American Prairie: Rewilding the Plains
This tour follows the rewilding story of Montana's northern plains, and the much longer story underneath it. You start in Malta on US Highway 2 with dinosaurs and homesteaders, look for pelicans at Bowdoin refuge, then drive about 50 miles of gravel south to Sun Prairie, where American Prairie's bison roam. From there you cross to US 191, the Missouri River Breaks and the elk grounds of the Charles M. Russell refuge, then turn north through the gold camp of Zortman to Fort Belknap, home of the Aaniiih and Nakoda nations and their own bison herds.
Plan a long day, or better, two with a night at a campground. This is remote country. There is no public fuel or drinking water at Sun Prairie, cell service is spotty, and American Prairie says its gravel roads can become impassable when wet, with high-clearance AWD or 4WD recommended. Fill up in Malta, carry water and offline maps, and check Montana 511 road reports and the National Weather Service forecast before you leave pavement.
10 stops on this tour:
Phillips County Museum - Elvis and the Homesteaders
Great Plains Dinosaur Museum - Leonardo's Hometown
Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge - Pelicans on the Plains
Sun Prairie - Back in Bison Country
Buffalo Camp - Where the Argument Lives
Mars Vista - Prairie Dogs and the Paved Way In
James Kipp Recreation Area - The Missouri Breaks
Slippery Ann - Elk on the Russell Refuge
Zortman - Gold in the Little Rockies
Fort Belknap Agency - The Herds Came Home Here First
Plan your visit
- Route: 10 stops · self-drive
- Time: about 8 hours with stops
- Start: Phillips County Museum (directions)
- Cost: free tour
- Audio: narrated - tap ▶ Listen at the top of any stop
Stops on this tour
- Phillips County Museum - Elvis and the Homesteaders
- Great Plains Dinosaur Museum - Leonardo's Hometown
- Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge - Pelicans on the Plains
- Sun Prairie - Back in Bison Country
- Buffalo Camp - Where the Argument Lives
- Mars Vista - Prairie Dogs and the Paved Way In
- James Kipp Recreation Area - The Missouri Breaks
- Slippery Ann - Elk on the Russell Refuge
- Zortman - Gold in the Little Rockies
- Fort Belknap Agency - The Herds Came Home Here First