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.
About the Park
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.
Alerts & Closures
Restrictions and Closures
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.
Activities
Cultural
Exhibit
Heritage
History
Photography
Picnicking
Amenities
Some amenities are seasonal. Check with the park for availability.
ADA Accessible
Interpretive Display
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Pack In/Pack Out
Parking
Pets Allowed
Picnic Table
Toilets (Vault)
Seasons & Hours
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.
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.
Fees
Montana Residents
Montana residents who pay the $9 state parks fee with their annual vehicle registration have no daily entrance fees to state parks. For residents who don't include this in their vehicle registration, non-resident day use fees apply.
Nonresidents
Day use entrance fee with a vehicle: $8
Day use entrance fee as a walk-in, bicycle or bus passenger: $4
With a Nonresident Entrance Pass: Free
Contact Information
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)
To keep our state parks safe and accessible to all, make sure you know before you go, practice physical distancing, plan ahead, play it safe, explore locally, leave no trace, respect wildlife, and do your part to build an inclusive outdoors.
Michael was born and raised in San Diego CA, and began his parks career in 2000 with San Diego County Parks & Recreation. He started as a Park Attendant, moved onto Park Ranger and then Supervising Park Ranger until 2024. Michael has managed Day-Use Parks, Campgrounds, Open Space Preserves, Community Parks and Historical Sites. He started with Montana FWP in 2024 as the Recreation Manager of Travelers' Rest, Fort Owen and Painted Rocks State Parks as well as the Upper Bitterroot & West Fork fishing access sites.
CONTACT INFO Mailing Address:
PO Box 995
Lolo, MT 59847
