THINGS TO DO

welcome to montana

When you’re in the wilds of Montana, you’ll find that there’s a lot to enjoy. At Black Rabbit RV, we’ve made it our mission to help our guests experience everything they can near Hamilton, MT. Whether you’re exploring town or venturing the mountains, there’s something for everyone to enjoy here.

Fly Fishing on the river

World class fly fish ing on the bitteroot river

Fishing is one of our guests’ favorite things to do when they come here. There are dozens of fly fishing shops in the downtown area, and plenty of rivers and streams to snag your prized fish. If you have questions about fishing in the area, check out some of the resources here.

A woman is carrying a child in a backpack on a path in the woods.

hiking and offroad trails

Dozens of hikes will take you along the mountain range to the west of Hamilton, and they all range in difficulty. It’s a hiker’s dream, as you could spend each day on one of the trails and never run out of anything to see and do. Plan your hiking expedition today! Use the ONYX App to find those 4wd trails that will take you to some of the most scenic offroading anywhere!

A golf course with trees and mountains in the background.

HAMILTON GOLF CLUB

Located in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley of Western Montana, the Hamilton Golf Club was established in 1924 on land once owned by Montana Copper King, Marcus Daly. Situated between the Bitterroot and Sapphire mountain ranges it allows for spectacular views. The 18 hole course offers challenges to test all golfers of all abilities.The Hamilton Golf Club offers a full service clubhouse. Amenities include a full driving range, pro shop and bar/concessions area. Stay after your round and enjoy some of the the best views of the valley in our newly remodeled clubhouse. Enjoy a post round refreshment on our patio with your friends.

A sailboat is floating on a lake with mountains in the background.

LAKE COMO RECREATION AREA

The Lake Como Recreation Area has opportunities for a variety of day, overnight, extended backpacking, motorized and non-motorized use.

A river with mountains in the background and trees on the shore

Teller Wildlife Refuge

Teller Wildlife Refuge offers guests and visitors a vision inspired by the incredible scenic open spaces of western Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. Otto Teller, an avid sportsman and lifelong conservationist, and a summer resident of the Bitterroot for over fifty years, created the Teller Wildlife Refuge in 1985-1993, by acquiring 18 smaller properties, and re-consolidating them into what were, in the 1860s, the Chaffin and Slack family homesteads.

A large white house with columns and a driveway is surrounded by trees.

Daly Mansion

Hamilton is also home to the Daly Mansion built in the late 1800s for Marcus Daly. Marcus Daly, one of Montana’s colorful “Copper Kings,” established Anaconda with his smelter and Hamilton with his lumber industry. He built his family a summer home in Hamilton, the heart of the beautiful Bitterroot Valley. The mansion occupies 24,000 square feet on three floors with 24 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms and seven fireplaces. After Mrs. Daly’s death in 1941, the mansion was closed until 1987, when it was reopened to the public. It is situated on gorgeous tree-lined grounds along the scenic Bitterroot River and impressive peaks of the Bitterroot Range that run more than 60 miles along the entire length of the valley.

A group of native americans are posing for a picture in a black and white photo.

RAVALLI COUNTY MUSEUM

Ravalli County Museum is located in the original Ravalli County Courthouse built in 1900. Saved from the wrecker’s ball by a grassroots citizen’s movement in 1979, it is now listed in the National Register of Historic Buildings and considered one of the finest museums for a city Hamilton’s size. Collections and displays recapture the prehistory of the county. Highlights include the complete Rocky Mountain Laboratory display on tick fever; extensive archives; Native American clothing, implements and art; period rooms of the Victorian era; an old-fashioned kitchen; a trapper’s cabin; and a veteran’s display.

A small white church with a cross on top of it.

ST. MARY'S MISSION

Stevensville was the first European American settlement in the “Territory of Montana.” Originally established as “Saint Mary’s Mission” and the nearby “Fort Owen” trading post during the 1840s and 1850s, the town of Stevensville grew up around the original Mission church shown above. The highest peak in this part of the Bitterroot Mountains is named for this Mission, and may be seen in the background behind the original Mission church pictured.

A book is open to a page that says fort owen

FORT OWEN

Fort Owen State Park Built of adobe and logs, Fort Owen is the site of the first permanent while settlement in Montana. Major John Owen established the fort as a regional trade center in 1850 and period furnishings and artifacts are displayed in the restored rooms of the east barracks. This site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For information call: (406)542-5500

A large building with a porch and trees in the background is lit up at night.

PIONEER MUSEUM

Darby’s Pioneer Memorial Museum was originally one of the first hand-hewn homestead cabins built in the area. It was crafted by early settler Evelin Matteson in 1886 on his homestead near the mouth of Tin Cup Creek. In 1958 an interested citizen purchased the building and paid to have it moved to its present location, adjacent to the city park on U.S. Highway 93. It became a museum depository for the extensive collection of both home and business artifacts saved by the many pioneer families in the area. A photo of the cabin at its original site is on display at the museum along with a large number of early-day photographs and memorabilia of Darby and its people.

A row of teepees in a grassy field with mountains in the background.

BIG HOLE BATTLEFIELD

The Battle of the Big Hole on August 9 and 10, 1877, was a turning point of the Nez Perce War, a 5-month war in which U.S. Army forces tried to place one third of the Nez Perce tribe on a reservation. The fighting began in White Bird Canyon in Idaho and had a dramatic ending in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana. Self-guiding tours take you to many points of the Battlefield. A short drive to the lower parking area connects with foot trails to the Nez Perce Camp, the Siege Area, and the Howitzer Capture site. The walks each take about an hour. Ranger conducted programs are offered in summer; introductory presentations and exhibits are available year-round. The Visitor Center offers basic orientation through an audiovisual program and exhibits, including the original mountain Howitzer from the battle. The Battlefield is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the remainder of the year.

A museum filled with stuffed animals including a deer and a ram.

Step into Elk Country at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Elk Country Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is more than just a museum; it’s an experience that reveals the beauty, diversity and importance of elk country across North America.We are open year-round and admission is FREE!


ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION

LEE METCALF WILDLIFE REFUGE

The Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge is located in the beautiful Bitterrot Valley, cradled between the Bitterroot Mountain Range on the west and Sapphire Mountain Range on the east. Bounded on the west by the Bitterroot River, the refuge setting is truly spectacular. Although small by refuge standards, the 2800-acre refuge is managed to create a variety of habitats that are rich with abundant and diverse plants and animals. Osprey, bald eagles, cormorants and several species of ducks, geese and swans inhabit refuge ponds. The river bottom woodlands have mostly black cottonwood, ponderosa pine, alder, willow and other lowland plants. The Bitterroot River Recreation Area features over 2 miles of nature trails and a picnic area with accessible tables, pavilion, grill and outhouse.

A snowy mountain in the distance with trees in the foreground.
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