Big Hole River Valley in Montana

Take the Big Hole Loop Scenic Drive in Montana for a trip to remember. This route takes you on a highway through a high-elevation valley to visit some of the most gorgeous scenery in the West. Rivers invite you to stop and fish. Forests invite you to hike into the wilds.

At over 6,000 feet above sea level and isolated from the workaday world that demands so much attention, the Big Hole Valley offers some incredible scenery. You wouldn't want to miss travel along the scenic highways along rivers and rolling lands in any vacation to Montana.

The Big Hole River flows through a valley rich in ranching land in the southwest of the state. In fact the large ranches here provide excellent habitat for the wildlife here. You may see wolverine or antelope; you may spot an elk or moose; and even black bears and bobcat live in the surrounding forests.

This drive gives some awesome views of the ranges of the Beaverhead, Anaconda and Fleecer Mountains. If you love to fish, bring your gear, as world famous fishing is available in the Big Hole River.

You will come upon the ghost towns of Bannack and Coolidge, so be sure to stop and tour these. Visit the Jackson or Crystal Park hot springs. You can take the full trip of 153 miles in a full loop starting and ending in Dillon or you can go part of the route, ending in Bannack after a beautiful meandering drive through Big Hole Valley.