Outdoor Recreation - A Natural Wonderland
“The grandest sight I
had ever beheld,” so wrote Meriwether Lewis on June 13, 1805, as
he got his first look at the Great Falls of the Missouri. There
are actually 4 visible sets of falls around the city, Black
Eagle, Rainbow, Crooked and the Great Falls, each with a beauty
all its own.
When you visit Great Falls, you are only minutes away from the
country’s best outdoor experiences. Whether biking, skating,
jogging or walking is your favorite outdoor activity; River’s
Edge Trail is the perfect setting. Extending 13.3 miles along
the Missouri River, this trail offers spectacular views, plenty
of space and the chance to watch a wide variety of waterfowl
feeding along the river.
Fly-fishing. Some of
the best fly-fishing in North America, plus whitewater rafting
and historic canoe floats on the Missouri River.
Downhill and Cross-country Skiing
— Kings Hill Recreation Area is a winter lover's paradise
— un-crowded slopes, fresh powder, Olympic-class cross country
skiing, snowmobile trails and unbelievable downhill skiing and
snowboarding at Showdown Ski Area, is only an hour away.
Montana
Ski Area Snow Reports
Showdown Montana
Ski & Snowboard Heaven
Professional and College Sports
— If it's sports you're looking for, you've come to the right
place. From summer evenings with the
Great
Falls White Sox (a farm team of the
Chicago White Sox) or the roar of auto racing to the whoops and
hollers at one of our many area rodeos, we've got all the
action. In the winter time be sure to check out The
.
Great Falls, Montana has a CBA Professional Basketball team. College sports fans can also enjoy men's and women's
basketball with the
University of Great Falls Argos and Lady Argos.
Golf Great Falls!
The City of Great Falls boasts two premier golf
courses with 18 holes at each course. Each course is very
different offering the novice and the seasoned golfer variety
and challenge.
Eagle
Falls Golf Club rivals the top
golf courses in Montana. A newly designed and renovated golf
course offers both challenge and beauty to golfers. Golfers can
choose their challenge and length of play from 4 sets of tees.
The championship par 71 course is well bunkered with sand traps
and water hazards. It finishes with a challenging eighteenth
dogleg right par 4 which requires a well located tee shot,
followed by an accurate approach over water to a heavily
bunkered green. 761-1078.
Anaconda Hills Golf Course
built in the 1920’s, the front nine rolls up and down between
mature cottonwood trees, and features a spectacular view of the
City of Great Falls, the Missouri River and surrounding
mountains. The course is both serene and challenging. The back
nine opened in 1992, and is a links style design with natural
rough, water and ravines providing plenty of challenges.
Both courses offer club rental, motorized and pull golf cart
rentals, concessions and lessons from the resident pro. For more
information, check out the City’s web site at
www.ci.great-falls.mt.us
Out-of-town golfers can play the private
Meadow Lark Course
with a club member.
The Zahara Valley Golf Club is a new, accredited 18-hole course
that offers both regular and charter memberships. Great Falls
also has a semi-private golf course,
Emerald Greens, which opened in 1992
with 9 holes, but now has 18.
The
River's Edge Trail
— Biking, skating, jogging or walking, this paved
trail winds 13-plus miles along the Mighty Mo', offering
spectacular views and glimpses of birds and wildlife.
The Missouri River —
Don't just watch the Missouri, get right out in it! Float
beneath the scenic White Cliffs that have changed little since
Lewis and Clark traveled through. Head for the river where you
can catch hard-fighting rainbow and brown trout, water ski,
swim, enjoy a scenic canoe trip, or go white-water rafting or
kayaking-all within the city limits of Great Falls,
406-761-4434.
The Great Falls of the Missouri
— There are actually 4 sets of falls around our city, Black
Eagle, Rainbow, Crooked, and the Great Falls, each with a beauty
all its own.
Giant Springs Heritage State Park
— One of the world's largest fresh-water springs, discharging
193 million gallons of water a day. Mark Twain even sampled a
dipper of this clear spring water during a visit. Flowing from
the Springs to the Missouri River is the Roe River,
a mere 201 feet long, making it the shortest river in the world.
There is also a fish hatchery where more than a million Rainbow
Trout are raised each year and you're welcome to feed the fish.
This area has also been designated a Watchable Wildlife Site so
look for raccoons, beaver, pelicans, bald eagles, deer and more.
4600 Giant Springs Road, 406-454-5840.
Black Eagle Memorial Island
— This scenic, pedestrian-access only area includes a trail,
boat ramp for kayaks and canoes, and a fantastic overlook of the
Black Eagle Falls and Dam.
Gibson
Park
— The largest park in the city. Filled with green
lawns, flower gardens, majestic trees, a children's playground
and a walking path, this park offers plenty of room for family
gatherings. Youngsters won't want to miss Gibson Pond, home to a
variety of waterfowl, including beautiful swans.
Electric City Water Park
Montana’s “Coolest Hot Spot” has got to be the Electric City
Water Park. Just off the Missouri River and River’s Edge Trail,
and a short walk from downtown, the Electric City Water Park has
fun for “kids” of all ages. Surf the Flow Rider (1 of only 9 in
the U.S.), master the Riptide Slide, float the Lazy River, or
hit the amazing Power Tower Plunge – two wild winding slides
that start from a tower twenty feet high. Swim in the Mitchell
Pool, the largest heated public outdoor swimming pool in Montana
or enjoy the State’s largest children’s water play structure.
Truly something for everyone!
Riverside Railyard Skate Park
Many have claimed it as the “best in the State”, others have
said it is the “best in the Northwest”. It is the
Riverside Railyard – the city owned skate
park! No matter what the claim, the skaters - by the hundreds –
skate from sun-up to sun-down.
Opened in March 2004, Landmark Architects and skate park
designer Tim Altec designed this “state or the art” skate park.
Located in Elk’s Riverside Park, in the old railroad berm, the
27,000 square foot concrete park features a series of bowls and
pools, geared to various skill levels, and an extensive “street”
course. A unique feature of the bowl area is the “funnel” – a
full pipe offering an extreme challenge for the most skilled
skaters. The street portion provides fun boxes, rails, pyramids,
spines, and stairs challenging all skaters’ skill levels. So
whether it is an “ollie”, “nollie”, “frontside 180”, “flips” or
just “grinding the rail”, the Railyard has something for
everyone! For additional information about the park contact the
Great
Falls Park & Recreation Department,
771-1265.
Hiking & Backpacking
around Great Falls, Montana
Highwood Environmental Trail
Mountain Bike Trails at and around
Showdown Ski Area
River's Edge Trail
Thain Creek Trail
The World Outdoors
Cycling Routes around
Great Falls, Montana
River's Edge Trail
Cycling Routes in Montana
Fishing Guides
Craig Madsen's Montana River
Outfitters
Deep Creek Outfitters
Dick Lyman Outfitters
Falls Outfitters
JJJ Wilderness Ranch
Landers Fork Outfitters
Mountain Leisure Trading Co.
Wolverton Outfitters & Fly Shop
Floating the Missouri River
Craig Madsen's Montana River
Outfitters
Falls Outfitters
Missouri Breaks River Company
Mountain Leisure Trading Co.
The World Outdoors
State
Parks
National Forest
