Notes From the Road: Your Weekend Plans: Big Timber
Memorial Day is rapidly approaching and here at VisitYellowstoneCountry.com we want to help you make the most of your three-day weekend. Because all the best long weekends happen in the summer and also because summer can sometimes be fleeting in Yellowstone Country, you basically have to scoop it up with both arms, hug it tight and do everything you possibly can before the snow flies again (can you tell what my favorite season is?).And because we want to highlight one of our favorite small towns that has a big personality, we’re talking about all things in and around Big Timber and the best possible activities you can do with your three-day weekend.
Head to the Natural Bridge
About 25 miles south of Big Timber lies the Natural Bridge and Falls, a spot where the Boulder River flows into a hole in the rock bed and emerges even further downstream, creating a massive waterfall with a (former) natural bridge over the top of it. Pedestrians used to be able to cross it before the river eroded the rock so much that the rock bridge broke. At this time of year, the water is bound to be high due to spring run-off, so you won’t be able to see the broken bridge as well as during other times of the year. Combine this photo op with a hike around the falls and maybe a stop for lunch along the river bank. It’s a gorgeous way to spend a warm afternoon.
Stop and Smell the Lilacs
McLeod, Montana (home of the Natural Bridge), is a wonderful place in the Boulder Valley. If you’re looking to stay a night in a rustic cabin or home on the banks of the Boulder River (and way, way, way far away from the hustle and bustle of a bigger town), there’s always the McLeod Resort. Its cabins and guesthouse are perfect for fisherman looking to explore a less crowded area of the Boulder or the obvious road-tripper (or road-tripper at heart). McLeod is also home to some incredible smelling lilacs, so be sure to stop and get a whiff as you walk around town.
Celebrate Norway at The Crazy Mountain Museum
Finally, end your weekend in Big Timber at the annual Crazy Mountain Museum festival. The Crazy Mountain Museum provides a glimpse into history by displaying its relics and antiques from the Sweet Grass County of years past. While you’re enjoying the local history, be sure to stop by the Norway festival, where Montana beef is served and Norwegian treats are made and brought by locals whose Scandinavian ancestors were among the first settlers in the area.
If you’d prefer to be somewhere a bit less crowded than Yellowstone National Park during Memorial Day, hop on over to Big Timber and spend the weekend exploring.
What are you doing for Memorial Day?