National Bison Range

A scenic drive through a wildlife refuge

The National Bison Range is a wildlife refuge on the Flathead Reservation, featuring a scenic drive with beautiful mountain views and opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Features: A two hour scenic loop drive through the mountains (only open in the summer to vehicles under 30 feet), a 60 minute drive through the prairie (open to all vehicles year-round), a visitor center with museum, interpretive signs, and a day use area with picnic tables and a fishing access. There are four hiking trails: two trails on the scenic mountain drive, one grassland trail behind the visitor center, and one partially paved nature trail at the day use area.

Accessibility info and site description: The Visitor Center has two van-accessible parking spaces and public restrooms inside the building. There is a moderately steep hill from the parking lot to the visitor center, where visitors check in to pay the day use fee ($10 per vehicle or $20 for an annual pass). Brochures and maps are available inside or at the entrance sign. Outside, there are several interpretive signs and displays, and the .25 mile grassland trail.

Follow the signs for the scenic drive; a right turn out of the parking lot. Cross the cattle guard and continue going straight until you see the sign for the one way loop on Red Sleep Mountain Drive, and turn right. Plan for two hours on this scenic mountain drive, which is only open in the summer to vehicles under 30 feet. Alternatively, you can turn left onto the two way Prairie Drive for the 60 minute route, which is open year-round, mostly flat, and open to all vehicles.

Red Mountain Sleep Drive is a gravel road with no guardrails, and sections with steep grades and switchbacks. It starts by going up the side of a mountain, through a valley, then winds all the way up a mountain. Bison and elk can be spotted throughout the drive, sometimes high on hills and other times just off the road. The first hiking trail is the Bitterroot Trail, a .25 mile graveled trail that starts by going uphill, then opens up to a beautiful valley view. Be aware that grizzly bears have been spotted in this area and carrying bear spray is recommended. The other hiking trail is the High Point Trail, about a mile up the road. This trail is also graveled and goes up a steep hill for a one mile round trip hike. At the High Point trailhead are two restrooms and several interpretive signs on Glacial Lake Missoula with unbelievable views of the valley and the Mission Mountains. From here, the road begins the winding and sometimes steep descent down the mountain, where it then meets up with the flat, two way Prairie Drive back to the visitor center. Elk and bison can be seen from this road as well.

There is a day use area outside of the bison range about .5 mile from the visitor center. This area includes large grassy fields with picnic tables and multiple restrooms, as well as a one mile partially paved nature trail. There is an accessible fishing access at the creek, a pond, and wildlife viewing opportunities here as well.

Bison Range Visitor Center sign

Two van-accessible parking spaces at the visitor center

Entrance sign information

Fee information

An art sculpture made of antlers, with interpretive signs surrounding it

The path up to the visitor center is a moderately steep hill

Red Sleep Mountain Drive starts by going up the side of a mountain

The road then goes down into a valley

Elk and other wildlife can be seen here

Baby bison can be seen during the Spring

Two bison grazing in a field

A bison grazing in a field

A bison walking through a field with a beautiful view of the mountains

The road then goes all the way up a mountain

The Bitterroot Trail is a .25 mile walk. Note: Grizzly bears have been spotted here

The Bitterroot Trail is wide, graveled, and goes uphill

View from the Bitterroot Trail

The Bitterroot Trail

There are restrooms at the High Point Trailhead

An interpretive sign next to the road at the High Point Trailhead

Stunning views of the Mission Mountains from up here

The road then goes down the mountain, with many switchbacks and some steep grades

Bison can be seen from Prairie Drive as well

Bison in a field

The day use area is just outside the bison range

There are a few nature trails near a pond

A wheelchair accessible fishing access

Wheelchair accessible fishing platform

The pond

There are a few benches along the trail

The picnic area

There are quite a few restrooms spread throughout this day use area

Another view of a picnic area and restroom

My experience: This may just be my new favorite place! We were able to see plenty of bison, both next to the road and in the surrounding hills and prairie, as well as a few elk. Even if you don't see any wildlife during your visit, the views are so incredible that they alone are worth the drive and every penny of the $10 fee. The great thing about this site is that there is no walking required; you could stay in your vehicle the entire trip and not miss out! There are trail options for those who are interested, and trail options that are somewhat accessible too. Between the views and the bison, the visitor center and the huge picnic area, this feels like a miniature national park and it is quite underrated in my opinion. If you are not a fan of heights or driving up the side of a mountain, you may want to consider doing the Prairie Drive, which will be much flatter and still have potential for seeing wildlife. However, if you can, I highly recommend doing the Red Sleep Mountain Drive loop, because the views are absolutely spectacular!

Overall, the Bison Range is an underrated, must-see miniature national park. Come here for a chance to see bison, elk, and other wildlife, as well as spectacular views of the Mission Mountains— all from the comfort of your vehicle!

 

Park map: https://bisonrange.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Tear-Out-Map-Side.pdf

For more information, visit: https://bisonrange.org/