5 Must-Try Activities in Great Falls, Montana (2024)
Montana’s hidden gem, the town of Great Falls, is a great place to visit for a holiday. It is a basecamp for both Art & Adventure, and regardless of your interests, the city has so much to do. If you prefer hiking, jogging, or biking, there are miles of natural trails awaiting your way. Or, if you are an art aficionado, this Montana city has a few but some excellent museums awaiting your visit. Besides that, the city of Great Falls also offers incredible access to unpopulated wilderness and world-class fishing. With the Missouri River and some other incredible reservoirs, fishing opportunities here knows no end.
Great Falls is known for its tagline ‘Genuine Montana’ ideally due to the wilderness and water surrounding it. If you happen to be an outdoor enthusiast, there isn’t anything about this city that will ever leave you disappointed. One of the largest roadless areas of the U.S., the Bob Marshall Wilderness is close enough to the city. At the same time, the greatest Montana landscapes, including Yellowstone and Glacier National Park, aren’t too far away. So, what are you waiting for?
5 Must-Try Activities in Great Falls, Montana
Let’s get set to go on an exciting trip to the Great Falls.
1. Fly Fish in the Missouri River
Running right through the city of Great Falls, the Missouri River is simply majestic. Anglers from Montana and across visit Great Falls just for getting their hands in Fly fishing and other forms of angling. It offers trophy trout fishing, more ideally the browns that migrate from the lake in October. Some of the most common fishes you will find here includes large and smallmouth bass, carp, sunfish, catfish, walleye, and sauger. You can either head to the river or do fishing on your own. Or the city also has several group fishing outings with guide options. With that, you can take beginners lessons or find some finest fly-fishing spots in Missouri with ease. For gears, Great Falls have several rental shops available as well.
2. Explore the River’s Edge Trail
Exploring the River’s Edge Trail is undoubtedly one of the most popular things to do in Great Falls. It is the main pedestrian corridor that passes through both banks of the Missouri River for about 60 miles. Throughout the year, the trail remains popular for jogging, cycling, rollerblading, and snowshoeing. The trail connects to several natural spaces, cultural attractions, and the downtown Great Falls throughout its route. One popular green space connected with the trail includes Gibson Park. Besides, other notable places connecting to the route include Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and Giant Spring State Park. You also get a view of Warden Park and other local spaces through the trail. And while you are done cycling through the way, you can stop at the Benches, picnic tables, and drinking fountains which are all through the way.
3. Have fun at “Escape The Falls”
Escape The Falls is a local escape room facility in Great Falls. It is located at 511 Central Avenue and is an ideal place for visiting with friends. The idea behind the fun is basically about finding countless clues, solving dozens of puzzles and solving the mystery in only sixty heart-stopping minutes. The facility has several themed rooms, and participants have to investigate through each corner of them. You have to put all the clues together for finding the right codes so that you can get out of the escape station within an hour. The facility has several themes, including Lost in the wonderland, the Asylum, Peacock Manor and the Cooper Cabin. Entry to every room comes for $20 per person, and it is real-time fun. The escape room facility operates from Thursday through Sunday from 1:30 pm to different ending hours. Visiting here is a great idea for individuals who want to test their brains and have a fun time with known or unknown groups.
4. Beat the Heat at the Electric City Water Park
Electric City Water Park is the coolest hot spot to visit when in Great Falls. It is basically a municipal waterpark that invites you to have fun within their wet and wild theme space. The park has a party deck, several shaded trees and a huge grassy area. Besides that, they have other prominent features, including the Power Tower slides, the Lazy River, the Flow Rider, the Mitchell pool etc. All these attractions altogether make the facility the largest children’s water play structure in entire Montana. There are even several dressing rooms and a concession that serve hot dogs, beer barons’ hamburgers, beverages, and more. The park operates seasonally from early June through Labour Day. It operates daily from 12 pm to 6 pm and until 8 pm on Wednesdays during the season. The best part is that Electric City Water Park is a really fun place yet not expensive.
5. Take Your Kids to the Children’s Museum of Montana
The Children’s Museum of Montana is ideal for taking your kids on a play date. Located at 22 Railroad Square, it is the oldest and the largest kids’ museum anywhere in Montana. Inside the facility, there are tons of experiential exhibits and interactive learning and observing options. For instance, the Little Falls Parkour exhibit has several tumbling mats and a lovely little hanging obstacle course. Or the Flight Zone with an air traffic control tower interests’ kid quite easily. There’s even a small clinic interpretation with stethoscopes, diagrams, models etc. The latest addition to the museum is the Treehouse that develops motor skills. Unlike other museums, this facility allows visitors to touch, poke, raise and examine everything from their display. The museum operates from Monday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 5 pm.