With its laidback vibe, wooden tub, and resident wildlife, you’ll feel your cares melt away at Norris Hot Springs before you even step into the soothing mineral waters. Pull yourself away from the pool just long enough for lunch at the on-site 50 Mile Café, whose menu features ingredients grown in the property’s geothermally heated greenhouses, and then spend the afternoon soaking. Most days the spring is open to the public, check hours on their website in advance or consider visiting on a private soak day for an even more relaxing experience. Catch the sunset over the Tobacco Root Mountains — locals know them as “the Roots” — then head just 10 minutes south to the little town of McAllister. Enjoy a dinner of bison short ribs or a burger featuring locally sourced beef at the top-rated McAllister Inn Steakhouse, after which you can settle into a cozy room at the namesake inn. You’ll also find overnight options in nearby Ennis, a good-time town full of Western character. Before you turn in for the night, be sure to look up into Montana’s dark sky — the cold, dry nights of winter make this the best time of year for stargazing. 

If you’re in Ennis, have breakfast at Sunrise Café, which serves up a full menu of breakfast favorites, or Sure Shot Coffee Co., where you can grab a pastry and coffee — the Americano is on point. Take a stroll to stretch your legs and see the majestic Madison Range that rises to the east, then hit the road to Butte. It’s about an hour’s drive, so you’ll have plenty of time for a snowshoe adventure at Big Butte Open Space Recreation Area or Thompson Park before lunchtime. When you’ve worked up an appetite, local hot spot Shawn O’Donnell’s American Grill and Irish Pub is a nod to Butte’s rich Irish history and delivers crave-worthy soda bread. Explore the historic town of Butte — much of which is preserved as part of the most extensive National Historic Landmark District in the United States. After taking in the sights and stories of Butte’s colorful past, cap off your journey through history with an early dinner trying a food traditionally favored by miners: an unfussy, savory hand-held pie called a pasty (pronounced PASS-tee). Joe’s Pasty Shop serves them up until 6 p.m. If you prefer a historic setting for your dinner, head to Casagranda’s Steakhouse for steak, seafood, pasta or sushi served in a tastefully updated turn-of-the-20th-century warehouse. After dinner, make your way to Anaconda, about a half-hour away. Overnight at the modern Forge Hotel, Sugar Loaf Lodge & Cabins (for an unplugged experience) or the boutique Copperhead Lodge.
 

Wake up in Anaconda and fuel up with a hearty breakfast at The Hangout Café. Then immerse yourself in an enchanting winter wonderland with an invigorating day of snowshoeing at Mount Haggin Nordic Ski Area, the Tenmile Lakes Trail or Lost Creek Falls Trail at Lost Creek State Park (in winter, you have to access the trail on foot from the park’s main gate). Back in town, grab a late lunch of stone oven-baked, hand-tossed pizza slices at Gallicano’s Pizzeria (cash only) or made-from-scratch fare (including mouthwatering desserts) at the Firefly Café and then explore Anaconda’s past through its four historic districts: the Anaconda Commercial Historic District; the Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railway Historic District; the Goosetown Historic District; and the Westside Historic District. Don’t miss a visit to Anaconda Stack State Park to see the old Anaconda Copper Company smelter stack, the town’s most prominent landmark and one of the tallest free-standing brick structures in the world. Warm up after your wanderings at Smelter City Brewing — located in the beautiful and historic Electric Light Building — and enjoy dinner at O’Bella! or Barclay II Supper Club. Spend a second restful night in Anaconda. 

Grab breakfast in Anaconda at the Coffee Corral or 406 Bistro — the doughnuts are not to be missed — before setting off for more relaxing hot springs soaking at Jackson Hot Springs or Elkhorn Hot Springs. Both offer great food and rustic lodging in rooms or cabins — many with their own fireplaces or wood stoves for ultimate coziness. If you’re up for some Nordic skiing, the Elkhorn Hot Springs Ski Trail features several loops following along the Pioneer Mountains National Scenic Byway. In true Montana fashion, warm up again after your ski excursion with a relaxing soak. Grab dinner on-site, or eat in nearby Dillon at Sparky’s Garage, and if you’re reluctant to bring your getaway to an end (we understand), spend the night in Dillon at the Best Western Paradise Inn or the historic and beautifully updated Andrus Hotel and extend your adventure another unforgettable day.