With the rugged Mission Range as its backdrop, the scenic National Bison Range is great for watching and photographing wildlife. It’s open grassland is perfect for enjoying the changing moods of weather and sky, and (carefully!) communing with great big wild animals.
Home to about 350 to 500 American bison, the range is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It was established in 1908, making it one of the oldest wildlife refuges in the nation.
While the main purpose of the range is to help preserve wild bison, the refuge is also home to elk, deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, black bear, coyote, and more than 200 species of birds. Start your visit at the Visitor Center, where you’ll find displays, videos, a bookstore, and staff to answer questions. Pay warm season entrance fees here ($5 per vehicle).
The range is open year ’round, daylight hours only. Call 406-644-2211.
From Missoula, head north on highway 93, turn left onto highway 200, go five miles to highway 212, turn right and go five more miles to the entrance.
National Bison Range at Moise, MT. Photo by Bruce Costa.
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HOW TO GET THERE FROM MISSOULA
- Mileage: 52.2 miles
- Estimated Trip Time: 1 Hour, 17 minutes
- How to Get There From Missoula:
