Bitterroot Valley, Montana

Lewis and Clark are credited with the “discovery” of the Bitterroot plant (Lewisia Rediviva) in the Montana Valley which was eventually named after it. It was known as Spetlum to the Native American peoples and had been an important part of their diet for unknown generations. When it came time to choose a state flower the lovely Bitterroot met with opposition. An editorial in the Helena Independent stated that the Bitterroot “has one quality which should be fatal to it as a state emblem. It has no stem . . . and the leaves and flower grow out of the top of a thick, fleshy, spindle-shaped root.” The editors further argued that its qualities made the flower difficult to pick and it couldn’t be made into a bouquet or be used as a boutonniere.

3,621 Montanans disagreed and voted in favor of the Bitterroot with the evening primrose and the Wild Rose taking a distant second and third. Thus the 1895 legislature designated the Bitterroot the official state flower of Montana.

As the legend goes: The Bitterroot Lily sprang from the tears of a Flathead mother whose family was starving. The sun, hearing the mother’s sorrow, sent a bird as a messenger to turn her tears into a plant whose roots were nutritious (albeit as bitter as the mother’s sorrow) but whose beauty would reflect the devotion of the grieving woman. Today, you will find the lovely flower in abundance.

The communities which are along Highway 93 south of Missoula are: Florence, Stevensville, Victor, Corvallis, Hamilton and Darby. The entire Bitterroot Valley is truly a mecca for the outdoors. Fly-fishing the Bitterroot River and many tributaries, hiking the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, cycling the paved trail along Hwy 93 and many mountain biking trails, ATV riding, horseback riding, rock climbing, photography, birding, snowmobiling, nordic and downhill skiing, museums, and farmer’s markets.

Florence Montana

Florence, Montana

Between the Sapphire and Bitterroot mountains, the friendly community of Florence offers easy access to Three-mile Wildlife Management Area for excellent hunting and wildlife-watching opportunities. In addition, the area provides winter range for elk, as well as, summer recreation activities

Stevensville, MT


Stevensville is officially recognized as the first permanent settlement of non-indigenous peoples in the state of Montana.

Flanked by the Bitterroot and Sapphire mountains, the small, historic town of Stevensville in the Bitterroot Valley offers beautiful views and outdoor recreation.

Victor, Montana

Victor, Montana


Located in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley, Victor is nestled between the Bitterroot Mountain Range, the Bitterroot River, and the Sapphire Mountain Range.

Corvallis, Montana


Corvallis is located in the “heart of the valley” between magnificent Bitterroot Mountains and the Sapphire Range south of Missoula.

Hamilton, Montana

Hamilton, Montana


Hamilton is the largest, and most charming, town in the Bitterroot Valley.

Darby, Montana


Darby is at the southern end of the Bitterroot Valley. Known for its outdoor recreation, it is, most recently, known for the beautiful Chief Joseph Ranch where Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone is filmed.