Visit the home of Montana’s first permanent European-style settlement. Fort Owen was an Indian Agency, trading post and agricultural center founded in the heart of Salish country in 1850.
Fort Owen State Park, or Ɫq̓eɫml̓š (Wide Cottonwoods), lies within the ancestral homeland of the Séliš (Salish) people, who have lived here since time immemorial. The park, its archaeology and historic buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Father DeSmet arrived at Ɫq̓eɫml̓š in 1841 and founded the first Catholic mission in the Inland Northwest. In 1850, John Owen arrived, purchased the mission’s improvements from the Jesuits in Montana’s first conveyance, and established Fort Owen. This site hosted Montana's first sawmill, gristmill, irrigation system, cattle herd, and European-style school.
Tour the adobe East Barracks, built in 1857, admire the original root cellar and well, and enjoy interpretive signs and exhibits set throughout the grounds that detail the remarkable history of Ɫq̓eɫml̓š.
Fort Owen State Park is 1.9 acres in size and sits at an elevation of 3,398 feet.
See a current list of Restrictions and Closures on State Parks and other FWP lands that may be affected by floods, fire, drought or major maintenance activities.
Some amenities are seasonal. Check with the park for availability.
Hours listed below are normal operating hours and may not apply when there is a special restriction or closure. Check Alerts and Closures in the tab below.
Park
March 1 - October 31: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily
November 1 - February 28: Closed for the winter
Visit the State Parks Fees & Regulations page for park rules.
Contact the park manager for open volunteer positions at Fort Owen State Park.
For complete position descriptions, application forms, and details about Montana State Parks volunteer programs, visit the Volunteers page.
Mailing Address:
Fort Owen State Park
PO Box 995
Lolo, MT 59847
Phone: 406-273-4253
(Located at Travelers' Rest State Park - Mention you are referencing Fort Owen State Park)
Email: jessica.martin@mt.gov
99 Fort Owen Ranch Rd.
Stevensville, MT 59870
Latitude/Longitude:
(46.51948 / -114.09705)