Ninepipes Lodge & Allentown Restaurant
Ninepipes Lodge and Allentown Restaurant offers majestic Rocky Mountain views. Our close proximity to Glacier National Park, the National Bison Range, and Flathead Lake offers a variety of entertainment options. Our ideal location on Highway 93 at the Ninepipes Reservoir is 40 minutes from Missoula and 20 minutes from the lake.
Here at Ninepipes, we offer a true Montana vacation experience. Let us welcome you with our Mission Valley hospitality!
Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge
Waterfowl numbers vary through the year. The Mission Valley is located between the Pacific Flyway, found more to the west, and the Central Flyway, which is over the Continental Divide to the east. So Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge rarely sees very large numbers of birds during migration. The birds seem to come in waves – such as a flock of 100 tundra swans for a few days before they move on, then the next week it might be the western grebes, then redheads, then coots, and so on. You can access the bird checklist with notes of habitat and seasons.
Ninepipe NWR closes to public access during hunting season to allow a resting area for the birds.
Read more about Ninepipes National Wildlife Refuge
National Bison Range
The National Bison Range is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It was established in 1908 and is one of the oldest Wildlife Refuges in the nation. A large portion of the 18, 500 acre Range consists of native Palouse prairie; forests, wetlands, and streams are also found here providing a wide range of habitats for wildlife. Elk, deer, pronghorn, black bear, coyote and ground squirrels are just some of the mammals that share the area with 350 to 500 bison. Over 200 species of birds also call this home including eagles, hawks, meadowlarks, bluebirds, ducks, and geese.
Visitor Center
The best place to start your visit is at the Visitor Center. Here you will find informative displays and handouts, restrooms, videos, a bookstore, and staff to answer your questions. Pay entrance fees here.
Auto Tours
Prairie Drive/West Loop: a 5-mile gravel road that travels through the flats. It is open to trailers and large RVs. It goes by the Bison Display Pasture. Plan for 1/2 hour. Open year round.
