Great Falls
Around Great Falls
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Metro area · Montana · 84k people
Great Falls
Locals say the Golden Triangle · “Electric City”
Where the prairie meets the river
Voyagers redGolden Triangle gold
Welcome to Great Falls, where the Missouri River cuts through the prairie and the mountains are always on the horizon. Whether you're here for the fishing, the history, or just passing through, you'll find a friendly community that loves the outdoors. Settle in, grab a huckleberry treat, and enjoy the wide-open spaces.
Clubs for Great Falls
No clubs for Great Falls yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Great Falls. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Great Falls. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Giant Springs State Park One of the largest freshwater springs in the country, feeding the Missouri River.
- C.M. Russell Museum Houses the largest collection of Charles M. Russell's art and personal artifacts.
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center Overlooks the Missouri River and tells the story of the expedition.
- Great Falls of the Missouri River Series of waterfalls that gave the city its name, now a portage trail.
- Gibson Park Popular urban park with gardens, ponds, and walking paths.
- Fort Benton 'Birthplace of Montana' - a restored fur trade and military post on the Missouri.
- Outdoors Walk or bike the River's Edge Trail along the Missouri.
- Outdoors Fish for trout on the Missouri River below the falls.
- With kids Explore the Children's Museum of Montana.
- With kids Spend an afternoon at Gibson Park playground and pond.
- Evenings Catch live music at the Celtic Cowboy pub.
- Evenings Enjoy craft beer at a local brewery like the Mighty Mo Brewing Co.
- Locals love Riverfront parks
- Locals love Rodeo arenas
Through the year
- Montana State Fair July The state's largest fair, with rodeos, concerts, and exhibits.
- Western Art Week March A gathering of Western artists, with auctions and exhibitions.
- Lewis and Clark Festival June Celebrates the expedition with reenactments and river events.
- Great Falls Voyagers home games Summer Minor league baseball in a family-friendly stadium.
- Great Falls Farmers Market June-September Weekly market with local produce and crafts.
Semi-arid continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. Expect strong chinook winds in winter and spring. Best: Late spring through early fall, especially June and September.
Talk like a local
- “The Falls”
- Local shorthand for Great Falls.
- “The Golden Triangle”
- The wheat-growing region around Great Falls.
- “The Hi-Line”
- The northern tier of Montana, including towns like Shelby and Conrad.
- “Freezeout”
- Refers to Freezeout Lake, known for snow geese migrations.
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Great Falls Voyagers Pioneer League
Eat and drink
- Bison burger Local ranch beef and bison are staples
- Huckleberry pie Montana's signature berry
- Montana-style steak Hearty, grilled beef from the region's ranches
Where people go
- Riverfront parks Missouri River trails and falls overlooks
- Rodeo arenas Rodeo culture is strong
- Grain elevators Iconic prairie landmarks
- Historic forts Fort Benton and other frontier sites
Heritage and traditions
Great Falls is proud of its frontier heritage, from Lewis and Clark's portage to C.M. Russell's art, and its role as a military and agricultural hub.
Say it like a local: “The Chinook is howling” — The wind is really strong
Festivals
- Western Art Week March March; art shows and auctions
- Lewis and Clark Festival June June; reenactments and portage hikes
- Montana State Fair July July; rodeo, carnival, exhibits
- Great Falls Farmers Market Summer Summer; local produce and crafts
- Big Sky Blues Festival August August; regional blues bands
- Fort Benton Fur Trade Days July July; history and river activities
Landmarks with a story
- Fort Benton Oldest town in Montana, fur trade
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center Portage route and expedition
- C.M. Russell Museum Western art and artifacts
- St. Ann's Cathedral Historic Catholic cathedral
- Great Falls Portage Lewis and Clark's hardest trek
- Malmstrom Air Force Base Cold War missile silos
Food traditions
- Bison burger Ranch-raised, local favorite
- Huckleberry pie Wild berries from the mountains
- Montana-style steak Grilled over open flame, often with huckleberry sauce
- Chokecherry jam Prairie fruit, tart and sweet
- Pasties from mining heritage Cornish meat pies, but also local
Music and arts
- Western art C.M. Russell's legacy
- Country and folk music Local bars and festivals
A little history
- 1805 Lewis and Clark expedition portaged the Great Falls
- 1846 Fort Benton founded as fur trading post
- 1884 Great Falls founded as a city
- 1942 Malmstrom AFB established
- 1896 C.M. Russell arrived in Great Falls
Rivalries
- Great Falls High vs. C.M. Russell High Crosstown football and basketball games are intense.
- Montana State Bobcats vs. University of Montana Grizzlies Statewide college rivalry that locals follow.
- Game day Great Falls Voyagers baseball
- Game day High school rodeo
- Outdoors Walk or bike the River's Edge Trail
- Outdoors Fish for trout below the falls
- With kids Feed the ducks at Gibson Park
- With kids Ride the carousel at the mall
Flat, Western accent with a drawl; locals say 'crick' for creek and 'moun-AN-a' for Montana. Wind and weather dominate small talk.
Only here
- The Great Falls of the Missouri, a 5-foot waterfall that Lewis and Clark had to portage.
- The world's largest freshwater spring, Giant Springs, at 156 million gallons a day.
- Malmstrom AFB has 150 Minuteman III nuclear missiles in silos nearby.
- The C.M. Russell Museum houses the largest collection of his work.
New here? A few tips
- Expect wind—Great Falls is one of the windiest cities in the US.
- Learn to pronounce 'Malmstrom' as 'MALM-strom'.
- Try a bison burger and huckleberry pie early.
- Drive carefully in winter; ice and snow are common.
- Join the River's Edge Trail for the best views.
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Nearby
Every areaHelenaMontanaWhere the Rockies meet the MissouriCut Bank–ConradMontanaWhere the prairie meets the peaksCentral MontanaMontanaWide skies, open range, and a community that feels like home.HavreMontanaBig skies, small towns, and the warmth of the Hi-Line.ButteMontanaWhere the mountains are steep and the pasties are hotAnaconda–Deer LodgeMontanaWhere copper history meets sapphire skiesBozemanMontanaBig skies, bigger mountains.MissoulaMontanaRiver, mountains, and a whole lot of huckleberry.
Great Falls, MT. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.