Phillips County: Nature, History and Dinosaurs

Phillips County combines wide-open landscapes, habitats along the Milk River and unusual insights into the region’s history. Between wetlands, prairie, badland formations and significant cultural sites, a wide variety of travel days are possible: observing nature from the car, hiking along the river, visiting museums, discovering dinosaurs or relaxing in thermal waters. Anyone looking for a vacation apartment or vacation home can therefore first consider which of these experiences should be the focus of the trip.

Wetlands, Water and Wildlife Viewing

Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge uses the water supply system of the Milk River Valley to provide valuable wetland habitat for birds throughout the seasons. Visitors can enjoy nature observation, photography, sightseeing, hiking and hunting. A self-guided auto tour also begins near the refuge headquarters. The auto tours make it possible to view wildlife and habitats from the car year-round.

The refuge is open to the public from sunrise to sunset. During hunting season, hunters may use the area two hours before sunrise and after sunset. At Nelson Reservoir, you will find 4,320 acres of water and 30 miles of shoreline. Fishing for walleye, yellow perch and pike is possible there; the facilities also include a concrete boat ramp, a campground and picnic shelters.

Trails Through Prairie and Badlands

Burnt Lodge WSA reveals a distinctly rougher side of the landscape. Parallel ridges formed by coulees, steep canyons with exposed shale and sandstone in badland formations, prairie vegetation, and individual ponderosa pines and Douglas firs characterize the area. Activities include hiking, backpacking, primitive camping, wildlife viewing, photography and horseback riding.

Reaching the area requires careful planning: more than 50 miles of unpaved roads lead to Burnt Lodge WSA. Because washouts and muddy “gumbo” may occur, four-wheel drive and high ground clearance are recommended. A publicly accessible trail at Cart Trail Coulee leads into the area; after the trail ends, the hike continues cross-country through the terrain on BLM land.

Those who prefer a shorter nature outing can plan the one-mile Trafton Trail. The nature trail runs near the Milk River and offers opportunities to observe birds, rabbits and deer. This makes it possible to combine active days with a manageable trail length without losing sight of the county’s expansive landscape.

Culture, Dinosaurs and Special Places

The Phillips County Museum preserves the region’s natural, historical and cultural heritage. Notable exhibits include the 33-foot-long skeleton of “Elvis,” a Brachylophosaurus. An interactive presentation is also dedicated to the 700-pound thigh bone of an Apatosaurus. The historical exhibits cover mining, Indigenous peoples, dinosaurs, and military, medical, outlaw, ranching and settler history, among other topics. As a member of the Montana Dinosaur Trail, the museum is particularly well suited to a trip that brings natural history and the region’s past together.

Sleeping Buffalo Rock is an ancient object revered for its spiritual and religious significance. The rock overlooks a historic ford on the Milk River known as Cree Crossing and offers panoramic views of the Milk River Valley. It is located in a three-sided protective structure along U.S. Highway 2.

The restored H.G. Robinson House from 1903 also adds to the cultural attractions. The house is located directly east of the museum next to a “Walk through time” garden; tours are available upon request. On the southern edge of Malta, the challenging nine-hole public Marian Hills Golf Course is another option.

Malta as a Base and Regional Orientation

Malta is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 2 and U.S. Highway 191. From there, direct road connections lead to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, as well as to the U.S.-Canadian border at the Port of Morgan. Amtrak provides daily passenger rail service to Malta. Malta is described as the center of the agriculturally oriented community and the heart of Montana’s “Dinosaur Country.”

Phillips County encompasses approximately 1.6 million acres of public land, as well as 1.7 million acres of private and state land intermingled with one another. This scale makes it clear why the choice of accommodation should match the planned itinerary. If you primarily want to visit the museum, historic sites and Malta, it makes sense to orient your plans around these cultural attractions. For wildlife viewing, fishing or the challenging drive to Burnt Lodge WSA, however, you should base your daily planning more heavily on the respective destinations.

For further regional orientation, you can also visit Lake County, Deer Lodge, Roosevelt County, Beaverhead, Garfield County, Carbon County and Lewis And Clark.

Thermal Waters as a Different Kind of Travel Day

Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs offers another facet. The water comes from a 3,200-foot-deep well and is 108 degrees hot. The facility includes a main pool, a whirlpool and a sauna. This allows you to add a thermal-water experience to your itinerary, while other days can be devoted to the wide-open landscapes, Nelson Reservoir or the cultural sites of Phillips County.

For the overarching travel overview: Montana.