outdoor life in Montana

Outdoor Life

Recreational Activities

Butte, Montana is located in an outdoor recreationist's paradise. With Interstates 90 and 15 intersecting in Butte, world-class recreation is at your fingertips in every direction.

Montana Tech has an extensive inventory of outdoor gear available for students, faculty and staff to use free of charge. Learn more about the Outdoor Gear Rental program »

Be sure to connect with our outdoors community on social media using the hashtag #ButtesBackyard.

6 mountain ranges surrounding campus
2 national parks used as outdoor classrooms
5 nearby rivers for weekend adventures
fisherman in a raft on the Big Hole River with full moon

Fishing the Big Hole River near Melrose, Montana...just 30 minutes from campus.

woman mountain biking with autumn aspen

Autumn mountain biking in Thompson Park.

skiers approaching mountain

Ski touring in Southwest Montana.

hiking trail sign near Maud S Trail

Extensive publicly accessed trail systems exist all around Butte, including large sections of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT).

woman backpacking with dog in meadow

Backpacking in the Pintler-Anaconda Wilderness.

man fishing in a high mountain lake with dog

Fishing in the Pintler-Anaconda Wilderness.

snow-capped mountains with valley and pond

The Jefferson Valley and Tobacco Root Mountains southeast of Butte.

snow-capped Pintler-Anaconda Mountains with dramatic morning sky

The Pintler-Anaconda Range seen from the Montana Tech campus.