Need some help.....

[steve sutton]

the Wife and I are heading to Montana for at least (2) weeks starting the last week of June. We live in Western Washington so the "tentative plan" is to enter Montana via the Going to the Sun highway and then continue east on the Highline before turning South and returning home through the southern part of the State.

Other than a visit to a brother in Billings who won't told we're coming lest he leave the State before the announced date we have no "schedule".....Essentially want to see it ALL and have the ability to extend the trip is needed.....

Would like see Wolves and Grizzlies but don't want to go to Yellowstone even though I know that will make things a bit tougher. Antelope and Elk and Mule Deer I figure will "be there" but if there is someplace where they are concentrated that would be nice. Birds are a big thing with targets like the Longspurs, Longbilled Curlews, Godwits, Upland Plovers, Mountain Plovers Great Grey Owls, Pine Grosbeaks being the things I'd most like to get to photograph. Since the "dancing" season is over I won't list Sage Grouse and Sharptails since I figure I'll see those in my travels but if there is A SPOT that would be neat.

So....given a two wee, or longer, Loop through the State, with no, "won't be going that far" or "that direction", and with no schedule to adhere to can anyone here give me some "must go", "those are here", "see those in this place", spots?

Appreciate the information.

Steve


OH...BPS, as in Beer Post Script.....any and all "favorite" micro-brewers are also wlecomed......

 

[----]

I'll start with breweries: Madison River brewing in Three forks (copper john and salmon fly are great), Lakeside brewery in Lakeside, Bayern, Big sky and kettlehouse in Missoula are all great, although if I were you I wouldn't bother spending much if any time in Missoula, it's not what you'll want to come to MT to see.

I'll think of some of my favorite spots, but just a heads up, if you want to see Grizzlies and wolves, you're pretty well going to need to stop in yellowstone. Yellowstone's great early in the summer though.

Planning on hiking much or more of just a driving trip?

 

[Big Fin]

For bird viewing, it is hard to beat the area around Malta. Bowdion NWR and Nelson Reservoir. But I caution of the skeeters I thought I knew what skeeters were, having grown up in the swamps of northern Minnesota, but I would put the Kamikazes of the Malta area up against any skeeters in the country.

Elk, deer, and antelope. Hard to beat the Charles Russell Wildlife Refuge that makes up the majority of the Missouri River Breaks country. Might even see some bighorns if you get far enough off the road.

Wolves and grizz. Hmmm. That is about as hit or miss as anything.

If you asked me to go find a grizz in one day, I would first get ahold of Crittergitter and find out where he is going that day, as that would be the best bet. After that, I would probably go to Cabin Creek or Watkins Creek in the areas around Hebgen Lake. Or possibly Taylor's Fork in the Gallatin Canyon.

Wolves - South end of the Madison Valley, near the Sun Ranch. They move so much, it will be hard to find them.

Or, just go to YNP, fight the masses and watch where their is a traffic jam and you will know that a bear, wolf, bison, or....... is somewhere nearby.

Good luck, and have fun.

 

[Drake4]

Madison River Brewery is great, but it is in Belgrade. Unless there is one in T.F. I don't know about?

If you want wolves and G-Bears, I would head to Yellowstone. There is a wolf den, visible from the Slough Creek Campground. Just look for the mob of people. We saw 2 other wolves last weekend in the Park too, along with 6 G-Bears. Cooke City/Silvergate area is probably my favorite area in MT..I would definitely recommend driving through there and down the Beartooth Pass and stopping at the Red Lodge Ales Brewery.

More random places:
Have a spicy Madison burger at the Clam Jumper in Ennis, swing over through the Ruby Valley, Virginia City is cool (you'll have to stop there anyways, to get rid of the Spicy Madison Burger), Pryor Mountain Range, Bighorn Canyon/Reservoir..just a few spots that come to mind.

 

[steve sutton]

The reason for not wanting to go to Yellowstone...

is because to do the "two weeks or longer" thing we have to take the dog, (Lab)...he's a great traveler but I hate the rules re: them in National Parks, can't be on trails and if its hot can't leave them in the truck while gone-(wouldn't do that even if I could).....

Heat and Snakes will be part of the decision on how much "hiking" we do.....

What about the Bison Range...worth a visit?

Steve

 

[----]

The bison range is cool, but I wouldn't go much out of my way to see it. The scenery is awesome, but you're already headed to glacier. There is some absolutely amazing bulls that live there year around, but they're not real visible that time of year. It's pretty hot and dry down in this part of the state so they'll already be holed up in the timber by then. If you're ever in the are in September, it's one of the coolest places you could ever spend a day.

MRB is in my Belgrade, my bad.

An awesome area that I would definitely check out is the Front around the Teton River. Gorgeous country that's about the picture perfect representative of what Montana is all about. It's also probably your best chance at seeing a Grizzly. Lots of great hikes, but just the drive is cool too.

I really like the Lewistown area as well, on your way to the CMR you should try to stop in and stay a night. Some good eateries in town too.

All of SW Montana is awesome country. The Ruby valley is worth checking out like Drake pointed out. The upper bighole around Wisdom is a cool area.

Boulder River south of Billings is pretty cool, especially the area right around where the natural bridge used to be.

The Beartooth Highway is worth the drive, although you're kind of obligated to going through Yellowstone that way.

One good thing to take advantage of are the Fish and Game owned Wildlife Management Areas throughout the state.

You could waste a week in the Bozeman area alone, but I'll leave that area to all the guys on here that live over there.


I saw a bunch of curlews in the Dillon/Ruby/Centennial valley last year in late May. I've only seen one Great Grey in Montana ever, I think you have a better chance of seeing a grizzly than one of those.