Located in western Montana’s Mission Valley, the CSKT Bison Range spans roughly 18,500 acres of dramatic, rolling prairie, timbered hills, and wetlands set against the backdrop of the Mission Mountains.

The range has a rich and unique history. Established in 1908, it was originally created as the National Bison Range under federal management to rescue the American bison from near extinction. However, the land itself sits entirely within the Flathead Indian Reservation—the ancestral homelands of the Bitterroot Salish, Upper Pend d’Oreille, and Kootenai tribes.

After decades of tribal advocacy, history came full circle in late 2020 when legislation signed by Congress returned full management and ownership of the range to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT). Today, the CSKT Department of Natural Resources manages the range, blending cultural heritage with modern wildlife conservation.

Today, the refuge is home to a healthy herd of roughly 300 to 500 bison, alongside elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and over 200 species of birds. Visitors can traverse the scenic Prairie Drive or the steep, winding Red Sleep Mountain Drive, taking in panoramic views of wild, protected landscapes where the bison continue to roam freely on their native soil.