Billings, Little Big Horn, and the Montana Plains

We’ve compiled the best of the best in Billings, Little Big Horn, and the Montana Plains - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

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  • 1. Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge

    Nature Preserve/Wildlife Refuge

    Bordering the shores of Fort Peck Lake—and extending west more than 100 miles to U.S. 191—is the massive Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, a 1.1-million-acre preserve teeming with more than 200 species of birds, including bald eagles and game birds; 45 different mammals, including elk, bighorn sheep, antelope, prairie dogs, and deer; and a variety of fish and reptiles. But this is also a refuge for history: each year scientists from around the country march into the preserve, and each year they find something new, whether it's dinosaur bones, buffalo jumps, tepee rings, or an old homesteader's shack. The refuge, one of the largest under the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's management, is open for hiking, horseback riding, fishing, boating, and other activities. Several access roads run through the area; most of these are unpaved, aside from U.S. 191, which runs north–south through the western edge of the refuge.

    Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, Montana, USA
    406-538–8706

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free
  • 2. Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge Auto Tour Route

    Located along Highway 191, 55 miles southwest of Malta, this 20-mile all-weather gravel road allows visitors an up-close and personal view of the inner workings of the refuge. Interpretive stops along the way provide information on the wildlife, geology, and history of this unique landscape. Keep your eyes out for a rare sighting of an endangered black-footed ferret, as this part of the refuge protects one of the largest free-ranging populations in the world. Stop at the Slippery Ann Wildlife Viewing Area to look for elk and deer; early mornings and evenings are best. Expect to spend three or more hours on the drive.

    Malta, Montana, USA
    406-538--8706
  • 3. Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge Field Stations

    There are three staffed field stations in the refuge: the Sand Creek Wildlife Station, the Jordan Wildlife Station, and the Fort Peck Wildlife Station. Although they have no public facilities, they are conveniently scattered around the park, and are good sources of information, including maps, road conditions, and points of interest. If they're in, the rangers will help you with directions or problems.

    U.S. 91, Hwy. 200, and Hwy. 24, Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, Montana, 59457, USA
    406-538–8706
  • 4. Slippery Ann Wildlife Viewing Area

    In the fall, hundreds of elk congregate in morning and evening at the Slippery Ann Wildlife Viewing Area. During the autumn mating season the bulls bugle and spar with their antlers while herds of cows come to watch and be courted. Be sure to bring binoculars and zoom lenses for your camera, because you must keep your distance from these massive animals.

    U.S. 191, Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, Montana, 59538, USA
    406-538--8706
  • 5. UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge

    A refuge within a refuge, the UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge consists of more than 20,000 acres of wilderness entirely within the boundaries of the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. Its primary mission at the moment is to rescue one of the nation's most endangered animals: the black-footed ferret. The ferrets depend on the high concentration of prairie dog towns for food. There are also plenty of grouse and burrowing owls, who use abandoned prairie-dog tunnels for homes.

    UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge Rd., Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, Montana, 5953, USA
    406-538–8706

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free, Daily 24 hrs
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