Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site ⓘ

"It was a beautiful stream, the water clear and sparkling and alive with the finest trout, and the same was true of every spring we crossed. The valley was full of antelope and many head of fat cattle belonging to the mountaineers who lived there." Conrad Kohrs on Deer Lodge Valley upon arriving in 1862

This quote describes how Conrad Kohrs viewed the valley in 1862. Since that time, the valley has experienced many challenges including mining, timber harvest, development of towns and cities, and the pinnacle and gradual demise of the open range cattle era. However, Conrad Kohrs description is not a far cry from how one may describe the area today. Ranching still plays a large part in the local economy, wildlife are abundant, and even the fisheries are making a gradual comeback after years of pollution from mining practices.

Here at Grant-Kohrs Ranch, we try to maintain this historic landscape while providing recreation, protecting native flora and fauna, and controlling the breeding and health of the livestock.

Grant-Kohrs Ranch provides excellent grazing for horses and cattle. Chicks raised in the brooder house eventually graduate to the chicken coop. Cat and dog doors in barns give access to these working animals which, nonetheless are also well-loved pets.

This doesn’t represent the sum of animals at the ranch, though. The same grazing enjoyed by our livestock is used by deer and the occasional elk or moose. Creeks, marshes and the Clark Fork River harbor trout and whitefish. Surrounding willows provide rich and varied habitat for beaver, muskrat, fox, skunks, raccoons and coyote. More than 230 species of birds pass through seasonally or live on the ranch year-round. Great blue heron, bald and golden eagles, chickadees, magpies, geese, ducks and several species of woodpeckers are among our regular residents.

Agricultural land is a vast refuge for wildlife. The 1600 acres of the ranch and the 3675 acres of the conservation easement to the west will be vital to the survival of many species in the area, as other habitat is lost to development.

At least 35 species of mammals have been observed within the 1,600 acres of Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. Being a working cattle ranch, the most popular of the park's mammals are the cattle, horses, and ranch cats. However, the history of early day ranching is not all that is being preserved here at the ranch. The various habitats that comprised the ranch in the late 1800s are also intact. These habitats provide environments for many other mammal species to live and prosper.

The many pastures around the ranch not only support the cattle herds and horses, but white-tailed deer, mule deer, and columbian ground squirrels can often be spotted by visitors. Early in the morning or late in the day, red fox can be seen on occasion running through the fields.

Several species of mammals depend upon the Clark Fork River and the surrounding riparian area as an important habitat and food source. Beaver, muskrat, moose, and river otter can occasionally be seen within the river and surrounding habitat. On summer evenings, careful study of the sky may reveal flying hunters such as big brown bats, hoary bats, little brown bats, fringed myotis and long-legged bats. These species feed on thousands of insects each night.

Many mammals on the ranch are rarely seen. Tracks and scat are the most common signs of an animals presence. Sometimes in the early morning, coyotes can be heard howling off in the distance. It's also easy to tell when one of the resident skunks has been around just by the smell.

Some other mammals that use the ranch are elk, pronghorn, black bear, mountain cottontail, porcupine, yellow pine chipmunk, northern pocket gopher, northern water shrew, vagrant shrew, masked shrew, montane shrew, western jumping mouse, deer mouse, house mouse, montane vole, and meadow vole.

Grant Kohrs Ranch offers over 10 miles of trails to explore. There are several interconnected routes, allowing visitors to choose their own adventure. There are two distinct areas of trails, allowing access from either side of the ranch. The areas connect via the Clark Fork River Bridge, but the hours, parking area and pet access are different for each. No potable water or restrooms are available on the trails.

Mornings like this one are a great time to view birds as you walk the trails. NPS Photo The Home Ranch Open 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Memorial Day through Labor Day, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm the rest of the year. The parking lot gate will be locked at closing time. Accessed from the main parking lot near the Visitor Center, this parking area offers restrooms and access to staff at the Visitor Center for information and maps. This area of the ranch was settled by Johnny Grant and then sold to Conrad Kohrs, who turned it into the headquarters of the historic CK Ranch. The trails take you near the many of the historic buildings on the ranch. No pets are allowed beyond the Visitor Center parking area. Begin on the Visitor Center trail and travel west toward the historic buildings. There are interpretive waysides and displays in and around the historic buildings.

The Nature Trail winds through stands of trees, where many species of birds and wildlife make their homes. NPS Photo/ Bruce Wright Nature Trail The Nature Trail can be easily accessed from the Visitor Center Trail. Walk about ¼ mile west from the Visitor Center, just west of the 2 nd railroad trestle. The trailhead kiosk is on the south side of the visitor center trail.

One of several interpretive wayside signs connecting the history of the area to the Superfund Remediation along the Clark Fork River. Toxic soil was removed, new soil brought in, and new vegetation has been planted to restore the natural environment. Walk the trail to learn more. NPS Photo Superfund Interpretive Trail Located just east of the Clark Fork River Bridge, the Superfund Interpretive Trail is an approximately .2 mi long.

Enjoy this newly developed trail that will help explain why you see new vegetation in the newly remediated area along the river. Learn how mining pollution up-stream affected the area, see an example of contaminated soil and learn more about the superfund remediation.

The trails can be enjoyed through all seasons. NPS Photo/ Michael Oestreich The West Range Open dawn to dusk.

The Big Gulch Trail follows the ridge to the west as a summer storm gathers over Mount Powell. NPS Photo Big Gulch Trail The Big Gulch Trail offers a moderately strenuous hike, 2.3 miles roundtrip, with approximately 120 feet of elevation gain/loss. It also offers some of the most sweeping views available on the ranch, especially when walked counter-clockwise. This is also home to many varieties of wildflowers.

Begin at the Washington Street Trailhead and walk the trail north for .61 miles. Turn west at the base of the bench and walk up a slight incline, following the ridge. Follow the trail as it goes west, then gradually circles southwest, around the gulch for 1.36 miles. Then take left path to continue to the east to complete the loop. Enjoy the sweeping views as the trail makes a significant decline back near the start of the loop.

The Nature Trail can be easily accessed from the Visitor Center Trail. Walk about ¼ mile west from the Visitor Center, just west of the 2 nd railroad trestle. The trailhead kiosk is on the south side of the visitor center trail. With little elevation change, the Nature Trail provides an opportunity to take stroll along and view many birds and other wildlife. The trail meanders thru a grove of willows and cottonwood trees as it circles around an irrigated hay meadow to Cottonwood Creek. After following the creek to the confluence of the Clark Fork River, it turns north along the river for approximately .5 miles to Cattle Drive. From this junction, there are options to follow the river to the Superfund Site Interpretive trail, follow cattle drive to the West Range Trails, or east to return to the parking area.

Open dawn to dusk. The west range of the ranch provides a peaceful walk through natural grasslands and wildflowers as well as near irrigated hay meadows. Wildlife such as deer, moose, and several species of birds can be enjoyed as you walk through the fields. The trails through the west range of the ranch can be accessed from the Washington Street Trailhead. From main street in Deer Lodge, turn west at the traffic light, onto Milwaukee Street. Travel west on Milwaukee across the Clark Fork River bridge. Washington Street is the 3 rd street to the right. Turn right onto Washington Street and travel north until it ends at the trailhead parking area. Pets on leash are allowed on these trails, west of the Clark Fork River. There are no restrooms or water available at this trailhead.