The 2021 National Tour and Western Montana

[Dennis Prince]

A group of us (4 T's) are planning on going to the 2021 National Tour in Spokane (our first National Tour) and the driving the back roads in Western Montana for a couple of weeks. Any info or help about where to go and what to see would be greatly appreciate. We like to drive on dirt, gravel or less, the further away from civilization the better.

[Steve Jelf]

I expect we've all seen a western movie or TV show where the sheriff is secretly a member of the outlaw gang. The model for that character was Henry Plummer, who was the law in the old mining town of Bannack. Plummer's brief criminal career ended with him dancing on air at the invitation of a vigilance committee. Bannack is now a state historical park, and well worth a visit.

The Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is a pleasant place to visit on a summer day. Part of the entertainment there was watching a little fox mark his territory, trot a few paces, mark another spot, trot some more, mark again, and so on until he was out of sight.

It's not out in the sticks, but a national treasure I will visit again is Charles Russell's studio in Great Falls. Just reading his letters with little illustrations drawn in the margins is a hoot.

I haven't been to Montana for many years, and one item on my bucket list is to take the three Missouri River ferry crossings by Model T.

Aunts & Mom at Bannack Hotel,1971

[StanHowe]

Montana is huge. We have several counties larger than Connecticut.

There are two major east west paved roads. Three major north south. About 600 miles apart. Pretty much everything else is gravel.

Lots to choose from. It is further from Yaak in Northwest Montana to Alzada in southeast Montana than from Chicago to New York.

Bring a coat, it is COLD every night. Not cool, COLD.

You can camp at one of my ranches if you come this way.

[dlmyers]

I will second what Steve said about Charles Russell's studio in Great Falls.
20 years ago my wife and I spent a couple weeks in western Montana mostly following Lewis and Clark.
It will be a great place to tour.

[Dennis Prince]

Thank you for responding, Steve, we have Bannock on our list, we at this time not planning on going east as far as Great Falls but we are just starting the planning phase. Stan, thank you for the great offer to stay at you ranch but at this point it is to far east, your description of the state is a part of our problem, we feel like a dog at a frisbee festival. There is so much country to see we decided to pick the western 1/3rd of the state and spend our time there but are not familiar with the area so we thought maybe people in the know might be willing to share some of their favorite spots with us. This will also be out first National tour and not really sure what to expect.

[kelly mt]

Dennis, sent you a email, lots to see in this part of Montana. All mountain driving here.