Montana’s Newest National Park Site Is An Underrated Alternative To Glacier

Montana’s epic Glacier Nationwide Park boasts the formidable nickname of the “Crown of the Continent” — with good motive. This beautiful show of mountains, glacial lakes, and immense forests ranks among the many most lovely areas in North America. Unsurprisingly, Glacier can also be one of the standard locations within the Nationwide Park System, with over 3 million guests in 2024 alone. Recent changes to Glacier’s vehicle reservation system have resulted in an additional surge in visitors. All that is to say that Glacier, lovely as it’s, could not be the most effective place to keep away from crowds.

So whereas Glacier visitors are contending with the park’s curious bears or building houses in the middle of the park without authorization, you’ll be able to skip the national park crowds at one of Montana’s many superb state parks instead. And Montana’s state park system is getting even larger. Although it is solely incomes its “state park” standing now, the extraordinary Judith Landing State Park is already a worthy different to the ever-popular Glacier.

Judith Touchdown State Park protects one of the scenic confluences of river programs in the USA, backed by a beautiful (and underrated) mountain vary. And regardless of its relative youth as an official state park, Judith Touchdown is likely one of the extra storied and historic spots in Montana. As such, Judith Touchdown State Park is the right vacation spot to expertise the lesser-known sides of Montana’s rugged magnificence, all whereas having fun with some top-notch outside adventures.

Montana’s Latest State Park Is Already Making A Splash

Judith River Formation, Higher Missouri Breaks Nationwide Monument in Lewistown, MT

Montana’s massive measurement and grandiose panorama afford it loads of state parks that rival, and even exceed, sure nationwide parks when it comes to surroundings. Montana’s state park splendor even extends underground at the serene hidden gem of Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park. Judith Touchdown State Park is the most recent worthy entrant into Montana’s wealthy state park assortment.

Established in 2025, Judith Landing is a scenic 100+ acre preserve that includes lovely riverlands and prairies in Central Montana. Although the “state park” standing is new, this specific space has truly been preserved in a single kind or one other for fairly some time. The 100 or so acres that now comprise the state park are half of a bigger (and older) historic protect known as the Judith Landing Historic District.

With the phrase “historic” proper there within the title, you’ll be able to in all probability guess that each the previous Judith Touchdown Historic District and the brand new Judith Touchdown State Park have a great deal of historic significance. The state park itself has six historic buildings relationship again to the Nineteenth and early twentieth Centuries, together with a historic Montana ranch, a schoolhouse, and a Nineteenth-century submit workplace. Nevertheless, the land itself has even larger historic claims to fame: the park’s confluence of rivers was a major thoroughfare for the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805!

As Judith Touchdown State Park was solely not too long ago established, it doesn’t but have vital infrastructural growth or facilities. As such, guests ought to come ready for a extra primitive, backcountry outside expertise.

Judith Touchdown Has Epic Montana Views That Rival Glacier Nationwide Park

Judith Touchdown Historic District, close to the newly proposed Judith Touchdown State Park, Montana’s 56th State Park

Judith Touchdown State Park guarantees to let guests expertise genuine items of Montana historical past firsthand. However the park wouldn’t be a worthy different to Glacier Nationwide Park with out spectacular pure magnificence. Not solely is Judith Touchdown State Park fairly lovely, however its pure sources spotlight one among Montana’s most missed geographic areas.

Judith Touchdown refers back to the confluence of the Missouri River with its tributary, the Judith River. Whereas the junction of those two rivers is instantly surrounded by flat riverbeds, the park’s horizon sports activities the picturesque peaks of the Judith Mountains.

The Judith Mountains do not fairly attain the dramatic heights of Montana’s Rocky Mountains additional west. Nevertheless, this quietly magnificent vary of rolling, inexperienced summits creates the right backdrop to the ravishing prairie wilds and river deltas in and round Judith Touchdown. All in all, Judith Touchdown’s wild river programs, expansive prairies, and dream-like mountain peaks create a really extravagant snapshot of Montana’s rugged character, virtually as if guests have been transported again to the times when Lewis and Clark first landed right here!

Capital

Helena

Inhabitants

1.104 Million (2021)

Based Date

November 8, 1889

Expertise Some Of Montana’s Underrated Out of doors Excursions

Judith Touchdown Historic District, website of recent Judith Touchdown State Park, Montana

Judith Touchdown State Park is a perfect vacation spot to discover dwelling historic websites or gawk on the majestic, but underrated, vistas of Central Montana. Nevertheless, regardless of having solely been established in 2025, Judith Touchdown State Park is already a high spot for outside recreation as properly. Whereas the park’s infrastructure remains to be in growth, Judith Touchdown gives memorable sightseeing alternatives, backcountry mountain climbing challenges, and wonderful actions on the water.

A lot of Judith Touchdown’s leisure facilities come because of its proximity to the Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic River. Judith Touchdown, the purpose the place the Missouri and Judith Rivers converge, is one among three principal entry factors for the Higher Missouri, with among the nation’s finest wild paddling adventures awaiting past the confluence level.

Kayakers at Judith Touchdown, Montana

As a significant launching level for the for much longer wild and scenic river protect, Judith Landing has also been a major camping spot lengthy earlier than it was a state park. Consistent with the area’s wild and historic character, the Judith Landing Campground at the moment doesn’t have a lot in the way in which of recent facilities, like electrical hookups or working water. Nevertheless, the campground’s massive grassy fields can accommodate loads of tents, and even RVs as much as 40 toes lengthy. Every campsite additionally comes with a fireplace ring and a picnic desk.

Be aware that the campground is barely open between May 15 and October 15, through the river’s busy season. Nevertheless, even in case you’re not eager on making an attempt a protracted and difficult water course on the Higher Missouri, the current institution of Judith Touchdown State Park creates the right alternative to discover Montana’s prolonged historical past and unsung magnificence, distant from the tiresome crowds of nationwide parks like Glacier!