French
DeutschCalled "The Heart of Montana", Lewistown has many of the activities that make Montana a tourist destination, from big game and bird hunting to fishing, camping, biking, hiking and skiing. It is the geographic center of the state. The population was 5,901 at the 2010 census.
Understand
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It is surrounded by five mountain ranges: the Snowies, the Judiths, the Moccasins, the Belts, and the Highwoods.
Be sure to pronounce the town correctly - Lewis-town not Lewis-ton - or the locals will let you know your mistake.
- Lewistown Area Chamber of Commerce, 408 NE Main, ☏ +1 406 535-5436, lewchamb@midrivers.com. Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM.
Get in
[edit | edit source]Lewistown is on U.S. Highway 87 (US-87) and Montana Highway 200 (MT-200) from the east and west. From the north it is on U.S. Highway 191 (US-191).
By plane
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Get around
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As with most of Montana, a vehicle is the best way to get around. The historic downtown area is walkable, and walking tour maps can be picked up at the Chamber.
When adventuring outside of town, be sure you plan for fuel and download maps. Wide open country is great to explore, just don't expect to always have service and amenities.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Central Montana Museum, 408 NE Main St, ☏ +1 406 538-3642. 10AM-4PM summer; winter call for info. Guns, saddles, fossils. Free, donations accepted.
- 2 Lewistown Art Center, 121 W Main St (corner of Main and 4th Ave), ☏ +1 406 535-8278, lac@midrivers.com. Tue-Fri from 11:30AM-5:30PM; Sat 10AM-4PM. fFree.
Do
[edit | edit source]- Big Spring Creek runs through the middle of town. You'll find access points for fishing or floating around the area.
- City trails are woven through town. There are 24 total miles, mostly paved, that you can walk or bike.
- 1 Big Springs Trout Hatchery, 2035 Fish Hatchery Rd, ☏ +1 406 538-5588. Mon-Fri 8AM-4:30PM. Visit the hatchery to see rainbow and brown trout plus kokanee and chinook salmon. Learn about Montana's fish management practices. Free.
- Charlie Russell Chew Choo (train boards about 40 minutes outside of Lewistown), ☏ +1 406 535-5436, lewchamb@midrivers.com. Special weekends, see website. Dinner and a show on a historic train $90 adult, $50 child.
- 2 Limekiln Trail (take Marcella Ave to Rifle Range Rd, which is mostly unpaved; go 3.3 miles to Lime Kiln Rd; go about 2 miles to trailhead), ☏ +1 406 538-1900, BLM_MT_Central_DO@blm.gov. Recreation area in the Judith Mountains. Hike to overlook is about 4.5 miles out and back. 1,000 feet of elevation gain.
Events
[edit | edit source]- Montana Winter Fair, ☏ +1 406 538-2200, info@montanawinterfair.com. Late Jan. Traditional agriculture based fair. Open Fiddle Contest, Quilt Show & Workshops, Fiber Arts Show & Workshops and Re-creations Show and Sale, Farm & Ranch Trade Show, Skijoring, Ranch Sorting Clinic & Competition, Arm Wrestling, Chess Tournament & Polar Plunge. For the kids, there's the Stick Horse Rodeo, Old McDonald’s Barn, Meet & Greet with the Ice Queen and Youth Beef Show.
- Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering, ☏ +1 406 538-4575, kbkuhlmann@midrivers.com. mid-Aug. Cowboy poetry and western music show. $10 general admission, $35-60 for special events.
- Chokecherry Festival, Main St, ☏ +1 406 535-5436, lewchamb@midrivers.com. first Sat after Labor Day. Pancake breakfast, culinary tasting, pit spitting contest, vendors
Buy
[edit | edit source]Eat
[edit | edit source]- Dash Inn, 207 NE Main St, ☏ +1 406 535-3892. Fast food
Drink
[edit | edit source]- 1 Big Spring Brewing, 220 E Main St, ☏ +1 406 535-2337, info@bigspringbrewingmt.com. 11:30AM-9PM daily. Microbrewery with 5 main stays and variety in their rotators. Uses local ingredients, even fresh roasted coffee beans and local honey.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]- Half Moon Ranch (23 miles SE of Lewistown), ☏ +1 406 575-4055, halfmoonretreat@hotmail.com.
- Historic Calvert Hotel, 216 7th Ave S, ☏ +1 406 535-5411.
- Yogo Inn, 211 East Main, ☏ +1 406 535-8721, yogo@yogoinn.com. Built as a train depot in 1913, it has full service restaurant and bar.
Connect
[edit | edit source]Go next
[edit | edit source]- Crystal Lake (31 miles south, about an hour due to mountain travel) is a gorgeous turquoise lake with a campsite and mountain bike trails. For those fit enough, take a hike to the Ice Caves to see the columns of ice and skating rink floor.
| Routes through Lewistown |
| Havre ← Great Falls ← | W  S | → Roundup → Billings |
| Swift Current ← Malta ← | N  S | → Harlowton → Big Timber |
| Missoula ← Great Falls ← | W  E | → Jct  S → Sidney → Watford City |