Whether you are here for the afternoon, the weekend or longer, you will find so much to do and see, that we know you will want to come back and see us again!
See below a listing of some great things to do while you are here. If you want a local’s view of some of the BEST ways to experience our area, try:
Phillips County Museum and H.G. Robinson House & Gardens
The museum and adjacent, recently renovated, historic home with beautiful gardens are easily found on Highway 2 East in Malta. 2009 renovations have transformed the museum’s primary exhibit area and visitors will have new experiences within the life-size replicas of a cowboy bunkhouse, one-room schoolhouse, church, and mercantile.
Authentic artifacts from the Homestead Era, Native American Culture, notable Wild Bunch Outlaws Kid Curry and Dutch Henry, and “Elvis,” a 33 foot adult Brachylophosaurus are special features. The genealogy department has been expanded to assist in tracing family histories and the exterior grounds are being transformed into a native bird sanctuary with walking trail along the Milk River. This is an official site on the Montana Dinosaur Trail, hosting a tourist information center and an on-site gift shop.
Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free for those under the age of 5. Immediate family members qualify for a special family rate of $12.00 (Example of immediate family: father, mother, and children). Special rates are also available for group tours. Museum Hours are April through December 10:00am-5:00pm Monday through Saturday. The museum is closed on Sundays. Contact the museum for further information at (406) 654-1037.
Phillips County Museum and H.G. Robinson House & Gardens
Phone: (406) 654-1037
Email: [email protected]
Official Website
Marian Hills Golf Course
Marian Hills is a challenging Par 36, 9-hole public course located on the south edge of Malta just off US Highway 191. The Tin Cup Bar and Grill, driving range, and club and cart rentals are available.
Marian Hills Golf Course
Phone: (406) 654-5527
Facebook Page
The Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Field Station
The Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Field Station showcases many of Montana’s finest dinosaur specimens: “Roberta,” an adult Brachylophosaurus remarkably well preserved; “Ralph,” a new species of long-necked sauropod; “Giffen,” Montana’s first stegosaurus; “Peanut,” a young Brachylophosaurus; and “Leonardo,” a rare mummy dinosaur listed in the “Guinness Book of World Records” as the best preserved dinosaur. Other world-renowned fossils on display include rare marine invertebrates, prehistoric plants, and fossilized fish. Children’s programs, birthday parties, and dinosaur dig/exploration programs available. On-site gift store. Member of the Montana Dinosaur Trail.
Located on Highway 2 East in Malta next to the Phillips County Museum. Open May to September: Monday – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fees are $5 for adults, $3 for youth 12 & under, and free for museum members and children 5 & under. Memberships and group rates are available.
Malta is a premier site along the Montana Dinosaur Trail
Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Field Station
Phone: (406) 654-5300
Email: [email protected]
Official Website
Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge
Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is just 7 miles east of Malta on Old Highway 2. It provides habitat for a variety of wildlife species including 263 species of birds, over 26 species of mammals, and several species of reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Activities such as photography, hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, wildlife observation, and bird hunting can be enjoyed on the refuge.
Visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing and photography along the 15 mile self-guided auto tour route or the .4 mile accessible trail which is located near headquarters. Public hunting of waterfowl and upland game birds is permitted on a portion of the refuge. Guided refuge tours and environmental education programs are available upon request. Availability of staff and size of group may influence these activities.
Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge
Phone: (406) 654-2863
Email: [email protected]
Official Website: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/bowdoin/
Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge
In and of itself, the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is over 120 miles long and encompasses over 2,000 square miles, which makes it bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware.
A car tour route begins just north of the Fred Robinson Bridge south of Malta. It takes the visitors through habitats from ponderosa pines to thick sagebrush and grass land prairie, while offering spectacular views of the Missouri River and the Missouri River Breaks
Every year, starting in early September, the “Slippery Ann Bottoms” is a safe haven where hundreds of elk gather for their annual mating ritual. The viewing area is accessible from the auto tour route, just north of the river. It is recommended to arrive in the late afternoon and stay until dusk for the best viewing.
Said to be the 3rd largest National Wildlife Refuge, it is open for public big game and upland bird hunting. The CMR NWF contains approximately 1.1 million acres, including the 245,000 acres Fort Peck Reservoir. The refuge includes native prairies, forested coulees, river bottoms, and the badlands so often portrayed in the paintings of Charlie Russell, the colorful western artist for whom the refuge is named.
Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge
Phone: (406) 538-8706
Email: [email protected]
Official Website: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/charles_m_russell/
Fishing
Fish, Wildlife, & Parks Region 6 Headquarters
54078 US HWY 2 W
Glasgow, MT 59230
Phone: (406) 228-3700
Fax: (406) 228-8161
Official Website
Anglers target Walleye, Northern Pike, Perch and Small Mouth Bass in the Milk River, and the Missouri River both offer great fishing. Nelson reservoir located east of Malta on highway 2, provides more good fishing.
Hunters and anglers rarely experience crowding in this least populous region of the state, but the communities along Montana’s Hi-Line offer plenty of accommodations and amenities for visitors and residents alike.
A valid fishing license is required for all types of fishing on state waters. To fish in Montana, most anglers need two licenses: a Conservation License and a Fishing License.
A Conservation License is needed before you can buy any fishing or hunting license that Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) issues. Conservation license applicants are required to provide their social security number in addition to the information usually requested. A valid driver’s license or a valid photo ID is required to purchase a license.
A fishing license allows a person to fish for and possess any fish or aquatic invertebrate authorized by the state’s fishing regulations. It is non transferable and non refundable. The license enables one to fish from March 1 through the end of February of the following year.
Free fishing pole rentals for children are located in the Phillips County Library.
For information on fishing in Montana, please visit the following websites:
Montana Fishing Guide
License and Permit Information
Fishing Access Sites
NELSON RESERVOIR – USBR
NELSON RESERVOIR WATERBODY REPORT
Located 18 miles east of Malta off US Highway 2. This reservoir, with 4,320 surface acres and 30 miles of shoreline, offers good fishing for walleye, perch, and northern pike. Concrete boat ramp, campground, and picnic shelters.
Fort Belknap Indian Reservation
Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is homeland to the Gros Ventre (Aaniiih) and the Assiniboine (Nakoda) Tribes. Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is located forty miles south of the Canadian border and twenty miles north of the Missouri River, which is the route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is the forth largest Indian reservation in Montana. They host buffalo tours, pow wow, and other events. Contact Fort Belknap Tourism at (406) 353-2205 for additional information.
Hi-Line Drag Strip and Phillips County Motor Sports
Its fast action and record-setting paces are the highlights of this IHRA sanctioned drag strip located on the south edge of Malta, just off US 191 near the National Guard Armory. This short track is popular among drivers and fans for its record times, spectacular views, and accommodations. Weekend races begin in June each year and continue various weekends through fall. Check their website for schedules and details for spectators and racers.
Hi-Line Drag Strip and Phillips County Motor Sports
Official Website
Hunting
LAND ACCESS
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) Management Region
Region 6 Block Management Program
54078 US HWY 2 W
Glasgow, MT 59230
Phone: (406) 228-3700
Region 6 has about 275 ranches enrolling about 1.2 million acres in Block Management. These areas offer excellent opportunities to hunt Whitetail and Mule Deer, Elk, Antelope, upland game birds, and waterfowl. Our Block Management Areas (BMA) are open from September 1st to December 31st. Some landowners, including those not enrolled in Block Management, may be able to accommodate hunters with special needs. Hunters are encouraged to contact our regional FWP Office to determine if opportunities exist to meet specific needs.
For more information, please visit this website.
PRIVATE LAND
Montana has approximately 23,000 landowners who own nearly 60 million acres of private land, much of which offers excellent hunting opportunities. Hunters must obtain landowner permission to hunt on all private land, which often can be obtained through simple courtesy and communication between the hunter and the landowner. Remember, while orange paint and “No Trespassing” signs indicate that the land is private, they do not necessarily mean that no hunting is allowed. Ask first, and the gate may open.
For more information, please visit this website.
PUBLIC LAND
Bureau of Land Management, Malta Office
501 South 2nd Street East
Malta, MT 59538
Phone: (406) 654-5100
Fax: (406) 654-5150
Official Website
Office hours are Monday – Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Huntley School House
Saco is located 27 miles east of Malta on US Highway 2. Chet Huntley, renowned newscaster, attended the now restored school house. We welcome to visit their website for additional information.
Little Rocky Mountains
Visit the historic and picturesque “island mountains” and communities of Zortman and Landusky, south of Malta 45 miles off US Highway 191. Full services are available in Zortman and much of the area is accessible public land. Enjoy hiking, bird and wildlife viewing, fossil hunting, gold panning, hunting and fishing, horseback and ATV trails, historic St. Joseph’s “church on the hill”, the “Zortman Jail” and the Lewis and Clark Amphitheater. Have a meal at the Miner’s Club restaurant or pack a picnic lunch. Camp Creek (located 1 mile northeast of Zortman) and Montana Gulch (1 mile south of Landusky) are public campgrounds managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Malta Trails
Malta Trails has been promoting healthy lifestyles and fitness in Phillips County since 2010. The Malta Trails mission statement is ‘Creating a healthy community, one trail at a time.
In 2011 the first trail was completed with all community donated materials, equipment and labor. Located in trafton Park, the Trafton Trail connects Trafton Park to the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum, the Phillips County Museum and the H.G. Robinson House & Gardens.
In 2013 a second trail was developed — the ‘M’ Trail — which is dog friendly along with the Trafton Trail but features painted fire hydrants. This trail is located on the south side of town, and accessible.
Both trails have benches for resting and viewing nature.
Other active opportunities include the Summer walk and ride events, a beginner kayak series, hiking trips around Phillips County and snowshoeing excursions.
Contact Malta Trails or explore their Facebook page to see what events are happening when you visit and ask questions you may have about our trails system.
Malta Trails, Inc.
Shopping, Shopping, Shopping!
SHOPPING IN MALTA AND PHILLIPS COUNTY – SO MUCH IN SUCH A SMALL SPACE, YOU HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF!
If you don’t see something you need, ask your merchant! They will be happy to help you find or order your specific item.
Click the image below to see just some of the shopping available to you!
See the store listings in our Member Listing for details and contact information about each of our Merchants.
Malta Montana Gift and Shopping Guide (click to enlarge)
Trafton Park
Located just north of the Malta Rest Stop and the rail underpass in Malta is a public park with primitive camping, water, picnic shelters, and BBQ grills. Overnight parking is allowed for a small fee. Adjacent to the park area is Trafton Arena, which hosts traditional rodeo events during the summer season.
For more information, contact the Malta Chamber at (406) 654-1776 or City of Malta at (406) 654-1251.
American Prairie Reserve
Established in 2004, the Reserve provides outstanding scenery and a sense of the wide open. Herds of elk, deer, pronghorn, and bison once roamed these grasslands in great numbers. Now the Reserve is restoring wildlife across its lands to create a functioning ecosystem and for public enjoyment. Resident and migrating birds fill the sky. Native American and homestead-era historical sites are preserved for the future. With an estimated two-thirds of the nation’s mixed- and short-grass prairies already lost to development, surviving grasslands have the potential for incredible biodiversity and discovery.
Stunning vistas and unique topography provide an impressive backdrop for recreation. Unlike developed national parks, the privately created American Prairie Reserve has a truly rugged quality and a sense of uninterrupted nature. Discover the power of dark skies, quiet trails, and remote, unbroken land. Imagine the world through the eyes of early humans, Native Americans, and explorers. The Reserve is more than just a destination; it’s a growing conservation legacy. Each visit offers something new whether you’re on foot, wheels, or horseback.
Hitting the trail Explore the vastness of the landscape, smell the sage, and listen to birds call. Enjoy hiking, biking, and horseback riding on two-track roads, new trails, or cross-country.
Ken Burns American Heritage Prize
Named in honor of America’s most revered visual historian and documentary filmmaker, the Ken Burns American Heritage Prize will recognize distinguished and visionary artists, authors, conservationists, educators, filmmakers, historians and scientists whose body of work has advanced our collective understanding of the indomitable American spirit.
Driving Tours
In addition to the county roads and two-tracks that cross American Prairie Reserve lands, roads 201, 321, and 844 in the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (CMR) offer exciting tours. For more information on the CMR, visit their Official Website.
Wildlife viewing
Rich wildlife-viewing opportunities abound. Observe fascinating prairie dog behavior on their towns or the annual arrival of migrating birds. Keep an eye out for elk, bison, and pronghorn across the land and hawks and eagles overhead.
Photography
From spectacular sunsets to unique wildlife behavior, the prairie offers vast opportunities for amateur or professional photographers. You may stumble across a herd of elk, snap a picture of a burrowing owl, or capture a bellowing bison.
Hunting
Tens of thousands of acres owned by American Prairie Reserve are enrolled in the MT Block Management program. Please contact the Region 6 field office at 406.228.3700 for maps and more details.
American Prairie Reserve
Phone: (406) 585-4600
Email: [email protected]
Official Website
Whether you are here for the afternoon, the weekend or longer, you will find so much to do and see, that we know you will want to come back and see us again!
Rest your head in a hotel, cabin, tent or camper. Eat a sit-down, home style meal or order fast food. Whatever your flavor, Malta offers it all.
If you want to live in a place with Western hospitality, small town values, and all life’s necessities with that personal touch, then Malta and Phillips County is where you want to be!
If you need to access a computer while you are here, stop by the Phillips County Library where there are 4 public computer stations and low vision accommodations.
PO Box 1420
Malta, Montana 59538
Phone: (406) 654-1776
Fax: (406) 654-1776
[email protected]