Living in Three Forks

Three Forks is a small town of about 2,000 people at the western edge of the Gallatin Valley, located where the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin Rivers come together to form the Missouri River (hence the name Three Forks). Just off Interstate 90 about 30 miles west of Bozeman, it offers a slower pace, a historic main street anchored by the beautiful Sacajawea Hotel and some of the most reasonable home prices in Gallatin County, while still being commutable distance to Bozeman, Belgrade and the airport.

Homes range from early-1900s houses in the original town site to newer developed neighborhoods like Wheatland Meadows, Westside Trails and the Village at Elk Ridge, plus homes on more acreage in areas such as Ponderosa Pines to the north and Rolling Glen Ranch. There is also a larger supply of land for buyers who want to build in this area than closer to Bozeman. The surrounding Clarkston and Toston areas add rural homes, ranch land and wide-open views.

Getting Around

Distances are approximate. Three Forks also has its own small paved and lighted airport for private pilots.

Rivers, Trails and State Parks

• Missouri Headwaters State Park - the Missouri River starts right here, where Lewis and Clark camped in 1805. The park has trails, picnic areas, a small campground and river access.
• Headwaters Trail System - an easy paved rail-trail of about 13 miles that runs through town along the old Milwaukee Road corridor to the state park and west to the Drouillard Fishing Access.
• Three great rivers right here - the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin all meet here, with fishing, floating and fishing access sites available around town.
• Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park - this is Montana's first state park and one of the largest limestone caves in the Northwest, offering guided cave tours and camping.
• Madison Buffalo Jump State Park - a dramatic limestone cliff used for bison hunts for nearly 2,000 years, along with a short hike to sweeping views of the Madison Valley.

A Little History

The Lewis and Clark Expedition reached the three forks of the Missouri on July 28, 1805, and Meriwether Lewis named the rivers for Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Albert Gallatin. Sacagawea, who traveled along with the expedition, had been captured near this spot years earlier. Three Forks was founded in 1908 by John Q. Adams, an agent for the Milwaukee Land Company, and Adams also built the Sacajawea Hotel in 1910. It welcomes guests with a restaurant and bar on Main Street and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Nearby, the Headwaters Heritage Museum tells the rest of the story.

Schools

Three Forks Schools serve kindergarten through 12th grade right in town with about 800 students in all.

Homes in outlying areas may fall in other districts, so always confirm the schools for a specific address before you buy.

Small-Town Life

Residents of Three Forks have the everyday basics of groceries, restaurants, a library, medical and dental offices, a golf course and a volunteer ambulance service close to home. Popular community events like Three Forks Rodeo Days happen each July, and the whole town celebrates along with visitors who come from all over the world to experience the authentic small town western vibe.