Montana is having a moment. (Well, even more so than usual, anyway). Travelers are craving the wide-open skies, friendly people, and that cowboy spirit. And you’re one of those lucky few who get to experience the beauty of Montana, first hand!
Now, you certainly don’t go to Montana to shop. But you still deserve a few Montana souvenirs to remind you of your trip, or to bring back to your (very lucky) friends and family. Sure, you could go the whole postcard or t-shirt route, but you can also find many uniquely Montana gifts.
From huckleberry jam to huckleberry lotion to huckleberry hardwood (you get it—Montana is THE place for huckleberry), from pottery to art, from a famous Montana spice to famous Montana gemstones, there is actually a lot of great shopping in the Last Best Place.
Here are 20 of the best Montana gifts and souvenirs to bring home!
Table of Contents
1. Huckleberry foodstuffs
I told ya—this is the place for huckleberries! You’ll be able to sample things like huckleberry cobbler or huckleberry ice cream wherever you are in the state, but those things (unfortunately) don’t travel so well.
Luckily, just about anything you can eat has a huckleberry version sold in Montana. With various huckleberry candies to jam to syrup to baking mixes, you’ll be able to indulge all of your huckleberry desires.
2. Huckleberry skin care products
Yes, huckleberries are delicious, but they also smell great and are packed with vitamins. So of course, Montana is known for huckleberry skin care products!
Look for handmade huckleberry soaps, lotions, lip balms to bring the good stuff back home with you.
3. Flathead cherries
For a few brief and glorious weeks every summer, the shores of Flathead Lake in Montana are teeming with Flathead cherries. Cherries don’t really grow anywhere else in the state, and certainly not as deliciously as they do by Flathead!
If it’s impractical to bring home a bunch of fresh cherries, keep an eye out for jams, jellies, candy, and even wine made with the famous Flathead cherries.
4. Local tea
The Montana Tea & Spice Trading Company, located in Missoula (but sells all over the state!) makes some great tea, with uniquely Montana names, to remind you of your time in the Treasure State.
Try out the “Evening in Missoula,” “Montana Gold,” or “Night on Glacier Bay” for a delicious cuppa that will transport you right back.
Of course, there’s also a “Mountain Huckleberry” variety, because this is Montana, after all!
5. Pottery
Montana is known for its clay-heavy soil, which may not sound like a good thing unless you’re into ceramics! And lucky for us non-artistic folk, we can still reap the benefits of a clay-heavy state.
Local pottery studios abound in Montana, and you can find beautiful handmade stoneware in every gift shop. To support local artisans right at the source, visit Mountain Arts Pottery (also an adorable coffee shop, the Coffee Pot), Fire Hole Pottery, or Moccasin Mountain Art.
6. C.M. Russell prints
Charles Marion Russell, also known as C.M. Russell is perhaps one of the most famous painters of the West. He spent most of his life in Montana, capturing the spirit of the West in his paintings, gaining him the nickname “the Cowboy Poet.”
His originals are quite a pretty penny nowadays, but you can easily find affordable prints of his works.
7. Alpine Touch
I bet you didn’t know that Montana has its own “special spice!” You can find Alpine Touch Seasoning, “Montana’s Special Spice,” at grocery stores across the state, in several varieties.
Started in Great Falls, Alpine Touch has been a Montana institution for generations, and the recipe for the All-Purpose blend is still a closely guarded secret! Alpine Touch tastes great on steaks and salad, pasta potatoes, in soups and in stews.
8. Mineral soak
One thing you must do in Montana? Soak in a hot spring! Maybe that looks like a trek to find one in the wild, or maybe you’d prefer one that includes a water slide (or at least some basic amenities).
Either way, one thing is for sure: you can’t take this magic water back home with you. That means you’ll just have to settle for a mineral soak or Epsom salts from Montana. Dump them in your tub and you’ll almost feel like once again soaking under that big Montana sky.
9. Wildlife photos
I don’t know if you’ve ever tried your hand at wildlife photography, but it’s not easy! You may be able to get a few blurred pictures of those bison or get a tiny deer in the distance, but if you really want some photos of wildlife, look towards the pros.
The national parks in Montana are hot spots for photography, and often have several photography books dedicated to the park. If you’d prefer prints or large artwork, you can find those too!
And hey, you can still SAY you saw a fox/eagle/bison/elk/bear when you show off the photo, even if you didn’t see that EXACT one, you still have bragging rights (I promise).
10. Native American arts & crafts
Montana has a long Native history that is still very much alive and well! Around 6% of Montana’s population identifies as Native, with most living on one of the seven reservations.
Every tribe within Montana has its own cultural traditions and artwork. You can find jewelry or paintings, handicrafts, and other ancient forms of art. Just do me a favor and buy right from the artist, okay?
11. Candles
Montana has a lot of options for locally made, small-batch candles. You can find scents inspired by Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, huckleberry candles (of course), and candle fragrances inspired by the fresh mountain air, local trees, and native flowers.
Need more ideas? Try Ponderosa Pine from Montana Farmhouse Candles, Yellowstone Wildflower from Mountain Moon Wax Co, Montana Sunrise from Montana Jam & Candles, or Huckleberry Creek from Montana Candleworks.
12. Cowboy gear
“My home’s in Montana, I wear a bandana, my spurs are of silver, my pony is gray…” Or so goes the song. Even if you can’t make your home in Montana (and who could blame you for wanting to?), you can dress like it!
Or at least you can dress like your home is on the range, at least.
You can find cowboy gear, like boots, hats, and belts, at gift shops. For truly authentic cowboy wear, visit a ranch supply store, like Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply.
13. Vintage tourism signs
These might be a little harder to find if you want OG vintage signs—but you can find plenty of replicas! Tourism signs for ski areas are especially popular (and very cool), but each national park will have its own retro-inspired signs as well.
Try to find a sign that matches your Montana experience best, whether that’s camping, fishing, skiing, hiking, or just taking in the views!
14. Wheat Montana flour
Spoiler alert: you’ll most likely want to bring home a world-famous cinnamon roll from the Wheat Montana bakery in Three Forks.
Since that may not be the easiest thing to bring home (but hey, you could give it a shot!), bring home some of their locally-made flour, cereal, oats, or grain.
You can also try to bring home a loaf of fresh bread, but no promises that it won’t get a little squished on the way home!
15. Honey
Montana has a lot of wide-open spaces, and the low population is ideal for all sorts of wildlife—and that includes bees! There are several varieties of local Montana honey you must try (and bring home).
My favorite? Locally made—you guessed it!—huckleberry honey!
16. Sapphires
Montana is the Treasure State, after all, and the most famous treasure (when it comes to gemstones, at least) is the Montana sapphire.
If you want to step it up even further, buy a Montana Yogo sapphire—truly unique and gorgeous gems that are only available in select areas of Montana.
In fact, they’re so rare and famous, a Montana Yogo sapphire is the only gem from North America to be included in the Crown Jewels of England.
17. Wild game jerky
You’d be remiss if you didn’t try some wild game meat while you’re in Montana. Bison meat, elk meat, venison (deer), antelope…you name it, you can probably try it in the Big Sky state, somewhere!
Of course, it’s also a difficult thing to bring home on the plane with you. So grab yourself (and your people) some wild game jerky. Gives you all the taste in a long-lasting, easy-travel form.
19. Leather goods
There are more cows than people in Montana (which sounds like a joke but is actually true!). That means there’s a lot of beef, and also, a lot of leather goods.
Keep an eye out for intricate leather goods like belts, wallets, hats, boots, and other gifts. Bonus points if you find something with the state shape etched into it!
19. Antler decor & kitchen goods
To bring some of that distinctive Western design home with you, consider purchasing decor, kitchen goods, or other home goods made out of antlers. Lamps and chandeliers are often seen, but would likely need to be shipped home.
For a smaller gift you can easily pack, you can find knives, serving spoons, and other cutlery made out of antler, as well. Now that’s a unique present to bring home!
20. Fishing gear
Sure, you can rent fishing gear while you’re in Montana, but since you’ll probably fall in love with the sport while you’re here, you should just buy your own! There are plenty of well-known, local fly shops and fishing stores to help you stock up.
Where to buy souvenirs in Montana
Every Montana town (except the ones that only have a post office and a saloon, which do exist) has a small gift shop that sells locally made souvenirs. If not, check out gas stations and convenience stores—many of them throughout the state also stock locally-made items. The Travel Center in St. Regis is one of these, and also includes a trout aquarium and a casino.
If you have more specialty items you’re shopping for, like fishing gear, check out sporting goods stores or fly shops. Bob Ward’s is a Montana outdoor-gear chain you’ll find in bigger towns. For perhaps the most famous fly shop in Montana, visit Dan Bailey’s in Livingston.
Visit art studios for pottery, local artwork, and photography. For small-batch products like honey, candles, jerky, tea, leather goods, or jewelry, see if you can find a local farmer’s market!
As for the huckleberry items (which, let’s face it, are a must-buy), well, you find those pretty much anywhere, from grocery stores to gift shops to gas stations. For a shop that is dedicated to all things huckleberry only, you must stop by The Huckleberry Patch near Glacier!
Conclusion
Montana is so incredible, unique, and fun—I’m so glad you get to visit! Also, the shopping is actually kind of great, too.
Whether you want a national park hat, a giant antelope chandelier, local artwork, or a sapphire necklace, you’re sure to find some unique Montana souvenirs to commemorate your trip to the Treasure State.
Bonus, this constant reminder of Montana will almost guarantee that you come back! It’s a big state, after all, and you can’t see it all on just one visit.
