Plentywood brings together tangible traces of the past: the Sheridan County Museum displays original post office boxes from the Dooley Post Office, and the museum also includes a general store from the 1920s. Fossils are another part of the collection. Other local connections point north and west, while the Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge represents a distinct natural area in northeastern Montana. When planning your trip, it is worth keeping these local and regional themes separate rather than hastily combining them into a single sightseeing route.

Museum and local history

The post office boxes point to the Dooley Post Office, and the general store to the 1920s; the fossils add natural history to the collection. Together, they offer a glimpse of everything from everyday life to finds from geological history. Plentywood served as a trading post for people in northeastern Montana. The present-day site of Plentywood is also connected with the surrender of Sioux Chief Sitting Bull and his people to the U.S. Army.

Other historical connections lie in different directions: the Outlaw Trail ran north of Plentywood across the border into Canada. Butch Cassidy established a stopover station in the Big Muddy Valley west of Plentywood. These directions help distinguish the stories: the trail points north, the stopover station west, while the connection to Sitting Bull relates to the present-day site of Plentywood. These locations do not automatically form a single route.

Regional route and getting oriented

In the wider region, the Missouri River Country route passes through Plentywood, which is also home to the Sheridan County Museum. Details of regional itineraries may change over time, so check the current route before planning a leg of your trip around it.

Sher-Wood Airport is northeast of Plentywood. The pilot lounge has seating, a toilet, and a telephone. It also provides information on how to obtain the keys to a vehicle available for free use.

Golf and nature in northeastern Montana

The Plentywood Golf Club, a public 9-hole golf course, is in the Plentywood area. If golf is one of your interests, it is a separate focus from the town’s historical connections.

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in northeastern Montana. Established in 1935, it provides nesting and resting habitat for numerous migratory birds. A large pelican colony has been there since at least 1939; it comprises about 3,000 to 5,000 nests each year and is one of the largest colonies in the United States.

A 14-mile driving route passes through grassland and wetland habitats. It is open for about eight months of the year; seasonal conditions may change. Check current conditions before your trip. Pelican Overlook at Bridgerman Point offers views of nesting colony birds; the Refuge’s recreation area also includes a hiking trail.

Within the Refuge’s main area, Medicine Lake Wilderness was established by the U.S. Congress in 1976. It includes the main body of Medicine Lake, the islands within it, and the 2,320-acre Sandhills Unit. Motorboats and sailboats are not allowed on Medicine Lake. Check current boating rules before your trip.

Explore more destinations

Explore more destinations: Plentywood, Mccone County, Gallatin, Yellowstone, Beaverhead, Granite, Treasure County, Carter County.

For the main travel overview: Montana.