Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MONTANA
•
Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge
is in fact two wildlife refuges and a
wetland management district that host more birds than you could ever imagine.
• Located in
Moiese
between the Flathead and Missoula, the
National Bison
Range
is home to 350-500 bison, along with white-tailed and mule deer, big-
horn sheep, pronghorn antelope, and elk.
• About 30 miles south of Missoula in
Stevensville,
the
Lee Metcalf National
Wildlife Refuge
provides habitat for migratory birds including ospreys, eagles,
and hawks as well as larger animals including wolves, coyotes, black bears,
and badgers.
• Near
Lima,
the
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
hosts more than 230
species of birds—including the once-endangered trumpeter swan—and other
wildlife including bears, wolves, and moose.
WYOMING
• Just outside
Jackson,
the
National Elk Refuge
is home to more than 7,000 elk
throughout the winter months.
• In
Dubois,
the
National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center
offers winter tours
of the nearby
Whiskey Mountain Habitat Area.
Self-guided tours take visit-
ors into prime sheep country, where waterfowl, raptors, and moose can often
be seen as well.
• North of
Green River,
the wetland habitat of the
Seedskadee National Wildlife
Refuge
hosts some 200 bird species, including Canada geese, great blue her-
ons, and swans.
• Just north of
Rock Springs,
the
White Mountains
are home to 800-1,000 wild
mustangs. Pronghorn, sage grouse, coyotes, and eagles also frequent the re-
gion.
Day 4: Red Lodge to Cody (about 114 miles)
Experience two of the most breathtaking drives in the region. Pack a picnic lunch and head
up and over the
Beartooth Highway
(U.S. 212), and be sure to make plenty of stops along
the way. Look for
mountain goats
at the summit. Consider an alpine hike: The
Clay Butte
Fire Lookout Tower,
only a mile from the highway, puts you above 11,000 feet; the eight-
mile scenic loop around
Beartooth Lake
offers level terrain with spectacular scenery. Stop
in
Cooke City
if you need a shot of civilization (or espresso), or continue to the
Chief
