Historic Attractions

Lost Trail Powder Mountain features over 50 marked trails and 1,800 acres. Its longest run is 2.5miles and they have some of the best snow in Montana with over 300 inches annually. Visit www.losttrail.com.

SNOWMOBILING TRAILS

The Bitterroot and Sapphire Mountains of our valley offer snowmobilers their destination for this activity. Explore areas that can only be seen during the winter by snowmobiling across vast acres of our beautiful mountain trails.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF GOLF

Disc Golf . . . when you play on this course, it has baskets and ‘tones’ instead of holes. You do not need to bring your clubs but you will need a Frisbee. Spiritwood is a private 22 hole Disc Golf course. Kids and adults will enjoy this ‘Montana’ way to golf. Visit spiritwooddiscgolf.com or call (406) 531-2707. For something different for the whole family, make sure you make this a stop.

TRAVEL LEWIS & CLARK TRAIL

Lewis and Clark entered the valley near Lost Trail Pass in September of 1805 where they came across the Salish Indian tribe. The Indians helped sustain the travelers with food and fresh horses. On their return trip in July of 1806, they once again traveled through the Bitterroot. For information on this epic event visit www.edgate.com/ lewisandclark/expedition or stop by the Chamber for a brochure on their epic journey.

NEZ PERCE HISTORIC TRAIL

The Bitterroot Valley is rooted deep in history and one of the historic stories was the Nez Perce Indians on their flight from the US Army in 1877. Hundreds of Nez Perce men, women and children, along with their livestock, traveled over 1,170 miles on a four-month journey in search of a new home after being forced to flee from their homeland. For more information on this story visit www.nezpercetrail.net.

VISIT HISTORIC ST. MARY’S MISSION

In 1841, Fr. Pierre Jean DeSmet, at the request of the Salish and Nez Perce Indian Tribes, established St. Mary’s Mission, making it the first church and pioneer settlement in the Pacific Northwest. Another Jesuit missionary, Father Anthony Ravalli, arrived in 1844 to be Montana’s first physician and pharmacist. For more information on this unbelievable story, call (406) 777-5734 or visit www.saintmarysmission.org. The Redsun Labyrinth is an 800-year-old pattern. Labyrinths have been used for 4,000 years as a spiral design pattern. The walk takes approximately ½ hour and can also be used for ceremonies. Call (406) 642-6675 or visit www.redsunlabyrinth.com.

HOT SPRINGS OFFER RELAXING RELIEF

Lolo Hot Springs was well known to the Indians long before the arrival of Lewis and Clark, and you can visit them at www.lolohotsprings.com. Lost Trail Hot Springs is another spot in the valley, which is just south of Sula. You can visit them at www.losttrailhotsprings.com. Both hot springs offer lodging where you can relax and enjoy your beautiful surroundings. SKALKAHO FALLS

Skalkaho Highway 38 is located south of Hamilton and is one of the most scenic drives in the valley. The falls in the spring provide roaring water from the melt off and is a spectacular sight to view. Bring your camera and a lunch basket and enjoy the view from the Falls. Contact your local Chamber for information on the Falls 406-363-2400.

FORT OWEN STATE PARK

Parts of this 250x125 foot adobe and log trading post, stand steeped in history. In 1850, Major John Owen established the fort as a regional trade center. Period furnishings and artifacts are displayed in the restored rooms of the east barracks. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Call (406) 542-5500 or visit www.stateparks.mt.gov/ parks/visit/fortowen.

TOUR THE DALY MANSION

In 1886 Copper King Marcus Daly and his wife, Margaret, purchased the original homestead here in the Bitterroot Valley, where they built a Queen Anne style Victorian summer home. It has over 56 rooms, 25 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms and 7 fireplaces. The three-story, 24,000 square foot home is surrounded by 50 beautifully landscaped acres. Tours are available during the summer months from May through October. Call (406) 363-6004 or visit www.dalymansion.org.

RAVALLI COUNTY MUSEUM

Designed by A.J. Gibson in 1900, this historic brick building served as the county’s courthouse until 1979. Now it is the home of numerous exhibits from Natural History Room, Military Room, A Walk through the Bitterroot and the Lewis and Clark Discovery Rooms. Rotating exhibits as well as traveling exhibits are on display. Located at 205 Bedford Street in Hamilton, the Ravalli County Museum is a must stop while in the Bitterroot. Call (406) 363-3338 or visit www.brvhsmuseum.org.

Marcus Daly promised land for the church’s construction and this English Gothic structure was built. Today it still stands much like it was back in the late 1800’s. Margaret Daly was a devout Episcopalian and a patroness of the church. Tours are available and can be scheduled by calling (406) 363-3025 or visit www.bitterrootepiscopal.org.

STEVENSVILLE MUSEUM

Preserving the early growth of the Bitterroot, the Stevensville Museum displays numerous artifacts and pictures so you can turn back the clock and see what it was like in the early years of the valley. They are located at 517 Main Street in Stevensville, call (406) 777-1007 or visit www.mainstreetstevensville.com for more information.

VICTOR HERITAGE MUSEUM

The Victor Museum is housed in what once was the Victor Depot. The museum hosts numerous relics and a vast array of articles from days gone by. The museum is located in downtown Victor or give them a call 406-642-3997 for more info OR visit www.victorheritagemuseum.org.

DARBY PIONEER MEMORIAL MUSEUM

The Darby Museum houses a rare collection of home and business artifacts, which were donated by many pioneer families of the area. It was one of the first hand-hewn homestead cabins built in the area. The museum is located on Main Street in Darby. For more information call (406) 821-3753.

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(by appointment only) www.LLA406.com The Alta Ranger Station, which was built in 1899, is the oldest surviving Forest Service Ranger Station and is located on the West Fork of the Bitterroot River. The East Fork Guard Station near Sula, a cabin on the East Fork of the Bitterroot River. The lookouts provide beautiful views of the Sapphire, Bitterroot and Pintler mountain ranges. For more information on how to rent the lookouts or cabins, call (406) 363-7100 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot.

DRIVING THE HISTORIC EASTSIDE HIGHWAY

If you are looking for a relaxing drive through the Bitterroot Valley, the Eastside Highway from Florence to Hamilton will provide you many historic sites and unsurpassed beauty of the valley. This roadway was the primary road before US 93 was constructed. Stop by the Chamber to pick up a brochure to make sure you see all the historic stops along the way.