Wildlife Viewing

Moose Seeing wildlife in natural habitat is a sure bet in Gold West Country!

Wildlife is abundant and diverse - from rare trumpeter swans in wetlands such as Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge to bighorn sheep and mountain goats at Lost Creek State Park.

To help you find a likely place to see certain types of wildlife, designated Wildlife Viewing Areas have been established around the state. These sites, also referred to as "watchable wildlife sites," are marked with brown-and-white binocular signs. Some sites have interpretive information at the location. A full description of each site is in a book called Montana Wildlife Viewing Guide (available for purchase at most Montana bookstores and at some wildlife agency offices).

Designated Wildlife Viewing Areas in Gold West Country:

Anaconda
Lost Creek State Park

2 miles east of Anaconda on highway 273 (Galen Road), then follow signs for about 5 miles.

Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area

East of Anaconda on Highway 1, then take Highway 274 south.

Augusta
Sun River Canyon

Take the gravelled road going northwest of town.

Butte
Sheepshead Mountain Recreation Area

13 miles north from Butte on I-15 take exit 138 (Elk Park), then follow the signs for 6 miles.

Cardwell / Whitehall
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park

Cardwell or Whitehall exit off I-15, then east on Highway 2.

Dell
Big Sheep Creek

A 50-mile back country road. Take the Dell exit off I-15, go south on the frontage road for 1.5 miles and then take a right onto Big Sheep Creek Road.

Dillon
Cattail Marsh Nature Trail

I-15 south from Dillon to exit 44, then drive over the dam and turn right at the fishing access sign.

Ennis
Cliff and Wade Lakes

About 40 miles south of Ennis, take Forest Road 8381 off of 287, just north of the junction with 87. Lakes are about 6 miles on the Forest Road.

Helena
Beartooth Wildlife Management Area

I-15 north to Wolf Creek, then north on Missouri River Road to Holter Lake access road, 6 miles.

Gates of the Mountains

18 miles north of Helena on I-15, take the Gates of the Mountains exit.

Mount Helena

Downtown Helena; access off of South Park Avenue.

Spring Meadow Lake

Highway 12 west to Joslyn, then north to Country Club

(signs mark the route to this urban location).

Lincoln
Rocky Mountain Front Eagle Migration Area

East of Lincoln about 15 miles on Highway 200.

Monida
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

26 miles east of Monida on Centennial Valley Road. May also be accessed from Blacktail Road south of Dillon.

Ovando
Browns Lake and Blackfoot Waterfowl Area

Watch for fishing access signs on Highway 200 east of Ovando.

Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area

West of Ovando on Highway 200 to Upsata Lake road.

Townsend
Canyon Ferry Recreation Area

Just 1 mile north of Townsend off of Highway 12 / 287; take any of several gravel roads leading to the 2-mile road that runs lakeside.

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