Three Forks of the Missouri
State park in Montana. Added to the National Register in 1966, and a National Historic Landmark.
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What it is
Missouri Headwaters State Park is a public recreation area occupying 535 acres (217 ha) at the site of the official start of the Missouri River. The park offers camping, hiking trails, hunting, and water-related activities. It is located on Trident Road northeast of Three Forks, Montana at an elevation of 4,045 feet (1,233 m). The park includes the Three Forks of the Missouri National Historic Landmark, designated in 1960 because the site is one where the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped in 1805.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | NE of Three Forks on the Missouri River, Missouri Headwaters State Monument, Three Forks vicinity, MT |
| County | Gallatin County |
| Listed | Oct 15, 1966 |
| Listed for | Prehistoric archaeology, Transportation, Exploration and settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Also known as | Gallatin City Buildings |
| Reference number | 66000433 |
| Type of place | Montana state park |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 6 buildings, 1 structure, 1 site |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | NE of Three Forks on the Missouri River, Missouri Headwaters State Monument, Three Forks, MT |
| Website | fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/missouri-headwaters ↗ |
| Coordinates | 45.9052° N, 111.5363° W · Directions ↗ |
| Nearest national park unit | Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site · 68 miles · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Red Mountain (Mt) 20 miles · Trapper Springs (Mt) 21 miles · Indian Road Group Use Shelter 30 miles |
Explore
Map
Nearby in Gallatin County
Local history books for Gallatin County
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Murder and Mayhem in Gallatin County, MontanaKelly Suzanne Hartman and Gallatin Historical Society, 2021Find at Bookshop.org
Montana travel guides
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Three Forks of the Missouri listed on the National Register?
Oct 15, 1966. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
Can I visit Three Forks of the Missouri?
Yes. Three Forks of the Missouri is recorded as open to the public, and hours are on the official website.
Source: Official website
Where is Three Forks of the Missouri?
NE of Three Forks on the Missouri River, Missouri Headwaters State Monument, Three Forks vicinity, Gallatin County, Montana. The nearest national park unit is Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, 68 miles away.
What does the Three Forks of the Missouri listing include?
The listing counts 8 contributing resources. Those are 6 buildings, 1 structure, and 1 site. A contributing resource is a part of the listed property that carries its historic significance.
Source: National Park Service
Where is the nomination form for Three Forks of the Missouri?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Three Forks of the Missouri?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Red Mountain (Mt), 20 miles away. Trapper Springs (Mt) is 21 miles away, and Indian Road Group Use Shelter is 30 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Three Forks of the Missouri?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Is there a wildfire near Three Forks of the Missouri right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-10-17, nearest Shenango Pile Rx, 34 miles away.
Source: Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 66000433. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA.