I had a few hours to kill while visiting Bozeman, MT and decided to check out Missouri Headwaters State Park. It’s about 30 minutes west of Bozeman and a perfect spot for recreation and fun!
I wanted to take Tootsie, my dog, on a hike. This park has several trails. Most of the marked trails are through their grass fields. They are well groomed and easy to identify. Though during my trip, some were closed due to recent weather events.
What I wanted was a trail along the water. On a hot day, nothing beats soaking your feet in the cold river. They do have several of those trails. I was able to find them on All Trails. And while not as well marked, if you follow the map on All Trails, you can see where they are and make your own route.
If you head to the picnic area, you can also hop down to the river and walk around in it.
The park also has some rich history. They have markers throughout the park that tell you the story and history of the remaining buildings.
Other key features of the park, a boat launch and a campground. I didn’t use either, but drove through and they look nice. The campground is small, with sites very close to each other.
My experience:
Missouri Headwaters State Park was a great spot for a hike. And it made me wish I was equipped for water recreation. It was so inviting.
If I was swinging through and needed a place to stay, this campground would be a good one for a night…maybe 2. But I don’t think their was enough to do and the campground wasn’t nice enough to make me want to stay much longer.
Basics
Location: Three Forks, Montana
Parking: Parking is at the main entrance, and several other spots along the main road. You can typically find them by trailheads or picnic areas
Bathrooms: Bathrooms are available at the main entrance and in the picnic area.
What to wear: Check the weather, and you’ll probably want layers. I went on a hot day and wore a tank and capris. I hiked in trail shoes, but then got my river shoes to enjoy the cool water on my feet.
What to pack: Water! It is hot and dry. Most of the hikes are pretty short, so you could do water, maybe a snack, and be in good shape.
Pets: Dogs are welcome and are to be on a leash when in the park. Tootsie loved this park! She’s starting to be a water dog and enjoyed wading in the rivers.