Montana Hi-Line : Travel Tips.gif)
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| At
the Montana-North Dakota Border |
The
Montana Hi-Line is characterized by open, vast and rather
desolate country. Since anyone reading this section is likely
to be interested in visiting the Hi-Line area at some point,
I’ve decided to put in some tips that anyone visiting
the Hi-Line might want to keep in mind when exploring this
region.
US Highway 2
The Hi-Line in Montana is characterized by US Highway 2,
the highway that runs from the North Dakota border in the
east all the way to the Idaho border in the west. The highway
is by and large flat up until it nears Browning, although
it does have some hills here and there. Additionally, although
the highway has many straight sections, it has, considering
the flat topography, quite a few curves in the road.
The
condition of the highway is pretty good. While it is a
bit narrow in spots, and can get a bit busy at times in
the summer, by and large you can make good time in a safe
way when driving down US 2. Services, while not exactly abundant,
are more than adequate for the traveler who is just planning
on staying on the highway. The main towns to get gas, snacks
and other travel things will be Wolf
Point, Glasgow, Malta,
Havre, Shelby and
Cut Bank. While the other little towns in-between these places
generally have a gas station and often times more, you
can’t always count on them being open or even in business.
Thus, always be safe and keep a little extra gas in your
tank – being sure to gas up (if needed) when you pass
through these towns.
The weather in this area of Montana is, during the summer
at least, generally quite nice. It can get quite hot at times,
but by and large heat waves only last a few days during a
normal summer. However, come October and lasting up until
April, this area can get pounded by snowstorms. How much
snow really depends on the year, but when it snows in this
area, due to the winds, the snow can really make a voyage
down the Hi-Line an interesting one. Thus, if you plan on
driving the Hi-Line during the winter months, come prepared
with decent tires, a full tank of gas and some warm clothes
in case you end up off the road by accident. Also, stay aware
of the occasional road closure.
Off Highway Travel
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| Typical
Dirt Road in the Hi-Line area |
By and
large, the vast majority of all “development” is
located on Highway 2. Once you step off this highway, a traveler
is basically venturing into an undeveloped country. There
are very few towns of any size located to the south and especially
to the north of US Highway 2. While the map may list a town
here and there, do NOT assume these towns have anything besides
a post office. Some might, but others probably don’t.
Thus, if you plan on exploring, say, the Sweet
Grass Hills,
the Bears Paw Mountains, the “deserted area” between
Fort Peck Lake and Malta or some of the other truly remote
regions of the Hi-Line, make sure you fill up your gas tank
before leaving. And take some food and water and toilet paper
along, too.
By and
large, once you leave US Highway 2 most of the roads are
gravel or dirt in nature. During the summer, these roads
are usually in pretty good shape – if a bit dusty and
sometimes bumpy. However, when these roads get wet (such
as due to a rainy period), these roads can turn to a slick
but yet sticky type of mud that make driving a painful, slow
chore. Even a good 4x4 truck can get stuck in this stuff – and
a passenger car can occasionally be swallowed up whole by
it. These roads are especially nasty during the spring thaw.
Thus, if you don’t have a 4x4 and the roads are wet,
it is generally a good idea to hold off on exploring the
remoter areas of the Hi-Line until the roads dry out a bit.
This usually means waiting no more than a day or so during
the summer months. Remember, if you get stuck out on a back
road in the Hi-Line, you may have a VERY long wait for the
next car to come by. And, to top it off, it is quite likely
your cell phone will not work, either.
Also,
and this is a MUST, if you plan on venturing off US Highway
2, be sure to have the Montana
Atlas & Gazateer Book. This
handy book lists all the roads in the region.
Lodging
There
are hotels and motels along the Hi-Line, of course. However,
there are surprisingly few chain hotels. Only in
Havre will you find any big chain hotels (which has a Best
Western and Super 8). Shelby and Cut Bank also have a Super
8. But, between the North Dakota border and Havre, you’ll
only find “mom and pa” type operated hotels.
Many of these hotels are surprisingly nice and are usually
quite affordable. Others, though, can be a bit on the rough
side. The best hotel you’ll find between Havre and
the North Dakota border is in Glasgow, called the Cottonwood
Hotel.
Food
I’m not exactly a connoisseur of fine restaurants.
But, I did eat at quite a few of them on my last trip down
the Hi-Line. And, sadly, I can report that at the ones I
did eat at, there was nothing special about any of them.
I suspect somewhere along the Hi-Line there are bound to
be a few really good restaurants (probably steak places),
but I wasn’t able to find any.
However,
while the Hi-Line may be lacking a bit in fine dining,
virtually all of the little towns along the Hi-Line
have a café of one type. Generally, these cafes are
decent to eat at. There are also very affordable. As for
fast food, you’ll find the usual suspects in Havre.
Other towns on the Hi-Line like Malta and Glasgow generally
will have one or two fast food joints, but will not have
the whole variety that other towns have.
Shopping
Looking
for a Wal-Mart? To bad, you won’t find one.
Indeed, to the best of my knowledge, there is only one “box
store” on the entire length of the Hi-Line between
Browning and North Dakota – a Super K-Mart that is
located in Havre. And it’s not a huge K-Mart, either,
although it is quite nice.
Instead,
for shopping, you’ll find, well, towns the
way they use to be. Most of the downtown areas of the major
towns have small shops selling various things. You’ll
have the best shopping luck in Havre, which has everything,
while other smaller towns like Glasgow and Malta generally
have all the basics – but will be lacking in specialty
items.
Next
Page : Maps and
Aerial Photos of the Montana Hi-Line Region
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