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Outdoor recreational opportunities are plentiful in our region. Each of the towns in Phillips County has several city-maintained parks with recreational playground equipment for children.
The Malta Trails, Inc. is a locally founded group whose mission is to raise funds and construct walking trails in the city of Malta. In the past three years they have constructed several miles of walking/biking and running paths. In addition, every year they sponsor hiking and kayaking events in the nearby Little Rocky Mountains and at Nelson Reservoir.
Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is just 7 miles east of Malta. It provides habitat for a variety of wildlife species including 263 species of birds, over 26 species of mammals, and several species of reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Activities such as photography, hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, wildlife observation, and bird hunting can be enjoyed on the refuge.
Visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing and photography along the 15 mile self-guided auto tour route or the .4 mile accessible trail which is located near headquarters. Public hunting of waterfowl and upland game birds is permitted on a portion of the refuge. Guided refuge tours and environmental education programs are available upon request. Availability of staff and size of group may influence these activities.
In and of itself, the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is over 120 miles long and encompasses over 2,000 square miles, which makes it bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware.
A car tour route begins just north of the Fred Robinson Bridge south of Malta. It takes the visitors through habitats from ponderosa pines to thick sagebrush and grass land prairie, while offering spectacular views of the Missouri River and the Missouri River Breaks
Every year, starting in early September, the "Slippery Ann Bottoms" is a safe haven where hundreds of elk gather for their annual mating ritual. The viewing area is accessible from the auto tour route, just north of the river. It is recommended to arrive in the late afternoon and stay until dusk for the best viewing.
Said to be the 3rd largest National Wildlife Refuge, it is open for public big game and upland bird hunting. The CMR NWF contains approximately 1.1 million acres, including the 245,000 acres Fort Peck Reservoir. The refuge includes native prairies, forested coulees, river bottoms, and the badlands so often portrayed in the paintings of Charlie Russell, the colorful western artist for whom the refuge is named.
Hunting: Region 6 has about 275 ranches enrolling about 1.2 million acres in Block Management. These areas offer excellent opportunities to hung whitetail and mule deer, elk, antelope, upland game birds, and waterfowl. Our Block Management Areas (BMA) are open from September 1st to December 31st. Some landowners, including those not enrolled in Block Management, may be able to accommodate hunters with special needs. Hunters are encouraged to contact our regional FWP Office to determine if opportunities exist to meet specific needs.
Montana has approximately 23,000 landowners who own nearly 60 million acres of private land, much of which offers excellent hunting opportunities. Hunters must obtain landowner permission to hunt on all private land, which often can be obtained through simple courtesy and communication between the hunter and the landowner. Remember, while orange paint and "No Trespassing" signs indicate that the land is private, they do not necessarily mean that no hunting is allowed. Ask first, and the gate may open.
- Fishing -
Anglers target walleye, northern pike, Chinook salmon, lake trout and small mouth bass in Fort Peck Reservoir, and the Missouri River both above and below the lake offers great fishing for a variety of native and introduced species. Smaller reservoirs, such as Nelson near Malta and Fresno and Beaver Creek near Havre, provide more good fishing.
Hunters and anglers rarely experience crowding in this least populous region of the state, but the communities along Montana’s Hi-Line offer plenty of accommodations and amenities for visitors and residents alike.
Nelson Reservoir is located 18 miles east of Malta off US Highway 2. This reservoir, with 4,320 surface acres and 30 miles of shoreline, offers good fishing for walleye, perch, and northern pike. Concrete boat ramp, campground, and picnic shelters.
- Golfing- Marian Hills is a challenging Par 36, 9-hole public course located on the south edge of Malta just off US Highway 191. The Tin Cup Bar and Grill, driving range, and club and cart rentals are available.
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