In Phillips County, distinctive natural areas offer a glimpse into the region’s history. The Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge uses the Milk River Valley’s water supply system to provide birds with valuable wetland habitat throughout the seasons. The county is also home to dinosaur exhibits, a revered rock beside the Milk River, and vast areas for nature watching and outdoor activities.
Experience Wetlands and Wildlife
At the Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, you can observe and photograph nature, take scenic drives, hike or hunt. A self-guided auto tour begins near the refuge headquarters. The tours offer year-round opportunities to view wildlife and habitats from your car. The refuge is open to the public from sunrise to sunset. During hunting season, hunters may also use the area from two hours before sunrise until after sunset.
Nature and recreation are also central to Nelson Reservoir, which covers 4,320 acres of water and has 30 miles of shoreline. Fish species found there include walleye, perch and pike. The reservoir also has a concrete boat ramp, a campground and picnic shelters. Since information about facilities can change, it’s best to check these details locally before your trip.
Expansive Landscapes and Trails
Burnt Lodge WSA features a striking landscape shaped by coulees: parallel ridges alternate with steep canyons where shale and sandstone are exposed in badlands formations. Vegetation includes prairie as well as scattered stands of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. Hiking, backpacking, primitive camping, wildlife viewing, photography and horseback riding are among the recreational activities described there.
For access, a publicly accessible trail follows Cart Trail Coulee. Where it ends, continue cross-country on BLM land. Be sure to plan for the drive: it includes more than 50 miles on unpaved roads. Because washouts and muddy “gumbo” may occur, four-wheel drive and high ground clearance are recommended; road conditions can change seasonally.
A different scale awaits you on the Trafton Trail. The nature trail is one mile long and runs near the Milk River. Along the way, you may see birds, rabbits and deer. Its proximity to the river and the wildlife species mentioned give this short route its own nature experience, without requiring you to plan for a specific hiking time.
Discover History and Dinosaurs
Sleeping Buffalo Rock is an ancient object revered for its spiritual and religious significance. From there, you can look out over a historic ford on the Milk River, known as Cree Crossing, and the Milk River Valley. The rock is located in a three-sided protective structure along U.S. Highway 2. If you plan to stop there, check local road conditions.
The Phillips County Museum preserves the county’s natural, historical and cultural heritage. On display is the 33-foot-long skeleton of “Elvis,” a Brachylophosaurus. An interactive exhibit also features the 700-pound thigh bone of an Apatosaurus. Historical exhibits cover subjects including mining, Indigenous peoples, dinosaurs, and military, medical, outlaw, ranching and settlement history. The museum is also a member of the Montana Dinosaur Trail.
Just east of the museum is the restored H.G. Robinson House, built in 1903, beside a “Walk Through Time” garden. Tours of the house are available by request. For another nature and wellness experience, Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs draws water at 108 degrees from a 3,200-foot-deep well. Facilities include a main pool, a hot tub and a sauna; check whether they are available before your trip.
Malta as a Point of Reference
Malta is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 2 and U.S. Highway 191, with direct road connections to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks and to the U.S.-Canada border at the Port of Morgan. Amtrak provides daily passenger rail service to Malta; check current train operations before your trip. To give you a sense of the county’s scale, approximately 1.6 million acres of public land and 1.7 million acres of private and state land are intermingled there.
Explore more destinations: Malta, Custer County, Park, Lincoln County, Powell County, Pondera County, Judith Basin County, Mineral County.
For the broader travel overview: Montana.
