Welcome to the Pryors.
Big Pryor and East Pryor Mountains as seen from the Bighorn Mountains. Devils Canyon in the foreground. (Dick Walton photo)
Welcome to our Virtual Visitor's Center for the Pryor Mountains. And welcome to the Pryors. If you are not already familiar with the Pryors, we hope this website will introduce you to a very special piece of the Montana landscape. If you already know the Pryors, we hope this website will remind you of wonderful times you have spent there. Maybe our website will give you some new understanding of the Pryors - or maybe your knowledge of the Pryors can add to our understanding and help improve the website.
In either case we hope you will visit the Pryors to experience this enchanted island range above the prairie. Travel gently whether on foot, horse, mountain bike, skis, or motor vehicle. Travel slowly. Be sure to get out of (or off of) your vehicle (motorized or not) to watch wildlife, birds, flowers, butterflies; to study the geology or botany; to consider the over ten thousand years of human cultural history; or to just sit quietly and enjoy spectacular views and the solitude. Do not hurry home.
We hope you will join us in our attempt to preserve this natural treasure for visitors many decades into the future. Help us encourage the federal land managers to increase their efforts to protect the Pryors from abusive activities and other threats. Encourage development of management plans that better preserve the unique landscape and ecosystems, and the opportunities for all respectful visitors to enjoy this special landscape.
Driving to and through the Pryor Mountains - Vehicle access to the Pryors without 4WD
Hiking in the Pryors - Trail guides for many and diverse hikes
Natural History:
Flora - Wildflowers, Botanical Hot Spot, Botanical Guide, and more.
Fauna - Birds, Butterflies, Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians.
Geology - Vermillion Valley Geology, and a self-guided geology driving tour.
Cultural History:
Archaeology - Tipi Rings, Vision Quest, and Cave Sites.
Apsaalooke (Crow) - Two Videos: Crow Sacred Landscape, and How We See It.
"Should the Pryors be designated as a National Monument ??" Currently most of the public land in the Pryors is managed by the Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) according to typical USFS and BLM management policies. Some people think this small island in the prairie is sufficiently important culturally and ecologically that this landscape should be more carefully protected for the future with National Monument designation or something similar. Tell us what you think. Click here.