SCENIC VIEWPOINT OVERLOOKING THE MISSOURI
Highway 87 Mile Post 38.9 just west of Fort Benton. 

View the plains of the open range days and where wagon trains left from Fort Benton on the Helena Road and the Whoop-up-trail. Read the interpretive signs.

 
CROCON DU NEZ
Highway 87 Mile Post 45.8.  Just North of Fort Benton

The “Bridge of the Nose “  is just off the highway to Loma on the south side of the highway. It is a narrow strip that separates the Teton River and the Missouri rivers as mentioned in the Lewis and Clark Journals.  Grog springs is in this area but not visible from the highway.

 
DECISION POINT

Here at Loma the Marias and Teton Rivers join and flow into the Missouri. Lewis and Clark camped here for nine days from June 2, 1805 to June 12, 1805 to explore and decide which river was the Missouri.  Turn South on the Loma Bridge Road at Mile Post 51.5 on Highway 87, then go 6/10 of a mile to a parking lot on left then about a 300 yard walk to the top of the knoll to Decision Point.  View where Lewis and Clark camped as well as the junction of the Maria’s and Missouri River and the site of Fort Piegan, where the first Blackfoot trading post in the area was established.

 
OPHIR TOWNSITE

The great plans for a town that was to rival Fort Benton in 1860’s were ended by a massacre in 1865.  First steamboat landed here in 1859. The next year they steamed to Fort Benton.   View from Decision Point.

 
FORT PIEGAN

Viewed from Decision Point, Fort Piegan site was the first Blackfoot fur trading post in the area established 1831.

 
VIEW THE BUFFALO

Just off Highway 87 in Loma on the east side of road towards the elevators. The small pasture has about 10 Bison for viewing.  Drive by or stop for pictures.

 
 FLOAT THE RIVER

Float the river on a pontoon boat, a keel boat replica, or canoes or kayaks.  Enjoy the feel of the great Missouri on your trip to Fort Benton.  Call ahead for rates and reservations.  See Fort Benton’s website for listings or call 1-406-622-3864.