Things to Do in Hamilton, Montana
The best things to do in Hamilton, Montana, are touring the Daly Mansion, hiking to the Blodgett Canyon overlook and spending a summer day at Lake Como. Hamilton is a city of 4,659 people and the seat of Ravalli County, in the Bitterroot Valley on US 93.
Copper king Marcus Daly founded Hamilton in the late 1800s and named it for J.W. Hamilton, who gave the railroad its right-of-way. His mansion still stands on the Eastside Highway, and he also owned the Bitterroot Stock Farm near town.
Daly Mansion
Marcus Daly, one of Butte’s Copper Kings, made this his Bitterroot estate. The mansion has more than 50 rooms and sits on 26 acres of lawns with several outbuildings. It is state-owned and run by the Daly Mansion Preservation Trust with the University of Montana.
★ Good to know Tours run in the summer season, June through September; the grounds open daily in season, and reservations are welcome but not required.
Blodgett Canyon Overlook Trail
This is one of the valley’s best short hikes, starting about 5 miles west of town at the end of Blodgett Camp Road. The round trip is 2.9 miles with about 500 feet of climbing through pine forest and rock outcrops. At the top you look straight down Blodgett Canyon and out over the Bitterroot Valley to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.
★ Good to know The Forest Service lists May through October as the best season, and trailhead access depends on snow.
Lake Como Recreation Area
Lake Como is a 980-acre reservoir between Hamilton and Darby, and one of the busiest recreation areas in the region. It has a sandy swim beach, a boat launch, campgrounds and a 7.1-mile loop trail around the lake. Father Anthony Ravalli named it for the lake in his native Italy.
★ Good to know Vehicles need a recreation pass from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and water levels drop after late July because the lake feeds valley irrigation.
Ravalli County Museum
The museum fills the 1900 Ravalli County Courthouse at 205 Bedford St., listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Two floors of permanent and rotating exhibits cover Bitterroot Valley and Montana history, plus a gift shop with old fruit-crate labels. It has run in the courthouse since 1975.
★ Good to know Admission is free on Thursdays, and there are free hands-on kids’ activities on Saturday mornings.
Bitterroot River
The Bitterroot flows 84 miles north through the valley, right past Hamilton, to meet the Clark Fork near Missoula. It’s a blue-ribbon trout fishery with native westslope cutthroat and bull trout. It ranks as the third most fly-fished river in Montana.
★ Good to know If you’d rather walk than fish, Hamilton’s River Park and Skalkaho Bend trails are in town.
Hamilton Farmers Market
This cooperative market sets up every Saturday from May to October, rain or shine, on Bedford Street between 2nd and 3rd streets. Vendors come from across Ravalli County, from Florence to Sula, with produce, meat, flowers and crafts.
★ Good to know It’s steps from the Ravalli County Museum, so pair the two on a Saturday morning.
Bitter Root Brewing
Open since 1998, this family-run brewery at 101 Marcus St. is one of the oldest in Montana. The kitchen cooks mostly from scratch with local ingredients. It’s an easy stop after a day on the river or the trail.
★ Good to know Hours vary by day, and the kitchen keeps shorter hours midweek, so check before you go.
Also in town
Hamilton also has the 700-seat Hamilton Performing Arts Center, home of the Bitterroot Performing Arts Series; the Bitterroot Public Library, one of Montana’s 17 Carnegie libraries; and the Circle 13 skatepark at Claudia Driscoll Park.
Can you tour the Daly Mansion in Hamilton?
Yes. Guided and self-guided tours run during the summer season, June through September, and the grounds are open daily in season. The mansion is state-owned and ADA-compliant.
Where is the best short hike near Hamilton, Montana?
The Blodgett Canyon Overlook Trail is a 2.9-mile round trip with about 500 feet of climbing. It starts about 5 miles west of town and looks down Blodgett Canyon toward the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.
Can you swim at Lake Como near Hamilton?
Yes. Lake Como has a sandy swim beach with picnic tables, changing rooms and restrooms. A recreation pass is required for vehicles from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
What other Bitterroot Valley towns are worth a stop?
Stevensville, the oldest town in the Bitterroot, is north of Hamilton on US 93. For more ideas, see our small towns in Montana.
Where to find them
- Daly Mansion 251 Eastside Hwy, Hamilton, MT 59840 Website Directions
- Blodgett Canyon Overlook Trail Blodgett Camp Rd, west of Hamilton, MT Website Directions
- Lake Como Recreation Area between Hamilton and Darby, MT Website Directions
- Ravalli County Museum 205 Bedford St., Hamilton, MT 59840 Website Directions
- Hamilton Farmers Market Bedford St. between 2nd and 3rd, Hamilton, MT 59840 Website Directions
- Bitter Root Brewing 101 Marcus St., Hamilton, MT 59840 Website Directions
Plan your trip: for events and current visitor info in Hamilton, see Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce →
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