By editor
Beaverhead County, South of Dillon
Where the Red Rock and Beaverhead rivers meet, the Clark Canyon Reservoir fills a wide, windswept basin. Just to the west lies the ghost town of Bannack, the site of Montana's first major gold strike. Together, the reservoir and the surrounding sagebrush hills offer a superb cross-section of southwest Montana birding.
The reservoir is a magnet for migrating waterbirds. In the late fall, it is one of the best locations in the state to scan for rare loons and scoters mixed in with the massive flocks of Common Goldeneyes and Mallards. The sagebrush benches surrounding the water are prime habitat for Sage Thrashers and Brewer's Sparrows. At Bannack State Park, the riparian corridor along Grasshopper Creek attracts migrating warblers and flycatchers, while the old, wooden buildings of the ghost town provide nesting sites for Mountain Bluebirds and Say's Phoebes.
Visitor Access
Clark Canyon Reservoir is managed by the Bureau of Reclamation; access is free, and several campgrounds and boat ramps are available. Bannack State Park is managed by Montana FWP; entry is free for residents with the state parks fee, and $8 for non-residents. Both locations are accessible year-round via paved or well-maintained gravel roads.