• Fergus County Recreation Association, (406) 538-3346. Camp Maiden campground belongs to everyone in Fergus County. Arrangements to use facilities may be made through this organization.
  
  
• Fergus County Sheriff’s Posse/Polo Club, (406) 538-3629. Horse club which plays cowboy polo.
  
  
• Lewistown Birding Bunch, (406) 538-4770. Regular gatherings of bird watchers, participate in annual Christmas Count and area day trips.
  
  
• Lewistown Bowhunters, (406) 538-2904.
  
  
• Lewistown Garden Club, (406) 538-3331. Meets monthly for programs including information on birds, how to plant, what to plant, diseases, flower arranging and others.
  
  
• Lewistown Parks & Recreation Dept., (406) 538-3045.
  
  
• Lewistown Rod & Gun Club, (406) 538-5209.
  
  
• Lewistown Trap and Skeet Club, (406) 538-3067. Strictly shotgun sport, trap and skeet machines.
  
  
• Pheasants Forever, (406) 538-3987. Non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasant and other wildlife populations in North America.
  
  
• Little Belt Snowmobile Club, (406) 538-8826. Snowmobile enthusiasts who meet monthly. Activities include dinner meeting once a year, summer trail clearing, club sponsored rides twice a month during winter, and snowmobile education classes. Maintain a groomer that grooms trails in Belts.

• Spring Creek: World-famous, this creek runs north from the Big Springs, through the center of Lewistown and empties into the Judith River, then into the Missouri River. Fishing is available year round.
  
  
• Ackley Lake: Located about 23 miles southwest of Lewistown, near Hobson. This man-made lake offers excellent rainbow and brown trout fishing. Take U.S. 87 for 20.7 miles west to Hobson, go through town, six miles to the next turnoff, then (left) south a short distance to the lake. Boating permitted.
  
  
• Crystal Lake: Stocked each year. Scenic mountain area around a 40-acre lake. Excellent boating, fishing and camping area. Located 35 miles southwest of Lewistown off Highway 87.
  
  
• East Fork Dam: Located about 11 miles southeast of Lewistown near the U.S. Gypsum Plant at Heath. Take Route 238 out of Lewistown. Perch and northern pike fishing. Ice fishing during the winter months.
  
  
• Hanson Creek Dam: Located about eight miles south of Lewistown, one mile beyond the Montana State Hatchery. Ice fishing during the winter months. Good rainbow fishing.
  
  
• Upper and Lower Carter’s Pond: Located about 6.5 miles north of Lewistown. These are man-made ponds that offer excellent trout and perch fishing, picnics and overnight camping facilities. Take U.S. 191 north of Lewistown about 6.5 miles. The area is marked with signs. Ice fishing in winter months.
  
  
• Fort Peck Reservoir: Around 100 miles northeast of Lewistown. Drive north from Winnett and follow signs, or drive east from the junction of Highways 191 and 87. Boat access at Crooked Creek Marina administered by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Excellent ice fishing for walleye and northern.
  
  
• Fred Robinson Bridge: 65 miles north of Lewistown on Highway 191 going to Malta. Excellent fishing on the Missouri River for walleye, sauger, northern pike, channel catfish, sturgeon and paddlefish.
  
  
• Petrolia Reservoir: Located in Petroleum County, this reservoir offers excellent walleye, pike and perch fishing.
  
  
• Casino Creek Reservoir: 1.5 miles south of Lewistown on Casino Creek Road. Rainbow trout and walleye fishing.

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Time to dig out your camping equipment!

For many Central Montanans, the summer season is the camping season.

A time to leave the hustle and bustle of town behind for a while. A chance to appreciate the simpler things in life...like a golden brown marshmallow cooked on a willow branch over a crackling fire or the mournful howl of a coyote through the thin walls of a nylon tent.

For many, camping is a time of reunion. With friends and family and with nature and the land.

For others, camping is a time of solitude. A chance to leave everything and everybody behind and head off to a favorite spot, far off the beaten path.

Perhaps it’s right by a favorite fishing hole, or maybe just a spot where you know there’s a good sunset.

If you love to camp, there is one thing you can be sure of, you’re not alone.

In Central Montana, the various places to camp are controlled by one of seven different organizations.

They are the Forest Service, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge, city of Lewistown, Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management and private ownership.

Basically, the breakdown is like this.

The Forest Service operates all campgrounds in the Little Belts and Snowies (Crystal Lake). The FWP operates all access points to the Spring Creek and Upper and Lower Carter’s Ponds. The state handles the only state park in the area, which is Ackley Lake.

CMR does not have any designated campsites on the refuge, but does allow camping. The city of Lewistown operates and maintains the East Fork Reservoir. Kiwanis owns and operates Kiwanis Park. The BLM operates all campgrounds along the Missouri (Kipp Park, Judith Landing) and Mountain Acres and Crooked Creek are the only private campgrounds in the area.

What makes it complicated is that each of these groups operates their campgrounds in a slightly different manner and the rules and regulations which govern each of them is different. Be sure to check the rules and regulations at the campsite of your choice before making camp.

Here are the phone numbers of the various agencies which offer camping opportunities in Central Montana:

• Fish, Wildlife and Parks - (406) 454-5840
  
  
• Forest Service - (406) 555-2292
  
  
• Bureau of Land Management - (406) 538-7461
  
  
• Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge - (406) 538-8706
  
  
• City of Lewistown - (406) 538-4430
  
  
• Corps of Engineers - (406) 526-3411sidebar: Central Montana camping locations
  
  
• Crystal Lake: U.S. Forest Service campgrounds. Picnicking and camping with tables, fireplace units, boat launching facilities (no motor boats), potable water, fee charged. Located 35 miles southwest of Lewistown off Highway 87.
  
  
• Kiwanis Campground: Picnicking and camping with tables and fireplace units. Located one mile west of Lewistown on Highway 87.
  
  
• Crooked Creek: Boat launching, potable water, swimming, camping access. Located 48 miles northeast of Winnett on county road. Fee charged.
  
  
• Kipp Recreation Area: Boat launching, swimming and camping access. Operated by the Bureau of Land Management. Located 64 miles northeast of Lewistown on U.S. 191.
  
  
• Judith Landing: Boat launching, swimming, camping access. Operated by the Bureau of Land Management. Located 26 miles northwest of Winifred on Route 236.
  
  
• Ackley Lake: Picnic, camper trailer access, boat launching facilities, swimming. The only state park in the Central Montana area. Located about 23 miles southwest of Lewistown, near Hobson.
  
  
• East Fork Dam: Picnicking and camping access, potable water and boat launching. Operated by the city of Lewistown. Located about 11 miles southeast of Lewistown near the U.S. Gypsum plant at Heath.
  
  
• Upper Carter’s Pond: Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks campground. Picnic facilities with tables. Day use only. Boats (no motor boats) and excellent fishing. Located 6.5 miles north of Lewistown on U.S. 191.

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Escape the heat with a cool dip

It lasts only for a few weeks in Central Montana.

The thermometer creeps up near triple digits. The air grows heavy. And perspiration drips off you constantly.

You can hide from it in the shade. You can avoid it with the air conditioner. And you can fight it with a tall, cool glass of lemonade.

Or, you can try to enjoy it. And the best way to do that is to seek refuge in the same old swimming hole which Central Montanan’s have been enjoying for generations: The Gigantic Warm Springs is a true natural wonder.

A place where 50,000 gallons of water rises out of the ground every single minute of every day. It is a special place which has played a role in the lives of thousands of people over the years.

“It’s invigorating,” said Diane Brosseau, a Lewistown resident who has been a Warm Springs regular since she was an infant. Her parents Tom and Polly Mane have been going since they were teenagers. “It’s very relaxing, listening to the waterfall and watching the geese. And the water is absolutely amazing.

“We are all very fortunate the Vaneks allow the public to enjoy the springs.”

In a way, a trip to Warm Springs is like a trip back in time. Back to a better time.

On any given day, you’ll find children splashing in the springs, teenagers playing volleyball, families sharing a picnic, little boys casting a line in the creek and elders throwing horseshoes.

“I think people like it because of the scenery and the fresh, clear water which is constantly renewed” said Dave Vanek, who owns the property the springs come out of. “You’re away from the noise and the cement and all that hub-bub.

“We try to keep it natural.”

Vanek also admits there’s a lot of history in the springs and its a special place to a lot of people.

“Ever since I was little girl, I’ve been going to the springs with family and friends,” said Brosseau. “I have so many fond memories of the springs.”

“We still see a lot of the retired folks who have been coming since they were children,” said Vanek. “Just yesterday, I was watching two little boys about age six and 10 out there. They were going fishing. So I hopped off the swather and told them a good spot to try.

“As I watched them, I thought to myself, ‘Those boys are making memories.’ And I think that’s a big part of the springs ... making memories that will last their entire lives.”

Although the springs’ current purpose is primarily for fun, in previous years its purpose was more practical.

“Originally it was dammed to provide water power for Kendall Mine,” said Vanek. “A canal was dug and a waterwheel was built. They pumped the water over the mountain to Kendall and at the time, it made Kendall one of the richest gold mines in the world.”

At one point, the springs also provided electricity for the town of Maiden.

The Vaneks bought the land in 1940 and immediately began making the springs what they are today.

“Some people by the name of Lindsey had owned it first, but they gave it up and it sat vacant for six years,” said Vanek. “Then a realtor by the name of Shan Cook from Brooks convinced my dad to come down and live there for a while. He told my dad, ‘It will grow on you.’

“Well, I guess it did because he married Marie Maruska from Roy in 1940 and they bought the land and never left.”

According to Vanek, the springs were always a popular swimming hole.

“We used to run a dairy so we had to be here anyway. The spring and cows kind of went together. We started charging a nickel and developing it when we had time.”

The biggest modification to the spring came in 1948, when the Vaneks brought in some equipment and dredged it out to about 12-14 feet deep.

“It used to be about two-thirds surrounded by cattails,” said Vanek. “We cleared those out and built the kiddy pool.

“In 1950, we built docks around the edge and put a diving board up.

“It was a great spot for diving but the liability and expense of new boards got to be too much. Tom Hartford and Gene Erlandson used to break more diving boards than anyone!” Vanek remembers with a laugh.

In 1952, Dave’s dad planted willow shoots around the springs. “I remember mowing around them and dad saying, ‘You cut those trees and you’ve had it!’

“It’s amazing to look at them now. Some of them are three feet in diameter.”

One thing time has not changed is the springs themselves. The temperature has remained a constant 68 degrees all year long and its output has remained the same. It is considered the world’s largest natural warm spring and the third-largest spring on earth.

People who have been regulars for many years often say the only noticeable change in the springs in the last 50 years is that the trees have gotten bigger.

“There’s a lot of memories in the spring,” said Vanek. “We get a lot of people who come out just to show their kids and tell them about all the good times they’ve had there over the years.”

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Central Montana is a hunter’s haven

Thanks to a rich and wide variety of game in Central Montana, hunters of all types are drawn to the beauty and adventure that is afforded to all.

The Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge has a wide variety of game, including elk, mule and whitetail deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, waterfowl, sharptail and sage grouse, partridge, turkey and pheasant.

Whitetail deer can often be found in the creek and river bottoms, as well as foothills, while mule deer can be found in the Central Montana mountains and plains.

Antelope is a popular animal to track for hunters in the area and can often be found on Central Montana’s wide open prairies.

Elk are plentiful in the Big Snowy, Little Belts, Moccasin and Judith mountains, and bighorn sheep are plentiful in the Missouri Breaks.

Bear hunting is popular among hunters. Big bruins can be found in the Little Belt Mountains south of Utica and Stanford and in the Big Snowy Mountains.

Bird hunters, too, are in luck as the Pacific and Central flyway patterns cover portions of Central Montana.

Upland game birds, such as pheasant, sharptail grouse, partridge and turkey can be found in area grain fields, and sage grouse and can be found in the drier areas. Blue grouse roam the area mountains.

Spring turkey season also brings many hunters to Central Montana in search of gobblers.

Central Montana is a sportman’s paradise. Get out and enjoy it!

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A blizzard of winter fun

You won’t find too many locals around these parts complaining about snow.

Here, in Central Montana, where snow often falls nine months out of the year, winter is no stranger.

Lewistown generally receives more than 60 inches of snow per year, and December has the highest snowfall with an average around 10 inches per month.

The frequent snowfall allows the Lewistown area to be a haven for many winter sports.

Ice skaters can get on the cutting edge at Frank Day Park where a large rink and warming hut make for a day of wintertime fun.

Cross-country skiing is a popular winter activity in Central Montana, and the three mountain ranges surrounding Lewistown – the Snowies, Little Belts and the Judiths, provide an excellent area in which to cross-country ski.

In the Judiths, a number of old mining and logging trails provide excellent cross-country skiing trails.

These easily accessible trails are less than an hour’s drive from Lewistown. To get there, head north on highway 191 and, at the Maiden Canyon sign, take a right.

Follow the Maiden road for five miles and you’ll find a number of cross-country trails.

Traveling farther up the Maiden road, there is a fork in the road. Take a left at the fork and you’ll find an abandoned radar base at the top of Judith Peak. There are a number of excellent skiing trails in this area as well.

The Big Snowy Mountains, which are 25 miles southwest of Lewistown, also offer excellent skiing.

Skiers must leave their vehicles four miles below Crystal Lake, but the road up to the lake is often used by snowmobilers, so there is usually a good track in which to ski.

For those who prefer the downhill variety of skiing, Showdown Ski area is 110 miles southwest of Lewistown in the Little Belt Mountains. It caters to all levels of skiers with novice, intermediate and advanced trails.

Snowmobiling is another very popular outdoor activity in Central Montana during the winter months.

Crystal Lake in the Snowy Mountains is one spot that attracts snowmobile enthusiasts.

The Little Belt Mountains around and above Utica and Stanford provide excellent snowmobiling trails, as well.

For more information about snowmobiling, call the Judith District Ranger’s office in Stanford at (406) 566-2292 or Lauri Works with the Little Belt Snowmobile Club, (406) 538-8826.

Ice fishermen will find a wide variety of prime locations from which to test their skills.

Check with local sporting goods stores to find out where the fish are biting.

With so many outdoor opportunities, winter may just be Central Montana’s best kept secret!

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Pick a sport, any sport ...

You name your game and odds are you’ll find someone playing it in Central Montana.

From archery to drag racing to tennis to bronc busting, Central Montana has sporting activities that appeal to everyone, including:

Archery - The Lewistown Bowhunters Association maintains a summer outdoor archery range eight miles east of Lewistown with two 18-target, field-point ranges and 45 burlap field-tip targets.

Baseball, softball - Lewistown has baseball and softball programs for all ages. Teams play at parks throughout the city.

High school level baseball is played by the Lewistown Redbirds, sponsored by the American Legion. Their ballpark is on the north end of Symmes park.

Adult, male, female and co-ed leagues play at the d’Autremont Softball Complex on Airport Road southwest of Lewistown.

Bowling - Snowy Lanes, located at 134 Wunderlin on the west edge of Lewistown, has 12 lanes with computerized scorekeeping. The facility is air-conditioned in the summer and maintains a full schedule of league and open bowling throughout the year.

Drag Racing - The drag strip west of Lewistown features a regular schedule of races during the summer. It is the oldest N.D.R.A. quarter-mile drag strip in Montana and draws high quality competition from throughout the state.

AMX Racing - Auto-Moto-Xross is an automobile race on a motocross track with curves, jumps, bumps and mud holes. Lewistown holds approximately five races during the summer months, including during the fair. These popular races are held at Central Montana Fairgrounds.

Golf - Golfers will find plenty of variety at either of Lewistown’s two public golf courses. Pine Meadows Golf Course, located at the Elk’s Lodge on Country Club Road, features a beautiful, 9-hole course and first-rate clubhouse. Judith Shadows Golf Course, the area’s newest course, is Central Montana’s only 18-hole course. Judith Shadows is located on Marcella Ave.

Rodeo - Rodeo fans are able to enjoy several rodeos during the summer months in Central Montana. Rodeo enthusiasts can flock to the annual Winnett or Roy Rodeos or the C.M. Russell Stampede in Stanford. The last weekend in July brings the Central Montana Fair and Rodeo to Lewistown.

Shooting - The Lewistown Trap and Skeet Club maintains a shooting range near the Lewistown Airport. Snowy Mountain Sporting Clays Club offers a range near the airport, as well.

There are also pistol and rifle clubs that regularly engage in competition.

Tennis - Lewistown has a number of tennis courts. They are located across from the old high school on Seventh Avenue South, at Symmes Park on Northeast Main and at Kiwanis Park on Seventh Avenue North.

Ice Skating - There is a outdoor ice skating rink and warming house located Frank Day Park. The rink is open from November through February (weather permitting).

The Lewistown Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of outdoor programs including socccer, flag football, etc.

For more information, stop in at the civic center or call (406) 538-3045.