Trip Planner
At the confluence of the Madison, Gallatin and Jefferson rivers — where the Missouri River begins — Three Forks offers a deep dive into Montana’s history, from Indigenous cultures and homesteader life to the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition. This is Corps of Discovery country, and the town proudly honors its role with historic landmarks and cultural sites.
Start your visit at Missouri Headwaters State Park to explore the very spot Lewis and Clark documented in 1805. Here, you’ll find scenic viewpoints, hiking trails, historical markers and picnic areas along the riverbanks. Then stop by the Headwaters Heritage Museum to view American Indian artifacts, railroad history, fur trade tools and an impressive barbed wire collection.
A short drive away is Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, where limestone caves dazzle with stalactites and underground formations. The nearby Madison Buffalo Jump State Park overlooks the Madison River Valley and a limestone cliff used for thousands of years by American Indian tribes to hunt buffalo. Interpretive signs tell the story, and buffalo bones still remain buried below the jump.
From June through September, the Three Forks Farmers Market brings fresh produce and local goods to town every Thursday evening. Pair it with a quick sunset stop at Jim Dolan’s Bleu Horses — a hillside public art installation of 39 life-size steel horses just north of town.
Pack your clubs for a round at the 9-hole Headwaters Golf Course. And if you’re staying overnight, the historic Sacajawea Hotel offers a front porch made for watching the sun dip behind the valley. Downtown, a statue of Sacagawea honors her legacy in guiding the expedition.
Three Forks knows how to celebrate. June kicks off with Headwaters Country Jam, a multiday music festival that draws big-name acts. Early July brings hometown Fourth of July festivities and a parade, followed by the Three Forks Rodeo, where riders and ropers light up the arena. In August, the Antique Aircraft Fly-In fills the skies with vintage planes — plus contests, live music and family fun on the ground.
