10 Things to Do In and Around Billings, Montana
Billings Brew Trail
Billings has an incredible beer scene, and any evening after rides can be spent at one of the many breweries on the Billings Brew Trail. We tried our best, but I don’t think we hit every watering hole in town. All the bars were within an easy walk from our hotel, which made for a few hopping evenings out on the town with the locals.
Beartooth Highway
The Beartooth Highway is one of the most beautiful stretches of road I’ve ever seen. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone heading out west. I can also now add the recommendation to ride it on a bicycle, although with the warning that it is about 5,500 feet of elevation gain without a single downhill break. Uphill for about 30 miles on a bicycle is pretty unrelenting, but the grade isn’t too bad on the Red Lodge side. The Beartooth Highway is a 10/10 travel destination, no matter how you see it.
Alive After 5
If you like music, local food and beer, and hanging with locals, Alive After 5 is a home run. We rolled into the evening’s festivities toward the end of the night, and it was clear this was the place to be. There was a local band playing, and as we met more locals throughout our trip, we realized pretty much all of them were there that night. Make sure not to miss this event.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument
Pompeys Pillar is one of the most striking historical spots I’ve ever seen. It is one of the few pieces of physical evidence of the Lewis and Clark expedition along the path they took. The last time I came around, the museum hadn’t been finished, so it was great to see that addition to the site.
Symphony in the Park
This was another event that made it obvious to us that the people of Billings have a lot of pride in their city. The huge hillside on the park was packed with families and people of all ages, there to witness the symphony play through an incredible concert, including everything from classical pieces to Disney movie scores.
Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Tour
Luke and I joined this UTV tour by Elk River Outfitters not quite knowing what to expect. What we got was a tour guide with incredibly deep knowledge of the area, both the history and the terrain. He took us through some difficult driving conditions with ease and showed us the breathtaking views of the wild horses out on their own on the peaceful plateau.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
This monument has a difficult job, in my opinion. It is a cemetery site for General Custer and his men, while also being a memorial to the Native American people that fell at the same battle. Learning both sides of the history was a bit heartbreaking for me. Custer had smoked a peace pipe with the Native American chiefs, but then followed his U.S. government orders to remove them from their lands, which resulted in this battle.
Zimmerman Park
Luke and I were both impressed and excited about Zimmerman Park. It’s just on the outskirts of town and overlooks the city. There are hiking and biking trails, and we chose the park as our location to film the interviews for the video we made about the trip, because the views were just too good to pass up.
ZooMontana
If you visit Billings, ZooMontana is the talk of the town. Over the last few years, it has gone through quite a transformation. They have so many amazing animals, like grizzly bears, a pack of gray wolves, a lynx, and plenty of others.
Backporch
On the loop to Roundup, MT, you must stop and grab a meal at the Backporch. The staff serves steaks for breakfast, top their pancakes with butter made with local honey, have a cafe with seasonal coffee beverages, and prepare different styles of barbecue with appropriate sauces and meats. The meal will be the highlight of your day.