Around Choteau

A Lazy H Outfitters is located just outside of Choteau in north central Montana. Choteau sits 20 miles east of the Rocky Mountain Front and 50 miles west of Great Falls.  The mountain front is the beginning of the Lewis & Clark National Forest.   It is at the junction of US Highways 89 and 287. US 89 is commonly called the "Park to Park" highway as it goes from Yellowstone Park in the south to Glacier Park in the north.  The town's charming Main Street includes shops and restaurants (and only one stop light), which provide a nice stopping point for travelers in the area.

Dinosaurs

Old West History

The first Europeans to explore this part of the country were French fur trappers.  They named many of the local landmarks including the Teton River, Dupuyer, Choteau, and many other places.  The townsite evolved from the original name of a fur trapper and explorer named Pierre Cadet Chouteau Jr. In the mid-1800s, Chouteau Jr. established Fort Benton as the last fur-trading post on the Missouri River about 150 miles east of us.  Choteau originated as a fort (stockade) and Indian agency, known as "Old Agency," [referred to as the "Four Persons" Agency by the Blackfeet Nation] north of the present townsite 1868-1876 near the Teton River. By 1876 the Blackfeet Reservation boundary was changed and the agency was relocated north of Birch Creek on Badger Creek, (the Running Crane Agency.) In 1880 Old Agency was a hamlet of white men who had married Native American women, some Blackfeet, and some Metis who lived there with their mixed-blood children.  By 1883 the current townsite was established at the "Big Bend" of the Teton River and pioneering stores were established. 

Today the area around Choteau is rich in early American West history. The remote nature and low population density have kept many early buildings, landmarks, and other historical sites largely visible.

Glacier and Yellowstone Parks

Choteau is strategically placed midway between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, two of the premier park destinations in the West. Many of our guests tie a visit to one or both of these parks to their wilderness summer pack trip with us.

Lodging and Restaurants

Choteau has several highly regarded lodging and restaurant establishments.  The Stage Stop Inn is a remodeled hotel with modern amenities and centrally located in proximity to all of our facilities.  We recommend staying here the night before your trip departs.  The proprietors are local families like ours, and meet you with the western warmth and hospitality. While the Haas' take care of you on your pack trip, many of our guests want to arrive a day or two before the trip, or stay after, to explore the area. There certainly are plenty of opportunities nearby to keep you busy.

Choteau has been at the forefront of the old-west settlement since the 1860's and has seen its share of settlers, trappers, cowboys, and Indians as history has unfolded. The first fort (stockade) and Indian agency, known as "Old Agency," [referred to as the "Four Persons" Agency by the Blackfeet Nation] was located from 1868-1876 near the Teton River, three miles north of the present city of Choteau. By 1876 the Blackfeet Reservation boundary was changed and the agency was relocated north of Birch Creek on Badger Creek, (the Running Crane Agency.) In 1880 Old Agency was a hamlet of white men who had married Native American women, some Blackfeet, and some Metis who lived there with their mixed-blood children. In 1883 the land around Old Agency was sold and Isaac Hazlett platted the townsite of Choteau three miles south and moved the Hamilton and Hazlett store there.