Western Montana State Parks Start Evening Programs

The Beavertail Hill State Park, 30 miles east of Missoula, will feature the biography of Charles M. Russell, famous Montana artist, as its first summer evening program this year.

The program starts at 8pm Friday evening. Author Richard Ellis of Stevensville, a retired history professor, will show slides of some of Charley Russell’s paintings and talk about the events that the artist captured, along with his career in the West. Ellis has a PhD in Western American History.

Take I-90 east of Missoula 26 miles and look for the Beavertail Hill Exit. Then follow the signs. (Or use your cell phone navigator.)

Saturday night, also at 8pm, the topic is bears at Salmon Lake State Park.

Renowned researcher Chuck Jonkel of the Great Bear Foundation in Missoula will talk about bear safety and identification. He’ll also present the challenges to bear populations today.

The Salmon Lake campground amphitheater is about 5 miles south of Seeley Lake, just off Highway 83.

The evening programs are free and more programs are planned throughout the summer. For more information, call FWP’s Chris Neu at (406) 240-0155.