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The Hi-Line
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Explore Montana’s Hi-Line for open prairie, Indigenous history, railway towns, wildlife refuges and long northern-sky journeys between the Rockies and Dakota.

The Hi-Line is the informal travel name for the broad northern Montana corridor traced by US Highway 2 and the former Great Northern Railway. It runs across the state’s northern tier, linking the Rocky Mountain foothills near Shelby and Cut Bank with the open prairie around Havre, Malta, Glasgow, Wolf Point and the North Dakota border. This is a region of long horizons, wheat fields, ranch country, cottonwood-lined rivers and small communities separated by considerable distances.
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The western Hi-Line has a stronger mountain presence. From Shelby and Cut Bank, views extend towards the northern Rocky Mountains, while the plains open eastwards into the Milk River valley. Near Havre, the landscape is shaped by the Bear Paw Mountains and by a deep Indigenous and frontier history. Further east, the prairie becomes more expansive and sparsely settled, with the Milk and Missouri river systems, badlands, reservoirs and wildlife refuges providing important changes in scenery.
The region’s cultural story is inseparable from the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre peoples of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, the Blackfeet homeland to the west, and the many Indigenous nations whose histories extend across the northern plains. The Hi-Line also bears the physical imprint of railway construction, homesteading, cattle ranching and grain farming. Historic depots, grain elevators, courthouse squares and broad main streets reflect the ambitions of communities established or transformed by the railway in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Visitors should expect a travel experience based less on concentrated tourist infrastructure than on distinctive individual places. Havre’s underground Beneath the Streets is an unusual legacy of an early fire and subsequent rebuilding; nearby Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump preserves evidence of ancient bison hunting. The Bear Paw Battlefield, near Chinook, is one of Montana’s most solemn historic landscapes. Around Malta and Glasgow, museums and wildlife areas interpret fossils, ranching, rivers and prairie ecology, while Wolf Point retains a strong connection with Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux cultural life.
The Hi-Line rewards a measured itinerary. Distances between towns are substantial, mobile coverage can be inconsistent in remote areas, and many attractions have seasonal or limited arrangements. In return, travellers encounter exceptional skies, quiet roads, bird-rich wetlands, working agricultural communities and a landscape whose scale makes Indigenous history, railway expansion and the endurance of prairie life especially tangible.

Getting to and around The Hi-Line

How to get there

The Hi-Line is primarily reached by road along US Highway 2, which runs east–west across northern Montana and connects with routes towards Idaho, North Dakota and Canada. Amtrak’s Empire Builder serves several Hi-Line communities, including Whitefish, Shelby, Havre, Malta, Glasgow and Wolf Point, with service patterns subject to change. Havre and Glasgow have regional airports, while larger airports outside the region, particularly at Great Falls or Billings, may be practical gateways for visitors hiring a car. Check current rail, air and road conditions before travelling.

Transportation

A car is the most flexible way to explore the Hi-Line because attractions, wildlife areas and small communities are spread across a large distance and public transport is limited. US Highway 2 is the principal east–west route, with other highways providing access to individual towns and rural sites. Amtrak is useful between selected communities, but does not provide comprehensive local sightseeing transport. Cycle touring is possible on the wide-open roads but requires careful planning for wind, distances, weather and limited roadside services. Taxis and rideshare availability should not be assumed outside the larger towns.

Top city travel guides in The Hi-Line

The cities of The Hi-Line, and the easiest places to base yourself.

Best attractions in The Hi-Line

The Hi-Line’s attractions are distributed through a large prairie corridor rather than concentrated in one resort or city. Havre provides the region’s most distinctive urban heritage experience with Beneath the Streets, an underground network associated with the town’s early commercial history, while Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump preserves a much older Indigenous archaeological landscape nearby. South of Chinook, Bear Paw Battlefield combines history, walking trails and a quiet setting in the Bear Paw Mountains. Around Malta, fossil displays and local museums interpret the prehistoric life and settlement history of the northern plains. Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge near Malta is important for migratory birds and wetland habitat, while Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge in the east offers broad prairie-and-lake scenery. Glasgow and Wolf Point provide regional museums and cultural interpretation, and the surrounding communities reveal the continuing presence of ranching, grain farming and railway life. Outdoor experiences are generally low-key: birdwatching, wildlife photography, scenic driving, fishing where permitted and walking at historic sites are more characteristic than developed adventure attractions.

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Best landmarks in The Hi-Line

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Best restaurants in The Hi-Line

Dining on the Hi-Line reflects the practical food culture of northern Montana, with cafés, family restaurants, diners, bakeries and traditional pubs forming the dependable backbone of eating out. Larger communities such as Havre, Glasgow and Wolf Point offer the broadest choice, while smaller towns may have limited hours and fewer alternatives. Beef, bison and other prairie-influenced dishes appear alongside burgers, steaks, sandwiches and familiar American comfort food; locally produced grain is reflected in breads and baked goods. Coffee shops are useful stopping points during long drives, and supermarkets can be important for travellers assembling meals for wildlife refuges or remote historic sites. Seasonal farmers’ markets and community events may provide local produce, preserves and baking, although availability varies by town and time of year. The region is not defined by a single signature cuisine, but its food culture is closely tied to agriculture, ranching, long-distance travel and the hospitality traditions of small northern-plains communities.

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Best bars in The Hi-Line

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Best nightclubs in The Hi-Line

Evening life on the Hi-Line is generally centred on traditional bars, pubs, restaurants, community events and the social life of the larger towns rather than on a substantial nightclub scene. Havre, Glasgow and Wolf Point have the widest range of places for a drink, informal food or occasional live entertainment, while smaller communities tend to close earlier and offer fewer choices. Local bars may function as gathering places for residents, travellers and agricultural communities, but visitors should not assume a late-night entertainment district. Breweries and other drinking establishments may appear in individual towns, though current offerings and opening arrangements change. Rodeos, fairs, concerts and seasonal community events can create livelier evenings when scheduled. Plan transport responsibly, particularly where distances between towns are large, and remember that experiencing the Hi-Line does not depend on nightlife: clear skies, quiet main streets and early starts for wildlife viewing are often more characteristic of the region.

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Best shops in The Hi-Line

Shopping on the Hi-Line is practical and community-based, with independent main-street businesses, supermarkets, western wear, hardware stores, bookshops, galleries and small gift shops concentrated in towns such as Havre, Malta, Glasgow and Wolf Point. Travellers will find the most regionally relevant purchases at local museums, craft outlets, seasonal farmers’ markets and community events, where availability may include preserves, baking, artwork, handmade goods and Montana-produced foods. Western clothing, outdoor equipment and locally themed souvenirs are more characteristic than designer retail. Museum shops can offer books and interpretive material about Indigenous history, the railway, palaeontology and prairie life, providing more meaningful souvenirs than generic merchandise. Market days and small-town retail hours vary, particularly outside the main communities, so do not depend on finding specialised shopping late in the day or in remote settlements. The best approach is to treat each larger town as both a resupply point and an opportunity to support local businesses.

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The Hi-Line essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the United States dollar (USD). Cards and contactless payments are commonly accepted in established hotels, supermarkets, fuel stations and larger restaurants, while smaller businesses, rural attractions and occasional events may have more limited facilities. Carry some cash for independent vendors, donations and unexpected service gaps, particularly when travelling through remote districts. Bank and ATM availability is concentrated in the principal communities, so it is sensible to refuel and obtain cash before heading into sparsely settled areas.
Safety
The principal visitor considerations are distance, weather and rural conditions rather than urban hazards. Check forecasts before driving, as winter snow, strong winds, summer heat, smoke and sudden storms can affect long stretches of highway. Keep fuel, water and warm or weatherproof clothing available, and avoid walking onto private land. At wildlife refuges and historic sites, remain on designated routes and take care near water, steep ground and uneven prairie trails. Drive cautiously around farm machinery, livestock and wildlife, especially at dawn and dusk.
Emergency Situations
Call 911 for police, fire or ambulance emergencies throughout Montana. Tell the operator your exact location, highway number, nearest town or mile marker, because distances can be considerable and landmarks may be widely spaced. For non-urgent medical care, ask accommodation staff or local services about the nearest appropriate facility rather than assuming one is close by. In remote areas, do not rely solely on mobile coverage; download maps, inform someone of your route and carry essential supplies. The national 988 service is available for urgent mental-health and crisis support.
Do's and Don'ts
Do respect private property, reservation boundaries, posted restrictions and the significance of Indigenous cultural sites. Do ask before photographing people, ceremonies or community activities, and follow instructions at battlefields, wildlife refuges and archaeological places. Do yield patiently to agricultural vehicles and avoid blocking small-town streets or business entrances. Do not remove fossils, artefacts, stones or historic objects, and do not assume that an unmarked prairie track is public. Normal American tipping customs apply in table-service restaurants and for appropriate personal services, but tipping is not a requirement for every transaction.
Local Tips
Use the larger communities as resupply bases, but allow time for smaller museums and historic sites whose arrangements may be seasonal or volunteer-led. The landscape changes noticeably from mountain-fringed western districts to the open eastern prairie, so avoid planning the entire corridor from one base. Early morning and evening are often the best times for birdwatching and photography, while winter travel requires extra flexibility. Ask locally about road conditions before visiting remote wildlife areas, and learn the distinctions between the Hi-Line’s Indigenous, agricultural and railway histories rather than treating the corridor as a single uniform culture.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHowdy[haʊdi]
GoodbyeSee ya[si jɑ]
YesYup[jʌp]
NoNope[noʊp]
Please/You're welcomeSure thing[ʃʊr θɪŋ]
Thank youThanks a bunch[θæŋks ə bʌnʧ]
Excuse me/SorryPardon me[ˈpɑrdən mi]
How are you?How ya doin'?[haʊ jə ˈduɪn]
Fine. And you?Good. And you?[ɡʊd. ənd ju]
Do you speak English?You speakin' English?[ju ˈspikɪn ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ]
I don't understandI ain't gettin' it[aɪ eɪnt ˈɡɛtɪn ɪt]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu?[kæn aɪ si ðə ˈmɛnju]
I don't eat meatI ain't eatin' meat[aɪ eɪnt ˈitɪn mit]
Cheers!Cheers![ʧɪrz]
I would like to pay, pleaseCan I get the check?[kæn aɪ ɡɛt ðə ʧɛk]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![hɛlp]
Go away!Get lost![ɡɛt lɔst]
Call the Police!Call 911![kɔl naɪn wʌn wʌn]
Call a doctor!Get a doc![ɡɛt ə dɑk]
I'm lostI’m turned around[aɪm tɜrnd əˈraʊnd]
I'm illI ain't feelin' well[aɪ eɪnt ˈfilɪn wɛl]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I wanna buy...[aɪ ˈwɑnə baɪ]
I'm just lookingJust browsin'[dʒʌst ˈbraʊzɪn]
How much is it?What’s the price?[wʌts ðə praɪs]
That's too expensiveThat's a bit steep[ðæts ə bɪt stip]
Can you lower the price?Can ya cut the price?[kæn jə kʌt ðə praɪs]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time ya got?[wʌt taɪm jə ɡɑt]
It's one o'clockIt's one[ɪts wʌn]
Half past (10)Half past ten[hæf pæst tɛn]
MorningMornin'[ˈmɔrnɪn]
AfternoonAfternoon[ˌæftərˈnun]
EveningEvenin'[ˈivnɪn]
YesterdayYesterday[ˈjɛstərdeɪ]
TodayToday[təˈdeɪ]
TomorrowTomorrow[təˈmɔroʊ]
1One[wʌn]
2Two[tu]
3Three[θri]
4Four[fɔr]
5Five[faɪv]
6Six[sɪks]
7Seven[ˈsɛvən]
8Eight[eɪt]
9Nine[naɪn]
10Ten[tɛn]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's the...?[wɛrz ðə]
What's the address?What’s the address?[wʌts ði əˈdrɛs]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can ya point it out?[kæn jə pɔɪnt ɪt aʊt]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next bus?[wɛn z ðə nɛkst bʌs]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket to...[ə ˈtɪkɪt tu]

History of The Hi-Line

Indigenous Homelands and Prairie Lifeways

The Hi-Line lies within a region shaped for centuries by Indigenous nations, including the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre, whose contemporary community is centred at Fort Belknap, and the Blackfeet to the west. Bison, seasonal movement, river corridors and trade routes were central to life on the northern plains. Archaeological places such as Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump near Havre preserve evidence of communal bison hunting over a very long period. These histories remain part of the region’s living cultural geography rather than belonging only to the distant past.

The Bear Paw Campaign, 1877

The Bear Paw Battlefield, south of Chinook, marks the final engagement of the Nez Perce War of 1877. After a long retreat from the Pacific Northwest, Nez Perce people were intercepted by the United States Army in the Bear Paw Mountains, only a short distance from the Canadian border. The fighting and subsequent surrender had lasting consequences for the Nez Perce and for United States relations with Indigenous nations. The quiet grassland setting, marked graves and interpretive material make the battlefield one of the Hi-Line’s most important historic landscapes.

Fort Assiniboine and the Military Frontier

Fort Assiniboine, established by the United States Army in 1879 near present-day Havre, was one of the largest military posts in Montana. It supported federal efforts to administer the northern plains during a period of rapid change following the reservation era and the decline of open conflict. Much of the original post later disappeared or was reused, but the site’s history helps explain the growth of Havre and the wider transformation of the region. Its story also sits within the complicated history of federal policy towards Indigenous communities.

Railway Expansion and the Birth of Hi-Line Towns

The Great Northern Railway reached northern Montana in the late nineteenth century, creating a transportation corridor that still defines the Hi-Line. Stations, grain elevators, hotels, depots and commercial streets appeared along the route, while Havre became an important railway centre. The line connected prairie farms and ranches with national markets and brought new waves of settlement. Many Hi-Line communities retain a town plan and built environment shaped by the railway, even where later population decline has reduced the commercial role of their main streets.

Homesteading, Agriculture and Reservation Change

The early twentieth century brought intensive homesteading across the northern plains, supported by railway land promotion and federal settlement policy. Wheat farming expanded rapidly, although drought, harsh winters and the limits of semi-arid agriculture made rural life precarious. Homesteading also reduced Indigenous landholdings and disrupted established economies on and around reservations. Grain elevators, farmsteads, stock operations and courthouse towns remain visible reminders of this era, while contemporary agriculture continues to shape the economy and appearance of the Hi-Line.

The Hi-Line in the Modern Era

During the twentieth century, the Hi-Line experienced changing railway practices, mechanised agriculture, rural population loss and the consolidation of services in larger towns such as Havre, Glasgow and Wolf Point. Oil, energy development, transport and public-sector employment have periodically altered local economies, but farming and ranching remain central. Museums, historic sites and community events now interpret the region’s layered past, including Indigenous history, railway life, military expansion and the continuing adaptation of small prairie communities.

The Hi-Line in Photos

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