McCone County: Rivers, Reservoir and History

River landscapes, recreation at Fort Peck Reservoir, and regional history give McCone County a variety of travel highlights. Points of interest include recreation areas and campgrounds by the water, a museum with a regional history collection, and an annual community celebration in Circle. The locations differ in their facilities and possible activities: some have a boat ramp, while at others small boats can be launched from shore.

Rivers and Fort Peck Reservoir

The Redwater Fishing Access Site is located at the confluence of the Redwater River and the Missouri River. A notice dated December 3, 2025, described the Redwater Fishing Access Site as being designated exclusively for day use; check the conditions before you travel. This confluence was an important cultural place for Indigenous peoples. The site therefore combines a specific point of reference on the water with cultural significance that goes beyond recreational use.

The Flat Lake Recreation Area is in McCone County on Fort Peck Reservoir. The Flat Lake Access Site has camping facilities, a boat ramp, and a boat dock. A fish-stocked fishing pond is next to the site. The Flat Lake Campground is east of Fort Peck on Montana Highway 24. The similarly named locations have different emphases: camping is listed for the Access Site, while the Campground is described by its location on the highway.

Campgrounds on the Big Dry Arm

Nelson Creek Campground and McGuire Creek Campground are on the Big Dry Arm of Fort Peck Reservoir and are open year-round. Nelson Creek has 25 designated campsites, while McGuire Creek has 12. Both campgrounds have picnic tables and fire rings. The number of designated sites provides a specific basis for comparison, while the water access makes the two locations more distinct.

Nelson Creek Campground has a boat ramp; boating and fishing are possible there. At McGuire Creek Campground, small boats can be launched from shore, but there is no boat ramp. Fishing and wildlife viewing are also possible at McGuire Creek. When comparing these sites, you can therefore distinguish between one with a boat ramp for boating and fishing, and one offering a shore launch for small boats as well as the additional possibility of wildlife viewing.

Rock Creek Fishing Access Site is a state recreation area on Fort Peck Reservoir. About ten designated campsites are located on a hill above the shore. The number is explicitly approximate; site conditions and facilities may also change. Check the conditions and campsite information before you travel.

Regional History and Railroad Connections

The McCone County Museum was established in 1980 in a new steel building with a footprint of 80 by 80 feet. Its collection includes 7,000 historically significant objects from the region. The museum grounds also include the old Northern Pacific Depot and an old caboose. The collection and railroad structures offer different points of interest: the objects represent the region’s history, while the depot and caboose highlight the site’s railroad connections.

Route and Community Celebration

The 105-mile Big Sky Back Country Byway runs from Terry to Wolf Point. A visitor kiosk in Circle is also part of the byway. This provides a route with clearly named endpoints for trip planning, in addition to the individual places by the water; the kiosk in Circle is a separate point of reference. The route can be considered differently from a stay at an individual campground or access site.

Circle also hosts the Town & Country Appreciation Day, an annual community celebration with food and activities. If you’d like to include the celebration in your trip, check the date for your travel year. Together with the museum and the places by the water, it offers a range of regional history, community life, and recreational activities without reducing them to a single program.

Discover more destinations: Circle, Flathead, Beaverhead, Carbon County, Jefferson County, Granite, Broadwater, Valley County.

For the broader travel overview: Montana.