THREE FORKS

Wake up after a restful overnight stay at the historic Sacajawea Hotel in Three Forks, so named because the Gallatin, Jefferson and Madison rivers converge nearby to form the Missouri River. Kick off the day with breakfast at Iron Horse Cafe & Pie Shop, Three Forks Cafe or the Shoppe Pastry & Coffeehouse — all are delicious options. Next, learn about the history and culture of Missouri River headwaters communities at the Headwaters Heritage Museum (open June through September and the first weekend in December) before making your way to Missouri Headwaters State Park to see the confluence of the rivers, a view that Lewis and Clark saw in 1805. Interpretive displays in the park share some of the area's cultural and natural history. When you're ready for lunch, head back toward Three Forks to grab a bite and a brew at local favorite Bridger Brewing.

BUFFALO, TROUT AND POTATOES: AN AFTERNOON MENU OF MONTANA EXPERIENCES

Satiated, embark on the afternoon's activities, starting with Madison Buffalo Jump State Park, southeast of Three Forks. This state park encompasses a high limestone cliff integral to a hunting method used by indigenous peoples in which herds of buffalo were stampeded over the edge and the remains at the base were gathered for food or used to make clothing, shelter and other provisions. The main geographical features of a jump site — as well as other evidence like buffalo bones at the foot of the cliff and teepee rings — can be found at the park, along with interpretive signage. From Madison Buffalo Jump State Park, make your way east to Montana's own Manhattan, the potato capital of the state. In mid-August, the town celebrates the crop with the Manhattan Potato Festival, which features a parade, activities for kids, live music, and food and craft vendors. From downtown, head north on either Nixon Gulch Road or Yadon Road to access the Gallatin River, a blue-ribbon trout fishery. It's an excellent place to cast a line and spend an afternoon. No worries if fishing's not your thing — rafting, horseback riding and hiking are popular activities in this area, too.

BIG SKY MORNING

Rise and shine and head 30 miles south to Big Sky, the renowned mountain resort town at the foot of 11,166-foot Lone Mountain. Get a good breakfast at Cafe 191 — "The Big Sky Breakfast Place" — before spending the morning outside: Golf, fishing, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, mountain biking and hiking (the 1.6-mile Ousel Falls hike is a popular one) are all readily accessible.

HEBGEN AND QUAKE LAKES

Grab lunch at Big Sky's Blue Moon Bakery — the menu features gourmet pizzas on homemade crust, salads and hot and cold sandwiches — then hit the road to Hebgen and Earthquake lakes. Hebgen Lake is a man-made lake created by an earth-fill dam; it's been called the premier stillwater fishing lake in Montana. The neighboring Earthquake Lake — or Quake Lake, as it's more locally known — formed in 1959, when a 7.3-magnitude earthquake caused a massive landslide that stopped the flow of the Madison River; a Forest Service-run visitor center provides visitors with interpretive services about the earthquake and the lake. The lakes are a great place to spend a relaxing afternoon. Along with fishing, stand-up paddleboarding and boating of all kinds are popular attractions here. Cap off your lake time with a happy hour beverage and snack at the appropriately named Happy Hour Bar on the shore of Hebgen Lake.