Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment Regarding the Interest of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to enter into an Annual Funding Agreement with the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for the Operation and Management of Programs at the National Bison Range Complex
Draft Fiscal Year 2013-2016 Annual Funding Agreement Between the United States Department of the Interior and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation
Spring Hours (May 7 – May 27, 2011):
Visitor Center open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends and holidays.
Red Sleep Mountain Drive open daily 6:30 a.m.; start drive by 6 p.m. to finish before dark.
Summer Hours (May 28 – September 5, 2011):
Visitor Center open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends and holidays.
Red Sleep Mountain Drive open daily 6:30 a.m.; start drive by 7 p.m. to finish before dark.
Fall Hours (September 6 – mid-October, 2011):
Visitor Center open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends and holidays.
Red Sleep Mountain Drive open daily 6:30 a.m.; start drive by 6 p.m. to finish before dark.
PLEASE NOTE: Red Sleep Mountain Drive will be closed sometime between September 25 and October 7, 2011 while we move bison. We will have specific dates available in early September.
Winter Hours (mid-October, 2011 to mid-May, 2012):
Visitor Center open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed weekends and holidays.
Winter Drive open daily 7 a.m. to dark (weather and road conditions permitting). Red Sleep Mountain Drive closed during winter.
Special Events:
May 7, 2011 – Opening Day (Mother’s Day Weekend)
Open Red Sleep Mountain Drive for the season, weather and road conditions permitting.
May 14, 2011 – International Migratory Bird Day (Saturday)
A variety of walks, talks, and activities are offered; call or email for details and registration (406/644-2211 ext 207, bisonrange@fws.gov).
May 23, 2010 – National Bison Range’s 103nd Birthday (Monday)
Fees waived for the day.
September 24, 2010 – National Public Lands Day
Fees waived for the day.
*Please Note - The Refuge closes to all public use at night. Check hours posted at the Front Gate and at the Visitor Center. Please plan your visit accordingly to be off Refuge by the time the Front Gate closes for the evening.
The National Bison Range is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It was established in 1908 and is one of the oldest Wildlife Refuges in the nation. As its name implies, the Refuge was established to support a population of American bison. It is home to about 350-500 of these animals. Other large wildlife found on the Range include elk, white-tail and mule deer, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep and black bear. Because of its open grasslands, the Bison Range is a place for the public to enjoy some excellent wildlife observation and photography.
A Visitor Center provides interpretive displays and orientation videos as well as a bookstore and restrooms. Staff is on hand to answer questions and dispense maps and brochures. This is a good place to start any visit.
Fees are charged during the summer (mid-May to late October). The Range is part of the U.S. Fee System and accepts and sells the Federal Recreational Area Passes and Federal Waterfowl Stamps. It also continues to accept the older Golden Passes. Pay fees at the Visitor Center.
Passenger Vehicle Fees:
Day Pass - $5.00 per day
Bison Range Annual Pass - $15.00
Federal Annual Pass - $80.00
Federal Senior Pass (U.S. citizen 62 years old or older) - $10.00
Federal Access Pass (U.S. citizen with a permanent disability) - FREE
*To assist in planning a visit, please note the following restrictions:
Due to steepness of roads and tightness of switchbacks, no vehicles over 30 feet in length are allowed on Red Sleep Mountain Drive. They may access the shorter West Loops and Prairie Drives. No trailers of any kind may access Red Sleep Mountain Drive. These trailers may be left at the Visitor Center Parking Lot. And to protect the health of Range wildlife, no livestock trailers are allowed on the Refuge.
Also, because all scenic roads are gravel, motorcycles and bicycles are not allowed. They can access the Visitor Center and Day Use areas along paved roads.
*Also please note – scenic roads can close at anytime due to extreme weather and hazardous road conditions.
