While not everyone loves small towns surrounded by nature, it seems that Darby, Montana could capture almost anyone’s heart. If you’re partial to quiet places, or even a bit interested in quaint Montana life, then Darby, Montana may be the perfect, off-the-beaten-path destination for you – for living or visiting. This little town lives up to all the hype of off-the-beaten-path tourism.
And yep, it’s also the location of the film set for the hit TV Show “Yellowstone”. But what’s life really like in Darby, Montana? Is it at all like the TV Show? In some ways yes. In other ways, no.
Here’s what life is really like in Darby, Montana.
In this article:
- What is Darby, Montana Known For?
- Is Darby, MT a Good Place to Live?
- 10 Things to Do in Darby, Montana
What is Darby, Montana Known For?
Recently, Darby became a tourist destination because of the hit show, “Yellowstone”. The show is filmed at the Chief Joseph Ranch, just south of town. The city has experienced more tourism in recent years due to its newfound fame. For lovers of the TV show, this is one reason to come have a look. But Darby has a unique charm and beautiful surroundings that are worth seeing and experiencing, whether you know the TV Show or not.
Is Darby, MT a Good Place to Live?
Darby, Montana sits at 3,885 ft elevation, in one of the most beautiful areas of Montana. The town hosts many sporting events throughout the year and the surrounding area offers many opportunities for outdoor adventure and relaxation like hiking and swimming. It also claims several nearby national parks and historical points like the Alta Ranger Station.
The city, itself has a wonderful candy shop, antique shops, and gorgeous scenery to fill up an afternoon of strolling.
If you’re looking to move to or visit the small-town beauty of Montana, then you’re considering the right place.
How Big is Darby, MT?
The population of Darby is less than 700 people.
I’m sure some of you are interested in knowing if the city is safe.
Is Darby, Montana Safe?
The answer to this question is complicated. Darby, Montana, has a high crime rate. While there isn’t much deadly or violent crime, there are many accounts of petty crime incidents. Darby, Montana, is safer than only 10% of U.S. cities. That being said, tourist reviews and long-time residents claim that the town is a quaint Montana destination.
It seems that as with any city or town, you should exercise common sense and caution and you’ll likely enjoy exploring this Montana gem.
If you do visit, here’s a list of the 10 best things to do in Darby.
10 Best Things to Do in Darby, Montana
1. Visit the cute downtown shops
Darby, MT has a historic downtown filled with interesting things to see. The Old West Antiques Gallery and Candy Store, for example, are fun places for the whole family! There are many other small shops and restaurants to explore, as well as a few different parks. In Darby, Montana, tourism isn’t quite as lively as it is in other cities, but trust me when I say that it’s own unique way.
2. See where Yellowstone is filmed – Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, MT
As mentioned above, Chief Joseph Ranch is the location of the famous ranch from the show. Don’t go expecting to take pictures, though. You won’t be allowed onto the property, and there isn’t any place to park outside. But don’t panic! You can still see the ranch by paying to spend the night in a cabin on the property. There are cabins that the owners rent out when Yellowstone isn’t being filmed. And there are also tours, hikes, and horseback riding excursions.
How big is the Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana?
The Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana is 2,500 acres.
In other words, the Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana is just massive!
3. Go skiing
In the winter, Darby is an awesome destination for skiing! The town is conveniently located next to one of the most unique Montana ski resorts – Lost Trail. Lost Trail is about a 30-minute drive south of Darby and, while small, it’s a great place to spend the afternoon.
4. Hike the trails around Darby
There are a handful of trails around Darby, MT. Some are more simple, like the Blodgett Canyon Trail. Others are long, reaching up to ten miles. The most beautiful is, arguably, the trail that takes you around Lake Como. For nature lovers, hiking in Darby, Montana is a lot of fun and will allow you to see some truly beautiful sights.
The nearest trailheads around Darby
- Tin Cup Trailhead (map)
- A pretty trail through the Bitterroot National Forest
- Little Rock Creek Lake Trailhead (map)
- A trail that starts on the south side of Lake Como, follows the Little Rock Creek and passes by some waterfalls along the way toLittle Rock Creek Lake – a beautiful little lake surrounded by forested mountains with dramatic rock faces.
- Chaffin Creek Trail (map)
- Trail along the Chaffin Creek with beautiful wildflowers and forest surroundings. Leads to Tamarack Lake and Hart Lake.
Note: when hiking in the wilderness in Montana, there is always the real threat of wildlife attacks. It’s possible to enjoy Montana wilderness and all of its beauty safely. If this weren’t the case, we wouldn’t see so many people out enjoying the state throughout the summer months. The wildlife threat is real, but if respected, it can be avoided. We encourage anyone visiting the state to talk to locals about the dangers of the area and always wear bear bells and carry bear spray when hiking here.
5. Visit Lake Como
Lake Como is only a few miles away from Darby, MT, which makes it a great day trip from town. There is also a campground just before the lake, which is awesome for anyone who is enthusiastic about camping and getting away from the hustle and bustle of life. Lake Como is definitely something that’s taken for granted. Not many towns have a lake and a campground just a few minutes away.
6. Go to the Montana Café
The Montana Café is an excellent mom-and-pop shop in the city of Darby. The restaurant opens (and closes) early, and serves the best kind of food: breakfast food!
7. Take a scenic drive in the valleys around Darby
There are many scenic routes in the Darby area. At 3,885 ft above sea level, the area around Darby offers access to some great viewing points. Many of the surrounding roads, like the road to the Alta Ranger Station (#10 on this list), will take you through some of the surrounding national parks, too.
8. Visit a nearby national park
Speaking of the state and national parks around Darby, MT… they’re a must-see!
Painted Rocks State Park
Visitors of the Painted Rocks State Park enjoy its big beautiful lake with crystal clear waters, surrounded by pine-forested mountains. It’s one of the best day trips into the wilderness around Darby, MT. The park got its name from the orange and yellow lichens that cover the granite cliffs lining the West Fork road.
The park is composed of 23 acres and sits at 4,700 ft elevation.
See it on the map.
Glacier National Park
From Darby to Glacier National Park, it’s about a 4-hour drive north on Highway 93. The drive takes you right passed beautiful, pristine, crystal-clear Flathead Lake. So, if you’re passing through in the summer, you may consider stopping at Flathead Lake for a picnic.
Explore Glacier with a local guide
Choose from a range of tours – rafting, bus, car, private, sightseeing, historical, day trips, and much more.
Pick an adventure and book your spot in advance, here.
Is Yellowstone National Park near Darby, Montana?
From Darby to Yellowstone National Park, it’s about a 4.5-hour drive Southeast through Dillon and Ennis to West Yellowstone (the nearest entrance to the Park). The northern route via I-90 through Bozeman to Gardiner is about a 5-hour drive. The southern route via Spencer and Island Park to West Yellowstone is also about 5 hours.
There are three main routes from Darby to Yellowstone National Park. But, we can recommend going through Ennis to West Yellowstone. It’s a beautiful route, passing by Hebgen Lake before reaching West Yellowstone.
Darby is very close to national parks, so take advantage of them if you visit!
Explore Yellowstone with a local guide
See Yellowstone with an experienced, local guide. Choose from a downloadable car audio guide, multi-day guided tour, morning kayaking adventure, and many other unique adventures.
Pick an adventure and book your spot in advance, here.
9. Take the time to see the Darby Pioneer Memorial Museum
The Pioneer Memorial Museum building is one of the first original hand-built homestead homes in this area. It was built by Evelin Matteson in 1886. In 1958, the home was purchased and moved to its current location.
Today, it houses artifacts from the business and home life of the pioneer families of the region, including a photo of the cabin in its original location. With memorabilia from Darby’s past and insight into frontier life in the area, the museum is an interesting experience for first-time Darby, MT visitors.
10. Alta Ranger Station
Alta Ranger Station was the first USDA Forest Service ranger station. This little hand-built cabin with sod roofs and a flag flying above was officially dedicated the first forest service station on July 4th, 1899.
It 1904, a survey revealed that the cabin actually sat on Pete Bennette’s mining plot – not public land. So, the cabin was abandoned by the National Forest Service for several decades.
Then, in 1941, understanding the significance of the Alta Ranger Station to the Forest Service, the Hamilton Lions Club purchased the plot from Pete Bennette’s daughter and generously donated it to the Forest Service.
Today, the original log walls and cabin door remain intact. The site is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
How to get there by car:
The cabin is reachable by car from Darby. It lies just about an hour’s drive south of Darby in an area called Alta, just past Painted Rocks State Park.
See it on the map.
11. Bonus: Visit a Nearby Ghost Town
The history of Montana mining is long and eventful. Today, many of the state’s former mining towns are now tourist destinations. If you like ghost towns, then you’ll be pleased to know that Montana has plenty of them.
Garnett is one of the most well-known ghost towns of Montana. It sits about an hour East of Missoula, which makes for about a 2-hour journey from Darby, which is far, but still manageable in a day. Especially with a stop for lunch in beautiful Missoula, one of the most bustling and largest towns of Montana. Missoula is so enjoyable, we highly suggest staying a night on your way back from Garnett.
If you’re up for a journey back in time into the frontier days of Montana while in Darby, a nearby ghost town is a real treat. No matter which one you pick, you can’t go wrong.
Darby, Montana – FAQ
Below are some answers to common questions about Darby, Montana.
Where is Darby, Montana on the Map?
Darby is on the western edge of Montana, almost directly west of Bozeman. It lies off Highway 93, directly south of Missoula.
What Big City Is Darby, Montana Close to?
Darby, MT is equidistant from Missoula and Butte. But Butte is a 132-mile, 2.5-hour drive to the east and Missoula is a straight 64-mile, 1.5-hour drive to the north.
How far is Darby, Montana, from Bozeman?
The drive from Darby, Montana to Bozeman takes about three and a half hours, not accounting for traffic or weather.
Darby isn’t exactly close to Bozeman. This means that visiting Bozeman isn’t going to be a weekly occurrence. That being said, there are other towns close to Darby, Montana, that you can explore, like Missoula.
How far is Darby, Montana, from Billings, Montana?
The fastest route to Billings from Darby takes just under six hours.
If you’re interested in visiting a larger city, you might even consider heading down to Boise, Idaho. The trip would take about the same amount of time, and it’s bigger than Billings. That’s one of the annoying (or wonderful?) things about Montana; everything seems to be really far away from everything else.
Where to Stay in Darby, Montana
Darby is home to a couple of quaint motels:
- Mountain Spirit Inn: A nice motel with a picnic area, grills, a playground and some rooms feature a kitchenette.
Google rating: 4.4
- Park Place – The Boardwalk: A simple, very pleasant motel. Rooms feature a refrigerator and microwave. 24hr front desk.
Google rating: n/a
Darby, Montana motels are simple, effective, and filled with kind staff. There are also the Chief Joseph Ranch and the Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana.
If you prefer to stay in a hotel, you may consider staying in Hamilton, just a 20-minute drive north of Darby, where you can book a room at the Bitterroot hotel and Conference Center. There’s also a Quality Inn and Super 8 in Hamilton.
❄️ How Much Snow Does Darby, Montana Get?
The average annual snowfall in Darby, MT is roughly 50 inches.
That’s a lot, especially if you aren’t used to heavy snow. The roads can get rough during the winter, though travel is typically never a problem. It’s sunny and warm in Darby for less than half the year. But, as I said earlier, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It all depends on where you like to live or what you like to do in your free time.
For some people, Darby, Montana is a paradise. No matter who you are, though, you’re sure to find a unique experience in Darby that manages to capture your heart. This is one of the most delightful things about small-town Montana. And Darby is no exception.
Enjoy!
Note: if Darby sparks your interest, you may like Cut Bank, Montana too.
