Here's Where We'll Be Going & What You'll Be Seeing
On Our 2023 Montana Bus Tour, July 7-10, 2023

Yellowstone National Park

Established in 1872 as America's very first National Park, Yellowstone National Park will allow you to view wild animals and geothermal areas in their natural ecosystem. We'll visit Yellowstone's world-famous geyser, Old Faithful, and Grand Prismatic Spring, the Park's largest hot spring, over 200 feet in diameter. Once inside Yellowstone, keep your cameras ready for who knows what wildlife we'll pass along the way.

Virginia City, Montana

Site of the richest placer gold strike in the Rocky Mountains in 1863, Virginia City was Montana's first territorial capital. People from all across America headed for Virginia City to seek their fortune, leading to the formation of the Bozeman Trail and the Indian Wars. You'll soak up the gold mining town's rich history and even see beams inside buildings where men were hanged.

"Great Trip to Gates of the Mountains"

- Diana

Gates of the Mountains

In July of 1805, Meriweather Lewis of Lewis & Clark fame floated down the Missouri River through what, just over a half-decade later, would become the state of Montana. In his journal he would write, "this evening we entered much the most remarkable cliffs we have yet seen." He named the area Gates of the Mountains. You will see those cliffs from a boat, just as Lewis did, and perhaps the abundant wildlife that live along the river today, like eagles, hawks, big horn sheep, and wild turkeys.

Butte, Montana

Known as the “Richest Hill on Earth," Butte, MT, was once the largest city west of the Mississippi between Chicago and San Francisco. Gold was discovered there in 1864 and became its major commodity, followed by silver and copper after the gold played out. Many of the old mine shafts from Butte's golden days remain intact and can be viewed around the city today. Meanwhile, the downtown district looks very much the same as it did in the early 1900s, as does the Pekin Noodle Parlor, the oldest Chinese Restaurant in America, founded by emigrants in 1911.

Quake Lake

In 1959, Montana's largest earthquake on record formed Quake Lake when 80 million tons of rock and mountainside, traveling at speeds around 100mph, dammed up the Madison River. The quake buried campers and cabins that were in the area. You will get a panoramic view of the lake and the mountainside that collapsed to form the lake.

"Very Well Organized! Fun & Educational.

- Bill

Clark's Lookout

This may be our favorite stop on the tour. On August 13, 1805, William Clark (Lewis & Clark) climbed an outcropping of limestone along today's Beaverhead River to look around. You will stand in the very spot where Clark stood, enjoying the same view of the Beaverhead Valley and Bitterroot Mountains that he had. It's one of the few places along the entire Corp of Discovery's journey where you can truly walk in the footsteps of Lewis & Clark.

Montana State Capitol Building

Since 1902, the Montana State Capitol building in Helena, MT, has been the center of the state's government. It is also featured currently in the TV series Yellowstone starring Kevin Costner. You'll have a fantastic view of the Prickly Pear Valley from the capital's front steps (where we'll gather for a group photo). Inside, you'll enjoy the capital's rotunda and murals depicting Montana's storied history.

Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center

If you ever wanted to be up close and personal with grizzly bears, wolves, birds of prey, and even otters, the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is your place. It is also an interactive museum that gives you the history of bears and other animals inside Yellowstone National Park. Staff hides food in the habitat and stocks the pond with fish so the bears can discover and catch food as they would in the wild. You'll want your camera to be ready every moment you're there.

Headwaters State Park

Native Americans gathered in this area for thousands of years. Lewis & Clark camped here and named the three rivers (the Madison, Jefferson, and Gallatin) that meet at this point to form the longest river in America, the Missouri. We'll walk along the banks of the Missouri and you'll see a pictograph that dates back over 10,000 years. It was in this area where John Colter made his famous run to escape the Blackfeet Indians.