Montana‘s great, awesome in fact, and we’re certainly not going to kick anyone out, but if you’ve got a little extra time on you vacation this year, you may want to consider a trip to Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Lake Louise is an excellent place to visit in the Canadian Rockies.

Banff is certainly one of the most amazing parks in the Rockies, and Lake Louise has to be one of the most beautiful lakes anywhere. It’s color has been described as a deep torquoise, although you’ll find a lot of people disagree on exactly how to name the color of this lake. We’ll just call it beautiful.

At the end of the lake you’ll find the Chateau Lake Louise, an amazing castle built in the 19th century. It gives the whole lake a fairy tale like feeling.

There’s plenty to do and see around Lake Louise. In the summer you can choose from several different hikes, go canoeing, camping, backpacking, mountain biking and much more.

The winter brings excellent snowshoeing, nordic skiing, ice skating on the lake, and of course great Skiing. Lake Louise Mountain Resort features fine downhill skiing and snowboarding, and you’ll also find excellent heli-skiing in the area.

You can get a sneak peak at Banff National Park using the Banff Webcam.

In the end, hiking and taking in the view of this fantastic place is probably one of the most well known features of Lake Louise. So below, you’ll find tk great hikes in the area.

1. Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House: One of the most popular hikes in the Canadian Rockies, that is fairly short, with awesome view. Just hug the shore line of Lake Louise on the trail head below the cliffs at the Lake’s foot. You’ll get a great look at Victoria Glacier, moraine fields and Lake Louise. The hike is 10.6 km, with a 365 m elevation gain, and takes about 4 hours.
2. Fairview Mountain: A difficult hike but worth the work, Fairview Mountain offers sheer clifs, and breathtaking views. It’s about 9 km in total, 1013 m elevation gain, 5-6 hour hike
3. Fairview Lookout: Start at the Lake Louise boathouse and follow the Saddleback trail for 0.3 km then hang a right to get to this great Lake Louise lookout. It’s only about 2km, with a tine 100 m elevation gain and takes just an 1 hour.
4. The Lake Agnes Trail: This a nice gentle hike perfect for those who have not been keeping themselves fit by the bar fires during winter. All you need for this walk is a bottle of water and good, light shoes. The first 1.6km is a very gentle but mesmerizing trek through subalpine forest. If you have an interest in trees and vegetation, you are more or less going to be in heaven here! At 1.6km, you will see views of Fairview Mountain and can usually see a few more extreme hikers who have crawled to the summit to get unique views of gorgeous Lake Louise.
5. Little Beehive: This is a short little hike that starts from Lake Agnes, 2 km total, and just a 105 m elevation gain. Great for family vacation hikes with young children.

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We’re not kicking you out of Montana, but if you’ve got the time, and would like to take in some more beautiful places, it’s always worth the effort (a long, but beautiful 9 hour drive) to get to the Canadian Rockies. You’ll find some amazing terrain here, including Japser National Park.

Jasper offers great vistas in the Canadian Rockies.

Jasper is the largest of the Canadian Rockies parks. Here you’ll find the fantastic natural wonders, such as the Athabasca Falls and the Columbia Icefields. It’s a great place for seeing wildlife, getting out for a backpacking trip, photography and much more.

You’ll also find plenty of great indoors activities, including top-notch restaurants, hotels, shopping and pubs. You can get a peak at the park and town with the Jasper webcam. Below you’ll find five great activities to try if you should visit Jasper.

1. Jasper Tramway: This is one of the easiest ways to get the best views around town. Two tram cars zip up and down the mountain to the height of 8,200 ft where you are met by a great restaurant and hiking trails with amazing views. Do not leave Jasper without trying this.
2. Rafting: There’s nothing like setting off down the Athabasca with nothing between you and the raging waters but a raft. This is a great way to spot wildlife grazing at the side of the river without disturbing them.
3. Skiing and Snowboarding: Jasper has always been great for skiing but this year Marmot has got phenomenal snow. It’s going to be a great winter to ski. Marmot has 84 runs and over 1600 acres of terrain to show off your skills.
4. Athabasca Falls: If you are looking for the photo opportunity that will make everyone at home jealous, head here to the Athabasca Falls. It is the spot where the Athabasca River meets a narrow gorge and the result is so powerful, it will take your breath away.
5. Golf: Golf is great under any circumstances, but the Stanley Thomson designed course at the Jasper Park Lodge is something else. Aside from the beautiful fairways and greens, there is also the added bonus of the best scenery in the world and the wildlife being the hazards!

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We love Montana, clearly, but if you’ve got a little extra time on your vacation, and don’t mind driving a little, you’ll want to check out the Canadian Rockies.

Banff National Park offers some of the best sightseeing and vacation activities in all of the Canadian Rockies. In Banff, about 6 hours from Whitefish, Montana, you’ll find amazing vistas with majestic mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and lots of wildlife.

Get a great view of Banff National Park on the Banff gondola.

The town of Banff is actually located in the park, and is surrounded by amazing landscape. It’s also well known for its great restaurants, pubs, shops and friendly people.

You can get a preview of Banff by visiting the Banff webcam. Below you’ll find 5 suggestions for things to do in Banff National Park.

1. Canada Place: The view of Banff from the historic Cascade Gardens is probably one of the most recognized photographs of main street and Cascade Mountain, one of the most prominent peaks in the area at 2,998 m (9836 ft.) Canada Place, located in the building that has housed the Parks Canada administration office since 1963, is a free family-friendly attraction. It offers touch-screen technology to help visitors discover Canada, including a simulated birch bark canoe ride to shoot the rapids of the Bow Falls as well as displays which highlight Canadian inventors and artists. Test your knowledge of Canadian trivia with the “Canucklehead” computer game.
2. Sunshine Meadows: The Sunshine Meadows are known by many as the most stunning alpine setting in the Canadian Rockies. Situated at about 2220m (7,300′), the meadows straddle the Continental Divide and the boundary between Alberta and British Columbia. Some of the Canadian Rockies’ highest peaks, surround Sunshine, including Mt. Assiniboine, Banff National Park’s highest peak, known as “the Matterhorn of the Canadian Rockies.” Wildlife abound in the meadows, and the brilliance of the summer flowers and autumn larches guarantees spectacular scenery on every visit.
3. The Hoodoos: They are giant freestanding pillars several metres tall that are made of silt, gravel and rocks cemented together by dissolved limestone. Sculpted over time by wind and water erosion and protected by a solid cap of rock, the Hoodoos can be found standing guard along the top of Tunnel Mountain. It’s the smallest peak in the Rockies to be called a mountain, at 1,692 m (5551 ft) and originally it was known as “Sleeping Buffalo” among the local Stoney Indians, for its bulky contours. Tunnel Mountain almost had a hole blasted through its middle in 1882 when railroad surveyors were devising a route through the Rockies. Luckily it was easier to go around.
4. Banff Gondola: Catch the eight-minute gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain and you’ll get an unsurpassed panoramic perspective of Banff. At an elevation of 2,285m (7,495 ft) high Sulphur Mountain provides 360° views of the surrounding peaks, Lake Minnewanka, the Town of Banff and the Bow Valley stretching from east to west. It’s easy to see why early inhabitants – carbon dating science has shown that to be more than 10,000 years ago – chose the valley bottom to travel through and establish summer camps. And the same goes for wildlife, which use the valley as a migration corridor to pass through Banff National Park.
5. The Castle: The discovery of natural hot springs in 1883 eventually led to the establishment of Banff National Park, a vast wilderness that now encompasses 6,641 sq kms (2,564 sq mi). The Banff Springs Hotel opened its doors in 1888 and wealthy European train travelers came for months at a time to “take the waters”. Designed in the Scottish baronial style, in a nod to the town’s namesake Banffshire, Scotland, the hotel was designated a National Historic Site in 1992. The best view of this landmark hotel is from “Surprise Corner” on Tunnel Mountain.

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Montana is a great place for vacations, no doubt about it. But if you’re here for an extended vacation, and have some extra time, you may want to pay a visit to the Canadian Rockies.

Canmore, Alberta offers great Rockies vacations, not too far from Montana.

One of the top places to visit in the Canadian Rockies in Canmore, Alberta. If you start in Whitefish, Montana and drive north, you can be in Canmore in 6 hours.

It’s a prime Canadian Rockies destination for several reasons, as it sits right on the border of Kananaskis Country and Banff National Park. Here you’ll find lots of great Canadian Rockies activities, such as rafting, hiking, mountain biking, skiing and backpacking.

You can get a preview of Canmore by checking out the Canmore webcam here.

Here are 5 great things to do if you should visit Canmore, Alberta:

1. Hiking: Like Montana, the Canadian Rockies is known for its great hiking, and Canmore is certainly a great base for this vacation activity. With Banff National Park and Kananaskis Country as neighbors, Canmore is surrounded by some of the greatest hiking in the world. You’ll find hikes suitable to all levels, ranging from casual walks on in town trails, to significant backcountry excursions. In addition, there are incredible cross country skiing and snow shoeing in wilderness settings.
2. Horseback Riding & Pack Trips: Riding in the Canmore Kananaskis area is a stunning experience, no matter what time of year you visit. The terrain is phenomenal and the rides come in short trips and day rides to multi-day pack trips. Horseback riding is a great year round activity, but winter riding opportunities can be limited by temperatures and ground conditions. Trips are not available below –10C/+10F.
3. Guided Interpretive Walks or Hikes: If you want to get the most out of your time here, try a guided walk or hike. You’ll get to learn about the local flora and fauna, history, and find places only locals know.
4. Sightseeing/Photography/Wildlife Viewing: Whether it’s winter or summer, these are great activities in the Canmore, Alberta area. There are stunning vistas, great for just taking in or photographing, and a wide array of wildlife, including bears, lynx, cougar, bobcat and wolf. Guided tours are usually one of the best ways to ensure that you’ll get a glimpse of the local fauna.
5. Heli-sightseeing, skiing and hiking:  This is a great activity year-round. Take a heli-tour and be truly amazed as the full majesty of Alberta’s Canadian Rocky Mountains is laid out below you. You can go sightseeing year-round, heli-hiking in the summer, and heli-skiing in the winter.

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Sluice Box State Park in Montana.

Montana’s State Parks, though not as well known as Glacier National Park or Yellowstone, offer beautiful and historic vacation opportunities, including Sluice Boxes State Park in the Little Belt Mountains South of Great Falls.

Sluice Boxes State Park, established in 1970, consists of the northern most 8 miles of the Belt Creek canyon in the Little Belt Mountains. Soaring cliffs and precipitous ledges mark the Belt Creek Canyon as it slices out of the Little Belt Mountains and winds toward the town of Belt.

Train bridges left over from the mining boom era have been removed, so visitors must cross the creek on foot – a difficult undertaking during high water flows.

Because of these crossings, hiking in the Sluice Boxes is limited to low water season, generally mid-July through September. The spring-fed water is cold year round and weather in the Little Belt Mountains changes on a whim, so be ready for anything.

When mining was the main economic force in Montana, boom town sprung up like mushrooms after a rainstorm. The Little Belts experienced plenty of these pop-up towns that came and went, and today only the small recreational communities of Monarch and Neihart remain.

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Bannack's famous historic buildings.

Montana is well known for it’s amazing National Parks, including Glacier and Yellowstone. But if you’re in Montana for a vacation, you should also consider some of the lesser known, but no less beautiful state parks, such as Bannack.

Bannack State Park sits at 5,837 feet and encompasses 1,529 acres. There is a campground here with 28 sites and a group picnic site.

The campgrounds include vault toilets, grill/fire rings, firewood, picnic tables, trash cans, drinking water, and access to Grasshopper Creek for fishing. Flush toilets are located in the visitor center. A tipi is available to rent from the center.

The Park is great for fishing, camping, picnicking, bicycling, horseshoes, volleyball, hiking, wildlife viewing, interpretive programs, photography and cultural events are all available.

Bannack State Park has what is considered to be the best kept of all Montana’s ghost towns, is a registered historic landmark, and the site of Montana’s first major gold discovery in 1862. This was the gold strike set off a rush, swelling Bannack’s population to more than 3,000 by 1863.

But as gold values dwindled, Bannack’s boom population was busted. The result now is 50 historic buildings lining Main Street. The buildings have quaint log and frame structures from Montana’s early days.

The third week of each July, the park holds Bannack Days, where you can see historic displays, and participate in activities and events. The Bannack visitor center does tours and is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

In the winter, come to the park for great ice skating.

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Waterfall in Montana's Lost Creek Falls State Park.

Montana is well known for two big National Parks, Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. But all across the state there are smaller state parks that offer excellent outdoor activities. This includes Lost Creek Falls, a great place for camping, fishing, picnicking, bicycling and wildlife viewing in Montana.

At this Montana State Park, you’ll find stunning limestone cliffs with pink and white granite rock  formations shooting 1,200 feet above the narrow canyon floor. In the northwest corner of the park, a waterfall cascades over a 50-foot drop to provide one of the most scenic and popular spots in the park.

Here you’ll find great wildlife viewing, particularly for mountain goats and bighorn sheep which can often be seen on the cliffs.

The Lost Creek Falls park has 25 sites in the park that offer vault toilets, grills/fire rings, picnic tables, drinking water and interpretive displays. RV/trailer size is limited to 23′ and maximum length of stay is 7 days during a 30 day period. Pets must be on a leash. The park itself is 502 acres in size and is 6,211 feet in elevation.
You’ll find Montana hotels, Golf courses and museums located nearby in Anaconda. This park has been designated ‘primitive’ so there are no fees and facilities and services are limited. Remember to pack in-pack out your trash!

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Montana, besides its many outdoors activities, also provides great opportunities for learning about the history of the old west on your vacation, through it’s many intriguing museums.

The Anaconda Railroad and Mining Museum looks at Anaconda’s railroad history and relation to the local mining industry and Butte, Montana. The Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railway was built by famous Montana copper king Marcus Daly. The idea was to avoid the gouging fees by the railroad monopolies, but it also had the effect of employing many of the citizens of Anaconda and Butte. The museum operates out of the two northeast bays of the the old railroad.

The Anaconda Railroad and Mining Museum features a model railroad, depiciting the entire course of the this railroad system from the Butte hill to the Anaconda roundhouse. On a Montana family vacation? Then this is certainly a must-see.

Besides this awesome model train, there is interesting historic railroad equipment, a real telegraph demonstration, scale models of the roasters and furnaces of the smelter and historical photos from the smelter and the railroad.

You’ll find that the gift shop has great educational literature regarding local railroad and smelter history. In addition, they will have a large supply of HO gauge engines and cars for sale, models for assembly to add more model railroad interest to the gift shop.

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Among all the great things to do on a Montana vacation, you’ll find one of the most rewarding to be learning about the cultural history that our great state has held onto. This includes the history of tribes in Montana, such as the Northern Cheyenne.

Approximately 5,000 Northern Cheyenne, along with members of other tribes and with non-Native Americans, live on a reservation centered around Lame Deer, Montana.

The Northern Cheyenne Reservation is located southeastern Montana, where you’ll find a unique landscape, rugged and wild. The consists of 445,000 acres with the Tongue River to the east and the Crow Reservation to the west.

Things to see on the Northern Cheyenne reservation

Chief Two Moons Monument

This historic monument in Busby, Montana was built in 1936 in memory of Chief Two Moons, who participated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Northern Cheyenne Gift Shop

The Cheyenne Chamber in Lame Deer hosts the tribal gift shop, showcasing Native American art and beadwork. An RV Park is also available for overnight stays. Call (406) 477-8844.

St. Labre Indian School and Museum

This school in Ashland, Montana was established in 1884 by the Franciscan Order. The visitor center, museum and Ten Bear Gallery are important showplaces of Cheyenne heritage. Call (406) 784-4500.

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One of the most interesting things you can do on a Montana vacation is take a cultural tour of Montana’s tribes, including those of the Flathead Reservation.

The Flathead Indian Reservation is shared by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes. The tribes are a combination of the Pend d’Oreille, the Salish, and the Kootenai.There about 4,500 that live on or near the Flathead reservation.

You’ll find the Flathead Reservation north of Interstate 90 between Missoula and Kalispell. Here you’ll see fertile valleys and towering mountain peaks of northwestern Montana’s Mission range surround the 1.2 million acres reservation.

Things to do and see on the Flathead Reservation

The Peoples Center in Pablo, Montana tells thousands of years of history for the Salish, Pend d’Oreille and the Kootenai that inhabited western Montana and the surrounding region through a museum, an exhibit gallery, tours, educational programs and a quality gift shop.  Call (406) 675-0160.

Flathead Lake State Park

Flathead Lake is one of the largest and most pristine bodies of water in the West. Interesting sightseeing opportunities here include Wild Horse Island and five other scenic state units on the reservation:  Big Arm, Finley Point, Yellow Bay, Wayfarers and West Shore. All units offer camping, fishing, boating and swimming except for Wild Horse Island. Call (406) 752-5501.

The National Bison Range/Pablo National Wildlife Refuge

Approximately 500 bison roam nearly 20,000 acres of natural grassland near Moiese, Montana. It’s a great place to see wildlife in general, and you’re likely to see elk, bighorn sheep, antelope her at any time of year. Call (406) 644-2211

Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge and State Wildlife Management Area

This area near Ronan, Montana is one of the state’s designated Wildlife Viewing sites. It is an exceptional wetland complex, excellent for birdwatching. (406) 644-2211

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