The CSKT Bison Range
18,766 acres at the center of the Flathead Indian Reservation.
Visitor Information
The CSKT Bison Range is a historical wildlife conservation area home to roughly 350 bison. It was originally founded in 1908 as the National Bison Range on land belonging to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT). In recognition of their historical claim to both the land and the bison herd, the Bison Range was officially restored to the CSKT in 2020 as part of the Montana Water Rights Protection Act. As of 2022, the Bison Range is now fully owned and managed by the CSKT Natural Resource Department.
Visitors to the Bison Range can enjoy a self-directed driving tour along two scenic drives. Our main tour road is Red Sleep Drive, which goes over Red Sleep Mountain. Combined with the lower Prairie Drive, it forms a 19 mile, 2 hour loop. Red Sleep Drive is only open during the summer (May-Oct) and has two walking trails. The drive includes scenic views of the valley as well as possibly spotting bears, birds, and other interesting species.