My road trip through the Northern Rocky Mountains had been absolutely epic so far in almost every way except one: the lack of big-game wildlife. This was very surprising to me given I had just traveled to some wild and extremely remote places renowned for their wildlife (Banff, Jasper, Waterton Lakes, and Glacier National Parks).
On past trips to Yellowstone National Park (in Wyoming), I’ve witnessed incredible wildlife viewing so I know North America is more than capable of providing such an environment. However, in Montana (and the Northern Rocky Mountains) I didn’t see any big game.
“Where Are All The Animals?”
What was more perplexing – and disturbing, was that I was not alone. Everybody spoke with on my road trip said the same thing: “Where are all the animals?” Tourists I talked to would commonly ask if I had seen anything (because they hadn’t). I talked with seasonal student workers in Jasper National park who told me they had been living there for four months all summer and only saw a single deer. I spoke with a local gas station attendant who lived in Jasper his whole life and said he’s never seen a Grizzly Bear.
I’ve heard several theories on why this is so from Canadians and Americans (time of year, animal crossings, hunting seasons, global warming, etc.), but there was no definitive answer.
The Best Place To See Wildlife In Montana?
The clincher for me was the concierge at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Kalispell. Due to the forest fires, the west entrance to Glacier National Park was closed. I again needed a “plan b” so I took to the internet and found a U.S. Park called the National Bison Range that had rave reviews online. I inquired with the concierge and she told me, “You know, I’ve lived in Kalispell my whole life, and never saw any large animals in Glacier National Park – but I went to the National Bison Range for only one day and I saw EVERYTHING. It was incredible”. She told me it was the best place to see wildlife in Montana. I was sold.
The National Bison Range:
I’ve traveled to many western U.S. Parks – including many obscure National Monuments, but I had never heard of the National Bison Range. I was surprised to learn that it was established in 1908 and is one of the oldest National Wildlife Refuges in the U.S. and played a significant role in helping bring Bison back from the brink of extinction.
The Visitor Center:
Bison display
The most famous past resident, “Big Medicine” – a rare and mystically significant white buffalo
Touring the National Bison Refuge:
Unlike most parks, this park was meant to be viewed from a car. There are three driving routes: the West Loop, the Prairie Drive, and the [one-way] Red Sleep Mountain Drive. You can choose to do one, two, or all of them.
If you choose to do the Red Sleep Mountain Drive you must commit to about 1.5-2 hours as you cannot turn around on the one-way drive.
The routes for touring the park
The West Loop:
Pronghorn up ahead!
She’s a beauty
The Red Sleep Mountain Drive:
Solitary bull
The smoke and haze from the forest fires were visible in the park
Bison galore!
Roadblock
Heard of Bighorn Sheep
Pronghorn on Winter Drive
Prairie Drive:
Prairie Drive parallels Mission Creek, one of the wildlife “hot-spots” of the park. I’ve heard from Park Rangers that its not uncommon to see Grizzly Bears here.
Bull Elk in Mission Creek
An idyllic photo: Elk everywhere in Mission Creek
A lone Coyote hides in the prairie brush before slinking off
Impressions of the National Bison Range:
Is this the best place to see wildlife in Montana? Well, it certainly was for me. I was only in the park for less than two hours, and yet I saw more animals then I did on the rest of my Northern Rocky Mounting road trip. I was blown away by the density and diversity of the wildlife found in the National Bison Range.
And to think, it was only by pure serendipity that I found such an awesome wildlife park on U.S. public lands.
The National Bison Range, along with Flathead Lake, are some of the best kept secrets in the United States. National Bison Range is well worth a visit even if its slightly off the beaten path.
Cheers!
