Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge,

We found Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge at the end of an hour-long dirt road in the far southwest corner of Montana – and one of the state’s most remote spots. Arriving in the early afternoon, we snagged a cheap (and basic) campsite, swatted a lot of mosquitoes, and went bird watching. The shallow lakes that make up the heart of the refuge are home to resident and migratory waterfowl; at sunset their cries create a remarkable cacophony. While the lakes are pretty, the wide valley they are set in is especially scenic, and the Centennial Mountains which rise directly south of the lake are spectacular.