Discover Harlowton

The contrasts are tangible: a dinosaur exhibit and historic railroad buildings sit alongside a public golf course, a hiking trail, and a wind energy center. The annual rodeo also adds an event to the calendar. The highlights below offer different ways to organize your trip around your interests.

Museums and Railroad History

At the Upper Musselshell Museum, Avaceratops lammersi is the centerpiece exhibit. The museum also houses a life-size replica of a dinosaur skeleton excavated near Shawmut. The two dinosaur exhibits offer different perspectives: one focuses on Avaceratops lammersi, while the other recalls the discovery of a specific skeleton. The museum is housed in a two-story limestone building constructed in 1909. This lets you take the building’s history into account alongside its natural history exhibits.

The Harlowton Milwaukee Depot Museum was built in 1908 as a standard Class A passenger depot for the Milwaukee Road. The designation makes the depot type and railroad company a clearly defined part of its history. An electric E-57B locomotive is also on display in downtown Harlowton. The depot and locomotive represent different aspects of the railroad theme: a historic station building and a specific rail vehicle. If you’re interested in railroad history, you can include both separately in your trip plans.

Trails and Outdoor Activities

The Smoking Boomer Rail Trail is a reclaimed hiking trail and a tribute to Boomer, the local dog who smoked a pipe. The trail runs near the Harlowton Milwaukee Depot, and a park in Harlowton provides access to it. This means the trail combines its function as a hiking route with an unusual dedication. The park access point is a separate landmark to note if you include the trail in your plans.

Jawbone Creek is a public 9-hole links-style golf course in Harlowton. The course winds through rugged terrain along a historic railroad cemetery. Unlike the Rail Trail, the focus here is on golf and the terrain the course crosses; the hiking trail is distinguished by its reclaimed route and Boomer’s story. Depending on whether you’re more interested in hiking or golf, you can decide which of these activities you’d like to feature in your stay.

River Landscape and Wind Energy

Harlowton is situated on the banks of the Musselshell River. The Judith Gap Wind Energy Center was built in 2005 between Harlowton and Judith Gap. Its 90 towers rise 262 feet above the prairie. The river and wind energy bring different features to the landscape: the river defines Harlowton’s location, while the towers, with their number and height, are a distinctive feature of the prairie.

The main access point to the Judith Gap Wind Farm is on Highway 191 between mile markers 10 and 11. Check conditions before setting out. You can include this access information in your plans without conflating it with the museum or railroad themes.

Include the Rodeo in Your Travel Plans

The Harlowton rodeo takes place annually on July 2 and 3. Since the exact event dates may change, check the dates for your travel year before planning your trip around them. If the rodeo is part of your travel plans, its date gives you a specific timeframe to guide your search for a hotel in Harlowton.

For the broader travel overview: Wheatland County.