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National Wildlife Refuges in Montana

21 national wildlife refuges in Montana with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Lake County has the most (4). The darkest skies are at Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (Bortle 1).

Top national wildlife refuges

CSKT Bison RangeNational Wildlife Refuge
CSKT Bison RangeLake County
Charles M. Russell National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Charles M. Russell National Wildlife RefugeValley County
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife RefugeBeaverhead County
Lee Metcalf National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Lee Metcalf National Wildlife RefugeRavalli County
Lost Trail National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Lost Trail National Wildlife RefugeFlathead County
Swan River National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Swan River National Wildlife RefugeLake County
War Horse National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
War Horse National Wildlife RefugePetroleum County
Hailstone National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Hailstone National Wildlife RefugeStillwater County
Hewitt Lake National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Hewitt Lake National Wildlife RefugePhillips County
Ninepipe National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Ninepipe National Wildlife RefugeLake County
Benton Lake National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Benton Lake National Wildlife RefugeCascade County
Pablo National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Pablo National Wildlife RefugeLake County

National Wildlife Refuges by county

All national wildlife refuges (21)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
CSKT Bison RangeLake County—Ronan2
Charles M. Russell National Wildlife RefugeValley County—Miles City1
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife RefugeBeaverhead County—West Yellowstone1
Lee Metcalf National Wildlife RefugeRavalli County—Stevensville2
Lost Trail National Wildlife RefugeFlathead County—Kalispell1
Swan River National Wildlife RefugeLake County—Bigfork2
War Horse National Wildlife RefugePetroleum County—Roundup1
Hailstone National Wildlife RefugeStillwater County—Columbus2
Hewitt Lake National Wildlife RefugePhillips County—Malta1
Ninepipe National Wildlife RefugeLake County—Ronan1
Benton Lake National Wildlife RefugeCascade County—Sun Prairie3
Pablo National Wildlife RefugeLake County—Pablo3
Bowdoin National Wildlife RefugePhillips County—Malta1
Creedman Coulee National Wildlife RefugeHill County—Havre1
Grass Lake National Wildlife RefugeStillwater County—Columbus2
Lamesteer National Wildlife RefugeWibaux County—Beach1
Black Coulee National Wildlife RefugeBlaine County—Fort Belknap Agency1
Lake Mason National Wildlife RefugeMusselshell County—Roundup1
Lake Thibadeau National Wildlife RefugeHill County—Havre1
UL Bend National Wildlife RefugePhillips County—Lewistown1
Medicine Lake National Wildlife RefugeSheridan County—Plentywood1

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph national wildlife refuges

Wildlife is most active in the first and last two hours of daylight — exactly when the light is warmest.

  • Use auto-loop roads as mobile blinds; animals often tolerate vehicles more than people on foot.
  • Stay on designated routes and keep a respectful distance — if an animal changes behavior, you are too close.
  • A 400–600 mm lens (or a crop body) is the usual tool for birds.
  • Fast shutter speeds (1/2000 s+) freeze wingbeats; raise ISO rather than lose the shot.
  • Migration peaks bring the largest concentrations — see the birding calendar for this state.

Season: Spring and autumn migration are the highlights; winter brings waterfowl to many southern refuges.