Trip Planner
A tiny agricultural outpost of fewer than 50 residents, Boyd was once a Northern Pacific Railway stop and remains a trading hub for local farmers, fluent in grains and sugar beets. It’s a quiet waypoint on your journey to Red Lodge or the jaw-dropping Beartooth Highway, offering a glimpse of Montana’s agricultural heritage.
Nearby Cooney State Park is a must-visit, with opportunities for boating, swimming, camping and excellent walleye and rainbow trout fishing. With five campgrounds and 82 campsites — some with electrical hookups — it’s a great basecamp for exploring the region. Fall is a quieter season to enjoy Cooney, for hiking, fishing or taking in the crisp mountain air.
Cooney is also a hidden gem for stargazers and birders. On clear nights, the Milky Way stretches across the sky, and, if you're lucky, you might catch a meteor shower. Bird lovers can spot everything from osprey to pelicans passing through during migration. For wind sport enthusiasts, the reservoir’s breezy conditions are perfect for sailing, kiteboarding and even winter ice sailing and kite skiing.
Fish Cooney State Park in October when the reservoir is stocked with 20,000 catchable rainbow trout. Anglers also rave about the walleye and perch, whether on open water or ice.
Bring your binoculars and a blanket — Cooney State Park offers some of the darkest skies around, making it an ideal spot for stargazing, especially during summer meteor showers. Sunrise and sunset over the reservoir are also worth setting your watch to.
Boyd doesn’t host events of its own, but nearby communities like Red Lodge offer year-round happenings — from county fairs and farmers markets to music festivals and holiday parades.
