American Prairie Reserve Opens First Public Campground

American Prairie Foundation has opened its first public campground on American Prairie Reserve, located 50 miles south of Malta, Montana and four miles north of the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. The campground, called Buffalo Camp, features four tent sites and seven camper sites, and will provide an easily accessible starting point for families and individuals eager to explore the state’s legendary High Plains.

Campground fees are $10/per night and availability is on a first come, first served basis. Buffalo Camp will be open yearly from May 15th to November 1st.

American Prairie Foundation aims to create and manage a prairie-based wildlife reserve that, when combined with public lands already devoted to wildlife, will protect a unique natural habitat, provide lasting economic benefits, and improve public access to and enjoyment of the prairie landscape. This landscape is some of the most intact prairie lands left in North America and contains herds of elk and pronghorn, sharp tail and sage grouse, mountain plovers, prairie dogs and burrowing owls. Most recently bison have been reintroduced on some of the property.

American Prairie Foundation is pleased to open the campground as part of its commitment to providing quality public access opportunities for Montanans and the general public. The Foundation actively encourages activities such as hiking, wildlife watching and photography on the Reserve, and enrolls more than 17,000 acres of its private lands in Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Block Management program, which provides free access for hunters.

Interpretive signs will be installed on the Reserve this summer, and a new hiking trail will be built adjacent to Buffalo Camp in June.

American Prairie Foundation is accepting applications for volunteer campground hosts to provide an enjoyable experience for Reserve visitors by helping with the daily maintenance of the campground and assisting guests during their stay. For more information, or to apply to be a campground host, please visit http://www.americanprairie.org, or contact Shaun Radley at [email protected].