MONTANA PARK OF THE WEEK: Milltown State Park

Milltown State Park began as a river restoration superfund and has grown into so much more! Located just outside of Bonner, MT, this park offers over 3 miles of beautiful trails.

Abundant outdoor opportunities and a rich cultural heritage converge at the newly restored confluence of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers at the heart of Milltown State Park.

The former site of a Superfund river restoration project, Milltown State Park, features more than 500 acres of terrain, ranging from restored river bottoms to a pine-forested bluff overlooking the confluence.

The park affords visitors a place to go hiking, biking, fishing, floating, and watching for birds and wildlife. The Milltown State Park Overlook is open and features interpretive displays and picnic tables. There are nearly three miles of hiking trails that lead from the Overlook down to the Clark Fork River and its floodplain trails.

On the north side of the river, the Confluence and Gateway areas saw construction begin in the summer of 2017. The park development includes trails, an interpretive plaza, and river access. The grand opening for the Confluence area was June 23, 2018.

Among the many stories from the deep past are the Glacial Lake Missoula floods that shaped the landscape thousands of years ago.

The Salish and Kalispel know the confluence as the place of bull trout and consider it part of their ancestral home. In 19th century history, Meriwether Lewis made a Fourth of July passage through the confluence, and decades later, the Mullan Expedition spent a harsh winter there.

In the 1880s, the rivers were dammed to produce power for the mills and communities but at great consequence.

The hopeful story of the Milltown Dam removal and rivers' return offers an opportunity to explore America's changing relationship to the land as well as the benefits that river restoration yields for Montana's families and communities.

For more information, explore the story map, A Confluence of Stories–an interactive, multi-media narrative–chronicling the natural and cultural history at Milltown State Park. Whether you come to play or to learn, there will be a lot to do at Milltown State Park.

Hike the trail from the overlook to the flood plain with Michael Kustudia, Park Manager, and Olivia Hollis, AmeriCorps member, as they take you on a lively tour of the history and park features.

Park: Open all year. Day Use only. No Camping.

Confluence Area: Hours: 5/1 - 5/29: 9 am - 7 pm. 5/30 - 8/31: 9 am - 9 pm. 9/1 - 10/15: 9 am -7 pm. 10/16 - 4/30: 9 am to 5 pm.

Gateway & Overlook Area: Hours: Sunrise to sunset.

Location: Confluence Area: 7363 Juniper Dr. Missoula, MT Gateway Area: 64 Anaconda St. Missoula, MT

Overlook Area: 1353 Deer Creek Rd Missoula, MT