Billings to Yellowstone Confluence
Reunion

Visiting Billings, Montana, offers a mix of history, outdoor adventure, and modern amenities. As Montana’s largest city, Billings serves as a gateway to the Yellowstone River Valley and significant historical sites. Pompeys Pillar National Monument, located just east of Billings, is a must-see for history enthusiasts, featuring William Clark’s 1806 signature carved into the rock. Nearby, Pictograph Cave State Park showcases ancient Indigenous rock art, dating back thousands of years. For a taste of the local culture, explore the vibrant downtown scene with its breweries, restaurants, and museums like the Western Heritage Center and the Yellowstone County Museum. Outdoor lovers can hike the Rimrocks, offering stunning views of the city and surrounding landscapes.

Exploring Pompeys Pillar National Monument is a journey through history and breathtaking landscapes. Located about 25 miles east of Billings, Montana, this sandstone outcrop stands as a testament to William Clark’s 1806 return journey along the Yellowstone River. The highlight of any visit is Clark’s signature, the only remaining physical evidence of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, preserved on the rock’s surface.

A boardwalk trail leads visitors to the signature, with interpretive signs detailing the expedition’s significance and its interactions with Indigenous peoples. The visitor center provides deeper insights into the history, geology, and wildlife of the area. From the top of the pillar, panoramic views of the Yellowstone River and surrounding plains give a sense of the unspoiled wilderness Clark encountered. Whether you’re a history buff or an outdoor enthusiast, Pompeys Pillar offers a unique glimpse into America’s early exploration and the beauty of Montana’s landscapes.

Enjoy a break from long Montana drives at the Hathaway rest areas above the Yellowstone River. Clark and his small group passed Hathaway in two dugout canoes in July 1806. Several days later, Sgt. Pryor’s group—having had all their horses stolen—floated by in two round boats made from buffalo hides.

The Westbound rest area includes a stunning view of the Yellowstone with a trail to the river, a picnic area, and interpretive panels.

The Eastbound rest area has a view of the Hell Creek Formation, picnic tables, and interpretive panels.

Steeped in Western history, Miles City remains a true Western town. Vast stretches of plains and badlands branch out in all directions. The Yellowstone and Tongue rivers flow unblemished in long sections. Once the horse trading and livestock center of the country, Miles City still has weekly livestock auctions and, once a year, puts on the Bucking Horse Sale for rodeo stock buyers and breeders.

Visiting Glendive, Montana, offers a mix of history, outdoor adventure, and paleontological discoveries. Located along the Yellowstone River in eastern Montana, Glendive is best known as the gateway to Makoshika State Park, where visitors can explore rugged badlands, fossilized dinosaur remains, and scenic hiking trails. History enthusiasts can follow in the footsteps of William Clark, who passed through the region in 1806 during his return journey along the Yellowstone River. The Frontier Gateway Museum provides insight into the area’s Indigenous heritage, pioneer history, and connection to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. For fossil lovers, the Glendive Dinosaur & Fossil Museum showcases Montana’s rich prehistoric past.

Traveling to the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the most historically significant and scenic regions of the Upper Missouri River. Located near Williston, North Dakota, where the Yellowstone River meets the Missouri, this site played a vital role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805-1806. Visitors can start at the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center, which provides exhibits on the expedition, Indigenous history, and the area’s fur trade era.

Just a short drive away, Fort Buford State Historic Site offers a glimpse into frontier military history, including the site where Sitting Bull surrendered in 1881. Nearby, Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site—once a major fur trading hub—lets visitors step back into the 19th-century world of trappers, traders, and Native American tribes. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy fishing, birdwatching, and scenic river views along the confluence, where the landscape remains much as Lewis and Clark described it over 200 years ago.