Southern Montana Road Trip

Lewis and Clark Trail

Although the Corps of Discovery stayed together for the entire trip westward, on the way back they split up in order to explore as much of the Louisiana Territory as possible. Captain William Clark's group set out to follow the Yellowstone River back to its confluence with the Missouri, where the Expedition members would reunite.

The Yellowstone River is the principal tributary of the upper Missouri, and is a popular destination for fly fishing. Pirogue Island State Park and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area offer a variety of outdoors activities whereas Pictograph Cave State Park, Greycliff Prairie Dog Town, and Madison Buffalo Jump all host attractions unique to this wondrous section of your road trip.

An Isolated Sanctuary for Wildlife

Stepping out to the beautiful, untainted cottonwood-draped Yellowstone River island at Pirogue Island State Park helps to remind oneself of times before the complications of society and technology. Lewis and Clark themselves must have reveled in the majesty of this magnificent place. Accessible by floating or by foot during low water, it is a prime location for fishing, horseback riding, hiking, picnicking, and bicycling. For boating enthusiasts, non-motorized boats can be launched here during the high water season. Wildlife viewing is exceptional as the site is a haven for the American Kestrel, Black-billed Magpie, Black-capped Chickadee, Gray Catbird, Bald Eagle, Whitetail and Mule Deer, and many more.

Numerous Recreational Opportunities

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is a magnificent tangle of forest, mountains, prairie, canyons and valleys, desert, lake and wetlands. Bighorn Lake spans more than 70 miles from Montana to Wyoming, 55 miles of which are within Bighorn Canyon. For fishing enthusiasts, the Afterbay Lake below Yellowtail Dam is a great spot for trout fishing and Bighorn River is known as a world class trout fishing area. No matter what it is you enjoy in the great wide open, Bighorn Canyon is set up for it all: auto touring, biking, bird watching, boating, primitive & RV campgrounds, cross country skiing, fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, swimming, and much more.

Prehistoric Montana

Reopening after the construction of a new visitor center in Spring of 2009, Pictograph Cave State Park hosts a mythic cave complex that once housed generations of prehistoric hunters. More than 30,000 artifacts have been found here as well as visible rock paintings in Pictograph Cave. The new visitor center will feature interpretive displays, retail stores, offices, and a large meeting hall for classes and other events. Picnic, take a bike ride, or go for a hike in between exploring caves!

For the Family Vacation

On Friday, September 7, 1804, Lewis and Clark discovered a village of prairie dogs covering around 4 acres of turf spotted with holes leading into their underground habitat. The Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park still hosts these curious little animals and provides information about their importance to the prairie ecosystem. A family-favorite, come and stop in for a picnic in the company of these playful black-tailed creatures. Picnicking, bicycling, and photography are some favorite activities here on the 98 acres of prairie dedicated to this grand species.

A Most Unique Picnic Park

Prehistoric people once witnessed the phenomena of stampeding herds of bison charging their way off cliff-edges, leaving the herd dead and families with a great commodity and a lot of work to do. The bison were used to make tipis, hides, and tools among other crafted items and foods - Native Americans held the ideal that nothing would go to waste, so everything was used to make something for the people. Madison Buffalo Jump State Park is a beautiful park with views of the Madison River valley, where you can picnic and hike around this interesting highlight on natural history, and partake in its connection to the natives of the land.

For owners of an RV, Camper, Motorhome, Trailer or Fifth Wheel