Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sept., 8am-5pm Mon.-Fri. late Sept.-Memorial Day, $2) is an impressive facility celebrat-
ing the natural and cultural history of the river and its surrounding environment. A must-see
for boaters on the Missouri, the center offers technical information as well as historical and
interactive exhibits including images depicted from artist Karl Bodmer's 1833 voyage up
the Missouri. Among the other treasures here is Chief Joseph's surrender rifle.
The Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument (406/538-1900 or 877/
256-3252, www.mt.blm.gov ) comprises 375,000 acres centered on a 149-mile stretch of the
Missouri, designated a National Wild and Scenic River. The remoteness of the region adds
to its ecological and cultural significance. Boaters have the rare opportunity to travel in
an area virtually untouched since Lewis and Clark's era, and the cliffs and sandy beaches
have as much appeal today as they did 200 years ago. The water is wide and reasonably
flat, so white-water equipment and expertise is not necessary. However, because of its re-
moteness, great care should be taken, and careful planning is necessary. Day trips, shuttles,
and full-service camping trips can be arranged through a number of outfitters, includ-
ing Hole-in-the-Wall Adventures (Lewistown, 406/538-2418, www.hole-in-the-wall.org ),
which offers three-day, two-night trips starting at $350 pp, half price for children 12 and
under. Adventure Bound Canoe & Shuttle Company (406/622-5077 or 877/538-4890,
www.adventureboundcanoe.com ) offers guided trips and shuttle service as well as canoe,
kayak, and camping equipment rentals. Boaters interested in planning their own trips
should contact the Fort Benton River Management Station (701 7th St., 877/256-3252,
www.blm.gov/mt ) .
For an altogether different experience, check out the tiny town of Virgelle, in the heart
of the national monument and accessible by road or river ferry (406/378-3110 or 800/
426-2926). This former ghost town has been restored without being overly modernized, and
bed-and-breakfast-type accommodations are available. The tiny town and its do-everything
mercantile store truly offer a step back in time.
THE LEGEND OF SHEP
The story of a dog named Shep is a tear-jerking one, and Shep has become something
of an icon for the town of Fort Benton. Some sort of border collie mix, Shep was born
in Montana in the late 1920s. He was a sheepdog and, by all accounts, a very faithful
companion. When his sheepherding master fell ill during the Great Depression and
had to be taken by buckboard to the hospital in Fort Benton, Shep followed along
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