Dillon Montana is a charming, off-the-beaten-path destination in beautiful southwest Montana. It sits in the grassy Beaverhead Valley flanked by the Pioneer Range to the west and Tobacco Root mountains to the east, near Bannack ghost town, Clark Canyon Reservoir, and the quaint Maverick Mountain ski area.
Over 50 historic buildings line Dillon’s main street – symbols of Montana’s formative years – and visitors enjoy a variety of museums dedicated to preserving Dillon’s eventful history.
If you’re planning a trip to this pleasant small town, it can be hard to decide what to do. This guide outlines the best things to do in Dillon, Montana, at any time of the year.
11 fun things to do in Dillon, Montana
These are the 11 best things to do in Dillon, Montana, any time of the year.
- Visit Bannack State Park – Iconic ghost town
- Ski or snowboard at Maverick Mountain
- View the town from Clark’s Lookout
- Explore sites along the Lewis and Clark Trail
- Visit Red Rock Lakes Wilderness Area
- Travel the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway
- Boat, hike, picnic, or swim at Clark Canyon Reservoir
- Discover Dillon, MT history at the Beaverhead County Museum
- Bathe in a natural hot springs
- Hike the Continental Divide Trail
- Attend a summer event
1. Visit Bannack State Park – Iconic ghost town
Visiting the surrounding ghost towns is one of the best things to do in Dillon, Montana. Dillon, MT is only a half-hour drive from the historic city of Bannack, Montana’s first gold mine site and one of the most popular ghost towns in Montana, well known for its exquisitely preserved buildings.
In 1961, Bannack was declared a National Historic Landmark. Walking among the empty buildings of Bannack is a true step back in time, where you can see in person the structures of Montana’s history. Today you can visit the buildings on you own or with a tour guide who leads you through the town’s living history.
2. Ski or snowboard at Maverick Mountain
Montana is full of ski resorts, from the magnificent Big Sky Resort to quaint ski hills like Maverick Mountain. Skiing at Maverick Mountain is one of the best things to do while in Dillon, Montana. It serves as a peaceful, quiet ski retreat in one of the most picturesque and charming areas of Montana.
Maverick Mountain is located 50 miles (80 km) west of Dillon in the Pioneer Mountains and it’s much smaller than Big Sky, but it offers smaller crowds as well. The peak of Maverick Mountain sits at 8,250 ft (2,510 m) and offers 2,020 ft (616 m) of vertical. Twenty-four trails and 425 acres (172 hectares) of land are serviced by one chairlift and rope tow.
Skiers here enjoy small crowds and stunning views of the surrounding Pioneer Mountains. In the evenings, enjoy the geothermal waters of the nearby Elk Horn Hot Springs, one of the top hot springs in Montana.
3. View the town from Clark’s Lookout
The Lewis and Clark Trail is almost 5,000 feet (1,524 m) long and leads you through more than 50 different Tribal nations, following the path of the homonym expeditions of the 1800s, led by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis. It was the first expedition via land to reach the Pacific Ocean.
On the edge of Dillon, just above the river, lies Clark’s Lookout State Park – one of the most beautiful Montana state parks and a key point on the Lewis and Clark Trail. William Clark climbed to this point on August 13, 1805, sketched a map, and took compass readings for the route ahead.
This is easily one of the best things to do in Dillon, Montana. It takes about 30 minutes to walk from downtown Dillon, MT to the lookout (3 minutes by car). Once there, you’ll be able to walk Clark’s path to the vantage point and enjoy views of the entire Beaverhead Valley. There’s interpretive signage, a monument in the shape of William Clark’s compass, and a picnicking area.
4. Explore sites along the Lewis and Clark trail
One of the best things to do in Dillon, Montana is to visit the many other historic sites along the Lewis and Clark trail.
It was in this area that the expedition met one of the largest challenges of their journey – the Rocky Mountains, which led to some notable moments as they tried to forge ahead:
- Beaverhead Rock. As the expedition reached the headwaters of the Missouri River, they realized they needed an alternate form of transportation – horses. When Sacagawea recognized Beaverhead Rock, she realized that the expedition was near her home tribe, the Shoshone, who might help.
- 20-minute drive north of Dillon on MT-41
- Camp Fortunate. Where the team met a band of the Shoshone native tribe who sold the expedition the much-needed horses that allowed them to cross the Rocky Mountains at Lemhi Pass and continue on to the Pacific. The exact location of Camp Fortunate is now covered by the waters of the reservoir. A historical marker sits on the shors of the reservoir.
- 20-minute drive south of Dillon on I-15.
From Camp Fortunate, the expedition continued into present-day Idaho, turned north up the Salmon River, returned to Montana near Lolo, turned west over Lolo Pass into Idaho, and eventually found their way to the Pacific Ocean.
BEAR ALERT: The bear threat in Montana is real and can be fatal. If you’re out in nature in Montana, for example exploring the L&C trail, always carry bear spray and bear bells.
In another article, I explain whether or not bear bells actually work and give you the absolute best way to prevent bear attacks in Montana. Read that one here.
5. Visit Red Rock Lakes Wildlife Refuge
The Red Rock Lakes Wilderness Area was created in 1935 and is one of the few marshland wilderness areas in the United States. The Red Rock Creek flows through the Centennial Valley where the Red Rock Lakes refuge is located, with the Centennial Mountains sitting along the southern edge of the refuge.
The refuge is a region of untouched wetland, home to over 250 wildlife species, such as sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, curlews, peregrine falcons, eagles, hawks, owls, moose, badgers, wolves, wolverines, pronghorns, and bears. This is one of the top things to do in Dillon, Montana.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service oversees the local wildlife in the refuge, ensuring they live undisturbed by human interference. As a result, there are no formal, maintained walking trails. However, visitors are free to walk the numerous game trails carved out by moose, deer, and wolves in the area.
BEAR ALERT: Grizzly bears have a strong presence in all areas of the refuge. Carry bear spray and bear bells with you at all times.
6. Travel the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway
Scenic driving is one of the best things to do in Dillon, Montana.
The Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway is a beautiful country road that traverses directly through the Pioneer Mountains in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The journey takes you from Wise River in the north, through the Pioneer Mountains to Polaris, and on to Dillon, or vice-versa.
Sites along the way:
- 10,000-foot granite peaks to the east
- Rolling forests and meadows to the west
- Wildlife (elk, deer)
- Coolidge Ghost Town (one of the best-preserved ghost towns in Montana)
- Crystal Park
- Lacy Creek
- Lupine Picnic Area
- Elkhorn Hot springs
There is a small restaurant and gift shop in Wise River at the north end of the byway, but there are no services along the way. Remember to pack plenty of water and food for the journey.
Quick Facts
- Length: 49 miles (79 kilometers)
- Road: Paved
- 4×4: Not needed
- Traffic: Light
- Trailers: Permitted
- Season: Closed during winter months
Other nearby scenic drives include the Big Hole Valley Scenic Drive and the Mt Haggin Scenic Drive.
Read more: 15 most beautiful scenic drives in Montana
7. Boat, hike, picnic, or swim at Clark Canyon Reservoir
One of the best things to do in Dillon, Montana is to boat, swim, hike, or picnic on the shores of the Clark Canyon Reservoir – one of the many lakes near Dillon, Montana.
Clark Canyon Reservoir is unique in that it spans over 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) and offers concrete boat ramps, picnicking shelters, and many unique places along the water.
Here, you can explore a long shoreline, find a comfortable place to settle, and enjoy a quiet afternoon with expansive views over the water. Or set out on your boat for a day on the water.
By the way, if you’re interested in lakes and reservoirs, you may be interested our article on the Fort Peck Reservoir in the Charles M. Russel National Wildlife Refuge. After establishing the refuge, they discovered multiple dinosaur fossils within its boundaries.
8. Discover Dillon, MT history at the Beaverhead County Museum
One of the best places things to do in Dillon, Montana, is to orient yourself with Dillon’s history at the Beaverhead County Museum.
The Beaverhead County Museum is located in a log building in downtown Dillon, Montana, and features documents, photographs, and other relics from Beaverhead County.
Among the many exhibits are a Lewis and Clark diorama, an authentic homesteader’s cabin, a schoolhouse, agriculture equipment, a natural history exhibit, and a Union Pacific Depot from 1909.
The museum also offers family research services for anyone interested in exploring their family history.
9. Bathe in a natural hot springs near Dillon, Montana
Beneath much of western Montana lies a network of geothermal waters, many of which create the spectacles of Yellowstone National Park. In many regions of the state, people use this water to fill swimming and bathing pools for the public. Visiting the nearby hot springs is one of the best things to do while you’re in Dillon, Montana
Two natural hot springs near Dillon, MT are both within an hour’s drive:
- Jackson Hot Springs invites you to soak into the relaxing waters, enjoy the fireplace, or play shuffleboard while eating some tasty food after an entire day outdoors. Cozy rooms are available for those who wish to stay the night.
- Elkhorn Hot Springs has been in business since 1918 and offers visitors individual cabins or lodge rooms. In addition to the outdoor pool and indoor wet sauna, there is an onsite restaurant. While there is no cell service here, the WiFi in the lodge supports WiFi calling.
In another article, I provide a complete list of all of the natural and developed hot springs in Montana.
10. Hike the Continental Divide Trail
It’s no secret that hiking is one of the most popular activities in Montana. Naturally, there is plenty of hiking near Dillon, Montana. While the area has many fun trails, the Continental Divide Trail is an especially great hike near Dillon, Montana.
The Continental Divide Trail runs from Canada through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and on into Mexico. The stretch of the Continental Divide Trail near Dillon, MT runs along the Idaho-Montana border, about one hour’s drive south of town. For those who love hiking, this is easily one of the best things to do while in Dillon, Montana.
Interesting fact: when outlining the first Montana state boundaries, one of the original ideas was to use the Continental Divide as the border between Montana and Idaho, but the idea was later rejected.
BEAR ALERT: Every mile of this trail is grizzly bear habitat. Be sure to pack bear spray and bear bells while hiking here.
11. Attend a summer event in Dillon, Montana
One of the funniest things to do in Dillon, Montana is to attend one of the many interesting events Dillon hosts throughout the summer.
Summer events near Dillon, Montana include:
- SWMT Art Council Art Walk. A walk through downtown Dillon shops. See artists at work in local studios and an author speak at The Bookstore.
- Beaverhead Treasure Hunt. Search various businesses for Beaverhead treasure – glass figures created by the University of Montana Western (UMS) Glass Arts. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
- Community Yard Sale. At Kiwanis Park.
- RatPod. A one-day charity event – group cycling through the Pioneer Mountains. To raise money to empower cancer survivors and their families. Pre-registration required.
- Farmers market. Takes place on Washington Street on Saturdays, from July 24 to September 16, 9am – 1pm.
And many others. Find the full list of summer events in Dillon, Montana, at the Visit Dillon website.
