Guide to Great Falls: how to get there and where to stay, what to see and where to go in the evening. Best things to do in Great Falls: fresh reviews and photos, places to see, signature entertainment and shopping.
According to toppharmacyschools, Great Falls is a city in central Montana with a population of about 60,000. Here was the same Wild West that we imagine from books and films – only even wilder, with Indians, heavy snowfalls in cold winters, dense dense forests and serious animals in them. The shortest river in the world flows here, and the most beautiful places in Montana (if not the whole country or even the world) stretch around the city. And here is one of the most famous bars in the world with a unique concept.
In 2003, Sip’n’Deep was named one of the top 10 bars in the world by GQ magazine as “The #1 Bar to Fly For”.
How to get to Great Falls
From Calgary Canada Airport there is a year-round shuttle bus to Great Falls. Great Falls also has an international airport, but it is much more interesting to travel here by car. Interstate 15 leads to it, and the road from Helena to Great Falls, describing wide curves along the Missouri River, is one of the most beautiful in the country.
A bit of history
The first Paleo-Indians migrated to this area about 11,000 years ago. Since then, various Indian tribes have lived here, although not permanently. The first European to visit was Maryweather Lewis in 1805, and the town itself was founded in 1883. Businessman Paris Gibson, who arrived here in 1880, was impressed by the potential of the area and immediately appreciated the industrial benefits that would come with location near waterfalls. From 1950 to 1970 Great Falls was the largest city in the state and remained the second largest until 2000. The city got its name because of the five waterfalls that are located nearby, in the Missouri River basin. They were discovered by the Lewis and Clark expedition, which was forced to make a detour in this place more than 17 km just because of the river. Today, there is a hydroelectric power station on each of the waterfalls,
Neighborhood Great Falls
The outskirts of the city are Montana, and you can travel around Montana for a very long time solely for the sake of its stunning nature. Drive to the Ryan Dam on the Falls and see the impressive hydroelectric power plant, then follow the hiking trails for a different kind of spectacle. Relax in a shady park with a picnic in the wild (sometimes a bear wanders here, but in general the places are safe).
Buffalo Jump State Park is located 22 km from the city, in Ulm Pishkun. Hundreds of years before the arrival of Europeans, the most effective way for the Indians to kill a buffalo was to drive the beast up a steep cliff and make it jump off. This national park is home to one of the largest buffalo jumping sites in the United States, stretching for more than a mile and has been in continuous use for over 500 years. A small but first-class museum is open on the territory, where you can find out in detail the whole story.
About 75 km from Great Falls is a national historic site – Fort Benton. Its fame is due to the fact that it was the extreme point in the West where steamboats could reach on the Missouri River, so this place became vital for US expansion into the western territories.
After gold was found in Montana, Fort Benton became the first destination for fortune hunters. The building itself is still preserved, as is the old steamer, which can also be seen here. In addition, today there are several museums on the territory of the fort, where you can learn more about the history of one of the wildest cities in the Wild West.
Highwood Mountains is a mountain range that is located about 70 km from Great Falls. This is the place where travelers can feel like they are in a real natural wilderness without being too far from the city. They go here with a hike for several days, spending the night, for example, in the Thane Creek camping area.
These places are truly wild, so don’t forget about safety: let people know where you’re going and don’t leave food open, especially at night.
Glacier National Park is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. Drive to it from Great Falls for about 3 hours, moving to the northwest. This national park is an absolute must for a day trip. Incredible mountain peaks, dramatic valleys carved by glaciers, secluded alpine lakes, bubbling waterfalls and much more await travelers here. There are many places for camping on the territory.
