Bison Range Auto Tour and Picnic

This is a re-scheduled event. The trip on May 16 was canceled due to an unfavorable weather forecast. (Muddy roads, and a cold & wet picnic.)

Estimated travel from Missoula : 50+ miles, 50+ minutes.

Springtime weather in western Montana can be quite variable. We may have to postpone or reschedule if rainy conditions were to make roads impassable or viewing conditions uncomfortable. Watch this Meetup page for last minute notifications. (If you RSVP, we can notify you via Meetup email.)

Meet at the visitor center at 10:00 AM. The Bison Range is a pay-to-enter fee use area. We can consolidate people in cars and then go in to pay the $20 per-vehicle fee.

We will tour the refuge by car caravan, and perhaps a few very short walks; then have lunch in the lovely shaded picnic area. Bring your own lunch, and maybe something to share.

We hope to observe wildflowers, birds, and large mammals (Elk, Whitetail Deer, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep, and maybe even Black Bear!) And red dogs. We will view the awesome Mission Mountains, and ponder the geological forces that created them.

Bring binoculars and field guides if you wish.

As of December 2020, the Bison Range is maintained in a federal trust ownership with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT).

Here are a few useful websites to check out prior to the trip.

We highly recommend you look at these.

*CSKT website for National Bison Range (includes history).
https://bisonrange.org/

*Please read the visitor information page to be aware of what is prohibited and permitted on the refuge.
https://bisonrange.org/bison-range-information-hours-of-operation/

*Map plus some information. You may wish to print this before arriving
https://www.bisonrange.org/maps/https://www.bisonrange.org/maps/

Be aware that at some points along the Red Sleep Mountain Drive the road is gravel, narrow, and has some steep (10%) grades.

*Wikipedia page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Bison_Range

RSVPs are srongly suggested, so that we will be looking for you at the visitors' center.