Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge
Mountain-Prairie Region
Recreation and Education

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge Bird List (PDF, 388 KB)

 

Please see the "Hunting & Regulations" page for regulations on camping, access, hiking, boating etc. Also, check the Frequently Asked Questions link in the side bar of this page.

 

Auto Tour Route

A self-guided auto tour route, which may be accessed from two points along Highway 191 on the west side of the Refuge, provides visitors the chance to see the Refuge close-up and gain a better understanding of Refuge resources.  Interpretive stops along the route provide information on the wildlife, geology, and history of this unique landscape.  This auto tour route is 19 miles long and takes 2-3 hours to complete.

 

Elk Viewing Area

The very popular elk viewing area is located on the west end of the Refuge along the Auto Tour Route. During the elk breeding season (September and October), large numbers of elk congregate at the Slippery Ann Elk Viewing area. Peak numbers of bull elk in the rut can be viewed around the second and third weeks of September.

There will be a bus tour from Lewistown to the viewing area on October 5, 2011.  Contact Lewistown Refuge staff for more information.

 

Hiking/Walking Trails

Hiking is allowed anywhere on the Refuge but there are also established trails scattered around the Refuge with varying levels of development and accessibility. On the east side of the Refuge there are several paved, accessible walking trails near the Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum.  There are several hiking trails on the west end of the refuge that provide access to wilderness areas.  Two hiking trails originate in Hell Creek State Park on the south side and there is an accessible trail near the headquarters building in Lewistown which features native plants.

 

Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum

Fort Peck hosts the fascinating Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum, a cooperative effort among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, and Fort Peck Paleontology Inc. Museum exhibits have a three-fold focus: wildlife of the CMR, dinosaurs of the Cretaceous period, and the construction of the Fort Peck Dam. In summer, the museum is the epicenter of our environmental education and interpretation programs. During this season, we present a variety of topical speakers, themed weekends and children’s nature-oriented arts and crafts programs, as well as National Public Lands Day (a volunteer-oriented field event).

 

Children interacting with furs and skulls.

During the school year, presentations centered on the CMR and its place in the National Wildlife Refuge System are offered, as well as a skins and skulls match up and an endangered species touch program. In addition, educational trunks are available for loan with complete lesson plan options on subjects as diverse as: the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery, weather, trees, wolves, songbirds, bugs, dinosaurs and fossils, and the solar system.

 

 

Special Events:


Please call the Center at: 406-526-3493 for program specifics.

Hours of Operation at Interpretive Center

For 2011 through spring 2012:

May 1 - September 30

Open every day from 9 am to 5 pm

October 1 - October 31

Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm

November 1 - April 30

Open Tuesday through Friday 10 am to 4 pm

 

Educational Resources

Whether you are a teacher looking for help in educating your students about nature or a parent looking for creative ways to get your kids outdoors, the refuge is here to help! Do you know how to tell what an animal eats by looking at their teeth?  How big is a wolf fur compared to a coyote fur?  The Refuge has a trunk of furs, skulls, and educational materials to help bring wildlife education to classrooms.  Please call the Refuge for more information. The following are a list of links to help in motiviting your kids to be outside!

  • www.fws.gov/letsgooutside - Part of the ‘Connecting People with Nature’ initiative of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  There are resources for parents and teachers and kids can join the Neighborhood Explorers Club!
  • www.fws.gov/educators  - A US Fish and Wildlife Service website with many links for teachers and students (K-12).

  • www.youthgo.gov - Department of Interior's primary source for youth-related on-line content. Find links for places to go/things to do, educational resources and youth job openings. Geared toward older children & young adults.

  • www.epa.gov/students  - EPA Environmental Kids Club.  This site has resources for teachers and students (K-12). 

  • www.greenhour.org  - Developed by the National Wildlife Federation, this site offers parents ideas for getting their kids into ‘nature, play and learning’. 

  • www.childrenandnature.org  - Website of the Children and Nature Network, founded by Richard Louv (author of “Last Child in the Woods”).  Resources for parents and teachers.

  • www.handsontheland.org  - National network of field classrooms connecting students, teachers and parents to their public lands and waterways.

 

Last updated: October 27, 2011