Discover Columbus: Rivers, Parks and History

Columbus, Montana, sits at the confluence of the Stillwater River and the Yellowstone River. The city serves as a gateway to the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains and Yellowstone National Park. Here, river activities, parks and glimpses into the history of Stillwater County offer a range of ways to shape your stay.

Rivers, Trails and Sports

Itch-Kep-Pe Park is on the banks of the Yellowstone River and has 30 tent and RV campsites. Jim Yeager Outfitters offers guided rafting trips on the Stillwater River and the Yellowstone River. Based in Columbus, Montana, in the scenic Stillwater Valley, the company also offers fly-fishing lessons.

The trail network also provides a direct link between two parks: it includes a route from Granite Peak Park to Itch-Kep-Pe Park along Highway 78. This connection is part of a trail expansion completed in 2022. Another sporting option is the Stillwater Golf Course in Columbus, a nine-hole course. Lessons and training sessions with PGA professionals are available there.

Parks and Seasonal Conditions

Heritage Park has tennis courts. Beartooth Park offers a place to go sledding in winter. According to the city, Columbus City Pool was closed for the season on September 6, 2026, due to a significant leak. Check its current status again before visiting.

Museum and the History of Stillwater County

The Museum of the Beartooths reflects the local history of Stillwater County. Its main building was newly constructed as a museum in 1993; the history it presents reaches back to the 1870s. The collections reflect the diverse, multicultural mix of miners, frontier residents, ranchers, settlers and Indigenous cultures that made their home in Stillwater County. Admission is free for all visitors.

Among the objects on display is a Northern Pacific caboose from the 1960s. The Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Railroad Company donated the car. Alongside the county’s broad history, the museum also offers specific connections to railroad history.

Historic Buildings and Places in the City

The Atlas Block is an early 20th-century stone commercial building in Columbus. It is a remarkably well-preserved example of commercial stone construction using locally quarried sandstone from Columbus Quarry northeast of the city. Since 1916, the Atlas Block has continuously provided the people of Stillwater County with goods and entertainment.

Pike Avenue Park is also known as Railroad Park and includes a memorial wall for veterans. Every Christmas, volunteers decorate the park; in the central business district, it serves as the main Christmas display. The park’s defining features thus include both a permanent memorial and a recurring seasonal tradition.

Visitor Information On Site

The Stillwater County Chamber of Commerce serves as a visitor information center in Columbus. It is located right by the I-90 Columbus exit, Exit 408, in Apple Village Plaza.

For a broader travel overview: Stillwater County.