When To Go

The prairie is certainly worth a visit and can be explored via hiking, walking, mountain biking, horseback riding, or snowshoeing. It is a serene and peaceful place where one can enjoy a bit of solitude.

In the spring, bird watching is fantastic, and if you're an early riser, you could even see sage grouse carry out their complex courting ritual, called a lek. In the summer, you can fish and canoe on Ft. Peck Reservoir or attend community events in local towns. Hunting is a popular sport in the fall, and winter is a great time to explore by snowshoe and cross-country skis.

See Plan Your Own Trip for links to local area attractions.

What to Pack

You'll need comfortable, casual clothes that layer easily, as weather is often unpredictable in Montana. It seems snow is possible any day of the year! The list below is just a guideline, so don't forget to check the weather before your trip!

• Warm jacket
• Raincoat or waterproof windbreaker
• Warm sweater or fleece
• Long underwear top and bottom
• Long pants
• Shirts
• Hiking boots
• Socks, one pair wool
• Sun hat or baseball cap
• Warm hat
• Gloves
• Binoculars
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Chapstick
• Compass

Year round, it's a good idea to bring some emergency equipment if you're planning on driving around the prairie. While we hope you won't need it, the following equipment would be a smart safety precaution:

• Sleeping bag
• Stove and pot (to heat water or melt snow)
• Water
• Food
• First Aid Kit

Weather

Weather in north central Montana can fluctuate dramatically from year to year and even from day to day. While the average temperature in Malta for July is 71°F, it can often be over 100°F in the summer. We encourage you to check weather reports (try multiple towns such as Malta, Lewistown, and Glasgow if you're heading to the open prairie, since no one weather station specifically covers the CMR area), and we suggest that you be prepared for a variety of conditions.

Average temperature for Malta:

• Jan    11°F
• Feb    14°F
• Mar    27°F
• Apr     44°F
• May    55°F
• Jun     63°F
• Jul      71°F
• Aug    68°F
• Sep    57°F
• Oct     46°F
• Nov    30°F
• Dec    17°F

For more information, highs, lows, and precipitation averages, try www.weatherbase.com.

Road Conditions

Wet, unpaved roads in Phillips and Valley Counties can become impassable. The region is famous for its "gumbo."

"'What is 'gumbo'? ...The sediments of this [area] have a great deal of expandable clay in them, especially the shale - this particular type is called Bearpaw shale. All shales hold water and get very sticky and greasy when wet. It doesn't take much precipitation to create literally impassable situations on roads not covered with pavement, a heavy dose of gravel, or clinker.

Traction is impossible as vehicles slide in whatever direction the wet mess decides to take them, get bogged down in ever-deepening ruts, or the gumbo buildup on the tires halts all motion. Walking isn't any easier. If you are wearing boots with lug soles, you will gain height rapidly, all the while slipping and sliding.

The cure for a bad case of gumbo is good old sunshine and a dry wind. Just make certain you have a good book, food and water to keep you company if you get caught out in 'gumbo topography' when it begins to rain."

-- Rick and Susie Graetz