Cut Bank
One of Montana’s most popular roadside attractions, Cut Bank’s 27-foot-tall penguin proudly welcomes visitors to “The Coldest Spot in the Nation.” This is in reference to February 1, 1989, when the wind chill plummeted to 64 degrees below zero. The Glacier County Museum preserves and educates visitors about the area’s people and history.
Shelby
Atop the hill, near the juncture of U.S. Highway 2 and Interstate 15, sits the Montana Veteran’s Memorial Flag and Park. A large American flag waves proudly to travelers on the road and the Amtrak rail with fact boards and plaques and the beautiful views of the valley.
Carousel Rest Area
Located just off of U.S. Highway 2, the Carousel Rest Area features a 1936 New York carousel with 600 lights, music, and over twenty animals to ride. It rests at the former site of the 1923 World Heavyweight Boxing match between Jack Dempsey and Tommy Gibbons.
Conrad
From theatrical performances to concerts to films, the Orpheum Theatre built in 1917, has endeared itself to Pondera County and endured as a historic venue for contemporary arts. The Conrad Transportation & Historical Museum will transport you back in time from foot trails to steamboats to railroads to cars. Other exhibits include a homestead shack and one of the most complete drug store collections in the northwest.
Valier
Lake Frances provides fishermen good opportunities for catching northern pike, perch, and walleye. This reservoir is relatively small (3,616 acres) but its shoreline campground sports all the basic amenities, including electrical hookups and bathroom facilities.
Rock City
Rock City is an otherworldly sight—a series of rock formations carved by centuries of wind and water erosion. These bizarre sandstone formations are generally tall with bulbous or plateau-like tops. It is located approximately five miles north of Valier.