Page 18 - Vista 2020
orvallis Corvallis was first settled by Elijah and Margaret Chaffin, who named the area Chaffinville. Explorer John Mullan had previously used an area near Corvallis as a location for a winter base. The town was later renamed Corvallis after a town in Oregon in 1866. Corvallis has a long history in agriculture, with some of the most fertile land in the region, and is home to the Western Montana Agricultural Research Experiment Station. Numerous old farmhouses dot the roadside of the Eastside Highway. The town of Corvallis is home to the Teller Wildlife Refuge, which sits along four miles of the Bitterroot River. Head north out of town for a chance at seeing wildlife, or grab a quick meal at the Memories Cafe. Drive the Eastside Highway If you are approaching Corvallis from the north, you have already seen the stunning landscape. If you are coming up from the south, you’re in for a treat. The Eastside Highway offers some of the best views in the Bitterroot. It’s worth turning off the highway if you are in the area to sightsee.
Prior to the construction of Highway 93, Eastside Highway was the main road between Hamilton and Florence. Turn off in Florence or in Hamilton to experience the majesty. A number of historic locations and buildings, listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, dot the landscape, including St. Mary’s Mission, the Brooks Hotel, Fort Owen and Tammany Castle, which was once the stables of Marcus Daly.
Teller Wildlife Refuge
In the heart of Western Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, near the small town of Corvallis, lies the Teller Wildlife Refuge, a 1,300 acre river bottom and farmland dedicated to conservation, education, and recreation. Teller, encompassing a three-mile stretch of the Bitterroot River, provides habitat for wildlife, a veritable outdoor classroom for visitors of all ages, and diverse recreation opportunities. The Teller Trail is located at the north end of the Woodside Fishing Access. The 1.5 mile trail is open to the public year round.
