Stillwater County: Art, Trails and County History

Stillwater County stretches from the Beartooth Mountains across the valleys of the Stillwater and Yellowstone Rivers to northern lake basins and coulees. Its elevation range is also broad: from about 3,400 feet near Park City to over 12,000 feet near Granite Peak. Art, river landscapes, trails, and county history offer different ways to plan a stay. If you are looking for a hotel, first decide which place or theme is central to your trip, then check how the location listed for each option fits your plans.

Art and Trails in the Landscape

Large-scale sculptures are spread across the 12,500-acre working ranch at Tippet Rise Art Center. Visitors can explore them on 15 miles of trails and 13 miles of gravel roads that connect the artworks. Another option is a sculpture van tour: tours last approximately 2.5 hours and stop at numerous artworks on the ranch. The approximate tour duration and the listed trail and road distances offer different reference points for planning. Tour operations and schedules may change, as may trail conditions; check these details before your trip.

Woodbine Campground borders the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and sits at an elevation of 5,300 feet on the banks of the Stillwater River. From there, visitors can enjoy views of surrounding snow-covered peaks at 10,000 feet. The Woodbine Falls Trail is a 1.5-mile loop from the campground to a waterfall. The Stillwater Trail provides access to the Wilderness and reaches Sioux Charley Lake after three miles. Here, it is important to distinguish between a route explicitly described as a loop and a trail point reached after three miles: they describe different hiking plans.

Hailstone National Wildlife Refuge covers 160 acres and is surrounded on three sides by the 1,828-acre Hailstone Waterfowl Production Area. The refuge is open for hunting, wildlife viewing, and photography. Check refuge rules before your trip, as use regulations may change.

County History and the River

The Museum of the Beartooths documents the history of Stillwater County through stories, art, oral histories, artifacts, and images; its historical coverage goes back to the 1870s. The museum grounds include the historic T.T. Brown Schoolhouse. Visitors can also see a Northern Pacific freight caboose from the 1960s. The “Hard Rock Mine” exhibit focuses on the history of mining in the county. Twelve properties in Stillwater County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places; register listings may change.

The Stillwater River flows 70 miles from the high mountains of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and joins the Yellowstone River near Columbus. It is also a “blue-ribbon fishery” for rainbow trout, brown trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and brook trout. Since regulations and access may change, check current guidance before fishing.

Routes and Getting Around

Columbus offers a route to Yellowstone National Park via Beartooth Pass. The Beartooth All-American Road follows U.S. 212 from south of Red Lodge to Cooke City and the park’s northeast entrance. The pass is open seasonally, so take that into account when planning. Another specifically described road segment runs from Absarokee on State Highway 420 toward Nye, through grassland and agricultural areas along the Stillwater River. The Stillwater County Chamber of Commerce is a visitor information center in Columbus. Check current office information before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Columbus, Chouteau County, Sweet Grass, Phillips County, Jefferson County, Mccone County, Lincoln County, Ravalli County.

For the broader travel overview: Montana.