Missouri River Country

Missouri River Country covers the northeastern corner of Montana, the broad short-grass prairie country running from the upper Missouri River north to the Canadian border. The terrain is some of the emptiest in the lower 48 — flat to rolling sagebrush plains, the Missouri River cutting east, the Fort Peck Reservoir at the center, and the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge running along the river. The country is famous for its big sky, dark night sky, and dinosaur fossils. Nine counties cover the region. Valley holds Glasgow, the largest city, and Fort Peck and its dam; Roosevelt holds Wolf Point and the rodeo grounds for the Wild Horse Stampede; Richland holds Sidney; Sheridan holds Plentywood; Daniels holds Scobey; Garfield holds Jordan and the Hell Creek country (the type locality for Tyrannosaurus rex). The Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge stretches along 125 miles of the Missouri River; Fort Peck Lake (the largest lake in Montana, with more shoreline than the California coast) anchors the water recreation. Most trips here run paleontology-and-prairie focused. The Hell Creek dinosaur country draws fossil-hunters; Fort Peck handles fishing for paddlefish and walleye; the CMR Refuge’s elk and bighorn sheep pull wildlife viewers; the region’s distance and emptiness define its appeal.