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The Bison Range was restored to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in 2020. The Visitors Center details the US government's treatment of Native Americans. It is heartbreaking. Read more at bisonrange.org. The Bison Range is 18,766 acres of land in the center of the Flathead Indian Reservation. The self-guided tour is by car. There are two options. The West Loop and Prairie Drive takes about an hour and is through two way traffic and loops back. The second option, Red Sleep Mountain Drive is about two hours, is one way driving and then goes through a full loop of the range. You may be tempted to take the shorter loop, but take the two hour option. There is very steep driving on Red Sleep Mountain (up 2,000 feet in elevation) but the views are amazing! Drive at your own speed. When we came it was a glorious afternoon and the golden grass, the mountains, the forests, the view from High Point, was breathtaking. I was hoping to see just one bison during this tour, but reader, we saw so many. First we saw one solitary bison just grazing away on a hill. Then about a dozen by Elk Lane. Stop at High Point and take in the view -- this was all covered by Glacial Lake Missoula 13,000-18,000 years ago. We saw two different herds making their way up a mountain and as we crested the peak, we were surrounded by bison. If their tail is low they are calm. If the tail is high and twitching they are agitated. Oh I got a little nervous because they were looking at us. My heart was full. Bison are North America's largest land mammal and there are about 20,500 Plains bison in conservation herds and about 350 at Bison Range.To see them living their best life was a favorite part of our visit. A day pass was $20 for our car. Go to the website to see schedules and opening times.
I loved, loved the National Bison range! Although I was hoping to see more bison, we saw a few groups on the two hour drive path. I would highly recommend doing the two hour and not just the hour path. We got super lucky that we were almost to the trail end of our journey when this massive storm fell passed us and we had to stop cause the car was being POUNDED with large hail!! It was massive size hail and super raining and I've never been in such inclement weather. What an experience! The price was super inexpensive and worth going if you're in this area!
This is an hour away from Missoula and is totally worth the drive!! It's so fascinating to see the bison up close and personal. It's my first time seeing them and it really was a sight to behold. When you get to the visitor center walk in to pay for a day pass ($10) and you can get a map of the park. Note that because this is not a national park you cannot use the America the Beautiful pass or any other annual pass as admission. The worker talked to me about the different options for routes, with one that takes about 45 minutes and the other scenic route that takes 2 hours (which also includes the 45 minute route). Beware that there's not much service at the park, at least not for AT&T. With the chances I will be back again and that I had time to spend I opted for the 2 hour drive. At the beginning it's a drive up and it gets very high with an open view of the water and the high dropoff so concentrate while driving. Pretty much the entire drive is going to be gravely and bumpy so be prepared for that. You'll be able to see bison all along the trail up here although when I went I was told the bison were on the other side of the park. There are a couple of short walks of 0.25 and 0.5 miles such as at High Point, which is the highest point in the park. As I went back town the mountain and drove down the wide open fields I saw more bison and other wildlife like deer. I even saw a bison walking across the road which was so fortunate! The total time really took about 2 hours exactly so they were pretty precise on the timing. This was really cool and I highly recommend this. You get great views of wildlife with mountains in the background for such a minimal cost.
From what I was told, in 2020, the National Bison Range transitioned to the Bison Range and was returned to local tribal management from federal oversight. This change saw an entrance fee adjustment from $5 per person to $20 per vehicle. This is especially cost-effective for groups of more than four. My appreciation goes out to the previous administration for this transition. During our visit, which was post 1pm, the Bison Range had a fire restriction in place (Level 2), limiting exposure to potential wildfires. As a result, the longer two-hour drive trail was closed. Though I presume this decision was in the best interest of visitors' safety, it's worth noting for potential visitors. The smoky conditions might have obscured our views of the magnificent mountain ranges anyway. Nonetheless, our experience on the shorter trail was rewarding, with sightings of bison, a bull elk, and deer. Overall, we left contented.
Even if you see little wildlife, the majestic scenery is worth it. If possible, don't visit between 11-4 on hot days as the bison tend to hide in order to stay cool. We only spotted one bison in the distance in the first nine sections, but scored on the last one: two bisons within 30 feet and an elk with gorgeous horns about 10 feet away. It's only $5 per vehicle, and free if you have a National Park Pass.
So the US Govt has turned this back to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Having indigenous people reclaiming their heritage and opening such a special location is amazing! Went just before dusk and did the two hour loop. Saw bison, elk, pronghorn and deer. Wish I had had more days in the area to go back for a morning experience too.
Came here on the way to Kalispell, Montana. Since we didn't see any bison in Yellowstone we decided to come see them here. Its $5 dollars to be able to drive in the park, but you pay at the visitor center which you have to walk into. They don't provide a sticker of any sort so any unsavory character could technically just drive into the park for free and none would be the wiser.... the visitors center has a little museum which is cool and they provide you with a map of the park. There's only 2 spots you can officially and correctly get out of your vehicle and do some hiking. If you goto the right it's a 20 mile loop through mountains providing beautiful views of the Flat head mountains incthe distance. It's extremely steep but my Prius C was able to handle it, so I'm sure most vehicles can too. There's a bathroom about 5 miles into that one. And it takes a good 2 hours to drive at a leisurely pace. Or you take the path to the left and its about a 5 mile back and forth shorter trip of about an hour total. Allegedly theirs bisons, deers, bears and other wild animals in the park so you have to keep your eyes peeled for them. We saw a bison heard of about 30 out in the distance but couldn't drive to them which was a bummer. Then we saw a heard of deer as well some distance away. We also saw 2 bear cubs and its mother running down the hillside which was really cool. Then a bison that was roadside just chilling which was equally cool. I guess there's no telling what you see how close to your car you see them since the animals walk to and fro wherever and whenever they please. Got some great pictures. And now I can say I saw the animal that symbolizes the west (bison) up close and personal on my road trip. Im greatly satisfied with coming here. Granted some drivers drive faster than others do there's multiple turn outs to let people go by. Overall its a great setup here. If you don't see them at the national parks you definitely will see them here!!!
This is a great place to visit. Beautiful area to have a picnic with your family or friends. A short trail to hike if you are up for it. The scenic drive gives you ample opportunities for photographs. We went through in the late morning and saw plenty of wildlife. Bison, elk, deer, pronghorns, ducks, and other birds. Stop on the side of the road, but pullover so others can get by. The view is amazing soak it all in. If you have the time, do not rush through this range. Especially on a nice day this is a great way to just take it all in.
My mom and I had a wonderful experience yesterday at the National Bison Range. We stopped on our way from Spokane to Whitefish at about 6pm. Since we had been driving for most of the day, we opted for the shorter 60 minute trail. At first we were worried that we wouldn't see as much on the shorter drive, but it did not disappoint! Shortly into our drive we saw a giant bison sitting right next to the road and several more throughout the range. There were also deer, birds, and pretty wildflowers. The visitor center was already closed, which was a bit of a bummer. Overall, definitely worth it!
Wow! What an amazing place to experience the wildlife and see The Bison's roaming in fields and grazing with other herds. We also got to see some Antelope as well. Just a beautiful place to experience Montana's Wild side. read more
3 months ago
The Bison Range was restored to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in 2020. The Visitors Center details the US government's treatment of Native Americans. It is heartbreaking. Read more at bisonrange.org. The Bison Range is 18,766 acres of land in the center of the Flathead Indian Reservation. The self-guided tour is by car. There are two options. The West Loop and Prairie Drive takes about an hour and is through two way traffic and loops back. The second option, Red Sleep Mountain Drive is about two hours, is one way driving and then goes through a full loop of the range. You may be tempted to take the shorter loop, but take the two hour option. There is very steep driving on Red Sleep Mountain (up 2,000 feet in elevation) but the views are amazing! Drive at your own speed. When we came it was a glorious afternoon and the golden grass, the mountains, the forests, the view from High Point, was breathtaking. I was hoping to see just one bison during this tour, but reader, we saw so many. First we saw one solitary bison just grazing away on a hill. Then about a dozen by Elk Lane. Stop at High Point and take in the view -- this was all covered by Glacial Lake Missoula 13,000-18,000 years ago. We saw two different herds making their way up a mountain and as we crested the peak, we were surrounded by bison. If their tail is low they are calm. If the tail is high and twitching they are agitated. Oh I got a little nervous because they were looking at us. My heart was full. Bison are North America's largest land mammal and there are about 20,500 Plains bison in conservation herds and about 350 at Bison Range.To see them living their best life was a favorite part of our visit. A day pass was $20 for our car. Go to the website to see schedules and opening times. read more
2 years ago
I loved, loved the National Bison range! Although I was hoping to see more bison, we saw a few groups on the two hour drive path. I would highly recommend doing the two hour and not just the hour path. We got super lucky that we were almost to the trail end of our journey when this massive storm fell passed us and we had to stop cause the car was being POUNDED with large hail!! It was massive size hail and super raining and I've never been in such inclement weather. What an experience! The price was super inexpensive and worth going if you're in this area! read more
This is an hour away from Missoula and is totally worth the drive!! It's so fascinating to see the bison up close and personal. It's my first time seeing them and it really was a sight to behold. When you get to the visitor center walk in to pay for a day pass ($10) and you can get a map of the park. Note that because this is not a national park you cannot use the America the Beautiful pass or any other annual pass as admission. The worker talked to me about the different options for routes, with one that takes about 45 minutes and the other scenic route that takes 2 hours (which also includes the 45 minute route). Beware that there's not much service at the park, at least not for AT&T. With the chances I will be back again and that I had time to spend I opted for the 2 hour drive. At the beginning it's a drive up and it gets very high with an open view of the water and the high dropoff so concentrate while driving. Pretty much the entire drive is going to be gravely and bumpy so be prepared for that. You'll be able to see bison all along the trail up here although when I went I was told the bison were on the other side of the park. There are a couple of short walks of 0.25 and 0.5 miles such as at High Point, which is the highest point in the park. As I went back town the mountain and drove down the wide open fields I saw more bison and other wildlife like deer. I even saw a bison walking across the road which was so fortunate! The total time really took about 2 hours exactly so they were pretty precise on the timing. This was really cool and I highly recommend this. You get great views of wildlife with mountains in the background for such a minimal cost. read more
3 years ago
From what I was told, in 2020, the National Bison Range transitioned to the Bison Range and was returned to local tribal management from federal oversight. This change saw an entrance fee adjustment from $5 per person to $20 per vehicle. This is especially cost-effective for groups of more than four. My appreciation goes out to the previous administration for this transition. During our visit, which was post 1pm, the Bison Range had a fire restriction in place (Level 2), limiting exposure to potential wildfires. As a result, the longer two-hour drive trail was closed. Though I presume this decision was in the best interest of visitors' safety, it's worth noting for potential visitors. The smoky conditions might have obscured our views of the magnificent mountain ranges anyway. Nonetheless, our experience on the shorter trail was rewarding, with sightings of bison, a bull elk, and deer. Overall, we left contented. read more
Even if you see little wildlife, the majestic scenery is worth it. If possible, don't visit between 11-4 on hot days as the bison tend to hide in order to stay cool. We only spotted one bison in the distance in the first nine sections, but scored on the last one: two bisons within 30 feet and an elk with gorgeous horns about 10 feet away. It's only $5 per vehicle, and free if you have a National Park Pass. read more
3 years ago
We had a great time. Take the long route. Amazing views. Would definitely go back. I would bring binoculars and a better camera. read more
3 years ago
So the US Govt has turned this back to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Having indigenous people reclaiming their heritage and opening such a special location is amazing! Went just before dusk and did the two hour loop. Saw bison, elk, pronghorn and deer. Wish I had had more days in the area to go back for a morning experience too. read more
3 years ago
Great place to take the kids to view some wildlife. A very good variety of animals. Beautiful terrain and great spectating. read more
4 years ago
This place was so cool! You get to see bison and a beautiful panorama of the Montana as well. Their information center has a little museum inside, information on the area and a nice little gift shop! read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
8 years ago
Came here on the way to Kalispell, Montana. Since we didn't see any bison in Yellowstone we decided to come see them here. Its $5 dollars to be able to drive in the park, but you pay at the visitor center which you have to walk into. They don't provide a sticker of any sort so any unsavory character could technically just drive into the park for free and none would be the wiser.... the visitors center has a little museum which is cool and they provide you with a map of the park. There's only 2 spots you can officially and correctly get out of your vehicle and do some hiking. If you goto the right it's a 20 mile loop through mountains providing beautiful views of the Flat head mountains incthe distance. It's extremely steep but my Prius C was able to handle it, so I'm sure most vehicles can too. There's a bathroom about 5 miles into that one. And it takes a good 2 hours to drive at a leisurely pace. Or you take the path to the left and its about a 5 mile back and forth shorter trip of about an hour total. Allegedly theirs bisons, deers, bears and other wild animals in the park so you have to keep your eyes peeled for them. We saw a bison heard of about 30 out in the distance but couldn't drive to them which was a bummer. Then we saw a heard of deer as well some distance away. We also saw 2 bear cubs and its mother running down the hillside which was really cool. Then a bison that was roadside just chilling which was equally cool. I guess there's no telling what you see how close to your car you see them since the animals walk to and fro wherever and whenever they please. Got some great pictures. And now I can say I saw the animal that symbolizes the west (bison) up close and personal on my road trip. Im greatly satisfied with coming here. Granted some drivers drive faster than others do there's multiple turn outs to let people go by. Overall its a great setup here. If you don't see them at the national parks you definitely will see them here!!! read more
This is a great place to visit. Beautiful area to have a picnic with your family or friends. A short trail to hike if you are up for it. The scenic drive gives you ample opportunities for photographs. We went through in the late morning and saw plenty of wildlife. Bison, elk, deer, pronghorns, ducks, and other birds. Stop on the side of the road, but pullover so others can get by. The view is amazing soak it all in. If you have the time, do not rush through this range. Especially on a nice day this is a great way to just take it all in. read more
Beautiful drive through the range and spotting these lovely creatures. There were other wildlife there so that was a sweet surprise. It is advise to not get out of the car or engage so take caution. Overall, I had a lot of fun though it did took a while driving around to find the herd. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
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9 years ago
My mom and I had a wonderful experience yesterday at the National Bison Range. We stopped on our way from Spokane to Whitefish at about 6pm. Since we had been driving for most of the day, we opted for the shorter 60 minute trail. At first we were worried that we wouldn't see as much on the shorter drive, but it did not disappoint! Shortly into our drive we saw a giant bison sitting right next to the road and several more throughout the range. There were also deer, birds, and pretty wildflowers. The visitor center was already closed, which was a bit of a bummer. Overall, definitely worth it! read more
4 years ago
My husband and I drove through this range and thought it was marvelous. We saw 3 herds of bison, elk, deer, prong horn antelope and a couple of very interesting birds. Even if we hadn't seen all those animals the view was stunning. The top of the trip gave a wonderful view of an ancient glacial lake. The visitor center was small but had very good displays. I wish we would have perused the displays before we took the drive. It was well with the $10 entrance fee read more
On our way back home to Spokane from GNP we had planned 2 stops .. the first one was here. As we took the smaller route the Prairie drive which is just 5 miles due to shortage of time .. here the probability of seeing a herd of bison is rather weak so we were keeping our hopes really low .. never could have imagined that it would turn out to be such an experience. Just to share "The Bison Range" has 2 routes .. the longer one takes some 3-4 hours apparently and is recommended (19 miles) .. the other one is mere 5 miles and it is more luck based. But Lucky we were, and among the deers and birds and wild flowers we got up close with a herd of bisons. There were about 15 of 'em and just a few yards away .. from fully grown adults to younger ones. I have seen bisons earlier but not so close by .. To be honest, one could realise the real might of them only when they are so close. And then all of a sudden one of them rose up snorting .. may be the leader of the pack and looked right in our eyes .. Would have realised either our appreciation for him or maybe plain fear in our eyes that he decided to join the others and not charge at us. :D All in all, it was a lovely experience and if you haven't seen a herd so up close .. you must most definitely plan a little stop time here. PS - Annual National Park's pass works here so if you have one keep it :) read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
We are in Idaho for three months for a contract job and saw that the National Bison Range was fairly close by. I promise you, it's worth every mile of driving! It was definitely one of the best things we've ever done! If you have 2+ hours, do the Red Sleep Mountain Drive! They are closing for the season next week, but the spring/summer would be gorgeous!! The best $5 I've ever spent. We saw a large harem of elk, 20+ mule deer, over 100 bison, a few pronghorn, and hubby spotted 2 coyotes! It was absolutely amazing!!! read more
6 years ago
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8 years ago
The National Bison Range is unlike any place I've visited, and I can't recommend the experience highly enough. The scenic views from the winding two hour drive are worth the trip, but the plethora of wildlife makes it truly must-see. We saw lots of bison, a huge herd of big horn sheep, and plenty of antelope and deer. Maps are available at the visitor center, and those will tell you which animals you're most likely to see in each section of the range. Only $5 per vehicle! read more
14 years ago
I meant to post this in September. This place is great. It costs $5 per vehicle and is great for the whole family. There is a nice little visitors center just as you enter. You then drive a nice one way road around the refuge. The Refuge is divided into 9 parts. Each part has a slightly different environment. We saw an amazing amount of wildlife including driving up to 5 ft away from a massive bison that was grazing on the side of the roadway. The read more
12 years ago
This place is amazing! We saw dozens of bison in all shapes and sizes. If you're anywhere near here it is worth your while to check out these big furry friends! BUFFALOS! read more
OK, hear me out. I'm giving this only three stars based on a few factors. If this is the first time you've ever seen bison close up, and ever seen a slightly mountainous landscape, this will probably be an incredible experience for you. However, there are so many other, better places to see Bison and other wildlife found here, I cannot rate it as a five star experience. This is based on an experience on a road trip "out west" where we visited North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota, and all of the National Parks in those states. We had much better Bison experiences in Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Custer State Park, and especially the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I'm talking, bigger herds and they got RIGHT next to the car. Now, obviously, everyone's experience will be different and there's no guarantee how close they will get or how big the herds will be when you're there. I'm guessing most people that come here are from out of town, visiting, on a road trip of some sort. If you can spare the time, you really should check out one of the places I mentioned above and you'll probably have a better experience overall. Yellowstone would be the closest at about 350 miles from here. Now, of course, Yellowstone is swarmed with crowds. That is one nice thing about this place is that its quiet and cheap. You can stop your car on the road for a while and no one will get mad. We saw so many bison on our trip overall, that they actually start getting annoying after a while when they are in the street and whatnot. When we came here we were on our way from Glacier to the Grand Tetons, so we couldn't take too long. We ended up going only on the shorter two-way road, which took an hour and a half, so that may have influenced what we saw or didn't see. But the bison we saw, for some reason were always lone. There were no big herds, just one or two here and there. We also saw many pronghorn and also whitetail deer, which are everywhere back out east. $5 per car is a good price, but the Interagency parks pass works here too which we used. I kind of wish we knew the whole thing was a dirt/gravel road, but I suppose there's nothing I could do about it and it worked out fine. The scenery is nice, but nothing too amazing. I wouldn't come here for the scenery alone. If you want some truly breathtaking scenery, I highly suggest driving two hours north and going to Glacier. Anyway, if you're around here and this is the only thing you have time for, by all means, you will enjoy it. However, if you're strapped for time visiting some of the other National Parks and things in the area, you may want to skip it. read more
5 years ago
7 years ago
8 years ago
7 years ago
Lots to see, hilly dirt roads covered with snow so careful if not equipped with 4 wheel drive . Bring binoculars for sure, except for deer, elk and bison all up high near tree line not road. read more
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More info about CSKT Bison Range
58355 Bison Range Rd
Charlo, MT 59824
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(406) 644-2211
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http://www.bisonrange.org
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6 years ago
