Distinctly Montana Magazine

W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA NA . C O M 91 GET TO KNOW A COUNTY PLENTYWOOD SHERIDAN COUNTY SHERIDAN COUNTY is located in the northeastern-most corner of Montana. It was established in 1913 when the Leg- islature split Dawson and Valley Counties. Its population is under 4,000 people. Its main towns are Medicine Lake, Westby, Outlook, and Plentywood (the County seat). Its principal rivers are Willow Creek, Muddy Creek, McCabe Creek, and Sand Creek. The Medi- cine Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1935 to provide important breeding and stopover habitat for a diverse array of migratory birds. The refuge considers of 31,702 acres and comprises five lakes. The 11,360-acre Wilderness Area was established by Congress in 1976, including the Sandhills, a unique area with rolling hills, native grass, and brush patches. The County, characterized by long ribbon roads and the harmonious lines of farmland, was largely homesteaded by Norwegians. Since the soil is of glacier origin, it provides a rich base for small grain production. At Plentywood, Sitting Bull and his Sioux people surrendered to the U.S. Army after living in Canada. Butch Cassidy named the Outlaw Trail where rustlers moved stolen cattle and horses. According to the "Old West" legend, he also established a rest station at the Big Muddy Valley, west of Plentywood. Like most towns along the Hi-Line, Plentywood came into being because of the railroad. The railroad crews opened saloons and brothels. In the 1920s Charles Taylor launched a radical newspaper called The Producer's News, a powerful voice for farmers. He was elected president of the national Farmer-Labor Party in 1924. He had a positive influence on the community but his socialist (even communist) ideas finally caused his decline. Explore the Lewis & Clark Trail in sections. Go to www.lewisandclarkcountry.org and click on Adventure Map to plan your trip. On their return journey, the Corps of Discovery traveled across Lolo Trail and rested up at Travelers' Rest on June 30, 1805. Lewis' party rode out to the Upper Por- tage Camp at Great Falls, explored the Marias River, then canoed down the Missouri River. Clark's group retraced the 1804 route on horseback. Near Big Timber they built a dugout canoe and floated down the Yellowstone River past its confluence with the Missouri River. Digging for Yogos in the Little Belt Mountains: Watch a film trailer about the Outlaw Trail: www.distinctlymontana.com/yogo172 www.distinctlymontana.com/outlaw172 DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL BEARTOOTH MOUNTAINS TIPPET RISE ART CENTER. An outdoor oasis of music and sculpture under the Beartooth Mountains. Tippet Rise is located in Fishtail on Hwy 87, just off I90 between Big Timber and Billings. Ticket sales (inexpensive) start March 1st for concerts between July 7th-Sept. 17th. Order promptly for this beautiful place is on the rise. www.tippetrise.org WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS THE HAYMAKER BAKERY, 11 E. Main. Homemade biscuits and gravy, massive cinnamon rolls, Dan- ishes (including chocolate). Serves expresso and cof- fee. Open 7 a.m.-2 p.m. THE LITTLE BELT MOUNTAINS, north of White Sulphur Springs, ramble across 1,500 square miles and are now famous for the yogo mines at Yogo Creek. The Little Belts have been mined and logged but to explore them on foot, hike into the headwaters of the Judith River. For access to the hiking trails, follow the Judith River southwest from Utica along a good gravel road to the Fred Ellis Memorial Recreation Center. A popular town for travelers is Monarch, once a mining camp. TODD KLASSY

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