Nye, MT

Tucked along the Stillwater River at the foot of the Beartooth Mountains, Nye is a tiny, scenic community in south-central Montana. The town grew out of an 1880s mining camp and still serves as a home base for workers at the nearby Stillwater Mine. With only a few dozen year-round residents, it offers quiet, remote living surrounded by national forest land and clear trout streams.

ATTRJames St. John / CC BY 2.0

Life here revolves around the outdoors. The river valley provides easy access to hiking, camping, and fly fishing in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, though living in the canyon also calls for self-reliance during winter snows and spring runoff. For anyone looking for wide-open skies, dramatic peaks, and a peaceful rural setting, Nye offers an authentic slice of mountain living.