National park · United States
Upper Missouri River Breaks National MonumentThe Breaks
Entry is free — the cost is fuel and time: drive the gravel Back Country Byway only in dry weather, or float the 149-mile Wild and Scenic river from Fort Benton with a shuttle booked ahead; skip it entirely when rain is forecast, because the dirt roads turn to impassable gumbo.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
2,005 km²774 sq mi
approximate
Established
2001
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 11Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
- Rocky Mountains ↗Trailheads sit above 2,400 m; give the first day to the altitude, not to a summit.
- Rocky Mountains ↗I-70 west of Denver and other high passes close for snow and for avalanche control; check the state road site the morning you drive.
- Montana ↗A rental car is effectively required; public transport between towns is limited to a few intercity bus lines.
- Montana ↗Mountain passes can close in winter; carry water, food and a blanket, and expect patchy cell coverage.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 2,005 km²774 sq mi
- 495,502 acres (about 2,005 km²) per the 2001 proclamation; the monument spans 149 miles of river corridor (check).
- Established
- 2001
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- Not needed
The Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument protects the Missouri Breaks of central Montana, a badlands-and-prairie country of steep bluffs, cottonwood bottoms and grassy bench land that Lewis and Clark paddled through in 1805. The Bureau of Land Management manages about 495,502 acres (roughly 2,005 km²) along 149 miles of the Upper Missouri, designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1976 and proclaimed a national monument in 2001. There is no entrance fee and no maintained trail network: the two ways in are the gravel Missouri Breaks National Back Country Byway, which is impassable when wet, and the river itself, floated from developed launch points at Coal Banks Landing, Judith Landing and James Kipp Recreation Area with a shuttle arranged in Fort Benton.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 1976149 miles of the Upper Missouri designated a National Wild and Scenic River.
Size and age
2,005 km²774 sq mi · national park since 2001
495,502 acres (about 2,005 km²) per the 2001 proclamation; the monument spans 149 miles of river corridor (check).
Why go
- Badlands bluffs, cottonwood bottoms and prairie that Lewis and Clark paddled through in 1805, largely unchanged.
- A free, self-guided backcountry drive on the Missouri Breaks National Back Country Byway, with prairie and river views from the ridge roads.
- A 149-mile floatable Wild and Scenic river with developed launch points at Coal Banks, Judith Landing and James Kipp.
- Wildlife you can actually see: pronghorn and mule deer on the bench land, bald and golden eagles over the river.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanCold, dry; snow and ice on dirt roads (check)
- FebCold; access roads often frozen or muddy (check)
- MarThaw makes gumbo; check road status (check)
- AprCool; paddlefish run builds late in the month (check)
- MayWarm days, green prairie, river running (check)
- JunLong days; watch afternoon storms (check)
- JulHot; 32°C+ afternoons on the bench land (check)Hot; 90°F+ afternoons on the bench land (check)
- AugHot and dry; carry extra water (check)
- SepMild, clear; best all-round month (check)
- OctCool and quiet; early snow possible (check)
- NovCold; short days, hunting season (check)
- DecWinter; most services in Fort Benton reduced (check)
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronghorn and mule deer on the bench landAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Bald and golden eagles along the riverMar–May, Sep–Nov | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Paddlefish spawning run (snagging season, check current rules)Apr–Jun | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Bighorn sheep (occasional, on the river bluffs)May–Sep | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Great Falls
US-87 north to Fort Benton, then gravel roads east toward the river; the interpretive center is in town.
1 h
Open the page →
From Glacier National Park
US-2 to Chester, then Highway 223 south to Fort Benton.
3–3.5 h (check)
Open the page →
From Lewistown
US-200 west to Stanford, then Highway 80 north to Fort Benton; the byway starts at Winifred, 38 miles north of Lewistown on Highway 236.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Billings
US-87 north via Roundup and Lewistown to Fort Benton.
5–5.5 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Benton riverfront | Canoe and motorboat launches at mile 0–1, the interpretive center and town services. | Open; paved roads. |
| Missouri Breaks National Back Country Byway | Gravel and dirt ridge roads from Winifred east, with prairie and river views. | Open in dry weather only; impassable when wet. |
| Coal Banks to Judith Landing | The classic 47-mile white-cliff float through the heart of the Breaks. | By boat; developed launch and camp sites. |
| Judith Landing to James Kipp | The lower 60 miles, quieter, ending at the recreation area. | By boat; launch at Judith Landing. |
| Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge | Adjacent refuge east of the monument; unsurfaced roads inside. | Open; check refuge rules. |
Sketch map
- 1Fort Benton · Town≈47.819, -110.667Map ↗
- 2Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center · Headquarters≈47.810, -110.673Map ↗
- 3Coal Banks Landing · Ranger station≈47.730, -109.220Map ↗
- 4Judith Landing · Ranger station≈47.735, -109.626Map ↗
- 5James Kipp Recreation Area · Ranger station≈47.642, -108.687Map ↗
- 6Winifred (byway start) · Town≈47.558, -109.339Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monument entry | Free | person | No entrance fee for BLM national monuments; the America the Beautiful pass is not needed here. |
| Camping at developed sites (Coal Banks, Judith Landing, James Kipp and others) | US$0–15 | night | Some sites are free, others charge a small fee per night (check). |
| River shuttle (Coal Banks to Judith Landing) | US$150–350 | vehicle | 2026 estimate; arranged through Fort Benton outfitters (check). |
| Canoe or raft rental | US$60–120 | day | 2026 estimate; multi-day rentals priced per trip (check). |
| BLM river map | US$10–20 | map | Sold at the Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center in Fort Benton (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Monument entry no permit
Overnight river float no permit
Camping on BLM land no permit
Park rules
- Wet-weather travel
- Do not drive the byway or unsurfaced roads when rain is forecast; the gumbo is slick and can trap even 4WD vehicles.
- Private land
- BLM land is intermingled with state and private property; do not trespass, and use only developed public access sites on the river.
- Camping
- Dispersed camping allowed on undeveloped BLM land with legal access; 16-night maximum stay.
- Fires
- Check current fire restrictions before lighting any fire; carry out all rubbish.
- Cell service
- There is no cell phone service along the byway or the river corridor.
Where to stay
Near the park
Fort Benton
Hotels and motels in the historic river town at the west end of the monument.
In the park
Coal Banks Landing and Judith Landing campgrounds
Developed vehicle-accessible campsites on the river.
In the park
James Kipp Recreation Area
Campground and take-out at mile 149.
Near the park
Loma, Virgelle, Big Sandy and Malta
Small-town lodging along the byway corridor.
Safety
Gumbo roads after rain high
Heat and exposure on the bench land medium
No services or cell signal high
Fast river current medium
Accessibility
- The Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center in Fort Benton is on paved roads with accessible exhibits.
- The byway and river corridor are gravel, dirt and water only; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Pack out everything; there are no bins along the byway or river.
- Use developed launch and camp sites rather than informal pull-offs on private land.
- Keep your distance from wildlife and never feed animals along the river.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee and no permit for day use; the America the Beautiful pass is not needed. Your real costs are fuel, a river shuttle (about US$150–350 per vehicle, 2026 estimate) and boat rental if you float.
What are the best hikes in Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument?
There are no maintained hiking trails — this is a drive-and-float monument. The best walking is short explorations from the river camps and launch points, or cross-country on BLM land with a map and navigation skills. The signature routes are the 47-mile Coal Banks to Judith Landing float and the gravel Back Country Byway drive.
When is the best time to visit Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument?
May, June and September. Days are warm, the prairie is green in spring, and the roads are most likely to be dry. July and August are hot with little shade, and any month can be spoiled by rain that turns the dirt roads to gumbo.
Do I need a permit to float the river?
No permit is required, but you must plan your put-in and take-out in advance, arrange a shuttle, and register your trip plan with the BLM. Public access is limited to developed launch sites such as Coal Banks Landing and Judith Landing.
Can I drive the Back Country Byway in a normal car?
In dry weather, high-clearance vehicles handle most of it, but the roads are gravel and unsurfaced and become impassable when wet. Do not attempt it if rain is forecast, and carry fuel, water and a paper map — there is no cell service.
Where should I stay near the monument?
Fort Benton has the most lodging and is the best base, with the interpretive center in town. Loma, Virgelle, Big Sandy and Malta have small-town options, and there are developed campgrounds at Coal Banks Landing, Judith Landing and James Kipp Recreation Area.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go