Heading west of Glasgow towards the sprawling horizon, U.S. Highway 2 traverses the Milk River around 30 miles outside of town. Here, a collection of deeply eroded buttes, ridges, and river breaks begin their slow rise before terminating above the Missouri River. After crossing the muddy river, you find yourself in the small, sleepy Montana settlement of Hinsdale.

From Alberta, Canada, To Fort Peck, Montana, the sluggish Milk River flows by the north side of Hinsdale, where Lewis and Clark camped during their expedition. When they first saw the river further downstream, they thought it looked like “tea with milk poured into it” and named it the “Milk River.” In the summer the river is crowded with people swimming from the dock, boating, and jet skiing. Fishing is also a popular recreation year round.

Located southeast of present-day Hinsdale is a buffalo jump that was used by both the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes. Bison were very abundant in the area of lush grass near the Milk River. Native Americans would gather the bison by dressing themselves in thick brown hides and then force a stampede off the steep cliff. The rapid fall would break the legs, necks, and spines of the bison and occasionally sacrifice the lives of the Indians dresses in the hides. This jump was used for generations, until the Spaniards introduced horses, which enabled the tribes to hunt more efficiently. Now in private land, the jump is, unfortunately, not open to public viewing.

UM Geography Department| Sarah Waarvik