Geography of Montana

Montana's geography divides cleanly into two very different landscapes: the Rocky Mountains in the west and the Great Plains in the east. The Continental Divide runs roughly along the crest of the Rockies, separating water that flows to the Pacific from water that flows to the Gulf of Mexico.

The Rocky Mountains (Western Montana) contain some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in North America. The Beartooth Range, Bitterroot Range, Mission Mountains, Flathead Range, and Glacier National Park's Lewis Range all rise above 9,000-10,000 feet. Many peaks exceed 12,000 feet. The Flathead Valley — centered on Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River — is one of Montana's most beautiful and productive agricultural regions.

Glacier National Park in the northwestern corner preserves one of the most spectacular mountain environments in the world. Going-to-the-Sun Road crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (6,646 feet) — one of the most scenic mountain roads in North America. The park's namesake glaciers have retreated dramatically — from 150 glaciers in 1850 to roughly 26 remaining today, with projections that they may disappear entirely by 2030.

The Continental Divide Trail passes through Montana's mountains, running from Glacier National Park (where it meets the Canadian border) south through the Bob Marshall Wilderness and eventually to New Mexico.

The Great Plains (Eastern Montana) — about two-thirds of the state — is open, rolling grassland interrupted by the dramatic erosion features of the Missouri Breaks, the Badlands near Makoshika State Park, and the Pryor Mountains. The Missouri, Yellowstone, Marias, Musselshell, and Milk Rivers drain the plains.

Yellowstone River originates in Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park, flows north into Montana, and eventually joins the Missouri near the North Dakota border — a journey of 692 miles, making it the longest free-flowing river in the contiguous US (it has no dams along its mainstem).

Highest Point: Granite Peak, 12,807 feet, in the Beartooth Range. One of the more technically challenging state high points to reach.