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78 SOUTHEAST MONTANA - VISITMT.COM SOUTHEAST MONTANA

SOUTHEAST MONTANA www.southeastmontana.com · 800.346.1876 Nowhere does cowboy culture and American Indian lore live on like it does in Southeast Montana. While this region is largely made up of ranch land and rural communities, Southeast Montana’s spectacular badlands and rolling prairie play host to real-life cattle drives and rodeos, wild-horse stampedes and powwows. Southeast Montana is also a land of contrasts. It is home to Billings, the state’s largest city. Though many Montanans enjoy visiting Billings for its “big city” cuisine and entertainment, out-of-staters will delight in its cowboyish charm—bolo ties on for big occasions, custom- made cowboy hats and one of the state’s largest rodeos.

You don’t need to be a local or even know about the history here to sense the chill of battle at the Little Bighorn Battlefield or feel the “big medicine” at Medicine Rocks State Park. You don’t have to be a cowboy to thrill at the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale or marvel at the Big Horn County Museum. But to really soak up Southeast Montana, you may have to get a little dirty—and sometimes a little snowy. After all, some of the best draws here are hunting, angling (especially for prehistoric paddlefish), fossil hunting, mountain biking, horseback riding and agate-hounding.

Explorers here have a perfect Hollywood-Western backdrop: the sheer 1,000-foot plunge into Bighorn , Pompeys Pillar (complete with William Clark’s signature) and the surreal badlands formations at . Between cattle drives and dude ranches, snowshoeing trips and the Crow Fair and Rodeo, Southeast Montana is where the landscape, the history and the laid-back way of life join together to make a memorable Montana experience.

Left: Makoshika State Park near Glendive Above: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area near Fort Smith

AT A GLANCE + The Jersey Lily is the only business still running in tiny Ingomar, located along US 12 between Forsyth and Roundup, but the bean soup is renowned around the state. + Near Billings, you’ll find Pictograph Cave State Park, thought to be inhabited prehistorically for about 10,000 years. Excavations in the area have unearthed almost 30,000 Paleo-Indian artifacts. + Makoshika (as in Makoshika State Park) translates into “land of bad spirits” in Lakota. It’s pronounced ma-KO-she-ka. + When Pierre Wibaux’s father sent money to build a Catholic church, Wibaux set the Norman French immigrants to task building a fancy old-Europe-style church, St. Peter’s, in the town of Wibaux. + 85 percent of the Crow on the Crow Reservation speak Crow as their first language.

SOUTHEAST MONTANA - VISITMT.COM 79 state’s largest and has direct flights from PHOTOGRAPHING KNOW BEFORE nine major U.S. cities year-round, with additional flights added for the summer TRIBAL CEREMONIES YOU GO months. Powwows and dances have deep religious significance and typically do not BEST TIME TO VISIT As you drive Southeast Montana’s scenic allow flash photography. Be sure to have byways, remember to give horseback permission before snapping photos at To experience a powwow or a cattle drive, riders on the road plenty of clearance, tribal ceremonies. For more information you’ll want to hit Southeast Montana in the and drive around them very slowly. If you on proper etiquette while visiting the summer. Fall is decidedly hunting season encounter a cattle drive crossing the road, reservations and how to best enjoy your in these parts, and fly fishers happily fish wait for signals from the cattlemen that it’s experience, contact tribal offices atvisitmt. on through the winter (and every other safe to move through. com/indiannations. SOUTHEAST MONTANA season). Hikers and mountain bikers can start exploring as soon as the snow melts in spring, on through the summer and WHAT TO PACK FOOD into fall, when the weather is cool enough If you’re heading to a cattle drive or Food runs the gamut in Southeast to keep sweatiness at bay. In the winter, working ranch, absolutely bring your Montana, from Asian fusion picks in cross-country skis and snowshoes turn cowboy boots! You’ll soon discover just Billings to gourmet, locally grown fare to Cranbrook, BC the scenery into your playground, and if how functional they really are. For general found in unlikely littleto Regina, ranching SK towns to Cardston, AB to Assiniboia, SK to Lethbridge, AB you want to get in some downhill turns, tromping about, you’ll want ato goodKildeer, SKpair to Swift Current, SK like Broadus. Expect “homestyle prairie Rexford CANADA Yaak Eureka head to Red Lodge Mountain Resort, just of tennis shoes or hiking boots and a few Westby GLACIER food”—beefWhitetail steaks and potatoes. Soak Babb Sweetgrass Port of Four an hour southwest of Billings. layers, especially a wind-resistant one. Flaxville NATIONAL Sweetgrass Opheim Buttesup the town’s character and meet friendly Fortine Polebridge BLACKFEET Sunburst Turner Trego St. Mary INDIAN In the winter, gloves, hat, a warm parka Peerless localsScobey by figuringPlentywood out where the locals Loring Whitewater ND to Fortuna, PARK RESERVATION Lake Cut Bank HOW TO GET HERE and snow boots will most likely come in eat—in many small towns, the best Troy Apgar McDonald Browning Chinook handy. Dress is casual here, and you’d be Medicine Lake Libby West Glacier FORT PECK restaurant or longest-standing bar serves Columbia K INDIAN RESERVATION Shelby AMTRA I-94 and I-90 constitute the main pipelines, hard-pressed to tell a ranching baron from Falls Coram Rudyard as an informal community gathering spot. A Martin City Chester Froid MT with MT 59, HavreUS 12 and US Fort 212 (also AM Hinsdale RAK Whitefish Hungry Horse East Glacier Galata TRAaK farmhandSaco on clothes alone. SaintBlue jeans, Also, we know beer isn’t food, but we Park Valier Box Belknap Marie Lustre knownElder as the Warrior Trail) branching off.Dodson sweatshirts and Vandaliaball caps are the norm. Kalispell Essex Agency Malta would be remissCulbertson if we didn’t encourage Heart FORT BELKNAP Kila Dupuyer Logan International Airport in Billings is the ROCKY BOY’S INDIAN Glasgow Nashua Wolfyou to samplePoplar Southeast Montana’s Marion Bigfork AMTRAK Heron Big Sandy INDIAN RESERVATION Point Bainville Somers to Williston, ND to Sandpoint, ID Noxon Conrad RESERVATION Lakeside FLATHEAD Rollins Bynum Brady Proctor VALLEY Swan Lake Fort Fairview Trout Dayton Virgelle Peck C. M. RUSSELL Creek Elmo Fort Benton Loma Big Arm Choteau Landusky Zortman NATIONAL WILDLIFE Thompson REFUGE Sidney Falls Hot Springs Polson Lambert DAKOTA NORTH Crane Condon Fairfield Great This map is for reference only; see the Haugan Ronan Vaughn Official Montana Highway Map for more detail. Plains Falls Savage De Borgia Charlo Augusta Winifred Bloomfield St. Regis Paradise FLATHEAD INDIAN Moiese RESERVATION Fort Shaw Brusett Circle to Coeur d’Alene, ID to Coeur d’Alene, IDAHO Belt Dixon St. Ignatius Ulm Roy Stockett Raynesford Denton Jordan Brockway Superior Cascade Geyser Arlee Seeley 253 Lake Stanford Glendive Ovando Craig Monarch Lewistown Alberton Springs Wibaux Lincoln Hobson Winnett Cohagen Missoula Wolf Creek 253 Greenough Neihart Grass Mosby Bonner Range Helmville Utica Lolo Terry ND to Dickinson, Clinton Canyon Creek Fallon Marysville BITTERROOT East Florence Drummond Judith Gap to Kooskia, ID VALLEY Helena Helena Melstone Ingomar PINTLER White Sulphur Ismay Victor Stevensville SCENIC Elliston Plevna ROUTE Garrison Montana Springs Two Clancy Winston City Dot Harlowton Miles City Deer Baker Corvallis Philipsburg Jefferson Martinsdale Roundup Lodge Basin Hysham Forsyth Hamilton City Townsend Ringling ND to Bowman, Georgetown Lake Boulder Bighorn Rosebud Darby Anaconda 569 Custer Conner Worden Ekalaka Wise Butte Wilsall Logan Big Colstrip Sula River Manhattan Pompeys Pillar Dewey Three Clyde Park Timber Whitehall Belgrade Greycliff Silver Forks Divide Harrison Livingston Reed Point Laurel Lame DAKOTA SOUTH Star Columbus Billings Deer Wisdom Hardin Crow Ashland to Melrose Pony McLeod WARRI Olive Twin Gallatin Agency OR Salmon, ID PIONEER CROW INDIAN IL Bridges Gateway TRA MTNS Sheridan Bozeman Park HI 278 Norris Absarokee City RESERVATION Garryowen Busby GH SCENIC PARADISE Rockvale NORTHERN CHEYENNE WAY Broadus BYWAY VALLEY Fishtail Saint Xavier Jackson Nevada Joliet Pryor INDIAN RESERVATION Polaris City Ennis Pray Nye Roberts Lodge Fort Smith Birney Alder Emigrant Roscoe Grass 278 Bridger Virginia Big Bannack Dillon City Sky Otter Cameron Red Lodge Wyola Biddle Alzada BIGHORN CANYON Cooke Belfry Grant Gardiner Silver NATIONAL REC. AREA Decker Gate City 324 to Belle Fourche, SD 324 Quake Tower Junction WYOMING to Gillette, WY Mammoth to Sheridan, WY Lake BEARTOOTH to Cody, WY to Lovell, WY Hot Springs ALL AMERICAN ROAD YELLOWSTONE Dell Canyon Norris Lima NATIONAL80 SOUTHEAST MONTANA - VISITMT.COM Madison Monida Lakeview West Junction PARK Yellowstone Lake West IDAHO to Idaho Falls, ID Thumb to Rexburg, ID Old Faithful Grant Village

to Grand Teton Natl Park and Jackson, WY SOUTHEAST MONTANA

Running along the rims in Billings

authentic microbrewed beer from one BROADUS is just west of the Powder of the stops on the Montana Dinosaur of Billings’ many microbreweries, or River and has been described as the Trail and features some of the finest from Beaver Creek Brewery in Wibaux, “Gateway and Crossroads” of Southeast paleontological discoveries in the U.S. where the stout perfectly complements Montana. The town has several museums Chalk , and the homemade chocolate chip cookie showcasing the original county jail, antique near town provide excellent camping and included with every pint. cars, Native American artifacts, unique hunting for mule deer, white-tailed deer minerals, wildlife mounts, antique and and wild turkeys. commemorative guns and local art. 406.775.8731 PLACES TO GO 406.436.2778 www.cartercountychamberofcommerce.com www.visitmt.com/broadus COMMUNITIES GLENDIVE is tucked between the CROW RESERVATION The Crow badlands and the , and is BAKER No matter which direction you (Apsáalooke) Tribe of Indians has a considered the hub city of the rich inland look in Baker, you will see stretches of membership of approximately 12,000, agricultural area of . scenery painted with golden fields and 8,000 of whom reside on the Crow Indian Makoshika State Park, one of the most , arched horizon to horizon Reservation. The town of Crow Agency impressive badlands areas in America, with the big, beautiful, blue sky. Baker is the tribal capital. The tribe calls itself borders the southern edge of Glendive. It offers a variety of year-round activities Apsáalooke, which means “children has highly unusual rock formations and is including fishing and hunting for deer, of the large-beaked bird.” White men a virtual warehouse of prehistoric fossils, pronghorn antelope, pheasants and later misinterpreted the word as “Crow.” mineral specimens and dinosaur bones. turkeys. The town also features two The Crow Indian Reservation is the 406.377.7792 community museums. largest of the state’s eight recognized www.visitglendive.com 406.778.2266 Indian reservations, encompassing www.bakermt.com approximately 2.3 million acres. Feel the HARDIN is situated near the Bighorn River pride and experience the traditions of the and along the edge of the Crow Indian BILLINGS is “Montana’s Trailhead.” Many Apsáalooke people, and take a cultural Reservation. The town is surrounded by visitors to Southeast Montana enter the tour through the Big Horn College at Crow productive ranches and farms. The Big state via Billings’ Logan International Agency. The Apsáalooke Nation Tribal Horn County Historical Museum is located Airport, Montana’s largest. Billings makes Tourism Department, 406.638.1800, also here and consists of 23 historic structures a perfect base camp for your excursions offers specialized individual tours. and several exhibit buildings. South of into Southeast Montana. If you want 406.638.3700 Hardin is the Little Bighorn Battlefield, to experience big-city dining, lodging www.crowtribe.com where the Northern Plains Indians and shopping, all with the small-town defeated Custer and the U.S. Cavalry. friendliness you’d expect in a visit to EKALAKA is just south of Medicine Rocks 406.665.1672 Montana, Billings is your place. State Park and is home to Carter County www.thehardinchamber.org 406.245.4111 Museum—the first county museum in the www.visitbillings.com state of Montana. The museum is one

SOUTHEAST MONTANA - VISITMT.COM 81 MILES CITY Steeped in history, Miles ROUNDUP One of the many attractions City remains a true Western town. Vast in the Roundup area is the Musselshell stretches of plains and badlands branch Valley Historical Museum, which houses out in all directions. The Yellowstone and a coal tunnel, complete with wooden Tongue Rivers flow unblemished in long car, carbide lamps, lunch pails, displays, sections. Once the horse-trading and maps and photos. The Bull Mountains, livestock center of the country, Miles City south of Roundup, offer beautiful roadside still lives the “West,” whether it’s in the and pine trees. North of town LITTLE BIGHORN 1950s-era main street, the authentically are oil wells, evidence of another rich BATTLEFIELD refurbished early 1900s saloon, the mineral in the area. Eight miles north of NATIONAL MONUMENT Bucking Horse Sale or museums and Roundup is the Lake Mason National In 1876, this hallowed ground witnessed galleries that focus on range riders and Wildlife Refuge where commonly observed SOUTHEAST MONTANA “Custer’s Last Stand,” as Lakota, Northern Western artists who call Montana home. wildlife includes long-billed curlews, upland Cheyenne and Arapahoe warriors defeated Lt. 406.234.2890 sandpipers, sage grouse, pronghorn Col. and his entire www.milescitychamber.com antelope and a variety of raptors. The battalion during the most prolific battle of the Musselshell River, noted for its fine trout Great Sioux War of 1876. NORTHERN CHEYENNE and catfish, also offers plentiful spots for RESERVATION The Northern Cheyenne relaxing picnics along its lazy banks. are known in their native language as 406.323.1966 Notameomesehese, meaning “Northern Eaters.” The reservation is approximately TERRY is just northeast of Miles City. The 445,000 acres in size with 99 percent tribal town’s main attraction is the Prairie County ownership. The tribe has approximately Museum and Evelyn Cameron Gallery. The 10,050 enrolled tribal members with about museum displays early-settler artifacts, 4,939 residing on the reservation. The and the gallery showcases the incredible tribal capital of the Northern Cheyenne is photographs taken by Evelyn Cameron in the town of Lame Deer. See the Chief in the 1800s. Terry also sits on the edge Two Moons Monument in Busby and learn of the Terry Badlands. The Calypso Trail, about the Northern Cheyenne people. an old bootlegging road, allows vehicles 406.477.6284 (high clearance recommended) to explore www.cheyennenation.com this beautiful area. The town offers many

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

An interpretive trail walks visitors through the battle in key locations where it unfolded, while a museum brings history to life with actual weapons, uniforms and photographs. Markers for the fallen from both sides dot the hillsides, and the neatly plotted Custer National Cemetery amasses the losses. In honor of fallen American Indians, the “Peace through Unity” memorial highlights quotes, drawings and other expressions from a Native American perspective. Open all year. 406.638.2621 www.nps.gov/libi Apsaalooke Tours Tours of the battlefield by Native American guides are offered on a daily schedule, five times per day, from June through Labor Day, on a 25-passenger bus with Apsaalooke Tours. Private, step-on tours are available by request. 406.638.3897 www.lbhc.edu

Crow Fair in Crow Agency 82 SOUTHEAST MONTANA - VISITMT.COM SOUTHEAST MONTANA

Makoshika Dinosaur Museum, Glendive Exhibit at the Waterworks Art Museum, Miles City services including the Kempton Hotel, recreational opportunities such as boating, near Glendive house the fossil remains of known to be the haunt of friendly spirits fishing, ice fishing, camping and hiking. such as Tyrannosaurus rex and and the oldest continuously operating There are two visitor centers and other . You’ll find a visitor center at hotel in Montana. developed facilities in Fort Smith, Montana, the park entrance with exhibits explaining 406.635.5598 and near Lovell, Wyoming. the site’s geologic, fossil and prehistoric www.visitterrymontana.com 406.666.2412 stories. During the winter, Makoshika www.nps.gov/bica State Park is an excellent backdrop for WIBAUX is a friendly, Western town cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, with a colorful history and a charming BIG HORN COUNTY HISTORICAL conditions permitting. Open all year. For historic district. A visitor information center MUSEUM is located one mile east more information or camping reservations provides an introduction to the area and of Hardin, only 15 miles from the go to stateparks.mt.gov. its history. Beaver Creek, which flows famous Little Bighorn Battlefield. The 406.377.6256 through Wibaux, has produced some museum complex consists of 23 historic big fish, including walleye and northern structures; several small exhibit buildings POMPEYS PILLAR NATIONAL pike in excess of 10 pounds. Catfish and and a main exhibit building that feature MONUMENT AND INTERPRETIVE bullheads can also be caught in the creek, a rotating exhibit; and offices, a visitor CENTER, east of Billings, is the location while panfish and trout are found in many center and a gift shop. This 22-acre of the only remaining physical evidence area farm ponds. A public pond with picnic site, once a flourishing vegetable farm, of Captain William Clark’s return through area is located on the edge of the city was donated in 1979 to the Big Horn the Yellowstone Valley. Walk along a limits on MT 7 South. A blend of badlands County Historical Society for a museum. boardwalk to see where Captain Clark and rolling hills offers fine photography and The farmhouse and barn are part of carved his name in the sandstone pillar hunting for mule deer, white-tailed deer the original farm site. The other historic on July 25, 1806. The interpretive center and pronghorn antelope. Upland game buildings have been moved to the features exhibits relating to Clark’s birds also are plentiful in some parts of museum from various locations in Big exploration of the Yellowstone River route, this area. Deer, wild turkeys, beavers and Horn County. Additional exhibits include along with exhibits on native culture, flora a wide variety of songbirds are frequently horse-drawn equipment, farm machinery, and fauna, the Lewis and Clark Expedition spotted, sometimes right in town! tractors and early-day automobiles. Open and the historical legacy of Pompeys Pillar. 406.796.2412 all year (historic buildings are closed Open May through September. www.visitmt.com/wibaux October 1 through May 1). 406.875.2400 406.665.1671 www.pompeyspillar.org NOTABLE SITES www.bighorncountymuseum.org RANGE RIDERS MUSEUM, located in BIGHORN CANYON NATIONAL MAKOSHIKA STATE PARK To the Sioux Miles City, consists of 11 buildings that RECREATION AREA is a lesser-known Indians, Makoshika (pronounced ma-KO- house thousands of artifacts portraying treasure waiting to be discovered. It she-ka) meant “land of bad spirits.” Today, authentic pioneer life. The boasts breathtaking scenery, countless as Montana’s largest state park, the pine- displays include photos of early-day varieties of wildlife and abundant and juniper-studded badlands formations settlers, saddles, antiquated cameras,

SOUTHEAST MONTANA - VISITMT.COM 83 SOUTHEAST MONTANA

Rodeo romp at the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale

quilts, household utensils, guns, historic records, a homestead house, a one-room THINGS TO DO LITTLE BIGHORN DAYS – HARDIN, school, a frontier town with 11 shops, JUNE Little Bighorn Days are four days Indian artifacts and much, much more. EVENTS of festivities commemorating the sights It’s the largest Western museum in the and sounds of the past, with legends area. Open April through October. For exact dates and a complete listing of that surround it woven throughout the 406.232.6146 all events go to visitmt.com/events. various events. Dancers from around the www.rangeridersmuseum.org world dress in period costumes to attend ARTWALK – BILLINGS, FEBRUARY the 1876 Grand Ball. Dance lessons are ST. PETER’S CATHOLIC CHURCH The Artwalk is a community art event offered the evening prior to the dance. AND WIBAUX COUNTY MUSEUM scheduled five times a year in downtown Award-winning local quilters display their COMPLEX The story of Pierre Wibaux Billings. Galleries and businesses host latest creations at the local library. Art (for whom the town and county are free receptions for artisans from 5 to exhibits are held in the JailHouse Gallery named) and his wife is told during the tour 9 p.m. Maps are available at each gallery. and Historic Train Depot. Take your of the Wibaux Museum Complex. Enjoy Free bus transportation also available. children to the Big Horn County Historical the historical walking tour of the Wibaux 406.259.6563 Museum for hands-on fun featuring crafts Business District, St. Peter’s Catholic of a bygone era! Come hungry—breakfast, Church, built in 1895, and Wibaux Park, MILES CITY BUCKING HORSE SALE – lunch and dinner are served throughout a carefully crafted garden of cottonwood MILES CITY, MAY Besides excellent the festival. trees and flowers. Open May through bronc and bareback riding, the Bucking 406.665.3577 or 406.665.1672 September. Horse Sale offers bull riding, pari-mutuel 406.796.9969 horse racing, the Bucking Horse Sale REAL BIRD CUSTER BATTLE www.visitmt.com/wibaux Trade Exposition, concerts, dances, a REENACTMENT – GARRYOWEN, parade and lots of area entertainment. JUNE This reenactment tells the story ZOOMONTANA AND BOTANICAL 406.874.2825 of Custer’s defeat at the Battle of the GARDENS, located in Billings, is Little Bighorn from a Native American Montana’s only zoo and one of the region’s BUZZARD DAY – GLENDIVE, JUNE perspective, based on stories handed most popular attractions. A winding nature Celebrate spring and the turkey vulture’s down from those with firsthand knowledge trail follows Canyon Creek for views of the return to Makoshika State Park on of the battle and passed from generation native and exotic animals in their natural Buzzard Day. Activities include a pancake to generation. This reenactment is located habitat. Kids love the Montana Homestead breakfast, nature walks, 5K and 10K near Garryowen on the actual site of the petting zoo set in a farm and ranch Buzzard Runs, festival games and food. battle on the weekend of its anniversary environment. Open all year. 406.377.6256 in June. 406.652.8100 406.679.3825 www.zoomontana.org

84 SOUTHEAST MONTANA - VISITMT.COM CLARK DAYS – POMPEYS PILLAR, CHRISTMAS STROLL – MILES CITY, SOUTHEAST MONTANA JULY This annual celebration is held DECEMBER The Christmas Stroll in Miles over a weekend in mid-summer at City celebrates with horse-drawn wagon Pompeys Pillar National Monument. Enjoy rides, hayrides and shopping along the interpretive programs, guest speakers, streets of the city. There are assorted demonstrations, games and a Native vendors on the street with everything from American cultural presentation. Free Scotch eggs to roasted chestnuts. admission. Camping available Saturday 406.234.2890 PADDLEFISHING night. What makes 3,000 excited anglers flock to a 406.896.5235 CULTURE/HISTORY short section of Yellowstone River shoreline and beat the water to a froth by flailing DINO SHINDIG – EKALAKA, JULY CARTER COUNTY MUSEUM it with heavier-than-usual fishing gear? Enjoy two days of intrigue and adventure Founded in 1936, this is Montana’s first Paddlefish! with the Carter County Museum. Events county museum. Located in Ekalaka, include world-renowned paleontologist the museum houses some of the finest speakers, hands-on dinosaur activities for paleontological discoveries in the U.S., the whole family, field expeditions and a as well as numerous artifacts depicting street dance. the lives of Native Americans and the 406.775.6886 early settlers of Carter County. Among the paleontological treasures is a mounted Illustration of paddlefish CROW FAIR AND RODEO – CROW skeleton of an Anatotitan copei (duck- AGENCY, AUGUST The annual Crow billed hadrosaur), complete skulls of During late May and June, a special breed of Fair celebration, also known as “The Triceratops horridus (three horns) and a angler travels to a rocky stretch of the river Tepee Capital of the World,” is one of Nanotyrannus lancensis (tiny tyrannosaur), near Glendive, at the Intake Diversion Dam. the largest gatherings of the year for the all collected in the Hell Creek Here, they rig up their saltwater fishing gear Apsáalooke Nation and is considered Formation. One of the 14 stops along the and churn the coffee-colored water to catch the largest modern-day Native American . Open all year. the senior citizen of the Yellowstone—the encampment in the U.S. Many cultural 406.775.6886 paddlefish. Paddlefish are also caught in lesser activities take place throughout the days of www.cartercountymuseum.org numbers at the mouths of the Tongue and this great celebration. Powder Rivers and the Forsyth Diversion Dam. 406.638.1800 CHIEF PLENTY COUPS STATE PARK Ask a local for the best fishing places and You’ll be humbled to stand on land techniques for catching these prehistoric fish. MONTANAFAIR – BILLINGS, AUGUST once owned by warrior-turned-pacifist No time to fish? Take home some Yellowstone MontanaFair is an agricultural celebration Chief Plenty Coups, the last chief of Caviar for a unique taste of southeastern in the historic tradition of fairs. It is the the Crow tribe. The park, near Pryor, Montana, found at the Glendive Chamber region’s largest event. Enjoy exhibits, a provides interpretation of Plenty Coups’s of Commerce. rodeo, concerts, a carnival and stages life and the Crow tribe’s history, as well around the grounds providing free as Plenty Coups’ home, store, tepee, 406.234.0900 entertainment. modern museum and grounds for walking www.fwp.mt.gov/fishing 406.256.2400 and picnicking. Open May 1 through September 30. Winter hours apply ASHLAND LABOR DAY POWWOW – October 1 through April 30. ASHLAND, SEPTEMBER Located 406.252.1289 on US 212 between Ashland and the www.stateparks.mt.gov St. Labre Mission, this event includes drummers and dancers from many tribes. GLENDIVE DINOSAUR AND FOSSIL Giveaways, gourd dancing and hand MUSEUM features several full-size games are part of the festivities. dinosaur and fossil exhibits plus a myriad 406.784.2883 of singular fossils, and is one of the largest dinosaur and fossil museums BILLINGS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA in the U.S. to present its fossils in the AND CHORALE: THE NUTCRACKER context of biblical creation. Exhibits BALLET – BILLINGS, NOVEMBER continue to be added, so stop back Delight in the Billings Symphony and see what has changed. Open June Packaged Yellowstone Caviar Orchestra’s annual live symphonic through September, Tuesday through presentation of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, Saturday; April, May and October, Friday and watch as this quintessential tale and Saturday. unfolds with beautiful costumes, elaborate 406.377.3228 sets and creative choreography. www.creationtruth.org 406.252.3610 MAKOSHIKA DINOSAUR MUSEUM Located in a historic building in downtown Glendive and with the badlands as a

SOUTHEAST MONTANA - VISITMT.COM 85 backdrop, Makoshika Dinosaur Museum is camping, hiking, cross-country skiing in the heart of dinosaur country and is one and snowshoeing (dependent on snow stop on the Montana Dinosaur Trail. Many accumulations). For a map of the area of the dinosaurs displayed were found in visit www.fs.usda.gov/custer. the as well as around 406.255.1400 the world. Open all year. 406.377.1637 HUNTING AND FISHING Upland birds, EVELYN CAMERON www.makoshika.com antelope, deer and elk are some of the To save her struggling horse ranch wild game in Southeast Montana. Perch, in 1894, Terry, Montana, homesteader MOSS MANSION Step back into history walleye, trout, catfish, sauger, ling, bass Evelyn Cameron took up photography. While with a one-hour guided tour of the Moss and sturgeon are some of the myriad she was busy single-handedly running her Mansion Historic House Museum in species of fish you’ll find in the rivers, SOUTHEAST MONTANA ranch—milking cows, breaking colts and Billings. The tour captures turn-of-the- streams and reservoirs. digging coal during her husband’s frequent 20th-century life as the Preston Boyd www.fwp.mt.gov absences—Evelyn found time to teach herself Moss family lived it. See the original glass-plate photography. Soon, she was draperies, fixtures, furniture, Persian MEDICINE ROCKS STATE PARK traveling up to 30 miles in a day to photograph carpets and artifacts displayed in the 1903 Medicine Rocks was a place of “big friends, strangers, weddings and wildlife. red sandstone structure. Designed by the medicine,” where Indian hunting parties architect of the original Waldorf Astoria prepared themselves for the hunt. and Plaza Hotels, the home is listed on the Weathering has given the soft sandstone National Register of Historic Places. rock formations a Swiss-cheese look, Open all year. providing a unique landscape filled 406.256.5100 with meaning and serenity. You’ll www.mossmansion.com enjoy photography, hiking, camping, snowshoeing (dependent on snow PRAIRIE COUNTY MUSEUM AND accumulations) and wildlife viewing in CAMERON GALLERY began in 1975 this remote and primitive site 14 miles in the historic 1916 State Bank of Terry north of Ekalaka. Open all year. For more building and has grown into a complex information on the park or for camping that includes the original 1906 State Bank reservations, go to stateparks.mt.gov. of Terry building, the only steam-heated 406.234.0900 outhouse this side of the Mississippi, a pioneer homestead, the Burlington PICTOGRAPH CAVE STATE PARK Northern train depot, an old wooden red This park, located five miles from caboose and the famous Evelyn Cameron Billings, is home to the Pictograph, Gallery of photos. Open Memorial Day Middle and Ghost Caves complex. through Labor Day. It features short, paved hiking trails 406.635.4040 to rock paintings (pictographs) and Janet Williams and Evelyn Cameron, 1910 www.visitmt.com/prairieco interpretive signs describing the paintings (photo courtesy of Cameron Gallery) and archaeological efforts. A National OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES Historic Landmark, this site was home to Inadvertently, Evelyn left behind a window prehistoric hunters and, since 1937, has into the past of the plains. Not only did her BOATING BIGHORN CANYON provided over 30,000 artifacts for study. A clear photos of sheepherders, railway workers NATIONAL RECREATION AREA visitor center, reminiscent of its namesake and frontier women performing “men’s work” Boating, kayaking and canoeing are all cave, includes interpretive displays and an (like branding, plowing and roping) paint the excellent ways to enjoy the colors and educational center. Open all year. picture of prairie life and plains women circa scenic beauty of Bighorn Canyon. The 406.254.7342 1900, but her 35 journals gave it a voice. Ok-A-Beh Marina near Fort Smith offers www.stateparks.mt.gov boaters a variety of amenities—gas, safety Nowadays, Evelyn Cameron is honored in the equipment, fishing and boating supplies, TONGUE RIVER RESERVOIR STATE National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, boat storage, food and drink and pontoon PARK The 12-mile-long reservoir Texas, and in the Montana Historical Society rentals. Hidden Treasure Charters out of is situated among scenic red shale, in Helena, Montana. To see her photographs, Cody, Wyoming, offers a guided tour, and juniper and the open prairies of drop by the Evelyn Cameron Gallery within Horseshoe Bend Marina out of Lovell, Southeast Montana. The park, six miles the Prairie County Museum in Terry. Wyoming, at the south end of the canyon, north of Decker, is a favorite of anglers, Cameron Gallery rents paddleboats. campers, boaters and water-sports 406.635.4040 406.666.2412 enthusiasts. The reservoir boasts www.visitterrymontana.com www.nps.gov/bica/planyourvisit/boating.htm excellent fishing—two state-record fish have been pulled from its waters. Open CUSTER GALLATIN NATIONAL all year. For more information on the FOREST Many recreation opportunities park or for camping reservations, go to exist within the Ashland district of the stateparks.mt.gov. Custer , including 406.234.0900

86 SOUTHEAST MONTANA - VISITMT.COM SCENIC & WILDLIFE hiking, bicycling, hunting, photography, SOUTHEAST MONTANA BIRDING SOUTHEAST MONTANA birding, horseback riding and wildlife TRAIL, formerly called the Custer BIG SKY BACK COUNTRY BYWAY viewing. Vehicles, including 4-wheelers Country Southeastern Montana Birding This 105-mile drive from Terry to Wolf and mountain bikes, are not permitted to Trail, takes you throughout this entire Point takes you through rolling prairies of travel off-road. As you travel around the region with 15 specific areas and trails, grasslands and farmland, past buttes and badlands, be aware of private land by and opportunities to see many unique varying badlands landscapes. The entire knowing the boundaries of the wilderness species and habitats. You may catch a route is paved, and there are interpretive study area. glimpse of prairie falcons, burrowing owls, kiosks along the way providing information 406.233.2800 sage grouse and mountain blackbirds, about local history and byway highlights. www.mt.blm.gov/mcfo just to name a few. A downloadable map Allow two to three hours for the drive and and site details are available. more if you stop to explore. LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL Captains 800.346.1876 406.233.2800 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark www.visitmt.com/birdwatching and the Corps of Discovery traveled CALYPSO TRAIL is a 5.5-mile primitive more miles and set up more campsites road that provides access to the - in Montana than in any other state carved sandstone and clays of the Terry during the expedition. Spend some time Badlands Wilderness Study Area. The following their route by way of the Lower road is primitive, and there are no services, Yellowstone Corridor, which runs from but the views are captivating. High- Sidney to Forsyth, and the Pompeys Pillar clearance vehicles are recommended, and Corridor, which runs from Forsyth the road may be impassable when wet. to Bozeman. Popular activities in the badlands include www.visitmt.com/lewisclarktrail

Moss Mansion in Billings The bust of Chief Plenty Coups

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