Council Grove State Park

Ten miles west of Missoula is the 186 acres of wilderness in the historically rich Council Grove State Park of beautiful Montana. The park is the location of the 1855 council where Isaac Stevens and the Salish (Flathead), Kootenai, and Pend d’Oreille Indians negotiated the Hellgate Treaty, which resulted in the creation of the Flathead Indian Reservation. Council Grove State Park provides for scenic picnicking, bicycling, hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, and bird watching. Because of its open grove structure, Council Grove State Park’s waterfront attracts a variety of birds including the great blue heron and the blue winged teal. The park gives access to the confluence of the Lower Clark’s Fork River, the Swan River, and Flathead Lake. Explore the area’s beauty in the Mission, Jocko, and Swan valleys as well as the nearby Bob Marshall Wilderness area. This park’s historical significance and natural wonder makes for a perfect place to take the family for a day trip.