At Three Forks the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin rivers meet to form the Missouri. The small railroad town is about 24 minutes (22 miles) from our homes in Belgrade (approximate, OSRM routing; real times vary with weather, traffic and road work) OSRM.
Plan your visit
- Worth visiting? Yes, for Lewis and Clark history and the Missouri Headwaters.
- How long: Half a day; a full day with Lewis & Clark Caverns.
- With kids: easy trails at the headwaters, a free local museum, and cave tours (May–Sep).
- Combine with: Manhattan and Madison Buffalo Jump.
- Bad-weather option: the Headwaters Heritage Museum.
Things to do in Three Forks
- Missouri Headwaters State Park: a National Historic Landmark of 532 acres with trails, 17 campsites and a tipi rental. Montana FWP
- Headwaters Heritage Museum: local history in the 1910 Three Valleys State Bank building; free. museum
- Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park is further west on MT-2. Montana FWP
- Madison Buffalo Jump State Park, south of I-90 between Three Forks and Manhattan. Montana FWP
Suggested itinerary from Belgrade: half day to full day
- Belgrade → Three Forks on I-90 west (about 24 min / 22 mi).
- Missouri Headwaters State Park (about 9 min / 5 mi from town): allow 1–2 hours.
- Headwaters Heritage Museum in town.
- Optional: Lewis & Clark Caverns (about 31 min / 18 mi from Three Forks; guided tours in season).
- Return to Belgrade (Three Forks is about 24 min / 22 mi; the caverns are about 54 min / 42 mi from Belgrade).
Seasonal notes: Cavern tours run roughly May–September; check Montana FWP for the current schedule.
Family tips: short trails at the headwaters; at the caverns the Paradise Tour is the easier option (about 1 mile, 1½ hours), while the Classic Tour is a challenging 2-mile route. Montana FWP
Suggested plan, not a tested report. Drive times are approximate OSRM routing estimates (no traffic, construction or winter conditions); allow more time in snow. Check hours and road status before you go.
Where to eat and drink
- Sacajawea Hotel (5 N Main): Pompey’s Grill and the Sac Bar & Grill in a historic 1910 hotel. hotel site
Map and getting to Three Forks
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Markers are approximate.
Missouri Headwaters State Park is about 26 minutes (21 miles) from our homes in Belgrade (approximate, OSRM routing; real times vary with weather, traffic and road work) OSRM.
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Three Forks by season
Summer is prime for the state parks, paddling and the caverns (tours May–Sep). Fall is quiet and golden. Winter is cold and still; the parks stay open for walks. Spring brings migrating birds to the river bottoms.
Annual events
Small-town summer events; check the museum and local chamber. For regional events see markets & festivals.
A short history of Three Forks
The Lewis and Clark Expedition reached the forks on July 28, 1805 and named the three rivers for President Jefferson, Secretary of State James Madison and Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin. Sacagawea had been captured here by a Hidatsa raiding party in 1800. Wikipedia
The modern town was founded on September 17, 1908 by the Milwaukee Land Company for the Milwaukee Road railroad, and was damaged in the earthquake of June 27, 1925. Wikipedia
Stay in Belgrade
Make Belgrade your base
Three Forks is an easy half-day from Belgrade.
Day trip or overnight? Three Forks is about 24 min / 22 mi from Belgrade (OSRM, approximate; no traffic or winter conditions), an easy half-day trip.
We host five whole-home vacation rentals in Belgrade, about 5 minutes from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN): three homes plus a duplex with two private units that can be booked together. Sky (3BR, up to 7 guests), Cozy (3BR, up to 8), Comfy Lodge (up to 6), and the Mountainview duplex: Unit A and Unit B (6 guests each), or the whole duplex for up to 12.
- Sky 3BR Lodge, up to 7 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
- Cozy 3BR Lodge, up to 8 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
- Comfy Lodge House, up to 6 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
- Modern Mountainview A, up to 6 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
- Modern Mountainview B, up to 6 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
- Whole duplex (A + B), up to 12 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
Belgrade works best as a base for day trips around southwest Montana. If you plan several days in a row inside Yellowstone, staying in a gateway town may suit you better; see where to stay near Yellowstone.
Nearby guides
Manhattan · Belgrade · Ennis · Bozeman with kids (caves) · All guides
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Missouri River start?
At Missouri Headwaters State Park near Three Forks, where the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin meet.