Essential Montana: Yellowstone and Glacier National Park

Jackson Hole is a broad Wyoming valley framed by the jagged peaks of Grand Teton National Park, the southern gateway to Yellowstone and a kingdom of outdoor activities. The lively town of Jackson welcomes visitors with its famous arches made of elk antlers, art galleries, saloons and western boutiques. Don't miss a visit to the National Elk Refuge, a winter sanctuary for around 8,000 elk, and the adjacent National Museum of Wildlife Art. Along the Snake River, rafting and canoe trips run through grand landscapes, while the National Elk Refuge shelters thousands of elk in winter, viewable from horse-drawn sleighs. To the north lies Yellowstone, the world's first national park, with its steaming geysers, iridescent hot springs and extraordinary wildlife of bison, bears and wolves. An ideal destination for those seeking wild nature, hiking and skiing.

The landscape between Jackson Hole and Yellowstone is marked by the magnificent Teton mountains, rising sheer from the flat, large prairie, amidst lakes, waterfalls and forests where moose and bison roam free. The tallest peak of the range is Grand Teton, with a height of more than 4,000 m. Established in 1872 as the world's first national park, Yellowstone spreads across a volcanic plateau between Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, holding one of the most extraordinary concentrations of geothermal phenomena on the planet. Here the famous Old Faithful geyser erupts at regular intervals, while the Grand Prismatic Spring dazzles with its rings of shifting colours and the limestone terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs form surreal landscapes. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, carved by the river of the same name, plunges into spectacular waterfalls between golden walls. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park is also a wildlife sanctuary where bison, elk, grizzly bears and wolf packs can be spotted, especially in the Lamar Valley. Among forests, alpine lakes and meadows, Yellowstone offers hikes, wildlife safaris and the thrill of a primordial, powerful nature, a symbol of the American wilderness.

Livingston is a historic town in southern Montana, set along the Yellowstone River and the original northern gateway to the namesake park before the development of Gardiner. A frontier railroad crossroads, it preserves a picturesque historic centre with period buildings, art galleries and restaurants, frequented over time by writers and artists drawn by the beauty of Paradise Valley. Fly fishing along the Yellowstone is legendary. Wind-swept and framed by mountains, between railroad heritage, art and nature, Livingston is an authentic Montana gem. Bozeman lies in the Gallatin Valley, framed by the peaks of the Bridger and Gallatin Ranges, and has established itself as one of Montana's most vibrant towns, the northern gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Its historic centre, arranged around Main Street with its nineteenth-century façades, is home to galleries, microbreweries and restaurants that capture the city's increasingly young and creative spirit, fuelled by the presence of Montana State University. A must-see is the Museum of the Rockies, renowned for its remarkable collection of dinosaur fossils, including Tyrannosaurus rex remains unearthed from Montana's badlands. All around, nature takes centre stage: in winter, ski enthusiasts head for the slopes of Big Sky and Bridger Bowl, while in the warmer months the Gallatin Valley opens up to hiking, fly-fishing along its rivers and horseback excursions. From Bozeman it is easy to set off in search of Yellowstone, with its geysers, hot springs and wildlife, on a day's journey across endless prairies and mountains.

Glacier National Park, in northern Montana on the Canadian border, is one of the most spectacular parks of the Rocky Mountains, nicknamed the 'Crown of the Continent'. Two thousand lakes, rivers, forests, majestic mountains, here is Glacier National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a paradise also for wild animals, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, brown bears and grizzly bears, wolves and cougars. The name does not derive so much from the existing glaciers, few, small and retreating, but from the enormous expanse of ice that created its valleys during the last ice age, about 20,000 years ago. The legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road crosses the heart of the park with breathtaking views over Logan Pass. Hundreds of kilometres of trails make it a hiker's paradise. Pristine and grand wilderness, Glacier is nature in its purest state.

Whitefish is a picturesque town in northwestern Montana, gateway to the spectacular Glacier National Park and set on its namesake lake. A renowned ski resort thanks to the Whitefish Mountain Resort, in summer it becomes a paradise for hiking, kayaking and mountain biking. Its historic centre, with the chalet-style railway station, retains an authentic, welcoming atmosphere. Between majestic mountains, crystalline lakes and endless forests, Whitefish is one of the most beloved bases for exploring the northern Rocky Mountains.

you continue along Flathead Lake, in the heart of an Indian reservation. Missoula rises in western Montana, at the confluence of five valleys and three rivers, a lively university town home to the University of Montana, nicknamed the 'Garden City of Montana'. Surrounded by mountains and forests, it is a paradise for fly fishing, rafting, hiking and cycling. Its centre alternates craft breweries, galleries, farmers' markets and a vibrant cultural scene. The 'M' on the hill of Mount Sentinel offers views over the valley. Between outdoor nature, youthful energy and an independent spirit, Missoula is one of Montana's most beloved and lively cities.