Best of the Missouri Headwaters and South-Central Montana

Museum of the Rockies [1]: Home to many varied collections, this museum is best known for its dinosaur bones, including the Tyrannosaurus rex skull excavated in eastern Montana in 1990.

Missouri Headwaters State Park [2]: At the Missouri headwaters it’s not immediately apparent which of the three braided streams is the true main stem of the river. Lewis and Clark followed the Jefferson upstream; it provided the best path west to the Continental Divide.

Norris Hot Springs [3]: Not only is this small hot springs pool a good place to soak, it’s also one of the most fun places around to hear live acoustic music.

Fishing the Madison River [4]: The 50-mile stretch of the Madison River from Quake Lake (near Yellowstone Park) north to Ennis is an almost continuous riffle, and the abundant trout are eager to grab passing morsels.

Big Sky [5]: Skiers and snowboarders should try to arrange a winter trip to Big Sky — ride the tram all the way to the top of Lone Mountain, take a big gulp as you look at the drop, and point your skis downhill!

Beartooth Highway [6]: This 68-mile-long road climbs to 10,947 feet and crosses alpine meadows and snowfields on its run from Red Lodge to Yellowstone National Park. It’ll take at least half a day to drive.