I never thought I would be writing a blog post about my hometown, but here we are! Many people drive past Alberton, but few stop. A town of just over 400 people spanning 0.6 square miles, if you blink, you miss it! Alberton is located 30 miles west of Missoula, MT and sits right on I-90. While there isn't a lot to do in Alberton, there are some great things to check out if you have time for a quick pit-stop to stretch your legs!
Montana Valley Book Store
Home to over 100,000 books, you can spend hours in this book store and not see all of the books that they offer! Many of their books are also hard to find and/or out of print! So you are bound to find a gem while you are there! You may also see local kids stop by the vending machine out front for a cold ¢50 can of soda! The best part? It is family-owned and operated!
Raft the Alberton Gorge
Whenever I tell someone I am from Alberton, the Alberton Gorge is brought up, which is something that the area is known for! For the adventure seekers, take a day and raft the Alberton Gorge with Montana River Guides! It is claimed that the Alberton Gorge is the best white water rafting near Missoula, and I would have to agree. When the river is high, you can enjoy large rapids and as the river levels drop in the summer months, you can experience the true whitewater of the gorge. Montana River Guides runs trips from May-September everyday, and they offer trips three times a day, in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
Natural Pier Bridge
Spanning the Clark Fork River, the Natural Pier Bridge is a beautiful steel truss bridge that is the only one in the state of Montana to use a natural feature of the landscape in its design, with the middle pier being anchored into the rocky outcrop. In the summer months you may see people floating the river on inner tubes, preparing to get out at the fishing access just west of the bridge or fishing from rafts.
Railroad Day Festival
If you are around the 3rd Saturday of July, you are in for a treat! Each year, in celebration of Alberton's railroad history, the town comes together to celebrate the railroad and all it has done for the town. The festivities are an all-day event that begins with a pancake breakfast at 8am and ends with a street dance with live music downtown. The town is bustling all day and there are activities for everyone, including a parade, food trucks, a high-noon shootout, face painting, car show, and local vendors throughout town. This was always a highlight of the summer when I was younger and I look forward to it when I can make it back into town when it is happening!
Town Museum, Railroad Boxcar, and Caboose
Again, in celebration of Alberton's history, much of the museum is located in an old railroad boxcar. The hours are based on availability of community members, so the best time to visit the museum is on Railroad Day. While you are there, be sure to check out the caboose that looks the same inside as it did when it was last used on the railroad! My family has a large railroad background in Alberton, so when you check out the memorabilia in the boxcar, you will see pictures of my family members (including my grandma, grandpa, and great uncle) as well as some of their personal items from their time working for the railroad.
Ninemile Remount Depot and Historic Ranger Station
Located just north of Alberton is the Ninemile Ranger Station. This historic site has a self-guided tour and a visitor center (open Memorial Day to Labor Day) where you can get more information on the area. The Remount Depot and Ranger Station were both established in the 1930 and the Remount Station bred mules for use in fire suppression for 32 years. In the heyday of the Remount Station, there were over 1,500 animals there! Now, around 200 animals from the western states make their way to spend their winter here. Heads up, there is a very large chance (nearly 100%) that you won't have cell service up here, so be prepared for that!
While Alberton is small, there are a handful of things to do in the area, including a lot of hikes and fishing access areas. If you have a day in Missoula that you don't know what to do with, make the 30 minute drive to Alberton to check it out! It's a very spunky area with passionate community members. Visiting in the summer is probably best, as most things in the area to do include time outside! I hope you enjoyed this unusual travel guide! Let me know if you want more like this!
Travel on!