The town of Dillon, on the road from Yellowstone to Glacier National Park, is the heart of Montana’s largest county by land area with fewer than 4,000 residents. This gorgeous part of the state leaves plenty of room to roam uncrowded spaces. The 3.35-million-acre Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest surrounding Dillon offers incredible opportunities to recreate while the town itself is full of western charm. Here are nine reasons to visit.
1. See Two Ghost Towns
Thirty minutes outside of Dillon, see a remarkably well-preserved 1800s ghost town at Bannack State Park. Montana’s first territorial capital, this gold-rush town was fully abandoned in the 1950s and made into a state park. Purchase a guidebook from the visitor center to go on a self-guided tour through the buildings along the main street. Or for a more immersive experience, visit on Saturdays for special programming, the third weekend in July for Bannack Days or the Saturday before Halloween for the Ghost Walk, reservations required. These events help bring pioneer history to life through actors in costume, activities like gold panning and breakfast at the Hotel Meade and more.
For a spookier-feeling ghost town experience, head to Coolidge northwest of Dillon, which was a silver mine in the early 1900s. Located off the Pioneer Scenic Byway, park at the Coolidge Ghost Town Trailhead and walk for 10-15 minutes to see ruins of the town’s buildings, mill and railroad. The dilapidated buildings and lack of facilities make it feel like ghosts could be lurking around any corner.
2. Hit the Trails
There’s no shortage of impressive trails in this part of the country, so figuring out where to start can be daunting. A local favorite? The “M” and “B” hikes overlooking town. “You can hike anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours on all the trails under the “M” for Montana and the “B” for Beaverhead County on Beaverhead Trails Coalition High Trails,” says Beaverhead Chamber of Commerce, Tourism & Development executive director, Rebecca Jones. For more information visit beaverheadtrails.org.
If you’d rather explore Dillon’s trails with a motor, you’re not alone. There’s some amazing off-roading on the public lands surrounding Dillon. Head to Beaverhead Adventures for rentals including side-by-sides, campers, snow machines, paddle boards and more.
3. Dig for Crystals
If you’re traveling with kids, one of the best family-friendly attractions around Dillon is Crystal Park. Located in the national forest, this 220-acre recreation area is home to an impressive amount of quartz crystals that visitors can dig for. You might find white, grey or “smoky” quartz, or prized purple amethysts. You can keep anything you find. There’s a $5 per vehicle parking fee and only hand tools are allowed. Grab your digging supplies at Murdoch’s, Rocky Mountain Supply or 3-D Store in Dillon.
4. See Trumpeter Swans
At the remote Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge two hours southeast of Dillon, trumpeter swans now abound, but that wasn’t always the case. The refuge was established in 1935 when the beautiful birds numbered less than 70. Thanks to conservation efforts, their population has rebounded to 46,000 across North America. Try to spot these elegant waterfowl and other wildlife like raptors, river otters, moose, wolves and more as you hike, drive or canoe through this stunning wildlife refuge. Two primitive campgrounds are also available on a first-come, first-served basis. Staying overnight gives you access to the best times to view wildlife: dawn and dusk.
5. Enjoy Local Businesses
Dillon might be a small town, but it doesn’t mess around when it comes to coffee. For easy caffeine on your way to your day’s activities, stop by Angler Village Coffee Shop or drive through Coffee Works and Peak Espresso. Sweetwater Coffee is also a great spot to sit and enjoy a coffee and breakfast, or light lunch. Need your bike worked on or your skis tuned? Beaverhead Bikes & Coffee is your one stop shop for a cup of joe and gear maintenance.
After fueling up for the day, don’t miss checking out some of the unique, locally owned shops in downton Dillon. Atomic 79 Boots & Western Gear is your one-stop shop to outfit yourself like a cowboy or cowgirl. If you’re heading to one of Dillon’s many rodeos (see below), this is a must stop. Check out The Tabletop Vault which is full of family friendly board games and a great place to pick up a fun souvenir you can play with at your campsite. Don’t miss Duckworth, a US-made wool apparel company. The sheep that provide the wool for cozy baselayers, socks, flannels and more live just north of Dillon. The outlet is at 34 N. Idaho Street. You’ll find lots of other great boutiques and shops downtown including florists, Montana made clothing and popular outdoor store, Patagonia.
6. Watch a Rodeo
Dillon’s population swells on Labor Day Weekend, which is locally known as “Montana’s Biggest Weekend,” because of the Pro Rodeo Association event of the same name. Buy your tickets to see barrel racing, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, bull riding and more. This major event isn’t Dillon’s only rodeo. The Friday before, catch the Ranch Rodeo where you can see local cowboys and cowgirls compete in their own rodeo. Inspired to hop on a horse now? Diamond 7 Western Riding offers both trail rides and lessons.
7. Go Camping
One of the best ways to get back to nature in Dillon is to go camping. There’s four RV parks in town that can accommodate RVs with full hookups: Beaverhead River RV Park & Campground, Southside RV Park and Countryside RV Park. The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has 50 established campgrounds. Or, if you’re looking to get really off the grid, there’s plenty of areas for dispersed, or undeveloped, camping near Dillon. Stop by the Dillon Visitor Center at 730 N. Montana Street, #2 to get information on how to safely travel and camp off-road.
8. Learn Western History
Dillon, Montana sits in the heart of western history. Start discovering it at the Beaverhead County Museum at 15 S. Montana Street. One of the most interesting pieces of history in this part of the country? Lewis and Clark’s traveled through here. Head to Beaverhead Rock State Park to learn more about Lewis and Clark and their Shoshone guide, Sacagawea. Sacagawea recognized Beaverhead Rock and knew the expedition was getting close to her tribe’s homelands where Lewis and Clark could trade their canoes for horses to get across the mountains and to the Pacific Ocean.
Big Hole National Battlefield is another important piece of American history that you can visit just outside Dillon. In 1877, U.S. troops waged a surprise attack on a Nez Perce camp at this site and killed 90 people. This sobering site remembers the Nez Perce who died here and gives an important look at Native American history. Join a weekend battlefield tour at 10:30 a.m. Friday through Monday, or attend the Summer Speaker Series on Saturdays and Sundays late June through late August to learn from Nez Perce presenters.
9. See the Snow
The fun doesn’t stop in this part of the country when the weather gets cold. Head to Beaverhead Adventures to rent a snowmobile and go “sledding” as the locals call it (this spot also rents side-by-sides and paddleboards in the summer), or head to Maverick Mountain in Polaris, 50 miles west of Dillon. This unapologetically local ski area has 450 acres of terrain, most of which is intermediate or expert. With lift tickets costing only $45 per day for an adult, and liftlines nearly non-existent, this mountain is truly a hidden gem.
For a truly unique winter experience, head to Wisdom for the Big Hole Valley Winterfest in late February each year. Skijoring – when a horse pulls a skier or snowboarder along behind it, is a totally unique sport to watch and at this festival, you’ll get a big dose of it.
On the first Friday in December, Dillon gets seriously festive with the Parade of Lights/Christmas Stroll/Festival of Trees. On that chilly Friday evening, Santa kicks off the parade at 6 p.m. by lighting the Christmas tree in front of the Beaverhead County Courthouse. Lighted floats make their way through downtown while local businesses are open for Christmas shopping. The festivities include ice sculptures, warming stations, hot cocoa, cookie decorating, a prize blizzard and more. After the parade, visit the Festival of Trees, where a local nonprofit has decorated Christmas trees that are auctioned off.
Learn more at VisitDillonMT.com.
For more information:
Dillon Convention & Visitors Bureau/Beaverhead Chamber of Commerce, Tourism & Development
406-683-5511
730 N. Montana Street #2, Dillon, MT 59725
www.visitdillonmt.com