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Great Falls - Montana

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 Great Falls: Where to Stay

Now rolling placidly through the middle of Great Falls, the Missouri River was free-spirited when Meriwether Lewis first saw the falls on the 13th of June, 1805. He described the view as the "grandest sight" he had ever seen. He then went on to see four other falls, each with its own character and beauty. The Lewis & Clark canoeing party was required to portage around an 18-mile stretch of the river. On the 18th of June, he came across what is now called Giant Springs, at the side of the river.

Although much of the scenic beauty of the river remains, the river has been dammed in five places, raising the water level and capping falls with steel structures. Some of the fountains of water which constituted Giant Springs are now covered by the widened river below the Rainbow Dam. The remainder of the spring is protected within Giant Springs Heritage State Park, one of a number of parks and recreation sites along the falls portion of the river.

The city -- Montana's second-largest -- is a sprawling, modern community of 80,000 in the center of a ranching area. It has full visitor services and offers arts and entertainment programs year-round.

This is "Charlie Russell Country" and Great Falls was the home of the great cowboy and Western artist -- commemorated in the C.M. Russell Museum which contains the most complete collection of Russell works in the world. The complex includes Russell's home and his log cabin studio. It houses more than 7,000 works including paintings by several of Russell's contemporaries. Indian artifacts and the Browning Firearms Collection are also displayed. The museum complex is located at 400 13th Street North. Near the C.M. Russell Museum is the city's first high school, now called Paris Gibson Square, housing the Center for Contemporary Arts and the Cascade County Historical Museum.

For a day-trip, drive 12 miles west of Great Falls, via Interstate 15, to Ulm and visit the Ulm Pishkum Buffalo Jump. Now a state monument, this is where Indians stampeded herds of bison off the steep cliffs in order to obtain a winter's supply of food. This jump is 30 feet high and a mile long. Great Falls is the site of the Montana State Fair, held in late July and early August. The fair features a rodeo, lumberjack shows, racing and entertainment. Walking along the river and looking at the falls is the most popular activity for visitors and there are overlooks and parks, as well as an excellent self-guided tour of the Lewis & Clark portage route for which the map is available at the Chamber of Commerce, 926 Central Ave.

Camping

Dick's Trailer and RV Park
(406) 452-0333
This park has mostly RV sites and is open all year. Take Exit 278 off I-15.

Great Falls KOA
(406) 727-3191
Full hook-ups, a playground and "kamping kitchens" can be found here. It's located on the east edge of town at 10th Ave. S. and 561st Street.

For details on nearby towns and attractions
Go to Bigfork, Missoula, Seeley Lake, Whitefish, Glacier National Park

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