In Great Falls, the riverfront, regional history and art offer clearly distinct activities. The River's Edge Trail connects local parks and attractions, museums explore subjects including art and regional heritage, and just outside the city, Giant Springs State Park offers a wide range of outdoor activities. By tailoring your stay to your interests, you can choose between exercise along the river, museum visits and recreation at the state park.
The River's Edge Trail along the riverfront
The River's Edge Trail is suitable for cycling, jogging, inline skating, running and walking. It connects local parks and attractions along both sides of Great Falls' scenic and historic riverfront. A section of the trail runs through the grounds of the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. This creates a direct connection between the trail and this cultural site, which you can keep in mind as you plan activities along the riverfront and museum visits.
Museums: Art and Regional History
The C.M. Russell Museum's collection is one of the largest in the country. It includes paintings, sculptures, drawings and illustrated letters spanning Russell's childhood to the end of his life. A 2026 museum publication describes Russell's fully restored home and studio as part of the museum complex and as a National Historic Landmark. A permanent exhibition broadens the perspective on the Northern Plains: it explores the central role of the bison in the region's cultural life from 1800 to the present day.
The History Museum preserves the heritage of North Central Montana and is housed in the historic International Harvester Co & Implement Dealership on Machinery Row. While the C.M. Russell Museum displays a collection of Russell's works, this museum focuses on regional heritage. The museum offers free guided tours for all ages. Check tour times before your visit.
At the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, the education department offers art classes and workshops for all ages in a range of media. This means the art scene encompasses not only collections and exhibitions, but also classes and workshops. If you include art in your travel plans, you can choose between viewing works and taking part in an educational offering across different media.
Activities outside the city
Just outside Great Falls, Giant Springs State Park offers opportunities for hiking, cycling, picnicking, photography, fishing, hunting, boating and birdwatching. Unlike the River's Edge Trail, whose activities focus on different ways to get moving, the park also offers picnicking, nature watching and activities on the water.
Giant Springs
Giant Springs, one of the county's largest freshwater springs, is also located near Great Falls. The spring produces more than 156 million gallons of water each day.
Discover more destinations: Monarch, Vaughn
Return to the main travel overview: Cascade.
