Three Forks

Three Forks is a town in Montana along the Lewis and Clark Trail. About 2,000 people live there.

View of the Bridger Mountains from Three Forks

Understand

Three Forks is named because the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers converge here. They form the start of the Missouri River.

Get in

Three Forks is on Interstate 90. Exit 278 is the intersection for Montana Highway 2.

The nearest commercial airport is Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Belgrade.

Get around

Three Forks is small enough to walk. You will need a car to see any nearby sites.

See

Madison Buffalo Jump State Monument
  • Headwaters Heritage Museum, 202 S. Main (at the corner of Main and Cedar). June 1 through September 30. Free. 
  • 🌍 Madison Buffalo Jump State Park, 6990 Buffalo Jump Rd, ☏ +1 406 285-3610. Daily, daylight hours. Situated on the edge of a valley created by the Madison River, this high cliff was used by Native Americans for at least 2,000 years. Native people stampeded vast herds of bison off this cliff, using them for food, clothing and shelter. $6/car. (updated Jun 2018)
  • 🌍 Missouri Headwaters State Park, 1585 Trident Rd. (updated Jun 2018)

Do

If you're into rodeos, then you are in for a treat. Three Forks is home to the Three Forks Rodeo, and several other horse related events.

  • 🌍 The Three Forks Rodeo and Parade. annually in July. The Three Forks Rodeo and Parade offers two evenings of real rodeo action in a small town setting. There is music, food, bull and bronc riding, crafts, a hometown parade. 
  • 'Montana Antique Aircraft Association Fly-In is an annual event at Pogreba Field.

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

  • Sacajawea Hotel, 5 Main St, ☏ +1 406 285-6515. Hotel has been tastefully renovated to feel at once inviting, up to date and rustic. 
  • Broken Spur Motel, 124 W Elm, ☏ +1 406 285-3237. Charming old school motel with clean and pleasant rooms, free wifi, complimentary shampoo and soap. 
  • Fort Three Forks Motel and RV Park, 10776 Highway 287 (Turn north off Interstate 90 Exit #274 onto Hwy 287), ☏ +1 406 285-3233, toll-free: +1-800 477-5690. Check-in: 3 PM, check-out: 10 AM. (updated Mar 2023)

Go next

  • Bridger Bowl Ski Area (45 miles east) is a highly popular ski area with 2,000 acres of skiable terrain. Top elevation is 8,800 feet.
  • Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park (18 miles southwest) offers guided tours daily from May 1st to September 30th. They also have camping, rental cabins, and a quaint cafe and gift shop. Be prepared though; the tours are two miles long, take two hours and there are over 600 stairs to navigate. It is usually hot, with little shade, so bring water and sunscreen.
  • Virginia City (60 miles south) is the original capital of the Montana Territory and iconic "wild west".
Routes through Three Forks
Missoula ← Butte ←  W  E  → Belgrade → Bozeman
Helena ← Townsend ←  N  S  → West Yellowstone → Yellowstone N.P.
Butte ← Jct S ←  W  E  → END


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