Choteau, Montana Vacations
Choteau, one of the best Montana places for fishing, skiing, hiking and more
by Michele Kadison
For Montana vacations in the mountains, Choteau is one of the best for finding peace and quiet, along with plenty of things to do, and terrific Montana lodging.
Choteau, Montana began in the early days as a trading post and was named Old Agency when it acquired a post office in 1875. The name was changed in 1882 to Choteau in honor of Pierre Choteau, Jr. who was in charge of the first steamboat coming up the Missouri. Pierre’s father was a founder of the Missouri River Fur Company and the county was named after the family, with the French spelling of Chouteau.
Long before the area became populated with men and towns, dinosaurs used the region as a breeding ground. Excavated bones, pieces of eggshells, nests, and baby dinos have provided Paleontologists with much fodder for speculation about dinosaurs during the Cretaceous period, with this region yielding more information than any other in the world.
Visit the Old Trail Museum to learn about the area through the dinosaur and fossil exhibits along with other elements that contribute to the regions rich history. Native American artifacts are also on display, reminding visitors of the life of the Indians as they moved from the Artic to Mexico over 8,000 years ago. The Visitor Information Center also has a wealth of material about the area and is right next door to the museum.
When in the town of Choteau, you won’t be hard pressed to find fun things to do. From shopping to swimming, to golf and camping, the area makes for a great vacation destination. With its taverns and restaurants, gift shops, art galleries, and all the other amenities, you’ll feel right at home in Choteau.
Right outside of town you will find excellent opportunities for enjoying the spectacular natural surroundings. Visit the Lewis and Clark National Forest, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the Nature Conservancy’s Pine Butte Swamp Reserve, and the BLM’s Ear Mountain Trailhead to get your fill of hiking, fishing, wildlife watching, skiing and dinosaur digging.
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