Garden of One Thousand Buddhas
4.7(1.2K)google
4.7(27)yelp
OutdoorFreeHealingSlow-PacedSecluded & UncrowdedPhoto SpotSculpture
Overview
The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas is a spiritual site near Arlee, Montana, within the Flathead Indian Reservation in Lake County, Montana, United States. The monument portion of the site is 750 square feet (70 m2) in area and the surrounding garden is spread across 10 acres (4.0 ha) of land. It is intended to be a pilgrimage destination for the Western hemisphere and a major place of worship for people of many faiths.
Practical Info
Every day9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Suggested Duration1-2 hours
Best TimeJune through September is the premier window to visit, when the Rocky Mountain valley weather is pleasantly warm and the garden grounds are lush and green. Arriving in the early morning between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM or during the golden sunset hour after 6:00 PM is highly recommended; the low-angle sunlight beautifully illuminates the white alignment of Buddha statues against the pastoral mountain backdrop.
Getting ThereSituated near the small town of Arlee in western Montana. Driving is the most practical transit method: from Missoula, head north along US-93 North for about 30 minutes, then turn left onto White Coyote Road just before entering Arlee town limits. Follow it for a mile directly to the complimentary open-air parking field. No public mass transit serves this rural reservation valley.
Travel Tips
- Located within the Flathead Indian Reservation, the site is under tribal jurisdiction where drone usage is strictly prohibited; violators face asset seizure and heavy tribal police fines.
- This active Tibetan Buddhist sanctuary enforces a modest dress code banning sleeveless tops or shorts above the knee; visitors must circumambulate the central mandala clockwise and in complete silence.
- The open-air grounds are subject to severe ice patches in winter and early spring; due to the exposed valley geography, visitors should prepare for violent mountain wind gusts and sudden temperature drops.
Reviews
Positive
- In this Buddhist park located in the 'middle of nowhere' in Montana, hundreds of intricately carved Buddha statues arranged in a dharma wheel shape, combined with flying prayer flags, offer a deeply serene and healing atmosphere.
- The garden is exceptionally well-maintained, clean, and tidy, with beautifully landscaped plants and flowers. It thoughtfully provides wealth of informational signage for each major Buddha statue and landscape feature.
- It is free and open to the public with no admission fee, and the souvenirs in the onsite gift shop, like water, prayer flags, and small Buddha statues, are all very reasonably priced without any commercial rip-offs.
- The infrastructure is well-thought-out; the trail from the parking lot to the garden is flat and easy to walk, and it features wheelchair-accessible entrances, restrooms, and accessible seating convenient for meditation and resting.
Heads up
- The entire Buddha garden is almost completely exposed to the sun with no shade. It gets unbearably hot under the blazing sun during summer middays; it is highly recommended to bring plenty of water and wear sunscreen.
- You have to walk about half a mile from the parking lot to see the Buddhas in the central circle. For elderly visitors with mobility issues or families with toddlers, this unshaded walk can be a bit strenuous.
- The attraction is relatively small, with just a loop trail under 1 mile that usually takes only 30 minutes to an hour to finish. If you drive several hours specifically for this, you might find it a bit underwhelming.
- Dogs are strictly not allowed on the trail or in the garden, which is highly inconvenient for road-trippers traveling with their furry companions, forcing someone to stay in the car to watch the pet.