Judith Basin Loop

Highwood Mountains – made from volcanic rock, shonkonite. Shonkonite is a rare type of intrusive alkali basalt found in only a few places in the world. that is quarried and used for structural base in heavy construction landscaping, sculptures and headstones.

Fort Benton – Montana’s birthplace! This is the oldest continuously occupied settlement in Montana. The actual fort, available to tour, was the last fur trading post on the Missouri River.

Geraldine – The only remaining Milwaukee Railroad depot is found here. Opened in 1914, it was patterned after the “California Bungalow” and served the community for 64 years. The First National Bank building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in the neoclassical revival style in 1915 at the height of the homesteading era in Montana and a period of prosperity in Geraldine.

Square Butte – nearly a ghost town today, the town of Square Butte sits at the base of Square Butte. In town, you’ll find the historic jail, built in 1916 using locally quarried shonkinite blocks

Arrow Creek Breaks – here the landscape changes into white sandstone bluffs, rock outcroppings, hoodoos, tabletops and other unique geologic features.

Stanford – Charlie Russell’s “In Without Knocking” depicts a night on Main Street Stanford in the 1880’s before a cattle drive where some cowboys rode into town for a little celebrating. Head downtown to retrace the footsteps of those ol’ cow pokes. Other notable piece from Charlie’s portfolio painted here are “The First Furrow” and “Lone Wolf”.

Geyser – More of Charlie Russell’s stomping grounds. His painting “Buffalo in Winter” depicts the bison that once roamed this basin against the landscape that still stands today

Raynesford – Charlie Russell’s “America’s First Printer” depicts the pictographs and petroglyphs found in this area. If you happen to find any of these in the wild, we ask you to respect these communications and do not touch as they are a precious piece of history.

Belt – Home of Montana’s first coal mine, it’s better known for its beer today. Harvest Moon Brewery is known for its Beltian White, Pigs Ass Porter, and Charlie Russell Red. There is a restored historic theater here that has great performances there through the fall and winter. The Belt Museum is housed in the old stone jail. Needing to calm the hunger pangs, might we suggest the burgers at Harvest Moon Saloon or pizza at The Diamond.