Russell Country.com

CM Russell Auto Tour

The Montana Legislature has designated Highway 87 between Great Falls and Lewistown as the "Charles M. Russell Trail." The land continues to stir the imagination and spirit today as it did 100 years ago.

An interpretive booklet for the C.M. Russell Auto Tour is available at the US Forest Service Office located in Stanford. The booklet depicts paintings of Charlie Russell with many background scenic vistas still visible today as you travel the route. The main route follows Highway 87 for approximately 100 miles between Great Falls and Lewistown. Memorial Loop turns south at either Windham or Hobson, travels to Utica and then south into the Little Belt Mountains.  Interpretive signage is located on Memorial Loop.


Highway 87, The Charles M. Russell Trail


How to use the below Guide which can be found in the CM Russell Auto Tour booklet:  The Guide uses Russell's art to interpret the history of Judith Basin.  Occasionally you will see the actual landmarks Russell used in his painting; other paintings depict events that occured nearby.  Interpretive test rounds out this glimpse back into the history of the Basin.  As you drive the Russell Trail, you will find specific road-side turnouts for some, but not all of the 25 interpretive sites.

(click on left photo to download map)


 

 

#

Painting Title

Theme

Location

1

Romance Makers

The Free Trappers

West of Belt

2

America's First Printers

Indian Rock Art

Raynesford

3

Buffalo In Winter

Buffalo in the Basin

Geyser

4

The Medicine Man

Blackfeet in the Judith Basin

Geyser Rest Area

5

First Furrow

The First Settlers

Stanford

6

In Without Knocking

Old Town Stanford

Stanford

7

Lone Wolf
Roping a Wolf

The Legendary Wolves of the Basin

Stanford

8

White Mans Buffalo

The Price of Progress

Windham

9

Paying the Fiddler

The Cattle Rustlers

Benchland

10

The Toll Collectors

The First Cattle Herds

Judith River

11

Trail of the Iron Horse

The Role of the Railroads

Hobson

12

Chief Joseph

The Flight of Nez Perce

Eddie's Corner

13

The Price of His Hide

The Grizzley Encounter

Moore



The Memorial Way-Utica, Yogo and the South Fork of the Judith Basin



Yogo Creek Road and Memorial Way (South Fork Judith) are narrow single-lane gravel roads with turnouts. 
Trailers and large recreation vehicles are not recommended.

(click on left photo to download map
)




 

#

Painting Title

Theme

Location

14

Quiet Day In Utica

History of Utica

Utica

15

Cowboy Camp During Roundup

The Cattle Roundups

Utica

16

Waiting For A Chinook

The Hard Winter of 1887

Judith River

17

Doubtful Guest

Russell Meets Jake Hoover

South Fork  Judith River

18

When I Was A Kid

Charlie's Early Days

Russell Point

19

Old Hoover Camp
On The South Fork Of The Judith River

Jake Hoover and His Cabin

Hoover Cabin

20

The Elk

Wildlife Boom and Bust

Judith Game Range

21

Placer Mines Prospecting New Strike

The Yogo Sapphire

Judith Game Range

22

 

The Tollgate

Tollgate

23

 

Yogo Town History

Yogo Town

24

Fire Boat
The Jerkline

Steamboats & Trails
Hauling the Freight

Philbrook
Philbrook

25

Stagecoach

Early Transportation

Philbrook