounds. Play at the huge park and take a run down the rocket slide or spend a lazy afternoon feeding the ducks.
Helena hosts a classical western rodeo and fair complete with carnival, parades, professional cowboys, livestock and fair exhibits, trade shows, a wide variety of foods, children's activities and live entertainment.
|
