Ackley Lake for Fish & Fun

   ~Montana State Parks

See the beautiful mountain views and rich agricultural land that inspired legendary Western artist, Charlie Russell, a hundred years ago.

Ackley Lake is nestled right in the heart of Montana's Big Sky Country. One glimpse and you'll easily understand how the beautiful views of the surrounding Little Belt and Snowy Mountains and rich agricultural land captured the heart of the legendary Western artist, Charlie Russell, a hundred years ago.

Today, the diverse water recreation opportunities at this 290-acre park include fishing, boating, picnicking and camping. Stocked with rainbow trout, the lake is often good angling for 10 to 15 inch fish. Ackley Lake has 15 first-come first-served campsites (cannot be reserved), and two boat launches.

On a warm summer day, enjoy the cool waters of Ackley Lake on Montana's open plains!

Activities

1. Bird Watching
2. Boating
3. Camping
4. Fishing
5. Ice Fishing
6. Lake Fishing
7. Photography
8. Picnicking
9. RV Camping
10. Swimming
11. Tent Camping
12. Water Skiing
13. Wildlife Viewing

Amenities
Some amenities are seasonal. Check with the park for availability. 

1. Boat Launch
2. Campsite
3. Established Fire Pits
4. Grills/Fire Rings
5. Pets Allowed
6. Picnic Shelter
7. Pack-in/Pack-out
8. Toilets (Vault)

Montana State Bird: The Western Meadowlark

Sean Jansen

The different pitches and hues of the call are different than anything else in nature. Carried by the wind and into the ears much like the sounds of an orchestra playing every instrument going off perfectly and seamlessly in sinc. Mother Nature has always been the greatest artist, and if that’s the case, the Western Meadow Lark is her platinum album, seminal work, Oscar performance or her National Geographic cover shot.

The Meadowlark, or specifically the Western Meadowlark, Sturnella-Neglecta, is Montana’s state bird. By the grace of some school children, they pushed a vote, winning in a landslide to make the Meadowlark the states bird. Montana, coupled with a few of the northern states of the country and a few of the southern areas of Canada’s provinces are the meadowlarks breeding grounds. We will typically see and hear these remarkable bird during their mating season which show up in Spring, depending on snow melt they will stick around until late fall. Their winter migratory patterns shift southward to warmer climes of most of the Midwest and southwestern states and certainly down into most of Mexico’s states for much of the winter.

A generally small bird in stature with relative size to the common Robin we see around the state and country but one of the chunkier kids on the block. What it makes up for with its rounder shape compared to the Robin, it gains in its long beak for hunting. The meadowlark differs in color, with its yellow breast mixed with patterns of brown and white help it to blend into the grasslands with which the bird nests.

The nests are made usually in a depression in the ground or low lying spot in a field covered by thick foliage. These birds thrive and depend on the grasslands for nesting and foraging, which is why we often see them on our pastures and farmlands of southwest Montana, eastern Montana, and sometimes in the high alpine meadows.

They eat a varied diet consisting of ground vegetation, insects plucked from recent field clearings or vulnerably sitting for an easy grab, or seeds from sprouting plants. Grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, snails are all on the buffet table for the Meadowlark however over one third of their diet consists of seeds most of which is consumed during fall and winter.

The birds nesting habits are astounding. A male meadowlark can happily mate with as many females as he wishes and will help in feeding the young, even though as typical, the female will do most of the feeding. A female will typically lay around 5 eggs a hatch and will incubate for about two weeks. Once done, the young will leave the nest although they are not quite ready to fly. The parents will continue to watch over them during this period until they can take flight on their own journey.

So the next time you drive by and hear an intense and unique call, different than any other bird you’ve heard, chances are it’s a Meadowlark. If you get the chance, pull over and just listen. You’ll often see them sitting perched on fence posts singing away to the audience of others. Sometimes you may not be able to see the bird as they are on the ground foraging and blending into the surroundings perfectly, but the real treat to this bird is its call. One of the most beautiful sounds in nature, no instrument required, just seeds, bugs, and a wonderful set of lungs.

Star Party at Glacier Park

   ~Amy Grisak

Glacier National Park’s night sky is more spectacular with the installation of the new telescope observatory at the St. Mary Visitor Center. Slated to explore the cosmos by the beginning of July, it will offer a magnificent perspective of this precious resource.

“Anyone who has camped out gets to see something we don’t see during the days,” says Doug Mitchell, executive director of the Glacier National Park Conservancy, the non-profit arm of the Glacier National Park that spearheaded the funding for the project. “There’s something extra special about the night sky.”

More than two-thirds of the population has never viewed the Milky Way, so for many visitors to Glacier, this is their first time experiencing the magic of the night sky. The new telescope and observatory will give them a deeper perspective into this complex realm above us.

The Logan Pass star parties, held once a month from July to September, allow visitors to feel like they can practically touch the stars from the perspective at over 6600 ft. Several days a week throughout the summer, volunteer and NPS astronomers set up telescopes in the parking areas of the Apgar and St. Mary Visitor Center several nights a week, giving visitors a tour of the cosmos. The observatory in St. Mary expands this vision with big screens situated on the observatory itself displaying what the powerful telescope sees.

“Our telescope is a PlaneWave 20inch CDK, and that will tour around the night sky on top of a Paramount ME II robotic telescope mount. We will use a MallinCam SkyRaider DS16C. 3 to feed two 55-inch monitors mounted on the outside of the observatory with high resolution images of the night sky,” says Lee Rademaker, astronomy coordinator for the Hudson Bay District of Glacier.

For those who aren’t in tune with telescope specifications, this means they’ll be able to see into deep space far beyond what even the large, portable telescopes they currently use can view.

“This is a matter of being able to share this gift with more people. With the observatory, we will be able to magnify that,” says Mitchell.

Providing this unique experience is part of why the GNPC is passionate about the astronomy programs. They also supported the efforts of the NPS in their successful quest for Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park to be designation as the first international Dark Sky park from the International Dark Sky Association. This status recognizes their efforts, and continued progress, on adjusting lighting to reduce light pollution.

“We need to protect this resource that was given to us,” says Mitchell. “To be able to protect it is quite a gift.”

Beyond the summer programs, Mitchell says they are continually working on more distance learning outreach for educational programs throughout the country and the world.

“We’d love (for the observatory) to be part of that. We’re not done,” he says.

To learn more about the specific dates and times for the astronomy programs within the park, go to https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/nature/night-sky.htm. And for information on the many projects of the GNPC, visit their site at https://glacier.org.

NATIONAL PARK Service Areas
   ~Visit Mt

There's more to Montana's National Parks than Glacier and Yellowstone. In fact, Montana has a total of nine National Park Service areas. Explore everything from historic battlefields to natural wonders across all corners of Big Sky Country.

Find a National Park Service area by clicking below.

1. Glacier National Park

2. Yellowstone National Park

3. Nez Perce National Historical Park

4. Big Hole National Battlefield

5. Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site

6. Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

7. Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site

8. Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

9. Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

5 Tips for hiking in Bear Country

  ~Montana Wilderness Association

I was awestruck as the large mother grizzly charged toward me. She was a beautiful creature with thick silvery fur and a huge head, and as I gaped at her, mesmerized by her beauty, a small voice in the back of my mind screamed at me to react. But I couldn’t - I was enthralled. When the bear was only a few feet from my passenger-side window, she wheeled around and ran into the forest following her two small cubs, both of whom had the same markings as she.  

My hiking partner and I had been driving a narrow Forest Service road in the Whitefish Range, traveling to a trailhead a few miles from the Canadian border, when we rounded a curve and encountered the sow and cubs. Our unexpected presence in this remote area startled them and precipitated the bluff charge, which accomplished its goal of giving the cubs time to escape.  This was a mother’s natural reaction to a perceived danger to her babies. Luckily, I was in a vehicle.

This wild public land west of Glacier National Park is home to a large number of grizzlies. They’re the iconic species that makes this place special, and we have the pleasure of living and hiking in their home. While we’re enjoying our wild places, it’s important that we remember that bears are present, and they’re just doing the things that bears do: eating, sleeping, mating, and raising their young. They are the creatures who rule this landscape, and it’s up to us to behave with respect.

Acting respectfully can reduce conflict, but it’s still smart to be prepared and alert when you venture into grizzly country. I’ve seen over 75 grizzly bears in the past 38 years and they’ve always tried to get as far away from me as possible, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop being vigilant. 

Here are some things to remember when hiking in grizzly country

1. Keep your bear spray handy

Always carry bear spray, and make sure it’s accessible. Don’t keep it in your backpack - a charging bear won’t wait for you to find it. Make sure that the expiration date has not passed. Bear spray is a more effective bear deterrent than a firearm, so carry it at all times when you’re in bear county.

2. Know how to use it

If you see a bear, don’t run. Most of the time, the bear will run away from you. In the unlikely event that it does charge, stand your ground and don’t fire your bear spray until the bear is within 20 feet of you. Spray toward its feet, moving the can back and forth. The spray will float upward, forming an evil-smelling wall between you and the bear. One whiff of this highly concentrated pepper spray and the bear will be gone.

3. Know your bear etiquette

Again, don’t run from the bear. Stay calm, and move away slowly and sideways (you’re more likely to trip if you back up). Speak in low, soothing tones to indicate that you’re not a threat. Make yourself look as large as possible, but don’t make eye contact, which can be interpreted as aggressive behavior.

Some people have escaped bears by climbing trees, while others have been pulled out of trees by bears. Generally, climbing isn’t recommended. Climbing a tree takes time, which you probably won’t have, and bears can climb better than you can. 

Playing dead should be your last resort, only to be employed if you can't avoid an attack. While this technique has worked for some people, being passive while a huge grizzly bear towers over you takes more courage than most of us have. (Note:  Don’t play dead if it’s a black bear. Fight back instead.)

4. Travel in groups

This is probably the simplest and best way to avoid bear attacks: bears are far less likely to attack a group of three or more. Always make noise when hiking, especially when the visibility is not good, you’re hiking into the wind, or when natural sounds like water might cover your approach. Talking or singing are more effective than bear bells. Remember, bears generally want to avoid you, and will do so if you give them the chance. I have often wondered how many bears have heard me coming and melted into the brush as I passed by. 

Don’t let fear of grizzlies keep you from experiencing the backcountry. Bear attacks are unusual, and by being respectful and prepared, you’ll reduce the likelihood of an unpleasant encounter even further. 

Remember that when we’re in the backcountry, we are visitors in the bear’s home. We should respect their space like a good guest and aspire to give up the notion that humans are the dominant species. If we’re prepared and alert in bear country, we can continue to safely enjoy the wild places where these creatures live and rule.

- Debo Powers is a longtime MWA board member. She lives in Polebridge, Montana.