Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5 sites but located right on the Big Hole River is the
East Banks Recreation Site
(Hwy.
43, 8 miles west of Wise River, 406/533-7600, no fees for day use or camping).
The website of the
Big Hole Tourism Association
(
www.bigholevalley.com
)
offers in-
formation on the towns, businesses, and attractions of the region. Information is also avail-
able through the
Beaverhead Chamber of Commerce
(10 W. Reeder St., Dillon, 406/
683-5511,
www.beaverheadchamber.org
).
The Big Hole Valley can be accessed most directly from Butte via I-15 south to Highway
43 and Highway 278, and from Dillon via I-15 south to Highway 278.
This part of the state is where mining meets agriculture, and where history and adventure
are intertwined. There are wide-open spaces, snowcapped peaks, and limestone caves that
snake deep underground. It is an area that will enchant history buffs with preserved mining
settlements like Virginia City, Nevada City, and Bannack, and transfix lovers of sports and
nature with incredible wildlife habitat, phenomenal fishing in rivers and lakes, and plenty
of wild space just to get lost in for a while.
Dillon (pop. 4,134), the economic and service hub of the region, was an important stop-
ping point for the Lewis and Clark expedition. Lewis and Clark met the Shoshoni in Dil-
lon, and were able to cache their canoes and some supplies for the return trip. In the latter
part of the 19th century, Dillon was an important shipping point between the gold fields of
Montana and Utah. Agriculture has also shaped the area. Cattle were first brought to Dillon
in 1865, followed by sheep in 1869. The University of Montana Western, which emphasizes
agriculture, thrives in Dillon today and adds youthful energy to the town. Dillon's down-
town offers the largest number of shops (including the Patagonia Outlet), hotels and eateries
in the region.
