Big Sky Drive Self Guided Driving Audio Tour

The Madison travels over 150 miles from Yellowstone National Park all the way to the Missouri River near Three Forks. Its story begins long, long ago, during the Ice Age! Note: The tour is over 75+ miles long, with more than 41+ audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

Welcome to the Big Sky Drive! This scenic drive packs the very best of Montana into a single breathtaking route. We’ll see lofty peaks and pristine rivers, rocky canyons and wide plains, all while hearing about the fascinating history of this landscape.

We’re cruising along U.S. Highway 191. If we were to keep driving to its end, we’d land right near the U.S.-Canada border. If we turned around and drove the other way, it would take us all the way to the red deserts of Arizona! In other words, it’s a mighty long road!

t, a celebrated leader of the Blackfoot tribe. Legend has it that a hungry grizzly bear once wandered into Chief Crowfoot’s camp, searching for prey. The warriors were away, and only Crowfoot stood between the bear and his people. But he picked up a spear and faced down the beast without fear. A fierce battle ensued… and Crowfoot won!

The mountains to our right belong to the Gallatin Range, much of which stretches down into Wyoming.

We’ll get to know the Gallatin very well today: Our route will follow the river almost all the way to our final destination!

See that cluster of mountains directly in front of us? In the middle stands King Butte, and to the right is Big Horn Peak. Each of these mountains rises to almost 10,000 feet!

This sweet-sounding peak actually holds an important place in the history of Montana wildfires.

But how did this resort get here in the first place? It started with Montana native Chet Huntley.

But how did this resort get here in the first place? It started with Montana native Chet Huntley.

Directly to the right of it stands Wilson Peak, towering at 10,600 feet. Can you guess the namesake of Wilson Peak? I’ll give you a hint: He ratified the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote.

When we do, make sure you look to the left to catch a glimpse of Lone Mountain.

nd can take over three hours to complete, but it rewards hikers with a seriously magnificent sight: Lave Lake! Contrary to the name, this pristine snow-fed lake is very, very chilly. Forested slopes climb around the lake on all sides, and you’ll be able to catch great views right into the center of the Spanish Peaks.

But a much quieter battle rages around us right now. As we’ve been driving, you’ve probably seen sections of the valley covered in grayish-green scrub. Some of this vegetation is sagebrush, an important shrub in the area.

This has been an essential passageway for millennia. Animals often follow the river and the relatively flat land that surrounds it, hoping to avoid the craggy terrain higher in the mountains. Indigenous tribes like the Shoshone and the Bannock flocked down the Gallatin River Canyon, pulling fish and aquatic plants from its waters.

That’s the 7,000-foot mountain known by the dramatic name Storm Castle.

During the 1800s, all sorts of ranchers, cattlemen, and homesteaders who spread down the length of the Gallatin River stopped in Gallatin Gateway as they made their way to and from Bozeman.

What makes him so important? Well, he masterminded the Bozeman Trail!