Big Timber got its name in 1806 from a railroad official who read the journals of William Clark. In his writings, Clark mentioned the giant cottonwood trees that grew near the area called "Rivers Across." The name stuck and Big Timber grew to be a thriving sheep ranching community. At one point, Big Timber exported more wool than any other city in the United States. Today, Big Timber is a successful agricultural community with a population of just under 2,000.

Prairie land borders Big Timber (elevation 4089 feet), to the north and east sides, while the west and south are dominated by majestic mountains. Granite Peak, the highest peak in Montana at 12,799 feet, is a part of the Absaroka Mountain Range. The Boulder Mountains to the south, and the Crazy Mountains just north of Big Timber, offer spectacular hiking, biking, camping, and fishing. Blue ribbon trout fishing attracts anglers from all over the country.