75 Years of Cowboy Mardi Gras

Miles City, known as “The Cowboy Capital” of Montana, hosts the historic World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale annually, the third weekend of May. Part rodeo, part “Cowboy Mardi Gras,” and part actual bucking horse sale, this event features a trade show, horse racing and more. May 14-17, 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of the sale that put the small town of Miles City on the map with a western experience like no other.

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A Destination-Worthy State Park

The largest of Montana’s state parks, Makoshika encompasses 11,538 acres at an elevation of 2,415 feet and offers some of the darkest skies around to view the cosmos by night, as well as miles of scenic drives and nature trails to enjoy by day. Test your mettle hiking over the natural bridge on Cap Rock Trail, or stop by the visitor center to learn more about this land that takes its name from a Lakota phrase meaning “bad spirits.”

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Finding Fossils on the Frontier

With three stops along the Montana Dinosaur Trail, Southeast Montana is a must-see for any dinosaur enthusiast. More T. rex skeletons have been found in Montana than anywhere else. Excavations around the region continue annually. Some digs are even open to the public!

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Is Bighorn Canyon the West’s Grandest Hidden Gorge?

Composed of 70,000+ acres and straddling the northern Wyoming and southern Montana borders, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area offers what few national park areas can — solitude, serenity and stunning views of 1,000-foot-high canyon walls from Bighorn Lake.

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Battle of the Little Bighorn, 150 Years Later

The 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn coincides with the upcoming re-opening of the Little Bighorn National Monument visitor center in 2026, making now the perfect time for history lovers to see the site that’s also known as “Custer’s Last Stand.”

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You’ve Never Seen Stars like This

With 11 locations along Montana’s Trail to the Stars, stargazing in Southeast Montana exists on another level. Medicine Rocks State Park — officially an International Dark Sky Sanctuary — is home to some of the darkest skies in the world, with plenty of places to camp and fully experience the big, night sky.