Basecamps Built for Adventure
Our selection of huts and campgrounds provide basecamps for any type of adventurer.
Roam the Prairie
From driving tours with historic stops, to wildlife and night sky viewing, a trip to American Prairie offers an opportunity to experience one of our nation’s wildest landscapes.
Prepare for the Prairie
Part of the excitement when visiting American Prairie is the remoteness and the unpredictability of wide-open nature. The list below is a packing guide to help you prepare for an amazing adventure.
General Packing List
Visitor services outside of the region's larger towns are limited. Visitors should pack to be self-reliant for the duration of their visit, with extra supplies of food, drinking water, and any necessary medications.
There are no ranger-type staff available in case of emergency, and depending on location, weather and season of the year emergency services may take hours or even days to reach your location.
Drinking water
Food
Raincoat or waterproof windbreaker
Sweater or fleece
Long underwear top and bottom
Long pants
Shirts
Hiking boots
Wool socks
Sun hat or baseball cap
Warm hat
Gloves
Binoculars
Camera
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Compass or GPS
American Prairie Visitor Map!
Safety Equipment
For those visitors planning to leave paved roads in the region we recommend packing:
Sleeping bag (one for each person in your party)
Stove, fuel, and pot (to boil water or melt snow)
Drinking water
Extra food
First aid kit
Spare tire and tire repair equipment
Tow strap
Satellite communication device
Bear spray
Three extra days of required medications
Hut Visitors
When booking a hut or campground stay guests are provided with additional information and suggested packing lists by email.
Visitors should also check the general packing list and safety considerations to prepare for their trip.
*Required
*Water
*Cookware/dishes/utensils
*Cleaning supplies. For example, sponge/paper towels/soap
*Trash bags
*Bedding and/or sleeping bags
*Flashlight
*Bear spray
Camp chairs
Backup battery supply (The solar-powered outlet will not support electronics bigger than a cell phone)
Firewood (Obey posted fire restrictions)
NOTE: The kitchen is not fully equipped with cooking or dining utensils and guests should bring items specific to their cooking needs. For example, a kettle and supplies to make coffee or tea.
Safely Take On New Terrain
We are excited to welcome you to American Prairie! Keep in mind that the prairie is a remote and rugged wilderness area which presents opportunities for adventure and exploration as well as potential hazards.
Dangers include, but are not limited to:
- Hazardous terrain
- Inclement weather such as rain, wind, and lightning
- Large temperature variations from -40 degrees to over 100 degrees
- Encounters with wildlife and insects
- Rugged trails and unmaintained paths
- Unpaved and poorly maintained roads that may become impassable
There is no guarantee of your safety and we are not responsible for any harm done to you, your vehicle, or your belongings while on the prairie. Visitors should pack to be self-reliant for the duration of their visit, with supplies of food, drinking water, and any necessary medications. Note that services are limited once leaving paved roads and highways, cell phone coverage is unreliable, and there are no ranger-type staff available to provide emergency assistance. Please abide by posted signage and refer to American Prairie-provided maps for property-specific rules. Follow Leave No Trace principles during your trip, refer to public land agencies for rules and regulations, and respect adjacent private property.
Road travel is almost exclusively on gravel and unimproved dirt roads, necessitating high-clearance (at least 8″ of clearance), 4-wheel drive vehicles and a reliable spare tire. Many roads are unmarked, so use an odometer to track mileage. With even minimal amounts of precipitation, roads can become slick with mud and impassable. The region is known for “gumbo,” a phenomenon that occurs when rain mixes with bentonite clay found in the soil to form a very slippery and sticky driving surface. Please view our Current Conditions page and consider the weather forecast in your plans.
American Prairie does not have fuel or grocery facilities, emergency care services, or “ranger” type employees. We encourage visitors to plan for supply stops in nearby gateway communities like Lewistown, Zortman, Harlem, Malta and Glasgow. Plan to arrive with a full tank of fuel and enough potable water for your stay. Remember that emergency services could be more than an hour away from your location.
In case of emergency call 911
For non-emergency situations please call Fergus County Disaster Services: (406) 535-8118 or Phillips County Ambulance Service: (406) 654-2336.
For those visitors planning to leave paved roads in the region we recommend packing:
- Sleeping bag (one for each person in your party)
- Stove, fuel and pot (to boil water or melt snow)
- Drinking water
- Extra food
- First Aid Kit
- Spare tire and tire repair equipment
- Tow strap
- Satellite communication device
- Bear spray
Please keep in mind the remoteness of the location and lack of cell phone coverage, and be sure to communicate your plans to friends and family before departure. Visitors report some coverage around American Prairie with a very limited number of carriers, including Verizon.
Map apps like Google Maps that rely on cellular coverage are unreliable in the region. Please visit our Maps page for information on how to best navigate the prairie without cell service.