Yellowtail Afterbay Dam within Bighorn Canyon

Every small town in Montana has one thing in common: easy access to the Great Outdoors. What separates the small towns, however, is each one's unique sense of community and its attractions. And from the national park surroundings to ski resort getaways, every small town in Montana offers friendly faces and unforgettable adventures.

Big city is a relative term in Montana. The state's overall population barely tops one million, and its state capital, Helena, has roughly 32,000 residents. Still, these cultural centers emanate a big-city feel compared to the surrounding wilderness areas. And every one of Montana's biggest cities offers a springboard into Big Sky adventures.

For many, a Montana vacation means exploring the Great Outdoors. The state is absolutely brimming with outdoor adventure in almost every category. And within a state where national forest acreage outweighs the number of residents, Montana's outdoor activities tend to be bigger, less crowded, and backdropped by stunning natural surroundings.

Glacier National Park, also known as the Crown of the Continent, defines many Montana vacations. And rightfully so, as its eye-catching mountain landscapes offer some of the most stunning high-alpine scenery in the United States.

Summer: The state has fantastic attributes at all times of the year, but summer is the best time to visit Montana. Snow melts from high mountain passes, the days are long, and adventures are aplenty. The summer is also the best time to visit Glacier National Park, when the Going-to-the-Sun Road is fully accessible. Expect other visitors this time of year, and more competitive booking at area hotels, resorts, and campgrounds.

Montana is a big state, offering several types of vacations. When planning a trip, it helps to have an overview of everything the state has to offer. Our articles on the top attractions and best places to visit in Montana are recommended to start planning a trip. From there, dive into the natural spaces, resorts, and beautiful areas of Big Sky Country.

Half the adventure is sometimes simply reaching the alpine lake in Montana. These waters are also frigidly cold throughout the year. Be sure to gear up appropriately before fly fishing in a Montana alpine lake.

Thousands of alpine lakes dot the state of Montana. And places like the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness have hundreds of alpine lakes on their own. A great way to find the right one for your fishing needs is by consulting the fish stocking data at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Montana's elevated terrain provides surreal opportunities for stillwater fishing backdropped by mountain peaks. Don't expect as big of a catch in Montana's high alpine lakes, but you can bet on casting into a panoramic view. And because of the scarce pressure on the lakes, the fish are usually eager for a bite.

The 60-mile section between Camp Baker and Eden Bridge is iconic fly fishing. The float usually takes four days to complete. Several designated campgrounds line the waterway. Anglers can expect sizable brown and rainbow trout.

What also makes fishing harder is that uniquely in the state, permits are required to float between public access points on the Smith River. These increasingly competitive permits are for the river's most popular section, downstream from Camp Baker. While these permits are hard to get, the limited fishing pressure makes landing a fish easy on the Smith River.