I Love Montana—But These 5 Places Are a Hard ‘No’ for Me

Often underrated, Montana is known for its stunning natural beauty. However, it is also an unusual state in that this fame hasn’t led to a significant tourism boom. This is starting to slowly change, as recent features (beautifully, I may add) in multiple new TV shows and movies have gained fervent fans ("Yellowstone" fans unite!). As a result, it’s important for visitors to know where to go, but it’s actually just as, if not more, important to know where not to go. The following are five overhyped places in Montana that I believe look better online than in real life.

1. The 50,000 Silver Dollar Bar

• Location: Haugan
• Known for: More than 50,000 silver dollars are embedded in the walls and top of the bar 

Why It’s Overhyped: Bordering a major freeway, the Silver Dollar Bar seems to have started out with a cool gimmick, then developed into a restaurant with a gift shop, and now seems to be a confusing mix. Mediocre food, drinks that just can't seem to find the right balance, gifts from Montana you could get anywhere else—there’s just not much to this place.

2. The Berkeley Pit

• Location: Butte
• Known for: A former mine that is now a toxic lake

Why It’s Overhyped: There’s always somewhat of a distasteful feeling surrounding the tourism draw that disaster areas can bring. This spot has quite a history—and not always a great history at that. It is one of the few places in the world where you can pay to view toxic waste.

3. West Yellowstone (the town)

• Location: Gallatin County
• Known for: The gateway to Yellowstone National Park

Why It’s Overhyped: Yellowstone is one of the most popular national parks in the U.S., and its popularity has only grown. Some would say that the park itself is overhyped due to mass tourism, but overall, the park still boasts incredible sights and is large enough for everyone. The town of West Yellowstone, however, is another story. This is a small town that seems to be almost entirely composed of overpriced gift shops and inauthentic restaurants galore.

4. The Anaconda Smelter Stack

• Location: Anaconda
• Known for: One of the tallest free-standing brick structures in the world

Why It’s Overhyped: Another site of toxicity in Montana, the smelter stack does technically have worldwide fame for its architecture, but it’s not really something that too many people care about (especially since you can’t get that close to the stack due to the toxicity). The Anaconda Smoke Stack State Park itself is not highly thought of, with underdeveloped amenities and few things to do and see.

5. The Great Falls (the waterfalls)

• Location: Great Falls
• Known for: Five waterfalls, being a noted spot along the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Why It’s Overhyped: Well, first of all, it’s clear that when people visit a place named Great Falls, they’re expecting something akin to a Niagara Falls or even a Multnomah Falls—something grand and imposing. But these waterfalls are more of a series of small waterfalls with rapids in between, and now with a large dam imposed over them. The waterfalls by themselves would be pretty, but in my opinion, the dam ruins the experience.  

Do you agree with all of the spots I've listed above? What overhyped Montana spots would you add? Let me know by filling out this nomination form. I'd love to hear your suggestions.

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