Side Quest: Great Falls, MT
An overnight excursion provided ample opportunity to discover why locals tilt their heads at my curiosity into exploring the town of Great Falls. Now, I share my findings with you.
The National Park Service’s photo of Rainbow Falls along the Missouri River. The Lewis and Clark expedition was forced to portage 18 miles along the Missouri through what is present day Great Falls, Montana due to this and four other waterfalls along this section of the river.
When asked if I would like to ride along to Great Falls, I didn’t hesitate. I am the best co-pilot after all. What I planned to do, wanted to see, didn’t get the chance to experience—all of the details—are yours for perusal. Then, you get to decide whether Great Falls is a town you would consider exploring too.
What I planned to test out:
Downtown shops & restaurants + murals & artwork
Walk along the River’s Edge Trail from Black Eagle Falls to Rainbow Falls
Upon arrival we parked along Central Ave in the heart of downtown Great Falls and hopped into Electric City Coffee for a pick-me-up while devising a plan. I especially enjoyed the prickly pear matcha and wish I could have indulged in one of the multitude of treats displayed at the counter.
We decided to simply walk the avenue and enter any stores that piqued our interest rather than fully fleshing out an itinerary and headed west to begin the loop of the main strip. Art galleries, Dragonfly Dry Goods, Hoglund’s Work & Western Wear, and a scattering of other intriguing stores claimed our time and observations. This included brisque walking against the cold wind in between each stop.
Dinner at the Celtic Cowboy proved to be an interesting affair; the music discordant to the aesthetic and ambiance. The food decent though. We could tell it trends towards livelier on event nights and summer days. We curled up in the hotel to stay warm afterwards. Certainly live entertainment is nonexistent on a Monday evening.
Versus what transpired:
Sprite’s picture of the famous Rainbow Falls of the Missouri River. This spot can be found in the furthest northeast corner of Great Falls, MT. The best season to actually experience the falls is early summer when snow melt off is highest rather than a cold, snowy early day in May such as we experienced.
The following morning, we leisurely prepared for our day and enjoyed the hotel provided breakfast and coffee before attempting sightseeing activities. Driving along the river’s edge out towards Rainbow Falls is beautiful. I can only imagine how much more stunning the view is when able to stroll the Rivers Edge Trail during the summer. Unfortunately, the Black Eagle Falls dam is under construction and not much to view so we continued on to the Rainbow Falls overlook.
The photo above sums up the entire experience. A dried-up riverbed under stormy winteresque skies. No stunning, jaw-dropping views of a powerful waterfall for us. The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center was closed. Most shops along Central Ave not open until much later or not at all (there’s so much potential there, y’all!). Nothing else to do or see on a snowy Tuesday in Mud season so we headed home as the snow began to fly.
One experience we purposefully avoided was visiting the live mermaid lounge, the Sip ‘N Dip. I’m not sure how we feel about it but we weren’t brave enough to stop in for a peek at the entertainment. Instead, we stared at the building while passing by and wondered how lounges like this are created.
Would I suggest a visit? Yes, surprisingly I still would. There is a lot for the outdoor enthusiast. And I hold high hopes for summer in the downtown corridor with all their murals, artwork, and adorable shops. Plan your visit for a season that invigorates life rather than causing you to hibernate, that’s all. Also, know ahead of thime that strip malls define the town of Great Falls.
Despite not getting to walkabout and truly enjoy the town and all it offers, I relished another opportunity to lowkey explore with TAJ. We laughed together through the misses and failed attempts of being tourists and for that I’m deeply grateful.