Located in the foothills of the Continental Divide, in the extreme southwest portion of Montana near the Montana-Idaho border, is the small mountain community of Lakeview. Lakeview had its origins as a town built for freighters and railroad workers who depended on the Utah and Northern Railroad in the 1880s. Fifty to sixty people lived in the town and nearly that many more in a two or three mile radius. Nothing was considered permanent; and carpenters added and removed new buildings, depending on the needs of the constantly changing population. In the fall of 1880 the railroad moved its construction base to a site that is now known as Dillon.
Lakeview is surrounded by the Beaverhead National Forest and Red Rocks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. At Red Rock Lake National Wildlife Refuge the Centennial Mountains rise steeply to the south providing a scenic atmosphere. Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1935 to protect the rare trumpeter swan. Today, the Refuge continues to be one of the most important habitats in North America for these majestic birds. Here you will find abundant opportunities to hike, fish, take pictures, and observe a variety of wildlife and flowers, but at our 6,600-foot elevation, we recommend sturdy footwear, warm clothing, rain gear, and good binoculars and spotting scope for optimum enjoyment.
