Explore Montana’s Largest Freshwater Spring At This Underrated State Park

There are 55 state parks in Montana, and they hold some of the greatest treasures on Earth. From hiking and fishing to swimming and camping, our state parks have so much to offer. And if you happen to be visiting Giant Springs State Park, you can see two major natural attractions: the largest freshwater spring in Montana and the world's shortest river. Plus, the park, an underrated Montana State Park gem, is just plain beautiful.

Giant Springs State Park is located in Great Falls, encompassing nearly 14 miles of Missouri River shoreline.

The area was recorded by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805 and was established as an official Montana State Park in 1972.

This is a place where you can bring your entire family to enjoy unique geologic features and recreational opportunities.

Between the hiking, biking, picnicking, photography, fishing, boating, and birdwatching, there's something for everyone here.

Of course, the main attraction is the Giant Springs, which is the largest freshwater spring in Montana — and one of the largest in the entire country.

This spring produces over 156 million gallons of water every day!

Some of the spring water is bottled for human consumption, while some is used for a local fish hatchery.

If you're here on a hot summer day, dipping your toes in the water feels fantastic.

The Roe River is another reason to love this park.

The Roe is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s shortest river.

Giant Springs State Park is a popular place for locals to visit, but it's still wildly underrated.

And while that's a shame, it just means you'll likely have a nice, peaceful experience when you visit.

The park is open year-round, and there's never a bad time to go.

Summers here are exceptionally gorgeous, but in the winter, you can see the foggy mist rise off the water.

When was the last time you saw the Giant Springs and Roe River in person?

Looking for another underrated state park in Montana to explore? We kind of love this one...