Roaming The Country - The Missouri Breaks

There is a homestead and pieces and parts of abandoned machinery near the banks of the river. One structure is built into a hillside with dirt covering everything except the front entrance and windows. An old well is still open, so watch your step. Previous travelers have thrown lumber across the opening, but those are not permanent covers.

Past the homestead, the road eventually reaches the riverbanks. Cow Island and some smaller islands can be seen in the river. The island is very large. The river flows on both sides of it even though the other fork of the river is hidden by the island and cannot be seen from the road.

Lone Writer spent several hours in the area. The road continues on but is washed out and too narrow for anything wider than an ATV. Hiking the road provides an easy way to step a little deeper into a wilderness experience. For most visitors, the wilderness experience within the river basin accessible by the road will be enough.

For those who would like to get up-close and personal with the river, rafting may be the right choice. A couple of years back, Lone Writer and his friend, Caveman, put a raft in at the Power Plant Ferry location and floated to the Kipp Recreation Area. They had a vehicle parked at the exit point so they could drive back to get the vehicle left at the ferry landing.

There are also tour companies in Fort Benton that provide a river experience. Lone Writer did not make it there to check them out, but several references on the Internet point in that direction.

Larry E. Heck has been writing backcountry adventure stories since 1985. Some of the newer e-book products in the Campfire Tales series can be found at his website, www.lone-writer.com. The site also contains Campfire Tales written decades ago. If you have an idea for a historic backcountry trail that you think Larry should consider, write to larry@lone-writer.com or call (303) 349-9937.

Historic markers can be found along Highway 191 at the Kipp Recreation Area.

The road going away from the ferry dock runs along the river then climbs quickly to the level plains above.

Go past the intersection for Landusky. Continue south to the first major gravel road going right. Mailboxes are on the corner. This road is between Mile Posts 1 and 2. It is 1.4 miles from the intersection of Hwy. 66 and Hwy. 191 where the historic markers are located.

Go back to the dirt road when leaving Hideaway Coulee. The rest of the road is easy. A sign marks the intersection for the Power Plant Trail going left and Bull Creek going right. Both are dead ends.