Beaverhead Chamber

1widsom_and_wiseriver_area.gifTRAVEL_MT2004-12-22T11:43:0492YVISITOR INFORMATIONhttp://www.beaverheadchamber.orgBeaverhead ChamberYLOCAL INFORMATIONhttp://www.umwestern.eduUM-Western Montana CollegeYVISITOR INFORMATIONhttp://www.southwestmt.comSouthwest Montana10000940<DIV class="cityaspfont"><ul class= "fotocolumn"><li class="brewfoto"><IMG SRC="/Pictures/Cities/Dillon_cityoverview.JPG" BORDER=0 WIDTH=222 HEIGHT=140 ALIGN=BASELINE>Downtown</li><li class="brewfoto"><IMG SRC="/Pictures/Cities/Dillon_HistoricBldg.JPG" BORDER=0 WIDTH=117 HEIGHT=187 ALIGN=BASELINE> 1887 County Courthouse</li><li class="brewfoto"><IMG SRC="/Pictures/Cities/Dillon_College.JPG" BORDER=0 WIDTH=117 HEIGHT=187 ALIGN=BASELINE> University of Montana Western</li></ul> Fortune smiled on the company of Lewis and Clark as they traveled through the area around Dillon looking for a way west. Lewis & Clark trail sites near Dillon include Camp Fortunate and <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=3086">Clark's Lookout</a>. Camp Fortunate Overlook is one of the more significant spots along the Lewis and Clark Trail. It was at Camp Fortunate that the Lewis and Clark expedition met the Limhi Shoshoni Tribe and cached their canoes and a stash of supplies for the return trip. Clark's Lookout is an outcropping above the Beaverhead River provided the Lewis and Clark Expedition a view of the route ahead. Dillon is the seat of Beaverhead County, Montana's largest county. Dillon began as an important shipping point from Utah to the gold fields of Montana. The Utah and Northern Railroad reached Dillon in the fall of 1881, and the town was named for the president of the Utah and Northern Railroad, a branch of the Union Pacific Railroad, Sidney V. Dillon. Sheep were introduced to the rich agricultural valley in 1869. At one time Dillon was the largest wool shipping point in Montana. The first cattle were brought to the valley in 1865 and they, too, have played a major role in Dillon's development. The area was central to early Montana mining camps and settlements. <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=3081">Bannack State Park</a> is located a few miles southwest of Dillon. It is a registered historic landmark and the site of Montana's first major gold discovery on July 28, 1862. This strike set off a massive gold rush that swelled Bannack's population to over 3,000 by 1863. Today, there are over 50 buildings that line Main Street with their historic log and frame structures that recall Montana's formative years. The <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=3149">Beaverhead County Museum</a> in Dillon contains exhibits that include early mining and ranching exhibits, Indian artifacts and natural history. Dillon is home to theUniversity of Montana-Western, which was once Montana Normal College, established in Dillon in 1897 specifically to train teachers.With mountain backdrops in all directions, Dillon is situated in a sweeping valley into which the Ruby, Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers drain. Beaverhead River is a blue-ribbon trout stream that's a favorite for expert fly fishermen flows right through Dillon. Rockhounding and picnicking at <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=11967">Crystal Park</a> is a unique recreation experience at an elevation of 7,800 feet in the Pioneer Mountains in southwest Montana.<map name="nearbycities"><area shape="rect" alt="Warmsprings, Montana" coords="155,5,211,23" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=349"><area shape="rect" alt="Butte, Montana" coords="182,26,249,59" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=49"><area shape="rect" alt="Whitehall, Montana" coords="200,71,245,84" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=354"><area shape="rect" alt="Alder, Montana" coords="222,168,248,180" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=4"><area shape="rect" alt="Silver Star, Montana" coords="221,101,249,120" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=310"><area shape="rect" alt="Sheridan, Montana" coords="224,135,249,150" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=306"><area shape="rect" alt="Dillon, Montana" coords="128,159,178,184" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=92"><area shape="rect" alt="Bannack Ghost Town" coords="43,163,112,195" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=379"><area shape="rect" alt="Jackson, Montana" coords="69,129,113,143" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=180"><area shape="rect" alt="Wisdom, Montana" coords="66,91,125,115" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=365"><area shape="rect" alt="Melrose, Montana" coords="138,113,176,129" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=221"><area shape="rect" alt="Wise River, Montana" coords="135,65,167,86" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=366"><area shape="rect" alt="Sula, Montana" coor389710DILLONGOLD WEST535University of Montana Western Gallery/ Museum1659Best Western Paradise Inn1702Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest1894Big Sheep Creek Backcountry Byway1897Bear Trap Canyon Wilderness1899Ruby Reservoir11140Sundowner Motel11141Super 811871Armstead Campground11873Southside RV Park11984Barretts Station Park Campground11985Beaverhead Campground11987Hap Hawkins Campground11988Horse Prairie Campground11989Lonetree Campground11990West Cameahwait Campground12157Beaverhead Country Club12177Dinner Station Campground12182Grasshopper Campground12199Reservoir Lake Campground12265East Creek Campground12289Beaverhead Chamber of Commerce, Tourism & Development & Dillon Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)12347Palisades Campground12348Ruby Creek Campground12376Red Mountain13048Cameahwait Campground13049Lewis & Clark Recreation Area13054Sacajawea Memorial Picnic Area13081Bannack State Park13082Beaverhead Rock State Park13086Clark's Lookout State Park13149Beaverhead County Museum14297Continental Divide National Scenic Trail14298Bear Trap National Recreation Trail15759Selway Mountain Trail15763Estler Lake Trail15766Birch Creek Trail15767Tent Lake Trail15775Agnes Lake Trail15785Harrison Lake Trail15790Blue Creek Trail16016Elkhorn Hot Springs Ski Trail16265Bloody Dick Cabin16266Horse Prairie Cabin16267Birch Creek Cabin16331Dillon Ranger District18134Dairy Queen18784Bannack Days18811Beaverhead County Fair & PRCA Rodeo110161Maverick Travel & Tour Planners1116092H Outdoors111885Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway111943Countryside RV Park of Dillon LLC111967Crystal Park112061FairBridge Inn Express112132Goose Down Ranch112314Backcountry Angler112547Cattail Marsh Recreation Area112671Clark Canyon Reservoir113104University of Montana Western Road Scholar113998Dillon Public Library114532Lemhi Pass114541Rocky Mountain Supply114881Willis Station115499The Thomas Company Jewelers115577Riverfront House115903Stan Shafer Memorial Ice Fishing Derby116384Big Sky Cinema116389Montana's Medicine Lodge Adventures116609RATPOD1166683-D117600Price Creek Campground117738Dillon Farmers Market118500Trapper Springs Group Use Campground118889Charming Dillon Vacation Rental119886Backcountry Angler B&B119963Frontier Anglers Lodging120128Beaverhead Brewing Company120302Beaverhead Adventures120641Walker Outfitting, LLC120728Sawtooth Lake Trail #195120803Silver Bow Club120937Stan Shaffer Memorial Ice Fishing Derby121075Blacktail Inn & Stables121498Old School Lofts121824Andrus Hotel121840Pintler Adventures121883City of Dillon122197Horse Prairie Stage Stop122250Atomic 79 Boots & Western Gear122312Patagonia Outlet122354Wildwood Floral Creations122355Beaverhead Lodge122357Cranny's Kupfer Club Tavern & Casino122358Diamond 7 Western Riding LLC122431Sunrise Stay122433Dillon Motorcoach & RV Park122460Dillon's Labor Day Weekend122502Quality Inn Dillon I-15122561Dillon Cottage122566Schwarz Custom Boots122737Hotel Metlen1MT59725