Southeast Montana Travel Guide 2021 by Kyle McGowan

Opheim

Turner Loring

Scobey

Peerless

Whitewater

Plentywood

Chinook

Rudyard

Havre

Box Elder

Medicine Lake

Fort Belknap Agency

Hinsdale

Saco

Dodson

Glasgow

Fairview

Sidney

Brusett Jordan

Crane

Savage

Bloomfield

Circle

Roy

Denton

Brockway 253

Stanford

Lewistown Hobson

Grass Range

Utica

Cohagen

Terry

Melstone Harlowton

Ingomar

Fallon

Ismay

Miles City

Roundup

Plevna

Baker

Forsyth

Hysham

Wibaux

253

Mosby

Judith Gap Two Dot

Glendive

Sand Springs

Winnett

Rosebud

Bighorn Custer Worden

Big Timber

Laurel

Billings

Columbus

McLeod

Park City

Absarokee Fishtail

Nye Roscoe

Silver Cooke Gate City

Roberts

Red Lodge

Joliet

Rockvale

Bridger

Belfry

Pryor

Hardin

Lame Deer

Crow Agency

Saint Xavier Fort Smith

Ekalaka

Colstrip

Pompeys Pillar

Greycliff Reed Point

gston

ner

Bainville

Zortman

Winifred

Martinsdale

y nt

Poplar

Lambert

lsall

Culbertson

Wolf Point

Fort Peck Landusky

sford Geyser

Clyde Park

Lustre

Nashua

Virgelle

Froid

Saint Marie

Vandalia

Malta

Big Sandy

Loma

Westby

Whitetail Flaxville

Four Buttes

Garryowen Lodge Grass Wyola

Ashland

WA R RI O R

T R A IL

Busby

Olive HI G

H WA Y

Broadus

Birney Otter

Biddle

Decker

BEARTOOTH ALL-AMERICAN ROAD

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

BIG SPACE IS IN OUR NATURE.

BE SAFE OUT HERE. SafeOutHereMT.com | 1.800.346.1876

Alzada

to Cranbrook, BC Rexford

Yaak

to Cranbrook, BC Rexford Troy

Eureka

GLACIER

C O U N T RY Polebridge Fortine Trego to Cranbrook, BC

to Cardston, AB

GLACIER NATIONAL G LA C I E R to Cardston, ABSt. Mary PARK CO U N TLake RY

Babb

C M CAN ADA

to Lethbridge, AB

C E N TRAL M ON TAN A

Sweetgrass

BLACKFEET Sunburst INDIAN to Lethbridge, AB CAN ADA RESERVATION

Cut Bank

to Cardston, AB Apgar McDonald GLACIER Sweetgrass CAN ADA to Lethbridge, AB Browning Babb Rexford Columbia West Glacier Eureka NATIONAL Polebridge BLACKFEET Shelby Fortine Sunburst Falls St. Mary CoramGLACIER Sweetgrass INDIAN Trego Rudy Babb Martin CityR E S E R V A T I O N PARK Chester Whitefish East Glacier Galata NATIONAL Polebridge BLACKFEET Hungry Fortine Lake Sunburst Cut Bank Park St. Mary Valier Horse I N D I A N Trego Apgar McDonald Troy PARK Browning RESERVATION Kalispell Essex West Glacier Heart Butte Libby Lake Cut Bank Columbia Kila Dupuyer Shelby Apgar McDonald Troy Fla Bigfork Marion Falls Coram Browning Rudyard t h Heron eadGlacier Martin City Somers West Chester Libby Whitefish Columbia Conrad East Glacier Galata Riv Hungry Shelby Noxon Lakeside er Box Falls Park Valier Coram Horse Rollins Elder Ches Brady Martin City Bynum Proctor Whitefish Kalispell Swan Lake Essex East Glacier Galata Hungry Heart Butte Dayton Trout Kila Valier Dupuyer Park Horse ROC Fla Bigfork ElmoKalispell CreekMarion Lo the Fort Benton Big Sand Essex Heron I Choteau Somers Big Arm ad Thompson Heart Butte Conrad Kila R RES Dupuyer ive Noxon Lakeside Falls Polson r F Hot Springs Bigfork Marion lath Rollins Heron Brady ead Bynum Somers Proctor Swan Lake Fairfield Conrad Riv Condon Noxon Dayton Lakeside er Virgelle Trout Ronan Vaughn Haugan Rollins Brady Bynum Elmo Plains Creek Loma Proctor Charlo Fort Benton Swan Lake De Borgia Augusta Choteau Big Arm Paradise Thompson Dayton F L A T H E A D I N D I A N St. Regis Trout Fort Shaw Moiese Falls Elmo R E S E R V A T I O N Creek Polson IHot D A Springs Choteau BeltFort Bento Big Arm Thompson Dixon HO Ulm Fairfield CondonSt. Ignatius Falls Polson Stockett Raynesford Hot Springs Superior Ronan Vaughn Cascade Haugan G Plains Arlee Seeley Charlo De Borgia Augusta Fairfield Condon Paradise FLATHEAD INDIAN Lake St. Regis Ronan Vaughn HauganMoiese R E S E R V A T I O N Fort Shaw ID Plains Charlo De Borgia Augusta AH Craig Monarch Belt Paradise St. Ignatius FLATHEAD INDIAN Alberton Ulm Dixon St. Regis O Lincoln Dent Moiese R E S E R VOvando Wolf Creek Fort Shaw ATION Stockett Raynesford Superior ID Cascade NeihartBelt Greenough AH Geyser St. Ignatius Seeley Dixon Bonner Ulm O Arlee Helmville Lolo Stockett Canyon Creek Lake Superior Cascade Clinton Stanford Arlee Seeley Craig Monarch Marysville Alberton Lake Lincoln Ho East Ovando Wolf Creek Drummond Florence Helena to Kooskia, ID Greenough Craig Neihart M Bonner Alberton PINTLER Utica Lincoln White Sulphur Helmville Stevensville Lolo OvandoElliston SCENIC Wolf Creek Canyon Creek Victor Montana Springs Garrison Clinton ROUTE Greenough City Winston Clancy BonnerMarysville Helmville Lolo Deer Canyon Creek Jefferson Martin Corvallis East Philipsburg Clinton Drummond Lodge Florence Judith Gap Basin City Helena Marysville to Kooskia, ID Hamilton PINTLER Townsend Ringling White Sulphur Stevensville SCENIC East Victor Drummond Montana Boulder Florence Springs Helena GarrisonLake Elliston Georgetown Two to Kooskia, ID ROUTE City Winston Dot PINTLER Clancy Anaconda Darby White Sulphur Stevensville SCENIC Deer Elliston Victor Montana Springs 569 Garrison Jefferson Martinsdale ROUTE Corvallis Philipsburg Lodge City Winston Clancy Conner Basin City Hamilton Deer Wilsall Wise Townsend Ringling Logan Jefferson Corvallis Philipsburg Sula River Boulder Lodge Basin Georgetown Lake Manhattan City Clyde Hamilton Dewey Three TownsendBelgrade Anaconda Darby Whitehall Boulder Forks 569 Georgetown Lake Silver Livingsto Divide Harrison Conner Anaconda Star Darby Wilsall Wise Wisdom Melrose 569 Pony Logan to Twin Big Gallatin Sula River PIONEER Salmon,Conner ID ManhattanGateway Bridges Tim Clyde Park MTNS Sheridan Dewey Norris 278 Three Wise Logan Belgrade SCENIC Whitehall Sula River Forks BYWAY Manhattan Silver Jackson Livingston Divide Nevada Dewey Harrison Star Polaris Three Ennis City Whitehall Pray Belgrade Wisdom Melrose Pony Forks to Emigrant McLeod L MILEAGE Twin Gallatin Divide Alder Silver 278 Harrison PIONEER Salmon, ID Star Virginia Bridges Gateway Big Sky MTNS Ab Dillon Norris City WisdomSheridan Bannack 278 Melrose Pony to SCENIC Twin Cameron Gallatin BYWAY PIONEER Salmon, ID Bridges Gateway Jackson Nevada MTNS Sheridan Norris 278Grant Polaris GardinerN Ennis City Pray SCENIC 324 BYWAY Alder Emigrant Jackson Nevada 278 324 Virginia Quake Ennis T Polaris Big Sky City Mammoth Dillon City Bannack Lake Alder E Hot Springs Cameron 278 Virginia YE Big Sky Dell Cooke Canyon Grant Dillon City Bannack Gardiner NorrisSilver City Gate 324 Cameron Lima N Madison Lakeview Monida 324 Grant Quake Tower Junction Junction West Mammoth 324 Lake Lake B Yellowstone Hot Springs Al West 324 Quake YELLOWSTONE to Idaho Falls, ID Mammo Dell Thumb IDAH O Canyon Lake to Rexburg,Norris ID Old Hot Spring Lima NATIONALGrant Faithful Madison U T HDell WEST MonidaS OLakeview Village Junction Norris West PARK Lima M O N TA N A Yellowstone Lake Mad Lakeview West Monida Junc to Idaho Falls, ID West Thumb IDAH O to Rexburg, ID Old Yellowstone Faithful W Grant to Grand Teton Natl P S O U T H W E S T IDAH O to Idaho Falls, ID Th and Jackson, to Rexburg,Village ID Old WY M O N TA N A Faithful

Libby Yaak

to Sandpoint, ID

Great Falls

to Coeur d’Alene, ID

to Sandpoint, ID

to Coeur d’Alene, ID

to Sandpoint, ID

Yaak

G LA C I E R C O U N T RY

Great Falls

Missoula

Helena

Missoula

Helena

Butte

Bozeman

Butte

Bozeman

Bozema

SOUTHWEST M O N TA N A

State Capital: Helena Montana Population: 1,023,579* *2014 U.S. Census Estimate

to Grand Teton Natl Park and Jackson, WY

Land Area: 145,392 sq. miles Water Area: 1,746 sq. miles Total Area: 147,138 sq. miles

Map provided for general information only. Consult the Official Montana Highway Map for145,392 accurate and State Capital: Helena Land Area: sq. detailed miles information.

Montana Population: 1,023,579* Water Area: 1,746 sq. miles Helena *2014 U.S. Census Estimate State Capital:Total Area: 147,138 sq.Land milesArea: 145,392 sq. miles Montana Population: 1,023,579* Water Area: 1,746 sq. miles *2014 U.S. Census Estimate Total Area: 147,138 sq. miles Map provided for general information only. Consult the Official Montana Highway Map for accurate and detailed information.

Map provided for general information only. Consult the Official Montana Highway Map for accurate and detailed information.

to Grand and J

Chinook ROCKY BOY’S

Belknap Agency

Rudyard

Dodson

Havre

Box Elder

CKY BOY’S oma dy INDIAN SERVATION

Loring

Malta

Glasgow Hinsdale

Saco

Lustre

Glasgow Fort Peck

Fort Peck

Lambert

Lewistown Winifred

Roy Hobson

ton

Brusett

Savage

Winnett

Grass Range

Utica Denton Raynesford Geyser Lewistown

Mosby

Roy

Lewistown

Mosby

Grass Range

Martinsdale Big

LEWIS AND CLARK

Melstone

Harlowton

Timber

Bighorn Melstone

McLeod

mberWilsall

Pompeys

Pillar NM Laurel

Worden Columbus Lake Elmo State Park

Roundup

Ingomar

Custer

Forsyth

Bighorn Pompeys Pillar Custer

Billings Hardin Pompeys Pillar NM

Miles City

Rosebud Hysham Bighorn

Crow Custer Colstrip Agency

Lame Deer

Colstrip Forsyth

Billings

61 Miles to Dickinson, ND

Fallon

253

Wibaux Makoshika State Park

FallonBIG SKY BACK

COUNTRY BYWAY

253

Terry Ismay

Rosebud

Wibaux

Crane

Savage

Makoshika State Park

61 Miles to

Glendive Dickinson, ND

Official Home Ismayof the Evelyn Cameron Gallery

Fallon

Plevna

Baker

Miles City

Wibaux

Plevna

Makoshika State Park

61 Miles to Dickinson, ND 34 Miles to Bowman, ND

Baker

Medicine Rocks State Park

Ismay 34 Miles to Plevna Bowman, ND Ekalaka Baker

34 Miles to Bowman, ND

Medicine Rocks State Park

Rosebud Ashland

Olive Broadus

Ekalaka

Medicine Rocks State Park

Ekalaka

Warrior Trail Highway

Roscoe Mountains Park RESERVATION Deer C H E Y E N N E Wolf State Park Columbus bsarokee Hardin Otter Ashland BusbyN O R T H E R NCrow Battlefield NHL City Warrior Trail Olive Chief Plenty Coups Pryor Saint Garryowen C R O W I N D I A N I N D I ARosebud McLeod N R EAgency SERVATION Biddle Red Lodge Alzada Fishtail Tongue River Broadus Highway Battlefield NHL Little Bighorn State Park, NHL Mountain Rockvale Pictograph Bighorn Cave Canyon Xavier Reservoir State Park R E S E R V A T I O N Battlefield NM Belfry Wild Horse N OPark RTHERN CHEYENNE State Park Cooke JolietAbsarokee National Rec. Area Silver Busby Wyola City Decker Lodge Roberts Warrior Trail Nye Garryowen Pryor Range Chief Plenty Coups Saint City I N D I A N R E S E R V A T I O N Broadus Reno-Benteen Birney Gate Fort Smith Rockvale Grass Fishtail Highway113 Miles to Mount Little Bighorn State Park, NHL WYOM ING Roscoe Xavier Battlefield Memorial Bridger Joliet Battlefield NM Rushmore National 59 Miles WYOMING Tower Junction Wolf Mountains Roberts Nye Pryor Pray 26.4Lodge Miles Reno-Benteen Otter Birney Memorial Fort Rosebud Smith Battlefield NHL to Gillette, WY B e a r t o o t h to Cody, WY GrassWY Battlefield Memorial to Lovell, WY Pryor Emigrant to Sheridan, Biddle Bridger Red Lodge A l l - A m e r i c a n Roscoe Alzada Tongue River Battlefield NHL Mountain Bighorn Canyon Wolf Mountains ELLOWSTONE Reservoir State Park e R o a d Belfry Wild Horse National Rec. Area Wyola Otter Battlefield NHL Decker Rosebud Pryor Biddle O UTongue T HEAST RedRange Lodge Alzada 113 Miles to Mount Battlefield NHL S NATIONAL Mountain INGRiver WYOM Bighorn Canyon Reservoir State Park YEL L OW ST ON Belfry E Wild Horse Rushmore National Cooke National Rec. Area Wyola Silver 59 Miles M O N TA N A WYOMING Decker Gardiner Range 26.4 Miles PARK City Memorial Gate WY 113 Miles to Mount OUWY N T RY to Gillette, WY Beartooth to Cody, toC Lovell, WYOM ING to Sheridan, WY ll-American Rushmore National 59 Miles WYOMING Tower Junction 26.4 Miles othR o a d Memorial to Gillette, WY Beartooth to Cody, WY to Lovell, WY gs Sheridan, StoOU T HWY EAST

Billings

CITY/ POPULATION YELLOWSTONE YELLO WS T ON E All-American

HIGHWAYS

Road es Canyon TOWN Interstate Route CO UNT RY NATIONAL dison YEL50 L OW S T O N E Under ction Principal Highway PARK C OU N T RY Lake 50-1,000 West CITY/ Other Highway POPULATION Park HIGHWAYS MAP humb Y TOWN 1,000-2,500 Interstate Route Grant CITY/ POPULATION ROUTE MARKERS HIGHWAYS Under 50 Village 2,500-10,000 TOWN

d Teton Natl Park Jackson, WY

TA SO UT H DA KO

Big Fishtail Laurel Timber

Nye Columbus

Worden

Lake Elmo State Park

LEWIS AND CLARK HIGHWAY

Forsyth

CROW INDIAN Pompeys Pictograph Cave Park R E S EWorden RVATION PillarPark State BusbyN O R T H E R N C H E Y E N N E City LakeCoups Elmo Saint Garryowen Canyon CreekChief Plenty I N D I A N R E S E R VColstrip ATION State Park Little Bighorn Rockvale Battlefield NezState Park, NHL Xavier Pompeys Lame Joliet Pillar Battlefield NM Perce NHP Lodge Roberts Pryor Deer Reno-Benteen Hardin Fort SmithCrow Birney Greycliff Ashland Grass Olive Battlefield Memorial Bridger DIAN Reed Point C R O W I NLaurel Lame Agency Pictograph Cave

Absarokee Perce NHP

Greycliff ReedPark Point Clyde

e Livingston

Canyon Creek Battlefield Nez

Canyon Creek Battlefield Nez Perce NHP

Hysham

Terry

Miles City Hysham

Ingomar

Pompeys Pillar NM

Cohagen

Official Home of the Evelyn Cameron Gallery

Bloomfield

Sidney

Lambert

TA SO UT H DA KO

Greycliff Reed Point

IngomarSand Springs

Terry Brockway Glendive

253 BIG SKY BACK COUNTRY BYWAY

Mosby

HIGHWAY Roundup

Roundup

Two Dot

253

Melstone Winnett

Glendive

Official Home of the Evelyn Circle 253 BIG SKY BACK Cameron COUNTRY BYWAY Gallery

Cohagen Brusett Brockway

LEWIS AND CLARK Sand Springs HIGHWAY Cohagen

Judith Gap

Harlowton

Sand Springs Jordan

Jordan

Winnett

obson Stanford Judith Gap Grass Monarch Range Hobson Neihart Two Dot UticaHarlowton nsdale

Bloomfield

Circle

Crane

Fairview

TA NO RT H DA KO

Brockway

Bainville

Savage

Bloomfield Sidney

Circle

FairviewFroid

TA NO RT H DA KO

Jordan

MedicineBainville Lake

Culbertson Bainville Sidney Poplar Lambert Crane Fairview

Wolf Point

Nashua

Brusett

Plentywood

Culbertson Lustre

Saint Marie Poplar

Froid

Culbertson

Poplar Froid

253

Stanford

Park Ringling

Glasgow Malta

Scobey

Peerless Medicine Lake

Point FORT PECK INDIAN RESERVATION

Hinsdale Fort Saco Peck Nashua Vandalia Wolf Point

Zortman

Landusky

Roy

Wolf

Nashua

Saint Marie

Vandalia

Fort Malta

Winifred

FORT PECK INDIAN RESERVATION

Zortman

Denton

d Geyser

Saco Whitewater Vandalia

Westby

Whitetail Flaxville

Four Plentywood Buttes

TA NO RT H DA KO

Winifred Landusky

Virgelle

Loma

INDIAN RESERVATION

Scobey Peerless SaintOpheim Lustre Marie

Hinsdale

FORT BELKNAP Belknap Dodson INDIAN Agency R E S E R V A T I O N Landusky Zortman FORT BELKNAP ROCKY BOY’S INDIAN Big Sandy INDIAN RESERVATION RESERVATION

Virgelle

Whitewater Turner Dodson

FORT BELKNAP INDIAN Chinook RESERVATION

INDIAN HavreBig Sandy R E S E R V A TFort ION

ster

Loring

to Fortuna, ND

Box Elder

Fort Belknap Agency

to Regina, SK

Medicine Lake

to Williston, ND

Turner

Havre

to Assiniboia, SK Westby

Whitetail Four to Kildeer, SK ButtesF O R T P E C KFlaxville

to Swift Current, SK Opheim

CANADA

to Fortuna, ND

CANADA

Chinook

yard

Westby

M I S S O U RI RI V E R Whitetail Four Flaxville Buttes CO UN T RY Opheim Turner to Regina, SK MISSO URI R I V E R to Assiniboia, SK Scobey Plentywood Peerless to Kildeer, SK Loring Whitewater to Swift Current, SK C O U N T RY

to Williston, ND

CE NTR AL MO NTANA

to Regina, SK

to Assiniboia, SK

to Kildeer, SK

to Swift Current, SK

CANADA

to Fortuna, ND

MISSOURI RIVER C O UN T RY

to Williston, ND

C ENTRAL M ONTANA

MAP SYMBOLS AND OTHER FEATURES M O N TA N A OUTHEAST StateSBoundary O N TA N A Major M Airport

Airport SYMBOLS AND Secondary OTHER FEATURES

Amtrak Line State Boundary MAP SYMBOLS AND OTHER FEATURES Amtrak Station Principal Highway Major Airport InterstateInterstate Route State Boundary 50-1,000 10,000-25,000 Montana State Park Under 50 Other HighwayU.S. Route Secondary Airport Principal Highway Major Airport 1,000-2,500 Over 25,000 50-1,000 Amtrak Line Point of Interest Provincial Route Highway Secondary Airport ROUTE MARKERS State or Other 2,500-10,000 State Capital Center Amtrak StationVisitor Information 1,000-2,500 Other Route Amtrak Line Interstate ROUTE MARKERS 10,000-25,000 Montana State Park 2,500-10,000 Amtrak Station U.S. Route Interstate Point of Interest Over 25,000 10,000-25,000 Montana State Park State or Provincial Route U.S. Route Visitor Information Center State Capital Point of Interest Over 25,000 Other Route State or Provincial Route Visitor Information Center State Capital Other Route

S 1

WELCOME TO THE WIDE-OPEN SKIES OF SOUTHEAST MONTANA. Every day I walk outside, I realize how fortunate I am to call Southeast Montana home. I will forever be amazed that I can leave the comfort of city amenities, travel ten minutes in any direction, and find solitude; silence so quiet, it is deafening. During your visit, plan to traverse landscapes that have not changed in centuries, hear stories of the incredible people of the Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribes, and find evidence of the giant reptiles that once roamed here. These are just a few of the things that await you OUT HERE. Rest assured, during your visit, you will be SAFE OUT HERE. We take social distancing to a whole new level. In our open spaces, you will be one with nature: escaping into the cosmos under North America’s darkest skies, or playing out the lives of Lewis and Clark as you follow in their footsteps down the Yellowstone River. Regardless of what adventure awaits you, we look forward to seeing, and hearing, about the memories you collect during your visit. Whether you are enjoying the unique cultural attractions, dabbling in the culinary scene of our charming towns, or enjoying a drink at one of our many independent breweries, we invite you to sit back, be in the moment, and enjoy the wide-open space that is Southeast Montana.

Jeff Ewelt CHAIRPERSON, VISIT SOUTHEAST MONTANA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Makoshika State Park, Aaron Theisen

1.800.346.1876 | SAFEOUTHEREMT.COM

INSIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME

12 RECREATION 18 HISTORY 24 INDIAN NATIONS 28 WESTERN ADVENTURE 34 DINOSAUR ADVENTURE 40 HUNTING & FISHING 48 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 52 DIRECTORY OF TOWNS 62 LISTINGS 64 ONLINE PLANNING RESOURCES

815 S. 27th St. Billings, MT 59101

facebook.com/southeastmontana

SOUTHEASTMONTANA.COM 1.800.346.1876 VISIT SOUTHEAST MONTANA

PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 574 Missoula, MT

815 S. 27th St. Billings, MT 59101

Rexford

Yaak

Eureka

Libby

Columbia Falls

Whitefish Kalispell Kila

Marion

Somers

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

Trout Creek

Thompson Falls Hot Springs Haugan De Borgia St. Regis

Bigfork

Charlo

Lolo Florence Stevensville

Helena

Avon Garrison

GRANT KOHRS RANCH NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE GRANITE GHOST TOWN STATE PARK

Sula

Jackson

Culbertson

Wolf Point

Poplar

Bainville Fairview

Sidney

Lambert

Glendive

Wibaux

253

Terry

QUARTZ HILL PIONEER MTNS SCENIC BYWAY

Polaris

Divide GLENDALE & CANYON CREEK CHARCOAL KILNS

COOLAGE

Twin Bridges

PONY

Virginia City Cameron

RED ROCK LAKES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Monida

Whether you are enjoying the unique cultural attractions, dabbling in the culinary scene of our charming towns, or enjoying a drink at one of our many independent breweries, we invite you to sit back, be in the moment, and enjoy the wide-open space that is Southeast Montana.

Fallon

Ismay

Miles City

Plevna

Baker

Forsyth

Hysham

Rosebud

Bighorn Custer

Wilsall

Belgrade Clyde Park Livingston

Harrison

Bozeman

Norris Laurin Nevada Ennis City

Alder

Dell Lima

Manhattan

Three Forks

LEWIS & CLARK CAVERNS

Sheridan

RUBY RIVER VALLEY SCENIC ROUTE

Dillon

BIG SHEEP CR. BACKCOUNTRY BYWAY

Logan

Cardwell

Whitehall

Silver Star Melrose ROCHESTER

FARLIN

Grant

SCULPTURE IN THE WILD

Ingomar

Roundup

Ringling

Townsend

ELKHORN STATE PARK

Every day I walk outside, I realize how fortunate I am to call Southeast Montana home. I will forever be amazed that I can leave the comfort of city amenities, travel ten minutes in any direction, and find solitude; silence so quiet, it is deafening. During your visit, plan to traverse landscapes that have not changed in centuries, hear stories of the incredible people of the Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribes, and find evidence of the giant reptiles that once roamed here. These are just a few of the things that await you OUT HERE. Rest assured, during your visit, you will be SAFE OUT HERE. We take social distancing to a whole new level. In our open spaces, you will be one with nature: escaping into the cosmos under North America’s darkest skies, or playing out the lives of Lewis and Clark as you follow in their footsteps down the Yellowstone River. Regardless of what adventure awaits you, we look forward to seeing, and hearing, about the memories you collect during your visit.

Crane

Savage

Bloomfield

Circle Brockway 253

Harlowton

Martinsdale

TIZER BOTANIC GARDEN & ARBORETUM

Boulder

Butte

Wise River Dewey

BIG HOLE NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD

Wisdom

BANNACK STATE PARK

VIRGINIA CITY

• Follow in the footsteps • Relax in a hot spring

Lustre

Nashua

Fort Peck

Jordan

Cohagen

Mosby

Melstone

Two Dot

Jefferson City

Gallatin Gateway

Big Sky

MADISON RIVER VALLEY SCENIC ROUTE

Quake Lake

Worden

Big Timber

West Yellowstone

Laurel

Billings Hardin

Columbus

Park City

Absarokee Nye Roscoe

Silver Cooke Gate City

Roberts

Red Lodge

Joliet

Rockvale

Bridger

Belfry

Pryor

Lame Deer

Crow Agency

Saint Xavier Fort Smith

Ekalaka

Colstrip

Pompeys Pillar

Greycliff Reed Point

McLeod Fishtail

Pray Emigrant

Gardiner Hebgen Lake

Lakeview

Yellowstone National Park

Explore Southwest Montana, just a short drive • Take a scenic drive

Glasgow

Brusett

Sand Springs

Winnett

Grass Range

Judith Gap

White Sulphur Springs

Montana City Winston

RIMINI

Deer COMETClancy Lodge Basin

Anaconda

Darby

East Helena

Elliston

CHARTER OAK MINE & MILL

from Yellowstone and Glacier national parks.

• Explore a ghost town • Dig for sapphires

Froid

Saint Marie

Vandalia

Malta

Zortman

Lewistown Hobson

Utica

MARYSVILLE

PINTLER SCENIC ROUTE

Philipsburg

Conner

ANACONDA RANGE

FAIRMONT HOT SPRINGS RESORT

Hinsdale

Saco

Dodson

Landusky

Stanford

Monarch Neihart

Roy

Denton

Raynesford Geyser

WELCOME TO THE WIDE-OPEN SKIES OF SOUTHEAST MONTANA.

Plentywood Medicine Lake

Fort Belknap Agency

Winifred

Belt Stockett

Wolf Creek

Canyon Creek

Drummond

Victor

Hamilton

DIG THE DISTANCE. DIG THE VIEWS.

Scobey

Peerless

Whitewater

Westby

Whitetail Flaxville

Four Buttes

Opheim Loring

Havre

Big Sandy

Ulm

Greenough Helmville Bonner GARNET Clinton GHOST TOWN

Virgelle

Great Falls

Fort Shaw

Craig

THE PRICKLY PEAR CANYON

Lincoln

Loma

Fort Benton

Yellowstone National Park

Fairfield Vaughn

Ovando

Missoula

Corvallis

Box Elder

Southwest

Brady Montana

Cascade

Seeley Lake

Rudyard

Conrad

Choteau

Augusta

St. Ignatius

Arlee

Chester

Galata

Glacier National Park Dupuyer

Bynum

Condon

Ronan

Moiese Dixon

Alberton

Chinook

Shelby Valier

Heart Butte

Swan Lake

Polson

Paradise

Turner

Sunburst

East Glacier Park

Flathead River

Rollins Proctor Dayton Elmo Big Arm

Plains

Superior

Cut Bank

Browning

Coram Martin City Hungry Horse Essex

Lakeside

Noxon

Sweetgrass

Babb

Polebridge

Fortine Trego Troy

Heron

Garryowen

Ashland

WA R RI O R

T R A IL

Busby

Lodge Grass Wyola

Jeff Ewelt

Olive HI G

H WA Y

CHAIRPERSON, VISIT SOUTHEAST MONTANA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Broadus

Birney Otter

Biddle

Alzada

Decker

BEARTOOTH ALL-AMERICAN ROAD

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

BIG SPACE IS IN OUR NATURE.

BE SAFE OUT HERE.

of Lewis & Clark

SafeOutHereMT.com | 1.800.346.1876 ORDER YOUR FREE TRAVEL GUIDE AT SOUTHWESTMT.COM OR CALL 1.800.879.1159

Makoshika State Park, Aaron Theisen

instagram.com/southeastmontana twitter.com/visitsemontana

ON THE COVER Yucca plants, iconic of arid environments, thrive in the rugged Terry Badlands Wilderness Study Area, located near Terry. To take in a stunning sunrise or sunset as the changing light reflects off buttes, banded cliffs and sandstone spires, use a high-profile, all-wheel vehicle to access Scenic Overlook (north on highway 253) or the Calypso Trail (west on Old Highway 10). Once known as a bootlegger route, today’s Calypso Trail remains a primitive two-track road—the only legal place for vehicles or bikes. For complete immersion, pull over and hike to relatively untouched natural bridges and hoodoos.

Cover photo by Kevin League Any reproduction or reprint of this guide, or portion thereof, without written permission from Visit Southeast Montana is prohibited. Information subject to change without notification. To advertise in the next guide, please call 406.829.8200. Printed for free distribution. Left: Makoshika State Park, Visit Montana 2

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Last Best Place. Safety First. In Montana, we take the responsible route. WEAR FACE COVERINGS Mask up in Montana.

PRACTICE PHYSICAL DISTANCING Six feet is nothing around here.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS Follow illness-prevention protocols.

TRAVEL + RECREATE RESPONSIBLY Be prepared, and know before you go.

LEAVE NO TRACE Help us preserve our wild places.

BE KIND We’re all in this together.

Visit SafetyFirstMT.com for more information.

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WELCOME

WELCOME TO SOUTHEAST MONTANA “ I ’M IN LOVE WITH MONTANA. FOR OTHER STATES I HAVE ADMIRATION, RESPECT, RECOGNITION, EVEN SOME AFFECTION. BUT WITH MONTANA IT IS LOVE. AND IT’S DIFFICULT TO ANALYZE LOVE WHEN YOU’RE IN IT.” –JOHN STEINBECK

Out here in Southeast Montana, we aren’t surprised by the words of John Steinbeck. Anybody who has lived here, visited here or driven through here knows that with Montana, it is love. We know that when you visit Southeast Montana and drive our highways, dirt roads, scenic routes and historic trails, you too will find it difficult to analyze the feelings you experience. There’s just something about it—those smiles you get from passersby on the streets of our small towns; the chatter you overhear from the ranchers sitting at the next table in the local diner; the riot of color as the sun sets over the badlands in a sky that, though you know it sounds crazy, just looks bigger here than it does anywhere else. Then you begin to understand: You are in love with Montana. These experiences can be easy to miss. Our two major thoroughfares, Interstate Highway 90 and Interstate Highway 94, speed travelers through our part of the state quite efficiently, and many pass through without ever taking the time to experience the beauty and adventure this region offers. We encourage you not to make this mistake. Whether you would like to visit some of Montana’s most intimate small towns, or Billings—its largest—Southeast Montana offers experiences that can take your trip from memorable to unforgettable.

Right: Makoshika State Park,Traveling Mel 4

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Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE IN EVERY DIRECTION.

Make Red Lodge your home base for big Montana adventure. Endless wilderness and towering mountains surround an enchanting town full of shops, restaurants, entertainment and friendly locals—all at the base of the iconic Beartooth Highway to Yellowstone Park.

redlodge.com 6

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SOUTHEAST MONTANA VISITOR CENTERS BIG HORN COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM & VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER

1163 3rd St. E. | Hardin, MT 59034 406.665.1671 bighorncountymuseum.org info@bighorncountymuseum.org Open year-round GLENDIVE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & AGRICULTURE/CVB

808 N. Merrill Ave. | Glendive MT 59330 406.377.5601 glendivechamber.com director@glendivechamber.com Open year-round MILES CITY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

511 Pleasant St. | Miles City, MT 59301 406.234.2890 milescitychamber.com office.milescitychamber@gmail.com Open year-round POWDER RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & AGRICULTURE & BROADUS VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER

2 Scale Road | Broadus, MT 59317 406.436.2778 prchamberofcomm.com powderriverchamber@gmail.com Open seasonally VISIT BILLINGS

815 S. 27th St. | Billings, MT 59107-1177 Call or Text: 406.245.4111 visitbillings.com info@visitbillings.com Open year-round WIBAUX COUNTY VISITOR’S CENTER

Find distinctive treasures that are from the plains of Southeast Montana while visiting this unique 2020 Montana Retailer of the year. Prairie Unique offers a variety of gourmet food, candy, art, toys and special gifts, all made in Montana.

114 SOUTH LOGAN AVENUE • TERRY, MT 406.635.5598 • PRAIRIEUNIQUE.COM

505 2nd Ave. N.E. | Wibaux, MT 59353 406.796.2253 Email: wibauxmt@midrivers.com Open seasonally

In addition to visitor information and resources, you’ll also find regional maps—such as history maps—at these locations. 1.800.346.1876 | SAFEOUTHEREMT.COM

SPONSORED

TEN SAFE THINGS TO DO OUT HERE OUT HERE, SPACE IS IN OUR NATURE. WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF PUBLIC LANDS, WATERWAYS AND WILDLIFE, THERE’S PLENTY OF ROOM TO GET OUTSIDE IN SOUTHEAST MONTANA SAFELY.

APPRECIATE OUTDOOR ART You don’t have to visit a museum or gallery to see beautiful art in Southeast Montana. Check out the Downtown ArtWalk in Billings or get off the interstate in Miles City and you’ll be greeted by a horse sculpture, crafted by a local artist. Photo – Visit Southeast Montana

BIKING Slow down and appreciate Southeast Montana’s stunning scenery from your bicycle seat. Take on the more rugged terrain of the Acton Recreation Area or Phipps Park in Billings or, head farther east to the Terry Badlands Wilderness Study Area (no off-roading allowed here) or Makoshika State Park for views of sandstone bridges, buttes and badland formations. Photo – Andy Austin

GO BIRDING Out here you’ll find eagles, osprey, owls, herons and Montana’s state bird, the Western meadowlark, among a plethora of species. Pirogue Island State Park, Lake Elmo State Park, Makoshika State Park, Medicine Rocks State Park, the Roundup RiverWalk and Pompeys Pillar National Monument all offer trails for the budding to the veteran ornithologists. Photo – Sharon Borla

KAYAKING Explore the waters at your own pace out here. Whether you’re taking on the massive Bighorn Lake or going for a leisurely paddle at Castle Rock Lake, find peace in the calming waters. If rivers are more you style, consider the mighty Yellowstone River— mid-summer to fall makes for calmer waters. Photo – Andy Austin

HIKING Makoshika State Park and the Terry Badlands Wilderness Study Area (WSA) boast some of the most awe-inspiring views of the badlands out here. You’ll also find trails throughout the region near the Yellowstone River at places like Pompeys Pillar National Monument or Four Dances Natural Area for 360-degree views of the river valley. Photo – Andy Austin

HONOR OUR MILITARY Out here in Southeast Montana, we reflect and honor those who’ve served in the armed forces. Safely pay tribute outdoors at cemeteries, battlefields and memorials across the region, including the Little Bighorn Battlefield, Custer National Cemetery and two national veteran cemeteries. Photo – Donnie Sexton

Photo – Makoshika State Park, Andy Austin 8 2

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DIG OUR DINOS Learn about the dinosaurs who once called Southeast Montana home along the Montana Dinosaur Trail. Or, participate in your own adventure to find fossils during the warmer months with private digs hosted by Baisch’s Dino Digs and the Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum. Photo – Andy Austin

EXPLORE BATTLEFIELDS

Perhaps the most studied battle in U.S. history, the Battle of the Little Bighorn is commemorated at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. This park encompasses two battlefields to recognize the efforts of Crazy Horse and the Plains Indians against Lt. Col. Custer and the U.S. 7th Cavalry. About an hour away, Rosebud Battlefield State Park honors the battle that took place just a week before the Battle of Little Bighorn. Photo – Andy Austin CLIMB ABOARD & FLOAT AWAY From the massive 1,000-foot-high canyon walls in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area to the man-made recreation area of the Tongue River Reservoir, you will find stunning scenery that is truly unique to the region. Rent a boat from the Ok-A-Beh Marina (seasonally) near Fort Smith and the marina store at Tongue River Reservoir State Park also offers boat rentals seasonally. Photo – Andy Austin

GAZE AT THE STARS Out here in Southeast Montana, social distancing comes naturally and our unpolluted night skies provide optimal viewing. We suggest Medicine Rocks State Park or camping in the Custer National Forest. Photo – Alexis Bonogofsky

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MOR E RO OM TO ROA M . LESS TIME TO STRESS. In Missouri River Country, less always means more—because less traffic, less noise and less people means more time to make memories in Montana. Dig for dinosaurs, pan for gold, fish for walleye and breathe fresh air in the unique and expansive landscapes of Northeast Montana.

Explore Responsibly.

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RECREATION

FROM CANYONS TO BADLANDS AT BIGHORN CANYON, DISCOVER A 71-MILE LAKE STRETCHED THROUGH A CANYON WITH WALLS A THOUSAND FEET HIGH. AND, IN THE BADLANDS, FOSSILS ARE SO ABUNDANT YOU MIGHT WALK RIGHT OVER SOME WITHOUT EVEN NOTICING.

Montana. The name is synonymous with spectacular, unspoiled nature. Southeast Montana is an essential part of this story. Here you can experience pristine nature in the valley of the untamed Yellowstone River as it flows unchecked toward its rendezvous with the Missouri River, or from a rented pontoon boat on Bighorn Lake, as you gaze up at the towering 1,000-foot walls of Bighorn Canyon. How about watching the sunset paint the badlands red and gold from your vantage point in Makoshika State Park? We want to help you experience these places locals have known about for generations. If you are traveling I-94 between Yellowstone National Park and the North Dakota border, you will be following the Yellowstone River Valley. Here you can watch as the endless prairie gives way to the steep ravines and colorful rocks of the badlands. Recreational opportunities include hiking and sightseeing at Makoshika State Park near Glendive and the Terry Badlands with its awe-inspiring natural stone bridges. If you are driving west from Mount Rushmore toward the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, you will find yourself on U.S. Highway 212. Also known as the Warrior Trail, this route will lead you through the heart of the Wolf Mountains, home to many battlefields and sites sacred to the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. Thousands of acres of Custer Gallatin National Forest land lie between Broadus and Ashland and are open to hiking, camping and other recreation.

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OUT HERE

BIGHORN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA With a 71-mile long lake that straddles the MontanaWyoming border, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area-North Unit provides access to some the region’s most remote areas. Bring your own boat to fish, waterski or paddle to a boat-in-only campsite. No boat? Seasonal pontoon rentals are available at Ok-Ah-Beh Marina. Top: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Andy Austin; Bottom Left: Medicine Rocks State Park, Cole Waltner; Bottom Right: Makoshika State Park, Nathan Satran Photography

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RECREATION

If you really want to get away from it all, take state Highway 7 between South Dakota and North Dakota. Here you’ll pass through Montana’s own small piece of the Black Hills. Hike out to see the Chalk Buttes south of Ekalaka, as rich in American Indian history as in breathtaking vistas. North of Ekalaka is Medicine Rocks State Park, said by some to be Montana’s most unique campground in an area that American Indians called “Big Medicine.”

BOATING Despite what you may have heard about eastern Montana, we are not all flatland and prairie. In fact, boating is very popular in this part of the state. Both the Tongue River Reservoir and Bighorn Canyon provide boating enthusiasts with plenty of beautiful scenery; clean, cool water; and, most importantly, space. If you are traveling cross-country and don’t have a boat with you, rent one at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area at Ok-A-Beh Marina near Fort Smith.

HIKING There’s nothing like experiencing Montana on foot, up close and personal. This part of the state is chock-full of hiking opportunities, from badlands to wildlife-laden prairies to towering canyon walls. You don’t need special equipment or reservations—just a good pair of shoes, a bottle of water and a spirit for adventure.

In addition to hiking in Makoshika and Medicine Rocks state parks, Four Dances Natural Area and the Terry Badlands, you can also hit the trail at these popular spots: STRAWBERRY HILL RECREATION AREA, MILES CITY

Explore 4,248 acres including trails, unique rock formations and views of the Yellowstone River Valley. POMPEYS PILLAR NATIONAL MONUMENT, POMPEYS PILLAR

Hike the .8-mile loop trail along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail near Pompeys Pillar National Monument or climb 202 steps to see the same view as Captain William Clark. SUNDANCE LODGE RECREATION AREA, LAUREL

A birder’s favorite offering 3 miles of hiking on the Lewis and Clark and Nez Perce National Historic trails. ROUNDUP RIVERWALK HERITAGE TRAIL, ROUNDUP

The 3-mile Heritage Trail and River Walk offers beautiful scenery along the sandstone breaks and Musselshell River corridor. LAKE ELMO STATE PARK, BILLINGS

This 64-acre reservoir boasts a 1.4-mile nature trail around Lake Elmo. ROSEBUD BATTLEFIELD STATE PARK, BUSBY

Enjoy peaceful hiking on 3,052 acres featuring Kobold Buffalo Jump, Crook’s Hill, Conical Hill and Van Vliet’s Ridge.

Photos – Above: Makoshika State Park, Nathan Satran Photography; Right Inset Photos 1. Makoshika State Park, Nathan Satran Photography; 2. Medicine Rocks State Park, Nathan Satran Photography; 3. Calypso Trail, Nathan Satran Photography; 4. Four Dances Natural Area, Visit Billings; 5. Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Andy Austin 14

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Rexford

Yaak

Eureka Fortine Trego

Troy

Libby

TOP Heron Trout Creek

Cut Bank

Apgar West Glacier

Shelby

Columbia Coram Falls Martin City GLACIER

Kila

Heart Butte

Conrad

Ronan

Paradise

Fort Benton

Charlo

Ulm

Seeley Lake

Arlee

Cascade

O AH ID

Alberton

Bonner

Lolo

Clinton

Corvallis

Glendive

Lewistown

Hobson

Utica

East Helena

Garrison

Elliston

Clancy

Judith Gap

Winston

Jefferson City Basin

Philipsburg

White Sulphur Springs

Two Dot

Martinsdale

Townsend

Divide

Silver Star

Whitehall

Manhattan

Three Forks

Wisdom

Jackson

Melrose

Twin Bridges

Harrison Pony Norris

Polaris

Alder

Salmon

Gallatin Gateway

Sheridan

Nevada Ennis City

Virginia City

Bannack

Mammoth Hot Springs

Monida

West Yellowstone

Lakeview

IDAHO

55 75

Roscoe

Island Park

Spencer

Fort Smith

Lame Deer Busby

Volborg

Ashland

Olive Broadus 323

Birney Otter

Wyola

Biddle

Alzada

Decker

WYOMING

WYOMING Sheridan

14 14

Greybull

Deadwood

Sundance

385 16

Upton

Worland

Ashton

OUR FAVORITE TRAIL: You can camp, picnic, watch wildlife or go hiking on a short .75-mile trail. If you’re looking for a little longer hike, get off the beaten path and explore one of the high points of Southeast Montana with a trip to the Chalk Buttes. The white sandstone buttes rise seemingly out of the prairie just 15 miles southwest of the town of Ekalaka. Climb 700 feet and walk the ridgeline with no set trails, but the opportunity for endless adventure. 3. CALYPSO TRAIL Terry, Montana, is a small town rich with history. Famed 19th-century photographer Evelyn Cameron called Terry home, and her work can be seen at the Evelyn Cameron Heritage and the Evelyn Cameron Gallery. OUR FAVORITE TRAIL: After visiting the museum, head out of town to the Calypso Trail, a 5.5-mile primitive road leading to impressive arches, bridges, flat tabletops, pinnacles, spires and scoria escarpments. At the end of the road, stretch your legs to get a firsthand look at these amazing structures as you hike and scramble your way to 360-degree vantage points. You will need dry roads and a high-clearance, all-wheel-drive vehicle.

Rapid City

MT RUSHMORE

120

Moran

Sturgis Lead

Gillette

SOUTH DAKOTA

Buffalo 4. FOUR DANCES NATURAL AREA Minutes from downtown Billings is the 25 Four Dances Natural Area, also known locally as Sacrifice Cliffs. Standing atop the sandstone cliffs yields spectacular views looking up the Yellowstone River Valley and the south hills. 16

Spearfish

DEVIL’S TOWER

Cody 20

Belle Fourche

112 14

Bridger

Lovell

Arco

Crow Agency Garryowen Saint Xavier Lodge Grass

Belfry

Tower Junction

Roberts

Colstrip

Hardin

Red Lodge

Canyon Norris Madison Junction Lake West Thumb Old Faithful Grant Village

2. MEDICINE ROCKS STATE PARK AND CHALK BUTTES As its name implies, Medicine Rocks Rexburg was a place of “Big Medicine,” where Idaho Falls Jackson American Indian hunting parties danced and prayed for a successful hunt. Teddy Roosevelt described Medicine Rocks “as fantastically beautiful a place as I have ever seen” when he visited in the 1800s as a young rancher. Weathering has given the soft sandstone rock formations a Swiss cheese look. 75

Fishtail

Nye

Park City Rockvale Joliet Pryor

Silver Cooke Gate City

Gardiner

Dell Lima

Absarokee

Cameron

Grant

Billings

Laurel

Columbus

McLeod

Pray Emigrant

Big Sky

Pompeys Huntley Pillar

SOUTH DAKOTA

OUR FAVORITE TRAIL: Stretch your legs along the Cap Bozeman Rock Trail, an easy 1-mile loop with unlimited possibilities for all-day exploration of unique sandstone rills, pinnacles, Dillon caprocks and even a natural bridge. To learn more about Makoshika, explore the visitor center, located at the entrance to the park. 406.377.6256, stateparks.mt.gov/makoshika

Ekalaka

Worden

Greycliff Reed Point

Marmarth

Baker

Forsyth

SOUTHEAST MONTANA

Custer

Clyde Park

Belgrade Livingston

Plevna

Rosebud

Bighorn Broadview

Wilsall

Logan

Dewey

Ismay

Hysham

Ringling

Wise River

Beach Fallon

Miles City

Roundup

Boulder

Sula

Terry

Ingomar

Melstone

Harlowton

Darby

Conner

Mosby

Dickinson

Wibaux

Sand Springs

Winnett

Grass Range

Canyon Creek

Drummond

Stevensville

Denton

Neihart

Savage

Bloomfield Jordan

Roy

Stanford

Monarch

Wolf Creek

Florence

Victor

Stockett

Craig

Lincoln

Ovando Greenough Helmville

Belt Raynesford Geyser

Circle

Brusett

Fort Shaw

St. Ignatius

Crane

Winifred

Augusta

Dixon Moiese

Superior

Fairview

Sidney

Landusky Zortman

Fairfield Vaughn

Condon

Williston

Bainville

Culbertson

Poplar

Fort Peck

Loma

Choteau

Plains

De Borgia St. Regis

Wolf Point

TA NORTH DAKO

Haugan

Malta

Big Sandy

Froid

Glasgow

1. MAKOSHIKA STATE PARK Badlands scenery, dinosaur digs, an Polson Great Falls 18-hole disc golf course and more than 11,000 acres of undeveloped hiking opportunities come together to make up Montana’s largest, and Missoula one of its most unique, state parks. Helena Makoshika (Ma-kó-shik-ka) received Montana its name from a Lakota Sioux phrase meaning “land of bad City Deer Lodge spirits.” Today the park is known for breathtaking scenery Hamilton Anaconda and a wealth of dinosaur bones. It is not unusual to see Butte ongoing dinosaur digs near the park. Big Timber Thompson Hot Springs Falls

Hinsdale

Saco

Virgelle

Brady

Bynum

Swan Lake

Dodson

Fort Belknap Agency

Dupuyer

Bigfork

Somers

Havre

Box Elder

Valier

Lakeside

Rollins Proctor Dayton Elmo Big Arm

Chester

Galata

East Glacier Park

NATIONAL PARK Essex

Medicine Lake

Rudyard

RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCES Hungry Horse

Chinook

Browning

Westby

Plentywood

Scobey

Turner

Sunburst

St. Mary

Lake McDonald

Whitefish Kalispell

Marion

Noxon

Babb

Polebridge

Jewel Cave NP

Newcastle Wright

Hot Springs

Thermopolis

Casperis a 2.6-mile loop OUR FAVORITE TRAIL: Four Dances Trail located near Billings, Montana. The trail is rated as moderate and is primarily used for hiking.

5. BIGHORN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA Straddling the Montana-Wyoming border, the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area encompasses 120,000 acres including a 71-mile-long lake. The towering canyon walls stretch 1,000 feet above Bighorn Lake, creating an amazing contrast in scale between humans and land. The best way to experience the Bighorn Canyon’s North Unit in Southeast Montana is by boat. Bring your own or rent a pontoon at Ok-A-Beh Marina (open seasonally). Travel into canyon fingers and crevices to find the perfect picnic spot—all accessible by water only. Hiking options from the North Unit include Beaver Pond Nature Trail, Head Gate Trail and Three Mile Access Trail along the Bighorn River, below After Bay. OUR FAVORITE TIP: National Park Service Rangers offer programs throughout the summer, which the NPS posts on the Facebook page and bulletin board. Learn about the Crow Nation, historic river trips, the bears of Bighorn Canyon, floating the Bighorn, night skies and more.

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Custer 16

RECREATION ROCK HUNTING

ASTROTOURISM

One of the lesser-known activities available in Southeast Montana is rock hunting along the Yellowstone River. Experienced rockhounds can find agates ranging from blue to red to even black or brown. Yellowstone River agates, which were formed millions of years ago by volcanic eruptions, are treasured by rock hunters nationwide due to their coloration and hardness. If agates don’t catch your interest, be sure to watch for pieces of petrified wood. Though agates and petrified wood can be found anywhere along the river, the best spots for rock hunting are fishing access sites between Forsyth and Glendive.

Montana’s famous big skies are just as epic when night falls. With the right conditions, you might even be able to see the Milky Way or catch the northern lights. The best spots for night sky viewing are Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Medicine Rocks State Park and Makoshika State Park—featuring astronomy events inHarlowton the park’s amphitheater; check the park’s Facebook page for programming. 12

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WILDLIFE WATCHING/BIRD WATCHING The high prairies, rolling hills and dynamic badlands of Southeast Montana are teeming with wildlife. It’s Big Timber not uncommon to spot white-tailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn antelope and elk while you’re out recreating in Bozeman and around our state parks and waterways, so don’t forget Livingston your binoculars! This birder’s paradise is also home to 400+ species of birds. 191

SCENIC DRIVES Experience Southeast Montana’s spectacular, unspoiled nature from the car via scenic routes, ranging from wellmaintained two-lanes to backcountry roads. Some of the best scenic drives in Southeast Montana wind through our badlands areas, including Makoshika State Park.

Reed Po

Co Absarokee

For more information about wildlife watching, visit southeastmontana.com/wildlife, and for more information about birding, contact the Montana Audubon Center Gardiner Cooke City in Billings. 89

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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

TOP 10 PICTURE PERFECT PLACES IN SOUTHEAST MONTANA West Yellowstone

1. MAKOSHIKA STATE PARK 1301 Snyder St. • Glendive Known in Lakota to mean “bad soil or bad spirits,” Makoshika State Park is a place of transcendent light and extraordinary geological features, like natural bridges and hoodoos. With minimal light pollution, astrological observers know the skies above Makoshika are forever dynamic. Don’t forget your tripod.

2. BIGHORN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA 5 Ave. B • Fort Smith Stand at the “top of the world” for 360-degree views. The thirdlargest canyon in the country crosses the Montana-Wyoming border with a 71-mile-long lake and colorful, 1,000-foot-high canyon cliff walls. Home to mountain lions, bears, wild horses and, of course, bighorn sheep, this man-made lake is best seen from a boat (seasonal rentals) or from above.

3. FOUR DANCES NATURAL AREA 1100 Coburn Road • Billings Soaring 500 feet above the Yellowstone River, Four Dances Natural Area gives “standing on top of the world” a concrete location. Look to the east for a stunning sunrise or moon viewing, or look to the west for eternal sunsets enhanced by three mountain ranges. 16

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4. “THE RIMS” IN CUSTER GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST State Highway 323 to Rimrock Carter Road Turn south into Custer Gallatin National Forest. Stand atop these sheer cliffs, locally known as “The Rims,” and look down several hundred feet to where the prairie rolls out. On a clear day, you can see Devil’s Tower to the south. Take a trail, bring a picnic or simply marvel in the majestic space laid before you in all directions.

5. TERRY BADLANDS OVERLOOK* North of Terry on State Highway 253 for 2.1 miles; left on Scenic View Road for 5.9 miles Many locations in the Terry Badlands remain as pristine today as they were more than 100 years ago. Stop at the overlook for 360-degree views and stellar skies. Drive, bike, hike and camp this stunning public land for an amazing experience that includes natural bridges, wildlife, ecology, geology and the ever-mysterious hoodoos. The more adventurous may tackle the Calypso Trail.

1 Glendive 253

Wibaux 94

5 Terry

Fallon

PIROGUE ISLAND

Miles City Roundup

Ismay 12

Baker

Rosebud

Hysham

Lavina

YEL

ST LOW

Ekalaka RIV DE W

Hardin

Roberts

Bridger

212

Red Lodge

310

Belfry

RIV

Pryor

CROW INDIAN RESERVATION

Saint Xavier

Fort Smith

Lame Deer

313

CHIEF PLENTY COUPS

Ashland

Crow Agency

Joliet

CUSTER GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST

212

Busby

NORTHERN CHEYENNE INDIAN RESERVATION Lodge Grass

314

ROSEBUD BATTLEFIELD TONGUE RIVER RESERVOIR

BIGHORN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATIONAL AREA

Olive

212

Broadus

NATIONAL FOREST

W PO

RRI

AIL

Hammond HIG

212

Alzada

MONTANA

to Mount Rushmore National Memorial

WYOMING

to Sheridan, WY

14A

566

CUSTER GALLATIN

Laurel

PICTOGRAPH CAVES

Huntley 90

oint

CUSTER GALLATIN NF

Colstrip PO

LAKE ELMO

Custer

8 Billings

RIV

MO NTAN A

Forsyth

Broadview

olumbus

Plevna

NO RT H DA KO TA

Ingomar

Melstone

SO UT H DA KO TA

Sheridan

14A

Cody

6. MEDICINE ROCKS STATE PARK

9. SNOWY MOUNTAIN ROAD*

1141 State Highway 7 • Ekalaka Mystery is part of the allure at Montana’s easternmost state park of “big medicine,” which features sandstone spires of wind-worn, haunting hoodoos. The ranges of yellow, orange and red will thrill photographers while centuries of nearly 15,000 inscriptions echo stories that challenge time.

46°37’12.6”N 108°36’14.1”W Sometimes it’s the road less traveled. And, that’s exactly the path you need to see the sunset while overlooking Devil’s Basin and the Snowy Mountains. We won’t lie—this IS off the beaten path, but it’s worth every wild and rugged mile.

7. STRAWBERRY HILL RECREATION AREA

10. LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT

US-12, 9 miles east of Miles City This strawberry-colored hill is aptly named. When hit with the golden light of a rising or setting sun, the warm hues and emerging shadows will make your shutter finger itch. Warning: As you approach the hill’s crest, the vast vistas may cause involuntary decrease in speed and acceleration of visual intake.

Interstate 90/Frontage Road • Crow Agency Situated on a high ridge above the Little Bighorn River, the very soil seeps with intense passion from the soldiers who stoically followed orders and the warriors who gave their all to save their people’s nomadic way of life. Listen to the story from a park ranger, a tour guide or in a private telling while standing within the circular Indian Memorial.

8. POMPEYS PILLAR NATIONAL MONUMENT

*We suggest high-clearance, all-wheel-drive vehicles on dry roads.

3001 Old Highway 212 • Worden Known by American Indians as “the place where the mountain lion lies,” the 150-foot-high sandstone butte has always been a natural crossroads. Venture 202 steps to the top for a 360-degree view of the Yellowstone Valley. Be sure to catch Capt. William Clark’s carved signature—the only remaining physical, in-the-field evidence of the Corps of Discovery. 1.800.346.1876 | SAFEOUTHEREMT.COM

HISTORY

A JOURNEY THROUGH HISTORY FROM THE COULEES AT LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD TO THE VARIED AND UNIQUE COUNTY MUSEUMS, OUR HISTORIC ADVENTURES ARE WORTH THE MILES TRAVELED.

During your visit to Montana, you will undoubtedly see beautiful mountains, rivers full of sparkling trout and maybe even a bison or two. You’ll visit charming small towns and meet people who can make any stranger feel at home. These things alone would make for an incredible vacation, but in order to truly know Montana, to understand what it means to be a Montanan, you have to experience the bond that ties all of the nature, culture and people together. This bond is Montana’s history. Experiencing history is different from seeing history. Out here in Southeast Montana, history is an adventure. It’s in the thundering hooves of the ponies carrying native warriors and cavalrymen as they reenact Custer’s Last Stand. It’s in the sound of rustling cottonwood leaves as you climb the 202 steps to the top of Pompeys Pillar to catch a glimpse of what William Clark saw when he stood in that very spot. It’s in the dust and the grass of the battlefields as you follow the trails and look out over the same prairie that Lt. Col. Custer did, where he first caught a glimpse of the massive Indian village he had been pursuing. In Southeast Montana, history is an adventure that shouldn’t be missed. The full story of Montana’s history can be discovered at the many museums and historic sites in nearly every community in Southeast Montana. There are some general themes that can help you understand how this area was shaped and molded into what it is today.

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LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument actually encompasses two battlefields— the Custer Battlefield and the Reno-Benteen Battlefield. The American Indians who fought during the two-day battle are remembered and recognized through the Indian Memorial, which was unveiled in 2003. The tribute is entitled “Peace Through Unity.”

Photos – Top: Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Andy Austin; Bottom Left: Big Horn County Museum, Donnie Sexton; Bottom Right: Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Visit Southeast Montana

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HISTORY

AMERICAN INDIANS As you travel through the region and look out over the prairie, imagine how it would have been 300 years ago, when this entire area was controlled, and fought over, by many different Plains Indian tribes, each vying for control of the vast herds of buffalo, valuable trade routes and limited pony herds. The first official visit by representatives of the U.S. government was from the famous explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. On his way back east to share the news of the incredible discoveries he made, Clark stopped in Southeast Montana along the Yellowstone River to climb a peculiar sandstone pillar jutting up from the riverbank. He named it after his American Indian guide’s son, “Little Pomp,” and carved his name into the soft sandstone. This signature, as well as the pillar he climbed, can still be seen at Pompeys Pillar National Monument.

HISTORIC CONFLICT In the years that followed, people of European descent moved to Montana in larger numbers, which changed the dynamic of Southeast Montana forever. Conflicts between the American Indian tribes and the U.S. Cavalry eventually led to the Great Sioux War of the 1870s. To fully understand the legacy and impact of this war, visit the many battlefields that dot the prairie in Southeast Montana, including Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. For more information on Southeast Montana’s battlefields,

see the Battlefield Itinerary on page 22 or visit southeastmontana.com/historical-sites.

HISTORY TOURS Take a walk back in time on a guided history tour of some of Southeast Montana’s most fascinating attractions, battlefields and historic downtown districts. Rose Williamson, Crow tribal member and owner of Indian Battle Tours, tells stories from the native standpoint. Her spirited storytelling of Custer’s defeat at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument brings the battle to life. For more information, visit Indian Battle Tours on Facebook. The Western Heritage Center in Billings offers Hoof-it With a Historian tours of historic Billings locations. Tours include Bars, Brothels, and Bok Choy: Exploring Minnesota Avenue; Born a Railroad Town; Swords Rimrock Park; Historic Moss Mansion Neighborhood; and Grave Side Stories, to name just a handful. Tours are usually seasonal and require reservations. ywhc.org Take a self-guided walking tour in Broadus, known as the “Wavingest town in the West.” Eclectic meets Old West in this Warrior Trail town. Stroll the quaint downtown and stop by the Powder River Historical Museum to witness plenty of vintage treasures. Visit southeastmontana.com/tours for more information on historic tours in Southeast Montana.

Photos – Above: Powder River Historical Museum, Visit Southeast Montana; Right Inset Photos – 1. Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Nathan Satran Photography; 2. Pompeys Pillar National Monument, Nathan Satran Photography; 3. Yellowstone County Museum, Donnie Sexton; 4. Evelyn Cameron Gallery, Visit Southeast Montana; 5. Big Horn County Historical Museum, Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development

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Rexford

Yaak

5 Troy

Eureka Fortine Trego

Babb

Polebridge

Cut Bank

Apgar

STOPS TO STEP BACK IN TIME West Glacier

Shelby

Columbia Coram Falls Martin City GLACIER

Libby

Whitefish Kalispell

Heron

Marion

Noxon

Hungry Horse

Kila

Heart Butte

Conrad

Haugan

De Borgia St. Regis

Paradise

Charlo

Seeley Lake

Cascade

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Alberton

Bonner

Lolo

Clinton

Corvallis

Jordan

Glendive Sand Springs

Winnett

Grass Range

Utica

East Helena

Garrison

Elliston

Clancy

Winston

Jefferson City Basin

Philipsburg

White Sulphur Springs

Mosby

Two Dot

Townsend

Ingomar

Melstone

Harlowton

Ringling

Wise River

Jackson

Silver Star

Melrose

Twin Bridges

Whitehall

Harrison Pony Norris

Alder

Nevada Ennis City

Virginia City

Bannack

Pray Emigrant

Big Sky

Mammoth Hot Springs

Monida

West Yellowstone

Lakeview

Island Park

Spencer

Roscoe

Roberts

Park City Rockvale Joliet Pryor Bridger

Fort Smith

Belle Fourche

Spearfish

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5. BIG HORN COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM Located in Hardin, near the former Fort Custer, this museum features 35 acres of historic buildings and artifacts relating to Big Horn County’s early history. Exhibits include original works of artist Will James, a diorama of the original fort and extensive artifacts from military and frontier life in the late 1800s. A boardwalk links the main exhibit building with 24 historic structures, including a church, train station and barns full of historic vehicles and equipment. There are also artifacts relating to the American Indians who lived in this area, including Yellowtail’s vision teepee, in the main gallery. 406.665.1671, bighorncountymuseum.org

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Hot Springs

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Sturgis Lead

Gillette

4. PRAIRIE COUNTY MUSEUM Buffalo AND EVELYN CAMERON GALLERY 25 What happens when you take a sophisticated English gentlewoman (as a child she had a servant whose only job was to comb her hair), give her a glass-plate camera, and drop her in the middle of the Southeast Montana prairie? In this Casper case, you get an amazing story, complete with photos to document it. The Evelyn Cameron Gallery in Terry showcases this amazing woman’s photography, which gives us a rare glimpse of ranch life on the Montana prairie in the late 1800s. You can learn about her life and her attempts to breed polo ponies to send back to England. In the end, her only real source of income was to sell her photos. To learn more about the Evelyn Cameron Gallery, and for information on operating hours and seasons or to schedule an off-season tour, contact the museum in Terry. 406.635.4040, visitterrymontana.com. Worland

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3. YELLOWSTONE COUNTY MUSEUM This museum is located atop the Billings Rimrocks, overlooking the city of Billings and the Yellowstone River Valley. The museum, which houses more than 25,000 artifacts relating to the early history of Yellowstone County, consists of an upper and lower section, with the upper being housed in a wealthy cattleman’s log cabin dating back to 1892. Stop by to have a look at the fully assembled chuck wagon, early Western gun collection and the museum’s amazing collection of American Indian artifacts, including a moccasin collection unmatched out here in Southeast Montana. 406.256.6811, ycmhistory.org

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WYOMING Sheridan

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2. POMPEYS PILLAR NATIONAL MONUMENT Rexburg Before even the first European Idaho Falls trappers ventured into the untamed Jackson American wilderness, Pompeys Pillar was a meeting place for American Indian tribes who camped and hunted in the area. They left their mark on the stone in the form of symbols and images. Pompeys Pillar’s most famous visitor, William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, left his signature on the stone when he stopped in 1806. The signature can still be seen clearly carved into the rock—it is the only visible, accessible, evidence left in the field. Climb 202 stairs to the very top of the pillar to witness Clark’s view from more than 200 years ago. The Interpretive Center helps tell the story, and children will enjoy the extensive grounds including a teepee and replica dugout canoe. 406.875.2400, blm.gov/office/pompeys-pillar-national-monument

Busby

Wyola

Belfry

Tower Junction

Canyon Norris Madison Junction Lake West Thumb Old Faithful Grant Village

Lame Deer

Crow Agency

Volborg

Hardin

Garryowen Saint Xavier Lodge Grass

Red Lodge

Silver Cooke Gate City

Gardiner

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Cameron

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Dell Lima

Absarokee

Billings

Laurel

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Pompeys Huntley Pillar

Greycliff Reed Point

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Custer

Big Timber

Clyde Park

Gallatin Gateway

Sheridan

Polaris

Salmon

Manhattan

Three Forks

Marmarth

Baker

SOUTH DAKOTA

Wisdom

Divide

Plevna

Forsyth Rosebud

Bighorn Broadview

Wilsall

Logan

Dewey

Fallon

Ismay

Hysham

Boulder

Sula

Beach

Miles City

Roundup

Darby

Conner

Terry

Judith Gap

Martinsdale

Dickinson

Wibaux

Lewistown Hobson

Canyon Creek

Drummond

Stevensville

Neihart

Savage

Circle

Brusett Roy

Denton

Stanford

Monarch

Wolf Creek

Florence

Victor

Stockett

Craig

Lincoln

Ovando Greenough Helmville

Belt Raynesford Geyser

Ulm

Crane Bloomfield

Winifred

Fort Shaw

Arlee

Fairview

Augusta

St. Ignatius

Williston

Bainville

Sidney

Landusky Zortman

Fairfield Vaughn

Dixon Moiese

Superior

Culbertson

Poplar

Fort Peck

Fort Benton

Condon

Ronan

Wolf Point

Glasgow

Loma

Choteau

Plains

Malta

Big Sandy

Froid

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Thompson Hot Springs Falls

Hinsdale

Saco

Virgelle

Brady

Bynum

Swan Lake

Dodson

Fort Belknap Agency

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Rollins Proctor Dayton Elmo Big Arm

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Box Elder

1. LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT Polson Great This site, previously known as Falls Custer Battlefield, memorializes one of the greatest battles fought between the U.S. Cavalry Missoula and the Plains Indians seeking to maintain control over their ancestral lands. Helena Montana Lt. Col. Custer led 263 men into battle against a much City Deer Lodge larger force of Sioux and Northern Cheyenne warriors. All Hamilton Anaconda including Custer himself, of the men in Custer’s column, were killed. The National MonumentButte includes a museum featuring interpretation of the clues left behind atBelgrade theLivingston site, Bozeman which fill in some of the details of this grisly battle, though many remain unknown. More recently, an Indian Memorial was erected to honor the warriorsDillon and tribes involved with the battle. Several walking trails with interpretive signage, as well as an audio tour, tell the story of the battle. For other tour options, see southeastmontana.com/tours. IDAHO 406.638.2621, nps.gov/libi Trout Creek

Medicine Lake

Rudyard

Valier

Bigfork

Somers

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East Glacier Park

NATIONAL PARK Essex

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HISTORY

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BATTLEFIELD ITINERARY Southeast Montana was no stranger to conflicts between warrior tribes and U.S. Cavalry. Drive this loop, which includes U.S. Highway 212, also known as the Warrior Trail, to follow in the footsteps of these warring nations and learn how broken treaties, competing goals and human nature led to all-out war on the Montana prairie. If you are a true history buff, follow the Trail to the Little Bighorn, a series of 19 roadside markers telling the story of events leading up to and immediately following the Battle of Little Bighorn. You will follow dirt roads and traverse the same rolling prairies that the 7th Cavalry did more than 100 years ago. Download the map at southeastmontana.com/maps.

1. BILLINGS A great place to begin your journey, the Western Heritage Center and the Yellowstone County Museum will help get you oriented and paint the picture of how conflicts with the Plains Indians began.

2. POMPEYS PILLAR This sandstone pillar, known by tribes as “the place where the mountain lion lies,” served as a meeting place for centuries. William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition carved his name in the stone, right next to Indian petroglyphs carved there much earlier. See the site where Lt. Col. George A. Custer camped while leading a gold-hunting expedition years later.

3. MILES CITY The saga continues with the establishment of Fort Keogh. Learn about the fort and its role in the Indian Wars at the Range Riders Museum in Miles City.

Livingston

4. ASHLAND Get the American Indian perspective at the St. Labre Cheyenne Museum in Ashland. Learn about the culture of the Crow and Cheyenne tribes and how they continue to honor the traditions of their ancestors today. 89

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5. CROW AGENCY Grab a bite with locals at the Custer Battlefield Trading Post and Café—try a bison burger or Indian taco, made on YELLOWSTONE PARK traditional fry bread. Be sure to browse the wideNATIONAL selection of West gifts and artisan work here or at Medicine Turtle and River Yellowstone Crow Trading Posts where you’ll find handcrafted souvenirs.

6. LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT In the heart of Crow Country at Crow Agency is the site that marked the climax of the Indian Wars. See where Lt. Col. Custer attacked a superior force of Sioux and Cheyenne and saw more than 200 of his men killed. Battlefield tours from the National Park Service or a personal guide tell the full story of this world-famous battle.

7. GARRYOWEN Don’t miss the Custer Battlefield Museum, which boasts more than 100 historical photographs, firearms, Indian artifacts, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a large Custer collection.

8. HARDIN Learn about the rise and fall of Fort Custer at the Big Horn County Museum. With extensive exhibits, including many original buildings, learn about the tireless efforts of Europeans and American Indians alike who worked to homestead the wild prairie and build a life for themselves in the wake of the Indian Wars.

Photos – Above: Little Bighorn Reenactment, Crow Agency, Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development; Right: Chief Plenty Coups State Park, Montana State Parks 22

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Fallon

Ismay

Miles City Roundup

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9. CHIEF PLENTY COUPS STATE PARK Finish your journey with a stop at this farmstead that Chief Plenty Coups, the last traditional Crow chief and visionary, left as a place for all cultures to come together in peace. First a warrior then a farmer, Chief Plenty Coups lead the transition of the Apsáalooke people from the “buffalo days” into the 20th century.

Follow history across Southeast Montana via maps found at southeastmontana.com/maps.

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THE LAND HAS A STORY TO TELL

In Southeast Montana, natural beauty blends with the rich history of the Old West, along with the traditions of the Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribes, to transport you to storied days gone by. Walk over the battlefields where brave warriors and soldiers laid down their lives. Follow the courageous footsteps of Lewis and Clark. Or, experience the dynamics that ranching and railroad brought to these rolling prairies. 1.800.346.1876 | SAFEOUTHEREMT.COM

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INDIAN NATIONS

THE CROW AND NORTHERN CHEYENNE SOUTHEAST MONTANA IS A HUB OF AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURES, WITH TWO OF THE EIGHT TRIBAL NATIONS IN MONTANA LOCATED ONLY A SHORT DRIVE FROM BILLINGS.

The Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian reservations are full of scenic landscapes with outdoor recreation opportunities, battlefields with storied histories and modern expressions of cultural heritage through local artisans and powwow celebrations. Visit the reservations to learn more about the people—and experience firsthand the traditions—of the tribes that call Montana home. The two reservations are located adjacent to one another and lie along the routes of U.S. Highway 212 and I-90. If you are traveling east from Billings, the first reservation you will encounter is the Crow, followed by the Northern Cheyenne. The Crow Reservation was established by treaties in 1851 and 1868, while presidential order created the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in 1884.

Photos – Top: Crow Fair, Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development; Bottom Left: Crow Fair, Visit Southeast Montana; Bottom Right: Northern Cheyenne Victory Days, Visit Montana

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CROW FAIR The annual Crow Fair Celebration Powwow & Rodeo is typically held the third week of August each year. The Apsáalooke (or Crow) Tribe hosts parades, a four-day powwow, a rodeo and horse races at the “Tipi Capital of the World” in Crow Agency, near Hardin. Crow Fair is the largest tribal event in Montana and one of the largest in the nation, with thousands attending this epic celebration.

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INDIAN NATIONS THE CROW The Crow people call themselves Apsáalooke, which means “People of the Large Beaked Bird.” Early translators misinterpreted this name as “Crow.” The reservation encompasses many renowned historic and recreational sites, including Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, the Bighorn River and Chief Plenty Coups State Park. It is also home to the worldfamous Crow Fair Powwow—the Teepee Capital of the World—and Crow Native Days, which takes place on the anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn. The Crow Reservation is one of the largest in Montana, and the Crow are one of the few tribes who were allowed to remain on their ancestral land.

NORTHERN CHEYENNE One of the most striking features of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation is the terrain created by the Wolf Mountains. The range runs across the reservation and helps make this one of the most beautiful reservations in eastern Montana. A visit to the St. Labre Indian School and Museum in Ashland will help you learn the amazing story of how these people escaped captivity in Oklahoma to return to Montana. Places of interest on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation include Chief Two Moons Monument near Busby and the Jesse Mullin Picture Museum in Lame Deer.

POWWOWS Nothing exemplifies the beauty of American Indian culture like a powwow. In modern times, the powwow has come to represent the honor and respect American Indians have for each other and for their traditions. When visiting a powwow for the first time, you will notice that the powwow singers are held in high regard. These singing groups consist of several men sitting in a circle around a large drum. Each man has a baton that he uses to beat out the rhythm of the song they sing in unison along with the drum. The groups often include both older and younger tribal members, as the younger singers are being taught the songs and the traditions of the powwow. You will also notice that the drum groups wear plain clothes. Only the dancers will be wearing the bright colors and traditional garb normally associated with powwows.

CEREMONY ETIQUETTE There are a few things to remember about visiting a powwow or other American Indian events that will help you get the most out of your experience. First, don’t expect events to begin exactly when they are supposed to. As with many cultures around the world, time in Crow and Northern Cheyenne cultures is more fluid than many people are accustomed to. Also, be cautious when taking photos. Rules for photography can be different from tribe to tribe and from powwow to powwow. If there is any question about whether photography is allowed, be sure to ask somebody involved with the management of the powwow. Finally, shop local. Immerse yourself in the experience by eating at local concession stands, shopping at local arts and crafts displays, and buying raffle tickets. You may have to pay a small fee to watch the powwow, but the effort put into the event by the dancers and the management team far outweighs the financial compensation they receive when sharing their culture.

Photos – Above: Crow Fair, Allen Russell; Right Inset Photos – 1. St. Labre Indian School and Museum, Nathan Satran Photography; 2. Chief Plenty Coups State Park, Montana State Parks; 3. Rosebud Battlefield State Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; 4. Cheyenne Victory Days, Visit Montana; 5. Crow Fair, Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development 26

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Rexford

Yaak

Eureka Fortine Trego

Babb

Polebridge

NATIVE SIGHTS AND EVENTS Cut Bank

Apgar

Troy

Shelby

Columbia Coram Falls Martin City GLACIER

Libby

Whitefish Kalispell

Hungry Horse

Kila

Marion

Noxon

Trout Creek

Thompson Hot Springs Falls

Haugan

Charlo

Seeley Lake

Cascade

O AH ID

Alberton

Lincoln

Ovando

Helmville

Clinton

Corvallis

Neihart

East Helena

Garrison

Elliston

Clancy

Winston

Jefferson City Basin

Philipsburg

Denton

Jordan

Glendive Stanford

Sand Springs

Winnett

Grass Range

Utica

White Sulphur Springs

Mosby

Judith Gap Two Dot

Townsend

Ingomar

Jackson

Divide

Silver Star

Melrose

Twin Bridges

Whitehall

Harrison Pony Norris Sheridan

Polaris Alder

Salmon

Clyde Park

Gallatin Gateway

Nevada Ennis City Virginia City

Manhattan

Three Forks

Pray Emigrant

Big Sky

Bannack Grant

Mammoth Hot Springs

Dell Lima

Monida

West Yellowstone

Lakeview

Island Park

Spencer

Ashton

Moran

Arco

3. ROSEBUD BATTLEFIELD STATE PARK Rosebud Battlefield, a National Historic Landmark, is associated with the Great Sioux War of 1876–77. It is considered to be the greatest Indian conflict ever to occur in America and is associated with the lead-up to the Battle of Little Bighorn. On June 17, 1876, the vast number of warriors and soldiers present at Rosebud Battlefield made the day one of the largest battles of the Indian Wars. There is a self-guided walking tour developed by Montana State Parks at the site. Take state Highway 314 toward Decker. Twenty miles from the junction of Highway 314 and Highway 212 is a sign for the battlefield site. Take the access road at the turnoff and drive 1.5 miles to the park. 406.757.2298, stateparks.mt.gov/rosebud-battlefield

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Colstrip

Hardin Crow Busby Agency

Saint Xavier Fort Smith

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Belfry

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4. CHEYENNE VICTORY Gillette Buffalo DAY CELEBRATION The Battle of Little Bighorn, which is 25 also known as “Custer’s Last Stand” and as “Where Long Hair Was Wiped Away” by the Northern Cheyenne, is considered to be the most decisive Native American victory in Northern Cheyenne and Casper Sioux history. Today the Northern Cheyenne celebrate the defeat of “Long Hair” (Lt. Gen. George A. Custer) by telling stories, performing the victory dance plus traditional Indian Relays, hand games and more. The celebration typically takes place on June 24-25 in the small town of Busby, located on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Guests are welcome to attend and participate. 20

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5. CROW FAIR The annual Crow Fair Celebration is one of the largest gatherings of the year for the Apsáalooke Nation and is considered one of the largest modern-day American Indian encampments in the nation. The historical event, which has been held each year since 1918, is a time when Crow tribal members from across the world return to Crow Country to celebrate the Crow culture and traditional way of life. Crow Agency is known as the “Teepee Capital of the World” because of the hundreds of teepees in the encampment during the celebration. The event includes a powwow each night at the center of the encampment as well as horse racing, a daily parade, rodeo and Indian-relay races. crazycrow.com/site/event/crowfair-celebration-pow-wow-and-rodeo

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Rapid City

MT RUSHMORE

Worland

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Sturgis Lead

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Roberts

Silver Cooke Gate City

Tower Junction

Canyon Norris Madison Junction Lake West Thumb Old Faithful Grant Village

Park City Rockvale Joliet Pryor

Fishtail Roscoe

Gardiner

Billings

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Absarokee Nye

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Dillon 2. CHIEF PLENTY COUPS STATE PARK Plenty Coups (Aleek-chea-ahoosh, meaning “many achievements”) was a man whose vision helped bridge IDAHO a gap between two cultures. Having been recognized for his bravery and leadership, he was made a chief of the Apsáalooke (Crow) Tribe by age 28. In 1884, Rexburg Plenty Coups chose to give up his nomadic of life, and Falls Idaho way through the Indian Allotment Act, was deeded a 320- Jackson acre tract of land to develop and farm. Per the wishes of Plenty Coups and his wife, the site of his homestead has been transformed into a state park. The park includes the farmstead, home, museum, interpretive center and a sacred spring surrounded by bushes, where prayer bundles are often placed. 406.252.1289, stateparks. mt.gov/chief-plenty-coups

Ekalaka

Pompeys Huntley Pillar

Columbus

McLeod

SOUTHEAST MONTANA

Custer

Greycliff Reed Point

Marmarth

Baker

Rosebud

Bighorn Broadview

Big Timber

Plevna

Forsyth

SOUTH DAKOTA

Wisdom

Wilsall

Logan

Dewey

Fallon

Ismay

Hysham

Ringling

Wise River

Beach

Miles City

Roundup

Boulder

Sula

Terry

Melstone

Harlowton

Martinsdale

Dickinson

Wibaux

Lewistown Hobson

Darby

Conner

Circle

Brusett Roy

Canyon Creek

Drummond

Stevensville

Monarch

Wolf Creek

Florence

Victor

Stockett

Savage

Bloomfield

Winifred

Crane

Belt Raynesford Geyser

Craig

Bonner Greenough

Lolo

Fairview

Ulm

Williston

Bainville

Sidney

Fort Shaw

Arlee

Poplar

Landusky Zortman

Augusta

St. Ignatius

Culbertson

Fort Peck

Fairfield Vaughn

Dixon Moiese

Superior

Virgelle

Fort Benton

Condon

Ronan

Paradise

Wolf Point

Glasgow

Big Sandy

Froid

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Loma

Choteau

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De Borgia St. Regis

Brady

Bynum

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Hinsdale

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Rollins Proctor Dayton Elmo Big Arm

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Fort Belknap Agency

NORTH DAKO

Bigfork 1. ST. LABRE INDIAN SCHOOL Conrad Lakeside AND MUSEUM The school made aPolson humble Great Falls beginning in 1884 with the construction of a log cabin school building operated by four Ursuline Sisters. The original three-room Missoula cabin served as a residence, school, Helena dormitory and church. Today, St. Labre is responsible for Montana City the welfare and education of nearlyDeer700 American Indian Lodge children. A visit here Hamilton includes the stunning St. Labre Indian Anaconda Chapel (inspired by the teepee of the Butte Plains Indians) and the Cheyenne Indian Museum, featuring Plains Indian Belgrade Livingston artifacts. Visitors are welcome. For more information on Bozeman hours and tours, see stlabre.org. Heron

Havre

Box Elder

Valier

Heart Butte

Medicine Lake

Rudyard

Chester

Galata

East Glacier Park

NATIONAL PARK Essex

Chinook

Browning

West Glacier

Westby

Plentywood

Scobey

Turner

Sunburst

St. Mary

Lake McDonald

WESTERN ADVENTURE

WE ARE WESTERN ADVENTURE FOR THESE BRONCS, LAUNCHING A CAREER MEANS LAUNCHING A COWBOY, AND THERE’S NO BETTER PLACE TO DO THAT THAN THE MILES CITY BUCKING HORSE SALE.

The name Montana is synonymous with cowboys, and that rings true especially on the green grass and rolling prairies of Southeast Montana. Rodeo is a way of life here, whether it is the indoor arena events in Billings, such as the Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) and the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), or the rural ranch rodeos in places like Custer or Broadus. But more than all of these, Miles City is the birthplace of genuine Montana cowboying and is world famous to this day for its deep roots in the Old West cattle trade. Out here in Southeast Montana, we like to think that the “Old West” is a way of life rather than something out of a history book. To get the true Western experience, look no further than the many authentic small towns in Southeast Montana, where the cowboy spirit continues to thrive. Their historic main streets may look like a set from a Western movie, but in reality they are bustling centers of commerce, local news and the occasional gossip, just as they have been since horse-drawn wagons rolled down the streets where pickup trucks do these days. Western culture—from the million-dollar sponsorships at the Las Vegas National Finals Rodeo to the platinum records of Nashville’s country music legends—is formed in towns like this. While you’re with us, make sure to get a custom cowboy hat, boots and chaps made just for you right in Billings.

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OUT HERE

WORLD CHAMPION Champions are made, and live, out here. Jess Lockwood, who hails from Volborg, is a two-time PBR World Champion. Haven Meged won the World Tie-Down Roping championship in 2019. When he was done, he headed back to work on the family ranch near Miles City.

Photos – Top: Double Spear Ranch, Visit Montana; Bottom Left: The Montana Bar in Miles City, Donnie Sexton; Bottom Right: Rodeo, Crow Agency, Donnie Sexton

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WESTERN ADVENTURE

DISCOVER MORE OF OUR SMALL TOWNS

RODEOS

To get to know the heart of Southeast Montana, you need to get to know our communities. First, eat when and where the locals do. There’s no better way to get a feel for what a small town is all about than by people-watching at local eateries. Second, get out and walk. A small town’s main street may seem underwhelming when you cruise through, but the truth is, you are missing many of the things that make our small towns exceptional. Third, if possible, visit local events and festivals. For instance, many small towns in Southeast Montana have weekly farmers markets in the summer. Or, plan your visit around a county fair. For more information, visit our events calendar at southeastmontana.com/events.

Nothing says “cowboy” like a good rodeo, and nowhere in Montana can you find a better variety of rodeo action than right here in Southeast Montana. For an authentic rodeo experience, venture out into the smaller communities where future rodeo stars— like world champion bullrider Jess Lockwood and tie-down roping star Haven Meged—are groomed on the small-town rodeo scene and become the faces of professional rodeo.

AN AUTHENTIC WESTERN EXPERIENCE For a unique family getaway and an intimate look at life on the ranch, take a cattle or horse drive vacation at Dryhead Ranch and experience not only an authentic working cattle ranch, but the heritage of Montana’s rich ranching roots and the legacy of one small-town Montana ranching family. Ride with real cowboys, explore American Indian heritage and culture, and learn the ropes of life on the ranch. cattledrivevacations.com

Billings is your town for big rodeo fun. Watch the PBR, the NILE and the Chase Hawks Rough Stock Invitational. If you’re looking for a rodeo experience that is a good mix of the two, then what you really want is the World-Famous Bucking Horse Sale in Miles City, held annually in May. Other unique rodeo experiences to be found in Southeast Montana include Indian rodeos and ranch rodeos. The latter may be what folks call the “real” cowboys—they work the ranch during the week and occasionally compete on the weekends. Indian rodeo, in which tribal members demonstrate their kinship with horse, is a quietly growing culture, culminating with the Indian National Finals Rodeo every October. See southeastmontana.com/things-to-do for details.

Photos – Above: Double Spear Ranch, Visit Montana; Inset Photos – 1. Powder River County Historical Museum, Powder River County Historical Museum; 2. Huntley Project Museum of Integrated Agriculture, Huntley Project Ag Museum; 3. Range Riders Museum, Donnie Sexton; 4. Western Heritage Center, Donnie Sexton; 5. O’Fallon Historical Museum, O’Fallon Historical Museum 30

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Rexford

Yaak

Troy

Eureka Fortine Trego

Babb

Polebridge

Cut Bank

Apgar

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Fort Smith

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Olive Broadus

323

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Alzada

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WYOMING

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14 14

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Deadwood

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Newcastle

Wright

Thermopolis

385

SOUTH DAKOTA

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120

5. O’FALLON HISTORICAL MUSEUM Housed in what was once the O’Fallon County Jail, built in 1916, the O’Fallon Historical Museum is home to thousands of items showcasing life on the Montana prairie in Baker from the early 1900s to the 1920s. The main attraction at the museum is Steer Montana, known as the world’s largest steer. Local rancher Jack Guth raised the steer, and they traveled together to more than 60 different state fairs, stock shows and carnivals in places as far away as Fort Worth, Texas and Los Angeles, California. Steer Montana grew to be 5 feet 11 inches tall and 10 feet 4 inches long and weighed in at 3,980 pounds. The local theory as to why he grew to be so massive was that Guth fed him grain mash, a by-product produced in great quantities by the local bootleggers— or so the story goes. 406.778.3265, falloncounty.net/ museum.html 31

Rapid City

MT RUSHMORE

Jewel Cave NP

Custer 16

Hot Springs

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Sturgis Lead

Gillette

Belle Fourche

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4. WESTERN HERITAGE CENTER Buffalo The Western Heritage Center is a 25 regional museum with collections, exhibits and programs telling stories of life in the Yellowstone River Valley. Located in historic downtown Billings, the building that houses the Western Heritage Center is Casper the former Parmly Billings Library, built in 1901. The Western Heritage Center provides both long-term and changing exhibits with interactive components, as well as educational programs for visitors of all ages. The museum cares for more than 16,000 artifacts and an extensive collection that illustrates and documents the history of the Yellowstone River Valley. Guided tours are available for groups with reservations along with seasonal Hoof-it With a Historian walking tours. 406.256.6809, ywhc.org 16

3. RANGE RIDERS MUSEUM Fort Keogh, named after a soldier who fell at the Battle of Little Bighorn, was established near present-day Miles City soon after the battle as a permanent frontier fort. Its personnel were charged with subduing the remaining native tribes in the area. Only a few of the 100-plus buildings that made up Fort Keogh have survived, but those that still stand have been incorporated into the Range Riders Museum, one of the largest Western museums in the area. The museum tells the story of the Southeast Montana pioneer and contains a wealth of artifacts, including saddles, antique cameras, patchwork quilts and more than 400 firearms. The museum also hosts a frontier town with 11 shops representing the old Main Street in Miles City. 406.232.6146, rangeridersmuseum.org

Volborg

Cody

Moran

Busby

Saint Garryowen Xavier Lodge Grass Wyola

Ashton

Arco

Lame Deer

Bridger

Colstrip

Hardin

Lovell

Roberts

Park City Rockvale Joliet Pryor

Ekalaka

Pompeys Pillar

Billings

Belfry

Tower Junction

Canyon Norris Madison Junction Lake West Thumb Old Faithful Grant Village

Columbus

McLeod

Silver Cooke Gate City

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Monida

2 Huntley

Laurel

Red Lodge

Grant

Greycliff Reed Point

Cameron

2. HUNTLEY PROJECT MUSEUM OF IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE With 10.4 acres, 18 homestead buildings, hundreds of farm IDAHO implements and thousands of other artifacts on display, the Huntley Project Museum of Irrigated Rexburg Agriculture interprets what life was like for those living Idaho Falls on the Huntley Irrigation Project from the early 1880s Jackson to the late 20th century. The museum has one of the largest collections of horse-drawn agricultural machinery in the nation, as well as other displays, including a tar paper shack, two schoolhouses, an early doctor’s office, a bank and a horse barn made from locally harvested cottonwood. 406.348.2533, huntleyprojectmuseum.org Dell Lima

Big Timber

Marmarth

SOUTH DAKOTA

Wisdom

Wilsall

Logan

Dewey

5 Baker

SOUTHEAST MONTANA

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Plevna

Rosebud

Bighorn

Boulder

Wise River

Fallon

Forsyth

Hysham

Ringling

Beach

Ismay

Miles City

Roundup

Darby

Conner

Terry

Melstone

Harlowton

Martinsdale

Dickinson

Wibaux

Lewistown Hobson

Canyon Creek

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Victor

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Savage

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Brusett Roy

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Monarch

Wolf Creek

Bonner Greenough

Lolo

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Lincoln

Ovando

Belt Raynesford Geyser

Crane Bloomfield

Winifred

Fort Shaw

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Fairview

Augusta

St. Ignatius

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Bainville

Sidney

Landusky Zortman

Fairfield Vaughn

Dixon Moiese

Culbertson

Poplar

Fort Peck

Fort Benton

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Glasgow

Big Sandy

Froid

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Loma

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Plains

De Borgia St. Regis

Hinsdale

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Bynum

Swan Lake

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TA NORTH DAKO

Thompson Hot Springs Falls

Rollins Proctor Dayton Elmo Big Arm

Havre

Galata

Lakeside 1. POWDER RIVER COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM & Polson Great MAC’S MUSEUM Falls Located smack-dab in the middle of prime ranching country, this little museum packs a Western punch. Missoula Discover Plains Indians artifacts, historical guns and ammunition, Helena Montana pre-1900 buggies, vintage vehicles and farm implements, City Deer Lodge practices. You will demonstrating modern-day ranching Hamilton be amazed with the extensive bit and spur collection and Anaconda Butte prized battlefield artifacts from the Reynolds Campaign in 1876. The generational bridal gown and vintageBelgrade dress Livingston collections are sure conversation-starters. Open seasonally Bozeman and by appointment. 406.436.2977 Trout Creek

Medicine Lake

Dupuyer

Bigfork

Somers

Shelby

Valier

Heart Butte

Chinook

Browning

West Glacier

Westby

Plentywood

Scobey

Turner

Sunburst

St. Mary

Lake McDonald

WESTERN ADVENTURE

GET A LITTLE WESTERN

GET A LITTLE MORE WESTERN

If you’re itching to experience small-town cowboy culture, this is the loop for you. From cattle drives to horse auctions, Southeast Montana has it all.

We have so many authentic Western experiences that we created two itineraries. If you are really cowboy-crazy, try them both.

1. ROUNDUP

1. MILES CITY

Logically named for the area’s primary activity, Roundup started as a cattle-wrangling town. Visit the Musselshell Valley Historical Museum or stroll downtown to learn about the early days of “cowboying.” Today, the town boasts a RiverWalk, several quaint cafés and an emerging art scene.

Home of the world-famous Bucking Horse Sale, held annually the third weekend in May, Miles City still revolves around cowboy (and cowgirl) life. Be sure to visit the Ranger Riders Museum—a combination heritage center and historical campus—along with the Miles City Big Timber Saddlery and WaterWorks Art Museum, which illustrates Bozeman the Western story.

Harlowton 89

191

Livingston

2. VOLBORG

To a traveler, Volborg may not look like much, but this community is the heart of a substantial ranching population, including 2017 & 2019 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Champion, Jess Lockwood. Stop at the General Store to hear his story—and many others— Gardiner or snap a quick pic at the Western-style post office Cooke andCity vintage dance hall.

4. BILLINGS The largest city in Montana, Billings is home to Public Auction Yards (PAYS) where you can experience live animal sales, sitting alongside buyers and sellers as sheep, cattle and horse are bartered—but don’t lift your paddle! Next, steep yourself in cowboy history at the Western Heritage Center and the Yellowstone County Museum. Or, visit the Yellowstone Art Museum to marvel at Western and modern works. Then kick back along historic Montana Avenue in Billings’ bustling downtown or stroll the state’s only walkable brewery district, the Billings Brew Trail.

3. BROADUS

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Western heritage is part of everyday life in this small West town. Browse antiques, Western gifts and clothing from Yellowstone local merchants or grab a meal beside cattlemen and ranchers. Be sure to check out the meticulous Ben Patten bit and spur collection or the historic frontier cabin at the Powder River Historical Museum—the craftmanship is unequaled.

4. ALZADA If you lean toward unusual atmosphere, then you don’t want to miss the Stoneville Saloon “conveniently located in the middle of nowhere,” A.K.A. Alzada, Montana. With sawdust-covered floors, an antique bar, kitschy décor and a bartender with a million stories, you can’t go wrong. The establishment sassily advertises “Cheap Drinks, Lousy Food.” Located spitting distance to the MontanaWyoming border, Alzada is as unique as its name.

5. EKALAKA Named for the Sioux bride of local scout and frontiersman David Harrison Russell, this town is more than a phonetic challenge. Stop at the Carter County Museum for a glimpse of the past, including an exhibit legacy of Tooke rodeo bucking horses and a tribute to Southeast Montana’s military veterans along with their ranching roots. By the way, this town is pronounced: Eek-ah-lack-ah. How’s that for a conversation-starter? 32

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Absaroke

3. HUNTLEY Several small communities east of Billings combine to make up the Huntley Project, a groundbreaking irrigation experiment that forever changed farming in America. Learn more at the Huntley Project Museum of Irrigated Agriculture then enjoy dining al fresco at a local favorite along the Yellowstone River.

Reed P

2. FORSYTH Here’s a perfect example of a small town made wealthy by the railroad. Be sure to check out Forsyth’s beautiful and historic county courthouse. Visit the Rosebud County Pioneer Museum to get a glimpse of life on the prairie at the turn of the century or picnic alongside the meandering Yellowstone River. You’ll love the vintage cinema marquee, too.

191

212

Glendive 253

Wibaux 94

Terry

Fallon

Ismay

Miles City Roundup Hysham

Custer

N TO

RIV R DE BI

Red Lodge

310

Belfry

Fort Smith

Bridger

212

Saint Xavier

NORTHERN CHEYENNE INDIAN RESERVATION

Garryowen Lodge Grass

Olive

212

Busby

314

566

Broadus

CUSTER GALLATIN

212

NATIONAL FOREST

RIV

CROW INDIAN RESERVATION

Pryor

Lame Deer

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Chief Plenty Coups Joliet State Park

CUSTER GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST

Ashland Crow Agency

Laurel

Roberts

CUSTER GALLATIN NF

Hardin

Point

Ekalaka

Volborg

Colstrip

Huntley

Billings

MO NTAN A

YEL

ST LOW

Medicine Rocks State Park

RIV

Forsyth

Columbus

Baker

Rosebud

Lavina

Broadview

Plevna

RRI

AIL

Hammond HIG

212

BIGHORN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATIONAL AREA

MONTANA

14A

Alzada

to Mount Rushmore National Memorial

WYOMING

to Sheridan, WY

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SO UT H DA KO TA

Ingomar

Melstone

Sheridan

14A

Cody

6. MEDICINE ROCKS STATE PARK Mystery is part of the allure at this eastern-most state park of “big medicine.” The sandstone spires of windworn, haunting hoodoos tell stories of native tribes with pictographs and petroglyphs where hunting parties used to gather. Western aficionado Teddy Roosevelt called it, “as fantastically beautiful a place as I have ever seen,” and we all agree that Teddy was spot-on.

7. BAKER With roots etched in ranching, this prairie town now thrives on a combination of agriculture and energy industries. Feast your eyes on the world’s largest steer at the O’Fallon Historical Museum or pick up some sandwiches and picnic at the town’s man-made lake. Be sure to ask a local about the lake’s story—there’s no Loch Ness monster, but you will be entertained.

Range Riders Museum, Donnie Sexton

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DINOSAUR ADVENTURE

DINOSAURS ONCE ROAMED THESE HILLS WE MAY CALL THEM “THE BADLANDS,” BUT FOR DINOSAURS, IT WAS HEAVEN ON EARTH. ON THE REGION’S EASTERN EDGE, YOU’LL FIND MAKOSHIKA STATE PARK, WITH A FEW MILLION YEARS OF HISTORY TO EXPLORE.

Remember when you were a kid and you dreamed about those giant creatures that once roamed the earth? You would visit natural history museums in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles and gaze in disbelief at the massive skeletons towering over you. If this sounds familiar, then there is a good chance that you have already witnessed a piece of Southeast Montana. Many of the dinosaur skeletons in these famous museums were found right here. In fact, the badlands of eastern Montana have the highest concentration of exposed dinosaur fossils in the world. Perhaps even more amazing is the fact that today, more than 100 years since the railroads began shipping carloads of Montana fossils to eastern museums, paleontologists in eastern Montana are still making new discoveries, and the number of fossils being found has continued to hold steady. The dinosaur epicenter of Southeast Montana is undoubtedly Makoshika State Park near Glendive, where the badlands are steepest and most rugged. The soil here is continually washed away year after year by rain and snow, revealing the ancient layers of earth beneath. Many of the fossils found in the park can be seen at the Makoshika State Park Visitor Center, but this is not the only place to find bones. Take a paleo tour or sign up for a private fossil hunt. What could be a better souvenir than a 65-million-year-old dinosaur bone? We encourage you to be transported back to when you were that wide-eyed kid. Rediscover the magic of a world full of these “terrible lizards,” and wander the hills where they once lived.

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OUT HERE

TRICERATOPS Easily-identified by its three horns, triceratops are the most commonly-found fossils in Montana’s largest state park, Makoshika, near Glendive. Photos – Top: Makoshika State Park Visitor Center, Traveling Mel; Bottom Left: Baisch’s Dinosaur Digs, Glendive, Lynn Donaldson; Bottom Right: Baisch’s Dinosaur Digs, Glendive, Visit Southeast Montana

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DINOSAUR ADVENTURE

HELL CREEK FORMATION The Hell Creek Formation is part of what makes Southeast Montana so special to paleontologists and dinosaur enthusiasts. The formation refers to a layer of earth that was on the surface at the time when dinosaurs roamed the planet. In modern times, this layer is far beneath ground level in most places, making it difficult or impossible to reach in order to find dinosaur fossils. In eastern Montana, this layer is exposed due to the unique environment of erosion and ground upheaval that exists in Montana’s badlands. Though made famous in Montana, this formation also runs into North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. To the trained eye, the formation can actually be seen and recognized by the texture and color of the soil, which is different from the layers above and below it. These colors are best seen at Makoshika State Park, where the steep cliffs, tall spires and scenic vistas allow visitors to view the formation from different vantage points.

GUIDED DINOSAUR DIGS If you’re ready to go out and find some bones yourself, then join in on a dinosaur dig. There are several organizations in Southeast Montana that take groups and individuals out into the Montana badlands in search of dinosaur bones.

Makoshika State Park staff will take you on a “Paleo Experience” with an in-depth visitor center tour, a visit to the center’s Paleo Lab, and a hike on the Diane Gabriel Trail to see the Hadrosaur fossil exhibit. The Glendive Dinosaur & Fossil Museum hosts exciting full-day and half-day digs on a private dig site just outside Glendive. The Carter County Museum Annual Dino Shindig takes place at the end of July and has been called the “Montana Event of the Year,” drawing folks from all over the world. Excavate real fossils from one of the museum’s active dig sites and listen to lectures from leading paleontologists. Check each organization’s website for more info and registration requirements. Some groups will even let you keep the bones you find. Remember that on public land, it is illegal to remove any dinosaur bones. Also, it can sometimes be difficult to know whether the land you are on is publicly or privately owned. Always be sure you know whose land you are on before hiking or driving off road.

Photos – Above: Carter County Museum, Nathan Satran Photography; Inset Photos – 1. Frontier Gateway Museum, Frontier Gateway Museum; 2. Carter County Museum, Nathan Satran Photography; 3. Glendive Dinosaur & Fossil Museum, Lynn Donaldson; 4. Makoshika State Park, Visit Southeast Montana; 5. Fossil hunting along Montana’s Dinosaur Trail, Carter County Museum 36

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Rexford

Yaak

Eureka Fortine Trego

Troy

Babb

Polebridge

DINO HOT SPOTS Apgar

Columbia Coram Falls Martin City GLACIER

Libby

Whitefish Kalispell

Heron

Hungry Horse

Chester

Marion

Trout Creek

Box Elder

Haugan

Big Sandy

Paradise

Charlo

Cascade

O AH

Alberton

Lincoln

Ovando

Lolo

Helmville

Clinton

Stanford

Glendive Sand Springs

Winnett

Grass Range

Utica

East Helena

Garrison

Elliston

Clancy

Winston

Jefferson City Basin

Philipsburg

Mosby

White Sulphur Springs

Judith Gap Two Dot

Townsend

Ingomar

Silver Star Melrose

Twin Bridges

Whitehall Harrison Pony Norris

Manhattan

Three Forks

Gallatin Gateway

Jackson

Sheridan

Polaris

Alder

Salmon

Nevada Ennis City

Virginia City

Bannack

Pray Emigrant

Big Sky

Mammoth Hot Springs

Monida

West Yellowstone

Lakeview

Roscoe

Island Park

Spencer

Ashland

2 5

Olive Broadus 323

Birney Otter

Biddle

Alzada

Decker

WYOMING

WYOMING Sheridan

Spearfish

DEVIL’S TOWER

Deadwood

Sundance

4. MAKOSHIKA STATE PARK Gillette Buffalo VISITOR CENTER The Visitor Center at Makoshika25State Park, which is operated by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, showcases some of the fossils found in the park, as well as evidence of early humans discovered there. Stopping here before continuing on into the park will allow you to gain anCasper understanding of the interesting features you will see on the scenic drive around the park and better enjoy your experience. The annual Buzzard Day celebration welcomes summer and the return of the buzzard, or turkey vulture. During the summer season, register for a “Paleo Experience” to learn how fossils are collected, documented and curated, or join a related ranger talk. 406.377.6256, stateparks.mt.gov/makoshika 14

Upton

Worland

120

Newcastle

Wright

Thermopolis

385

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Rapid City

MT RUSHMORE

Jewel Cave NP

Custer 16

Hot Springs

5. THE MONTANA DINOSAUR TRAIL Montana offers spectacular “handson” archaeological, paleontological and geological experiences. There are 14 stops along the Montana Dinosaur Trail that allow you to discover Montana’s paleontological treasures for yourself. You will have opportunities to see one-of-a-kind specimens like “Leonardo,” the mummy Brachylophosaurus or see a dig site in Makoshika State Park. The trail begins in Southeast Montana at the Carter Country Museum in Ekalaka and continues on to Makoshika State Park, the Frontier Gateway Museum and 11 other facilities across Montana. mtdinotrail.org

Sturgis Lead

Greybull

Belle Fourche

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3. GLENDIVE DINOSAUR & FOSSIL MUSEUM The Glendive Dinosaur & Fossil Museum features 20,000 square feet of dinosaur fossil exhibits, including Stegosaurus, Pachycephalosaurus and many other singular fossils found in the area. This museum is unique in that it seeks to explain the existence of dinosaurs within the context of biblical creationism and is the largest of its kind in the United States. An exhibit called “The Man and Dinosaurs” provides evidence collected throughout paleontology’s history that suggests it is possible that dinosaurs and man coexisted. No matter what you believe, the museum’s incredible collection and unique perspective make it worth a stop for any dinosaur enthusiast. The museum also hosts digs via advance reservations. 406.377.3228, creationtruth.org

Ekalaka

Volborg

Cody

Moran

Lame Deer Busby

Wyola

Arco

Fort Smith

Lovell

Ashton

Bridger

Crow Agency

Belfry

Tower Junction

Canyon Norris Madison Junction Lake West Thumb Old Faithful Grant Village

Roberts

Colstrip

Hardin

Garryowen Saint Xavier Lodge Grass

Red Lodge

Fishtail

Nye

Park City Rockvale Joliet Pryor

Silver Cooke Gate City

Gardiner

Dell Lima

Absarokee

Cameron

Grant

Billings

Laurel

Columbus

McLeod

Marmarth Baker

SOUTH DAKOTA

Bozeman 2. CARTER COUNTY MUSEUM The Carter County Museum, Dillon Montana’s first county museum, was founded in 1936 and houses an impressive collection of firearms, American Indian artifacts and, of IDAHO course, dinosaur bones. Located in the town of Ekalaka, the museum’s paleontological collection includes a mounted skeleton of a Hadrosaur that displays the actual dinosaur’s bones, not a Rexburg model—as is seen in most larger museums. It also displays the complete Idaho Falls Jackson skull of Triceratops, Pachycephalosaurus and plesiosaurus, a marine fossil. All of these bones were found locally in nearby exposures of the Hell Creek Formation. The last weekend in July, the Carter County Museum celebrates “all things dino” annually with the Dino Shindig. 406.775.6886, cartercountymuseum.org

Worden Pompeys Huntley Pillar

Greycliff Reed Point

Plevna

Forsyth

SOUTHEAST MONTANA

Custer

Big Timber

Clyde Park

Belgrade Livingston

SOUTH DAKOTA

Wisdom

Divide

Beach

Rosebud

Bighorn Broadview

Wilsall

Logan

Dewey

Dickinson

Wibaux

Fallon

Ismay

Hysham

Ringling

Wise River

1 3 4 5

Miles City

Roundup

Boulder

Sula

Terry

Melstone

Harlowton

Martinsdale

Darby

Conner

Circle

Jordan

Lewistown Hobson

Neihart

Savage

Bloomfield

Brusett Roy

Denton

Canyon Creek

Drummond

Corvallis

Monarch

Wolf Creek

Florence

Stevensville

Stockett

Craig

Bonner Greenough

Victor

Winifred

Belt Raynesford Geyser

Crane

Ulm

Seeley Lake

Arlee

Fairview

Sidney

Fort Shaw

St. Ignatius

Williston

Bainville

Landusky Zortman

Augusta

Dixon Moiese

Superior

Fort Peck

Culbertson

Poplar

Fairfield Vaughn

Condon

Ronan

Virgelle

Fort Benton

Froid

Wolf Point

Glasgow

Loma

Choteau

Plains

De Borgia St. Regis

Brady

Bynum

Swan Lake

Hinsdale

Saco

Malta

Dupuyer

Somers

Rollins Proctor Dayton Elmo Big Arm

Dodson

Fort Belknap Agency

NORTH DAKO

Thompson Hot Springs Falls

Havre

Galata

Bigfork Conrad 1. FRONTIER GATEWAY MUSEUM Lakeside A member of the Montana Dinosaur Trail, the Frontier Gateway Museum Polson Great Falls offers a walk way back in time with “Margie” the full-sized skeleton cast of Struthiomimus, named for the MissoulaGlendive woman who found it near in the 1990s. Exhibits include a Helena full-size Stegoceras replica, plus an impressive collection Montana City of historic structures, vintage photographs and books, Deer Lodge Hamilton fossils, medieval armor and turn-of-the-century gowns. Anaconda 406.377.8168, frontiergatewaymuseum.org Butte Noxon

Medicine Lake

Rudyard

Valier

Heart Butte

Chinook

Shelby

East Glacier Park

NATIONAL PARK

Essex

Kila

Cut Bank

Browning

West Glacier

Westby

Plentywood

Scobey

Turner

Sunburst

St. Mary

Lake McDonald

DINOSAUR ADVENTURE

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Big Timber

Bozeman

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Livingston

Absaroke

DINOSAURS AND DIGS The eastern Montana badlands are one of the best places in the world to find dinosaur fossils and study related geology. If you are following the Montana Dinosaur Trail, be sure to pick up your passport stamps at the indicated facilities. This route will take you through the heart of dino country in Southeast Montana and bring out your inner rock-hound. Start your journey in either Miles City or Glendive.

1. GLENDIVE The Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum, which gives an alternative, creationist approach, and Frontier Gateway Museum are both must-see spots for dinosaur enthusiasts. Once you’ve learned about our local dinosaurs, check out Makoshika State Park and see if you can spot a few yourself, or sign up for a fossil dig on private property. Both Frontier Gateway and Makoshika are stops along the Montana Dinosaur Trail, so be sure to have your passport stamped.

2. BAKER Pop into the O’Fallon Historical Museum for an up-closeand-personal look at locally found fossils, including triceratops and hadrosaurs. After your excursion, stop at a local brewery and advance your geological education while wetting your whistle. For something different, try beer-yoga on Sundays.

3. MEDICINE ROCKS STATE PARK Halfway between Baker and Ekalaka is a state park like no other. Stroll among the strange Gardiner and fascinating Cooke City sandstone pillars sprouting a hundred feet above the rolling prairies. Listen closely, and you will hear their stories created more than 60 million years ago as an YELLOWSTONE ancient river laid down the rocks that became NATIONALthe PARK Fort West Union formation. Some primate precursors have been Yellowstone found at the Medicine Rocks area. 89

4. EKALAKA Home of Carter County Museum, Montana’s first county museum and another stop on the Montana Dinosaur Trail. The dinosaur exhibits, including collections dating back to the 1930s, cover 90 million years of history. Scientists from across the globe trek to Ekalaka to study the Cretaceous extinction event and subsequent “recovery period” that are well-preserved from a thin layer of ash—it is that popular. Visit during the annual Dino Shindig the last weekend in July to learn the dirt on dinos from international experts.

5. BROADUS The Powder River Historical Museum includes Mac’s Museum, one man’s lifetime collection of more than 22,000 fossils, rocks and arrowheads from the local area and across the world. You will find military artifacts unearthed from the Reynold’s Battlefield, a forerunner of the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Photos – Above: Makoshika State Park, Jeff Bartlett; Right: Carter County Museum, Nathan Satran Photography

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1 Glendive 253

Wibaux 94

Terry

Fallon

Ismay

Miles City Roundup

Baker

Rosebud

Hysham

Lavina

Ekalaka RIV DE W BI

Red Lodge

310

Belfry

BIGHORN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATIONAL AREA

Busby

NORTHERN CHEYENNE INDIAN RESERVATION

Garryowen Lodge Grass

314

566

CUSTER

Broadus

GALLATIN

NATIONAL FOREST

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RRI

AIL

Hammond HIG

212

Alzada

MONTANA

WYOMING

to Sheridan, WY

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Olive

212

Saint Xavier

Fort Smith

Bridger

212

RIV

CROW INDIAN RESERVATION 41

Lame Deer

313

Pryor

Roberts

Ashland Crow Agency

Laurel

Chief Plenty Coups Joliet State Park

CUSTER GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST

Hardin

CUSTER GALLATIN NF

Huntley

Point

Colstrip

Billings

Custer

MO NTAN A

YEL

O WST

RIV

Medicine Rocks State Park

Forsyth

Broadview

Columbus

Plevna

NO RT H DA KO TA

SO UT H DA KO TA

Ingomar

Melstone

to Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Sheridan

14A

Cody

6. MILES CITY Take some time to visit Montana’s best-preserved saloon on Miles City’s Main Street and imagine you’re drinking your whiskey alongside rich cattle barons (or ruthless cattle rustlers). Spend time hunting agates along the Yellowstone River, exploring the seasonally-available Pirogue Island State Park or hike the aptly-name Strawberry Hill Recreation Area just east of town.

7. TERRY Situated on the edge of the Terry Badlands, this small community is another agate paradise. Or, step up your adventure by driving, biking or hiking the Calypso Trail.* Don’t miss Chimney Rock, the natural bridges or the plethora of hoodoos. For a more sedate look at this distinguished area, learn about world-renowned prairie photographer Evelyn Cameron at the Prairie County Museum and Evelyn Cameron Gallery or the Evelyn Cameron Heritage center. *We suggest high-clearance, all-wheel-drive vehicles on dry roads. 1.800.346.1876 | SAFEOUTHEREMT.COM

HUNTING & FISHING

LEGENDARY FISHING AND HUNTING OUT HERE, WE’RE BIG ON TRADITION. WE’VE GOT ALL THE MAKINGS FOR THE CATCH OR HUNT OF A LIFETIME, MOST NOTABLY WIDE-OPEN SPACES WHERE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS.

Fishing and hunting are some of our favorite pastimes and most time-honored traditions in Southeast Montana. With tens of thousands of acres of wide-open public land, those who come here are sure to have a genuine Montana adventure. We’ve even heard the term epic tossed about. We like to brag up our rivers, no matter if you sport a fly rod or a casting rod. And the massive Bighorn Lake is home to a reservoir that’s perfect for finding a secluded spot to shut off your boat’s motor, grab your gear and relax without another person in sight. And that’s not all. The small towns that surround our hunting and fishing hot spots provide a well-rounded Montana experience that’s as authentic as they come. If you play your cards right, we may even divulge some of our secret fishing holes and favorite hunting grounds over friendly conversation at a local bar. When you get to know our people, you get to know our region.

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OUT HERE

BIG FISH In Montana we know about big fish and big fishing. The storied Bighorn River remains a prized trout fishery. Farther south, the largest black crappie and Northern pike were both caught on the Tongue River Reservoir, while the state record white crappie was reeled in on the Tongue River itself. Photos – Top: Fishing the Bighorn River, Nathan Satran Photography; Bottom Left: Mule Deer, Donnie Sexton; Bottom Right: Bird hunting, Nathan Satran Photography

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HUNTING & FISHING

FISHING SOUTHEAST MONTANA Anglers in the know make their way to Southeast Montana, where an unforgettable big-sky fishing experience awaits among scenic landscapes and world-class waterways. The species of fish here are many and diverse, ranging from rainbow and brown trout to bass, carp, catfish and the prehistoric paddlefish. Visit fwp.mt.gov to see what types of fish are available and where you can find them. Increase your odds of reeling in a monster trout and book a guided fishing adventure.

GUIDES AND OUTFITTERS Whether you’re an expert just looking for someone to show you where the best fishing holes are, or a complete novice who’s never picked up a rod, the fishing guides in Southeast Montana can provide you with the trip of a lifetime. These folks make it

their business to know the best bends in the river, what’s biting and when, so you can make the most of your getaway. Visit southeastmontana.com/guided-trips and find someone to show you what to tie on your line and where to cast it.

NONRESIDENT FISHING LICENSES In order to fish in Montana, you will need to purchase both a conservation license and a fishing license. These can be secured at a Fish, Wildlife & Parks office in Montana, at any licensing vendor or online (print out your license at home or keep a PDF handy on your mobile device). Visit the FWP website for more information. fwp.mt.gov/fish/

Photos – Above: Fishing the Bighorn River, Nathan Satran Photography; Inset Photos – 1. Yellowstone River, Aaron Waller; 2. Bighorn Canyon, Andy Austin; 3. Tongue River, Alexis Bonogofsky; 4. Paddlefishing, Visit Glendive; 5. Channel catfish, Shutterstock 42

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BIG FISHING AND HUNTING EXPERIENCES

1. THE LOWER YELLOWSTONE RIVER Not just big and spectacularly scenic, the longest undammed river in the lower 48 flattens out in Southeast Montana and becomes an epic, warm-water fishery for smallmouth bass, pike, sauger, catfish and walleye, depending on season. Bring your own boat and take the float-fishing adventure of a lifetime on one of the world’s most famous—and beautiful—rivers. The best part is, you’ll have a sizeable portion of the river all to yourself. Access is easy with multiple designated fishing access sites. The Yellowstone is your destination for a lengthy, and memorable, float trip. 2. BIGHORN CANYON Whether you’re fishing Bighorn Lake or the Bighorn River, the name says it all. Fishing “The ‘Horn” truly is big. There are a dozen species of catchable fish in Bighorn Lake alone, and most serious anglers know that the renowned Bighorn River rises to the top of Montana’s list of world-class trout streams. You’ve got miles and miles of river to choose from, and a variety of species of fish to catch. The river can frequently be fished by both waders and floaters, with a payoff of brown and rainbow trout averaging 15 to 16 inches. Bring your own boat or go with a guide. 3. TONGUE RIVER RESERVOIR, CASTLE ROCK LAKE AND THE MUSSELSHELL RIVER One of the region’s hidden fishing paradises—and ice-fishing favorites—the 12-mile-long Tongue River Reservoir is situated among scenic red shale, juniper canyons and the open prairies of Southeast Montana. The park is loved by Montana and Wyoming anglers, campers and boaters. The reservoir boasts excellent bass, crappie, walleye and northern pike fishing, with two state-record fish pulled from its waters. Castle Rock Lake in Colstrip, Lake Elmo in Billings and Arapooish Pond are also excellent ice fishing spots. The Musselshell River is one of Southeast Montana’s best-kept wade-fishing secrets— locals head there to reel in three-pound smallmouth bass in solitude.

4. PADDLEFISH During late May and June, a special breed of anglers travels to a rocky stretch of the Yellowstone River near Glendive, at the Intake Diversion Dam. Here, they rig up their saltwater fishing gear and churn the coffeecolored water to catch their yearly quota of the senior citizen of the Yellowstone—the paddlefish. Paddlefish are also caught in lesser numbers at the mouths of the Tongue and Powder rivers and the Forsyth Diversion Dam. Ask a local for the best fishing places and techniques for catching these prehistoric fish. If you snag one, the paddlefish roe can be donated to the Glendive Chamber of Commerce, where it is processed into worldrenowned Yellowstone Caviar. Take some home for a unique taste of Southeast Montana. 406.234.0900, fwp.mt.gov/fish 5. CATFISH AND CARP Bighorn Lake—and the other ponds—are excellent spots for bow and fly fishing. Carpobsessed anglers head here for the challenge of reeling one in, and to take part in the wildly fun Bighorn Lake Carp Tournament, held annually. Catfish are one of the lesser-known sought-after catches in Southeast Montana. Make your way to the Yellowstone River for some of the best catfishing in the state.

OUT HERE

WORLD-RECORD BULL ELK The world-record archery bull elk was bagged in Southeast Montana in 2016 in Powder River County; the world-record non-typical rifle elk was also harvested in Powder River County.

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HUNTING & FISHING

HUNTING SOUTHEAST MONTANA The rolling prairies of Southeast Montana provide the ideal landscape for those who seek an authentic hunting experience. This tradition has been a way of life since the beginning of human existence, and Montana is the epitome of preserving and celebrating this pastime. It’s also par for the course to catch up on the day’s hunt at a nearby watering hole in one of the region’s friendly small towns—sharing stories over local food and some of the best craft beer around. This is all part of the charm that will keep you coming back to this part of Montana year after year. Elk tags are hard to come by, but there are plenty of opportunities for pronghorn antelope, deer (mule and white-tailed), along with birds (upland and waterfowl), plus two seasons of turkeys—fall and spring.

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GUIDES AND OUTFITTERS Without a doubt, the best way to ensure that your hunting trip to Southeast Montana is a complete success is by planning it with a local outfitter. These hunting experts are located throughout the region and can provide you with all the hunting equipment you need and can show you the best methods to finding those big bucks. Visit our website at southeastmontana.com/ hunting-fishing to find hunting outfitters in our region.

NONRESIDENT HUNTING PERMITS/LICENSES Information regarding the process for purchasing nonresident hunting licenses and permits can be found in the hunting section of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website. Some permits can be purchased over the counter, while others require a draw. Requirements change each year, so be sure to check online before planning your trip. Hunting outfitters and guides can also help by providing you with information on how to increase your chances of getting your permit.

HUNTING AND FISHING BONUS For those who want to take advantage of both hunting and fishing all in one trip, planning a “Cast & Blast” on the Bighorn River is a way to maximize your outdoors time. Start by hunting waterfowl in the morning and then grab your boat to fish for trout by the afternoon – it’s one of the best ways to spend a full day immersed in what Montana does best. When you’re not on the river, fall is also a perfect time to recreate among the gorgeous, golden hues of the season.

FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS Southeast Montana spans two Fish, Wildlife & Parks regions. These offices are here to help answer any and all questions you may have about hunting or fishing in Southeast Montana. The headquarters for Region 5 is in Billings at 2300 Lake Elmo Drive and can be reached at 406.247.2940. More information on Region 5 can be found at fwp.mt.gov/regions/r5/. The headquarters for Region 7 is in Miles City at 352 I-94 Business Loop and can be reached at 406.234.0900. More information on Region 7 can be found at fwp.mt.gov/regions/r7/.

BIG GAME HUNTING That’s just what you’ll find here—a big hunting experience for big game in our big, beautiful landscape. The plains of eastern Montana have been called the Serengeti of North America because of the abundance of wildlife here and the room to spread out and enjoy the hunt. The most plentiful big game animals are pronghorn antelope, mule deer, white-tailed deer and elk.

Photos – Below Left: Bird hunting, Nathan Satran Photography; Below Right: Bird hunting, Connor Maas; Inset Photos – Top: Elk, Sharon Borla; Bottom: Brittany Retriever, Connor Maas

UPLAND BIRD AND WATERFOWL HUNTING A variety of birds can be harvested in Southeast Montana, including grouse, pheasant, partridge, ducks, geese and turkeys. Some birds may require special permits, so consult a guide or Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to be sure you have everything you need for your bird-hunting adventure. The Musselshell area has a strong population of Merriam’s turkey, and many hunters come here to finish their Grand Slam. The waterfowl season typically extends well into January with colder temperatures offering phenomenal hunting.

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