The Bison Range
Range Hours
All opening hours are subject to weather conditions and may change unexpectedly. Please call ahead at least an hour before your expected arrival and check our Facebook page for road and weather updates.
Summer
May – October
* Last pass for Red Sleep Drive sold at 6pm
** Last pass for Prairie Drive sold at 7pm
Winter
November – April
* Red Sleep Drive is closed during winter months
** Last pass for Prairie Drive sold at 4:30pm
Range Fees
CSKT TRIBAL MEMBERS: FREE (Must Have Tribal ID)
Personal Vehicles
*Annual Pass holders need to be in vehicle while pass is in use.
Commercial Vehicles
* Required for all company owned vehicles offering private tours through the Bison Range as part of a paid service. Drivers are responsible for purchasing the correct pass and failure to do so will be considered a violation of Bison Range regulations.
The ED Annual Pass is only available for organizations that provide educational or care-giving services for specific groups of people, such as students or residents. The pass is a flat fee that covers all vehicles operated by the organization within its class or lower and is valid for one year from purchase date.
Any vehicle over 30ft is still subject to road restrictions based on weather condition and must be approved by Bison Range staff before entering the scenic drives. All vehicles must adhere to Bison Range regulations.
ED Annual Passes are by application only, please email bisonrange@ckst.org to apply.
Federal Park Passes
The Bison Range no longer accepts Federal Park Passes as of January 1st 2021.
Front Gate Closures
* Roads may close due to maintenance, weather conditions, or other events. Visitors Center and Day Use Area will remain open unless otherwise stated.
Visitor Information
Visitor Access
- The Bison Range is a pay-to-enter, fee-use area only. Visitors are to report to Visitors’ Center to pay for access. The CSKT Conservation Permit does not allow access to the Bison Range.
- The Bison Range is open during daylight hours only, weather and road conditions permitting. Closing times vary seasonally and will be posted. It is unlawful to enter areas that are posted closed or gated closed unless authorized.
Motor Vehicles
- The use of motorized vehicles off designated open roads is prohibited.
- Walking away from vehicles is allowable only along designated trails, picnic areas, sanitation stations, and fishing areas. Visitors must be within touching distance of their vehicle at all other times.
- Vehicles over 30 feet long and those towing trailers, along with motorcycles, ATVs, and bicycles are not allowed on Red Sleep or Prairie Drive.
- All passengers must be seated inside enclosed passenger vehicles while the vehicle is in motion. Passengers riding in the bed of a pickup vehicle is prohibited.
- Stopping to view animals is allowed on the auto tour drives, as long as traffic is not impeded.
Wildlife Safety
- It is prohibited to approach animals at all times. Persons must remain at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears, wolves, and mountain lions, and at least 25 yards (23 meters) away from all other animals including bison, deer and elk.
- Disturbing, injuring, spearing, poisoning, destroying, collecting or attempting to disturb, destroy or collect any plant, animal (parts like antlers) is prohibited.
- All pets must be on a leash and under control at all times within the Bison Range. Please be respectful & pick up after your pet. The use of drones is prohibited unless authorized by Tribal Council special
Weapons & Hunting
- Carrying, possessing, or discharging firearms, fireworks, or explosives is prohibited. The use or possession of cross bows, bows and arrows, air guns, spears, gigs, or other weapons is prohibited.
- Engaging in hunting activities is prohibited.
A History of Conservation
The Tribes have always been good stewards of the land. We maintain the most stringent air quality standard available through the EPA. We established the nation’s first Tribal Wilderness. We have set aside tens of thousands of acres as grizzly bear, elk, and bighorn sheep conservation areas. We have re-established populations of trumpeter swans and peregrine falcons.
We are working toward restoring leopard frogs. Our efforts to restore the Jocko River and our acquisition and restoration of fish and wildlife habitat are models cited nationwide. And our focus on conservation is not new. Tribal members were directly involved in saving the bison as a viable wildlife species, and we will carry on for the generations yet to come our ancient relationship of respect and reverence for qweyqwáy.