National Bison Range

State: Montana. Type: wildlife reserve (bison range) in Lake and Sanders counties, western Montana, about an hour north of Missoula via US Highway 93. Founded May 23, 1908, under legislation signed by President Theodore Roosevelt — the first time Congress appropriated tax dollars specifically to purchase land for wildlife preservation. Size: approximately 18,524 acres. Since 2022, fully managed by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) after a transition from federal (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) management. Current herd: roughly 350 adult bison plus 50-60 calves per year.

The National Bison Range, now managed as the CSKT Bison Range, is an 18,524-acre wildlife reserve in western Montana's Lake and Sanders counties, about an hour's drive north of Missoula. Established on May 23, 1908, under legislation signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, it holds a notable distinction in American conservation history: it was the first time Congress appropriated tax dollars specifically to buy land for wildlife preservation. For more than a century the range was managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but after nearly two decades of negotiation and a two-year transition beginning in December 2020, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes assumed full management in 2022, returning stewardship of the land to the tribal nation on whose reservation it sits. The range protects one of North America's most endangered ecosystems, intermountain bunchgrass prairie, and today supports a bison herd of around 350 adult animals, with 50-60 calves born each year, alongside more than 200 recorded bird species and a range of other mammals. Two scenic gravel roads let visitors drive through the range for wildlife viewing, and the visitor center's exhibits have recently been updated by tribal cultural committees to reflect more accurate historical narratives.

The range sits in Lake and Sanders counties in western Montana, on the Flathead Indian Reservation, about one hour north of Missoula via US Highway 93. It lies within the broader Mission Valley region, near the community of Moiese, Montana.

The range sits in western Montana's intermountain valley climate, with warm summers and cold winters typical of the region. Its bunchgrass prairie habitat, one of the most endangered ecosystem types in North America, depends on this semi-arid, seasonal climate pattern.

Late spring through fall is generally the most reliable period for driving the scenic wildlife-viewing roads and seeing bison and other wildlife active on the range; exact seasonal road opening/closing dates were not confirmed in research and should be checked directly with the CSKT Bison Range before planning a visit.

The range was established on May 23, 1908, under legislation signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, marking the first time the U.S. Congress appropriated tax dollars specifically to purchase land for wildlife conservation, at a time when American bison populations had been decimated by 19th-century overhunting. For more than a century, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service managed the range as a federal wildlife refuge, even though it sits within the Flathead Indian Reservation, home to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. After nearly two decades of negotiation, a formal transition process began in December 2020, and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes assumed full management of the range in 2022, restoring tribal stewardship of the land. Since the transition, tribal cultural committees have worked to update the visitor center's exhibits to present more accurate historical narratives about the land and its bison.

Wildlife viewing by car along two scenic gravel roads is the primary visitor activity, offering the chance to see bison and other wildlife in a natural prairie setting. The visitor center offers educational exhibits on the range's history, ecology and the bison herd, recently updated with tribal cultural input. Birdwatching is notable given the more than 200 recorded bird species on the range.

The two main scenic drive routes through the range are the primary visitor circuit for wildlife viewing. The visitor center houses exhibits on bison conservation history and the range's ecology. The intermountain bunchgrass prairie habitat itself, one of the most endangered ecosystem types in North America, is a significant feature for visitors interested in the underlying conservation story.

The range is reached via US Highway 93, about an hour's drive north of Missoula, Montana, near the town of Moiese. Missoula International Airport is the nearest airport with regular commercial service; a rental car is the practical way to reach the range and drive its wildlife-viewing roads.

Specific current visitor center and scenic-drive-road hours were not confirmed in the sources reviewed; given the 2022 change in management to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, visitors should check directly with the CSKT Bison Range for current operating hours and any seasonal road closures before planning a trip.

Current entrance or driving-tour fees under CSKT management were not confirmed in the sources reviewed; check directly with the CSKT Bison Range for current pricing, since historic federal-refuge fee structures may no longer apply following the 2022 management transition.

A half day is generally sufficient to drive the scenic wildlife-viewing roads and visit the center, though wildlife sightings can vary, and some visitors spend longer for more thorough birdwatching or repeat drives at different times of day.

Missoula, about an hour south, offers the widest range of hotels and other lodging for visitors touring the range. The small nearby community of Moiese and other Mission Valley towns have limited lodging options; specific properties were not confirmed in research.

Missoula, about an hour away, has the area's broadest range of restaurants. Dining options directly around the range and in nearby Moiese are limited, given the area's small, rural population; specific establishments were not confirmed in the sources reviewed.

The wider Flathead Indian Reservation and Mission Valley, including Flathead Lake to the north, offer additional natural attractions within a similar driving radius. Missoula, about an hour south, provides a fuller range of city attractions, dining and lodging for visitors extending their trip.

Missoula International Airport, about an hour's drive south, is the nearest airport with regular commercial service. A personal or rental vehicle is necessary to reach the range and drive its wildlife-viewing roads, since no public transit service to the site was confirmed in research.

Bison and other wildlife on the range are wild animals and should only be viewed from within a vehicle or at a safe distance, since bison can be dangerous if approached too closely. Stay on designated roads while driving through the range, both for visitor safety and to minimize disturbance to wildlife and habitat. For any emergency, dial 911.

Binoculars or a zoom camera lens are useful for viewing bison and other wildlife from a safe distance within your vehicle. Water and snacks are worth carrying given the range's rural setting, and a full tank of gas is advisable before heading out from Missoula or other nearby towns.

Check current hours, fees and any seasonal road closures directly with the CSKT Bison Range before visiting, since management transitioned from federal to tribal control in 2022 and operating details may have changed from older published information. Early morning or evening drives often improve chances of wildlife activity. Staying inside your vehicle while viewing bison is both a safety practice and, in many wildlife areas, a management requirement.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For current visitor information, contact the CSKT Bison Range directly, as contact details may have changed since the 2022 transition from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to tribal management; a specific current phone number could not be confirmed in the sources reviewed.

CSKT Bison Range (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) - current official website could not be confirmed in research; visitors should search for the CSKT Bison Range's current tribal-managed site or contact the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes directly for up-to-date visitor information.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.