BILLINGS AND THE BIG OPEN - Montana and Wyoming - page 51

St. W., 406/652-2553) and the Lake Hills Golf Club (1930 Clubhouse Way, 406/252-9244,
www.lakehillsgolf.com ) . Built in 1992, Yegen Golf Club (1390 Zimmerman Tr., 406/
656-8099, www.yegengolfclub.com ) is a beautiful course.
Also known as Diamond X Disc Golf Course, Phipps Park (Molt Rd., 4 miles west of
Billings) is ranked among the top five disc golf courses in Montana. The 350-acre city park
offers 27 holes for disc golfers, panoramic views, and a network of rugged, challenging
trails for both runners and mountain bikers. Right in town, Riverfront Park (S. Billings
Ave.) has a nice pond with hungry ducks and geese, some nice walking trails, and undeve-
loped areas.
Hikers can find plenty of trails winding around the rimrocks, but there are some phe-
nomenal mountain trails less than an hour from town. The Island Lake Trail (trailhead
at Mystic Dam Power Station, end of W. Rosebud Rd.), 40 miles southwest of Billings in
the Custer National Forest's Beartooth Ranger District (406/446-2103, www.fs.fed.us/r1/
custer ) , is a 12-mile out-and-back round-trip in the West Rosebud Valley. There are numer-
ous trout-laden mountain lakes in the region, but the climb is significant, so allow ample
time. Thirty-five miles southwest of Billings, Sylvan Lake is one of a few easily access-
ible golden trout lakes in the Beartooth Mountains. Accessed by Trail 13 (trailhead at East
Rosebud Campground, off E. Rosebud Rd., 406/446-2103, www.fs.fed.us/r1/custer ) , it's a
challenging 10-mile out-and-back round-trip hike, but the views—and the fish—are phe-
nomenal.
ACCOMMODATIONS
When it comes to combining luxury and historical grandeur, the only choice is the mag-
nificently restored 1902 M Northern Hotel (19 N. Broadway, 406/867-6767,
www.northernhotel.com , from $159 low season, $229 high season). Reopened in 2013 and
part of the Preferred Hotel Group, it is indeed a Western boutique hotel, with 160 guest
rooms and two excellent restaurants, including the elegant TEN. It is Billings's only four-
star hotel, and amenities include 24-hour room service, valet service, triple-sheeted beds,
and piles of pillows.
The Crowne Plaza (27 N. 27th St., 406/252-7400 or 800/588-7666,
www.crowneplaza.com/billings , about $150) in downtown Billings is difficult to miss: It is
a towering brick building that dwarfs its neighbors. The hotel was recently renovated, and
the guest rooms are comfortable and plush. They offer a large assortment of amenities, in-
cluding complimentary high-speed Internet. The Montana Sky restaurant is situated on the
20th floor with terrific views of the city.