In mid-July, nearly a dozen of Montana’s best breweries come to party in Virginia City for the Dog and Grog Microbrew Festival. Not only can you experience this historic ghost town, preserved for you to explore, but you’ll find fun activities to enjoy between pints of local tasty beverages during the festival. Right next to the Bale of Hay Saloon, you’ll find the tent where the beer magic happens, where you can drink your way through some of the best craft breweries in Montana while you relax under the big top.  

Topics: Events, Activities, Summer Activities, Headwaters Insider, Art and Culture, Missouri Headwaters, Best Kept Secret

When summer comes around, we get excited about sunshine and exploring. One of the best day trips from the Headwaters is a drive to Yellowstone, the country’s first national park. Gardiner and West Yellowstone are both less than two hours away from Three Forks, so you can even make the loop through for a change of scenery as you go and return. Here are our favorite stops along the way to help you really make a day of it.

Topics: Insider, Montana Vacation, Weekend Getaway, Swim and Soak, Sightseeing, Headwaters Insider, For Families, For Couples, Dining and Drinks

 

If local music ranging from folksy to bluegrass, jazz, blues, gospel and beyond is your scene, you’ll want to mark Music Days at the Caverns in your calendar. Just down the road from Three Forks at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park, you’ll find a music festival that takes local entertainment to a new level.  

Topics: Summer Activities, Sightseeing, Headwaters Insider, Art and Culture

Madison Buffalo Jump State Park isn’t far from Three Forks, and it’s well worth a stop. This scenic spot rounds out the triple crown of state parks surrounding the Headwaters region. Here’s all you need to know when you’re planning a trip to this significant historic site.

Topics: History, Sightseeing, Headwaters Insider, Historic Montana, Missouri Headwaters, Madison Buffalo Jump State Park

Giddy up and get ready for Rodeo weekend, the best party in Three Forks. Here’s everything you need to know when you start planning your trip to the Headwaters for the end of July. Here are the highlights to hit during the favorite weekend in Three Forks.

Topics: Activities, Headwaters Insider, For Families, For Couples, Rodeo

Spring weather starts to get nicer and nicer as the pages on the calendar turn, but sometimes it’s still iffy whether your hike will take you into a snow flurry or shorts weather. Enter: the spring drive. And when you take it to the ultimate scenic level, it elevates your road wandering experience. Here are some of the best scenic drives around Three Forks that’ll get you out churning miles and burning rubber—in the best way possible.

Topics: Weekend Getaway, Sightseeing, For Families, For Couples, Historic Montana, Missouri Headwaters

June in Gallatin county is like the mecca of good times to be had. The patios are open, Music on Main has started up, the Farmer's Market is in full swing, the Art Walk kicks off, and the list goes on. At the top of ours sits the much anticipated Headwaters Country Jam--a three day, rip-roaring outdoor festival in the heart of the valley.  

Topics: Summer Activities, Sightseeing, Headwaters Insider, Art and Culture, Missouri Headwaters, Headwaters Country Jam

As the county seat of Madison County, Montana, Virginia City keeps the history of the Victorian Era alive. After booming in the late 1800s with the advent of a gold rush, the town practically froze in time once the gold ran out. Today, it’s vibrant display of living history with a thriving community of reenactors and local historians. Roam the town, check out the shops, and still make it back to Three Forks in time for a nightcap before bed. Here’s what you should add to the agenda when you take a day trip to Virginia City.

Topics: Weekend Getaway, Sightseeing, Headwaters Insider, Art and Culture, For Families, Historic Montana, Best Kept Secret

When it comes to fly fishing in the Headwaters region, your choices are as big as that expansive sky we’re so famous for. Be sure to bring your fly rod along to get out on the river when you visit Three Forks. Here are some of the top places to hit.

Topics: Insider, Montana Vacation, Weekend Getaway, Summer Activities, Fishing, For Families

Missouri Headwaters State Park flies under the radar as far as Montana parks go, but if you give it the chance, it’ll blow you away. Just a short jaunt from Three Forks (as in, five miles away by car or bike), it’s about as easy to get to as you can get. Here are a few of the top reasons to check it out.

Topics: Hiking, Biking, Sightseeing, Fishing, For Families, Missouri Headwaters, Best Kept Secret, Horseback Riding, Fossils, Birding

We’re talking about a lot more than just the name of a hotel here—when it comes to icons of American history, Sacajawea ranks near the top. Most people familiar with the history of the western states know the name well, aware of her for her contribution to the flowing river of exploration and expansion in this country. The checkered past between European invaders and native peoples finds a brief moment of peace in the chapter of her story that involved working with the Lewis & Clark Expedition.

But who was Sacajawea, really? And how did she help shape the Missouri Headwaters Region that we know today? Her story goes far deeper than just her role as an interpreter and guide for the Corps of Discovery. Read on to find out more about the woman who helped shape the country’s history.

Topics: History, Sightseeing, Sacajawea Hotel, Historic Montana, Missouri Headwaters, Sacajawea, Lewis & Clark, Corps of Discovery

As spring settles in—or winter lingers past when the calendar says it should—Three Forks gives you the perfect gift to bust cabin fever: a lively spot to hang at the Sac Bar. Downstairs in the basement of the historic Sacajawea Hotel, the bar offers up a host of activities and event nights throughout the year, welcoming you out of the weather with its warmth and community. You’re already a friend when you first make your way through the doors, and it doesn’t take long before locals and visitors alike unite to share in the fun. Here’s what you’ll find when you head downstairs.

Topics: Nightlife, Sacajawea Hotel, Cowboy Up, Three Forks Date, Spring Eats, Sac Bar

When the calendar says winter is over, it’s time to start dreaming of summer’s warmth and fun—even if the weather isn’t quite there yet. As the snow melt starts and the ground begins to thaw, here’s what you should be getting excited for in Three Forks.

Topics: Insider, Activities, Montana Vacation, Weekend Getaway, Summer Activities, Headwaters Insider, For Families, For Couples

When it comes to Montana goodness, you want to savor all the flavors you can. Pompey's Grill brings that to the table. Expand your palette to match the big sky of Montana, and place your reservation for the most exquisite dining you’ll find in the Headwaters. But if you still need convincing, take a look at these delicious dishes on the menu.

Topics: Insider, Nightlife, Headwaters Insider, Dining and Drinks

Even though this area often sees less snowfall than the other side of the valley (we’re looking at you, Bridgers!), it’s still Montana winter fun over here in Three Forks. When the snow flies hard in the Headwaters, you can’t beat a snowshoe stroll in this scenic region. Follow your feet wherever they take you, but it doesn’t hurt to guide them in these top snowshoeing directions.

Topics: Insider, Activities, Montana Vacation, Weekend Getaway, Winter Activities, Sightseeing, Headwaters Insider, Health and Fitness

Long winter nights don’t need to make you feel cabin-feverish in Three Forks. There’s plenty to do all day and well into the evening when it comes to beating winter blues. Start out early and end it late when you get things going at the Sacajawea.

Topics: Insider, Activities, Montana Vacation, Weekend Getaway, Nightlife, Winter Activities, Swim and Soak, Spa and Salons, Headwaters Insider, For Families, For Couples

There is a little place in a little town, tucked away in a big state, that will absolutely change the way you think about food. That little place is Pompey’s Grill. Any curious diner can find it by heading west out of Bozeman until they reach the town of Three Forks. Take the exit and go left, and as there’s just one street in and out of this old cowboy town, you’re bound to run right into it. The restaurant itself is nestled in the historic Sacajawea Hotel. The estate greets Pompey’s patrons with a wide front porch adorned in white columns and a line of matching rocking chairs. As you make your way inside, a hand-tiled ceiling, wingback chairs and old wooden floors lead you through the hotel and into Pompey’s, where the real experience begins. These are our top five reasons why it’s one you don’t want to miss out on. 

Topics: Dining and Drinks

Winter in Yellowstone isn’t a season you want to miss. With the benefit of fewer crowds, a more savage landscape, and a snow-fueled paradise for wildlife, it tops just about every other season for exploring the nation’s first national park. Here’s your ultimate guide to exploring Yellowstone under winter’s hush.

Topics: Insider, Activities, Yellowstone, Montana Vacation, Weekend Getaway, Winter Activities, Sightseeing, Headwaters Insider, For Families, For Couples

In the centrally located winter playground that is the Missouri Headwaters, you’ll find plenty of excitement to keep you entertained all winter. There’s a whole lot to keep you occupied when you embrace the Montana state of mind and get ready to head outside, no matter what the temperature is doing. Within two hours of Three Forks, you can dig into the fun of winter and enjoy a bit of excitement to warm up those winter days (and nights) when you take on some of these activities.

Topics: Insider, Activities, Montana Vacation, Weekend Getaway, Winter Activities, Headwaters Insider

Winter in the Headwaters is a time to slow down, take a deep breath, and relish the quiet of the season. That stillness, and a break from summer’s hustle and bustle, makes for the perfect opportunity to delve into the history of the region. From early Native American tribes living in the savage landscape, to the intensity of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and on to the days of the settlers, there is plenty to discover. 

Topics: Insider, History, Activities, Winter Activities, Sightseeing, Headwaters Insider