Why Butte’s Outdoor Access Makes it the Perfect Place to Call Home

A clear water area of a river with tall trees and mountains in the background. — The crystal clear waters of Montana’s lakes and rivers.

Montana is called the Last Best State for a reason—its swoon-worthy, award winning nature, spanning valleys, mountains, rivers and lakes.

The city of Butte is no exception.

The sixth largest (by population) city in the state, Butte is a mecca for every type of outdoor enthusiast. Whether you’re a fisherman, a mountain biker, skier or all of the above, Butte has the outdoor access you need, making it the perfect place to call home.

Hiking/ mountain biking/ rock climbing:

Surrounding Butte are 3.2 million acres of National Forest with trails for hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers alike. In fact, the singletrack trails within the forest are known to be some of the best in the state.

Large spires of granite jutting out of the ground with rolling hills in the background. — The Humbug Spires south of Butte, Montana.

Rock climbers can find their own paradise within 30 miles of the city, in the famous smooth granite routes like Humbug Spires and Spire Rock (which sits on the Continental Divide).

But the trails don’t stop at the National Forests. Butte is also within a few hours of the Anaconda-Pintler and Lee Metcalf Wilderness areas and National Parks, Yellowstone and Glacier.

a large pool puts off hot steam against a blue and cloudy sky. — The geysers and heat pools at Yellowstone National Park.

Fishing:

According to the Montana Angler, some of the best fly-fishing rivers on Earth are found in Southwest Montana—not too far from Butte. The closest fishing rivers to the city include the Clark-Fork just west of Butte, the Big Hole River, and the Madison River.

Less than a three-hour drive away sits the mighty Smith River. Add your name to the Smith River lottery and cross your fingers that you’ll have the opportunity to spend the better part of four days rafting along the beautiful, cliff-enclosed river, catching fish all day long.

Hunting:

Montana is known to possibly be the best state in the lower 48 for hunters. Not only because of the millions of acres of public lands and mountains, but because almost every huntable animal there is can be found within the Treasure State.

A large elk wades in a stream. — Few places offer better hunting.

Trounce through the large swaths of public land, like the 3.32 million acre Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest that surrounds Butte. And get your fix multiple times a year: hunting season spans over a few months in both the spring and summer, depending on your animal of choice.

Skiing / Snowboarding:

A family skis down a slope with a large snow covered mountain in the background. — Montana offers some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the US.

There are seven alpine ski areas within three hours of Butte, as well as nordic ski trails Mount Haggin and Moulton Reservoir. With all of the public land within the state, it’s also easy to find backcountry routes, if that’s more your style.