Montana’s sprawling wilderness, with its dense forests, rugged mountains, and vast valleys, creates an ideal setting for tales of mysterious creatures. Among these, Bigfoot sightings in Montana stand out, captivating locals, researchers, and adventurers. Known as Sasquatch, this elusive, ape-like being is often described as a towering, hairy figure roaming the state’s untamed landscapes.
With over 55 documented Montana Bigfoot sightings, these accounts span decades, from early Native American legends to recent reports in 2024. This article delves into the history, investigations, and notable encounters of Bigfoot in Montana, alongside other cryptids and unexplained phenomena, offering a comprehensive exploration of this enduring mystery.
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Montana Bigfoot Sightings
Montana’s reputation as a hotspot for Bigfoot sightings in Montana stems from its vast, untouched wilderness. The state ranks 31st in the U.S. for Sasquatch reports, with approximately 55 credible sightings documented by the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO).
These encounters, concentrated in western counties like Missoula (17 sightings), Flathead (13), and Gallatin (10), describe a bipedal, hairy creature, often 7–9 feet tall, with a pungent odor and deep vocalizations.
Witnesses, ranging from hunters to hikers, report fleeting glimpses, massive footprints, tree breaks, and eerie howls in areas like Lolo National Forest and the Bitterroot Mountains. These Montana Bigfoot sightings fuel local lore, blending Native American traditions with modern cryptozoology.
Table of Reported Sightings
Below is a detailed table of some of the most documented Bigfoot sightings in Montana, sourced from the BFRO database and other credible reports, organized chronologically from 1971 to 2024.
Each entry includes the date, witness (using real names where available, otherwise noting “unnamed”), location, and a precise description of the encounter.
| Date | Witness | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 1971 | Unnamed witness | Stillwater County, near Nye | A large, dark figure crossed a rural road at dusk, leaving no tracks. |
| Summer 1977 | Unnamed child | Rattlesnake Wilderness Area, Missoula County | A young rider saw a 7-foot creature with a conical head peeking from behind a tree. |
| October 1978 | Unnamed witness | Madison County, near Ennis | A tall, hairy figure was seen near a campsite, accompanied by a strong odor. |
| December 1979 | Unnamed witness | Richland County, near Sidney | An ape-like figure was spotted in a remote field, moving swiftly into trees. |
| March 1982 | Unnamed witness | Cascade County, near Great Falls | A bipedal creature was observed in a wooded area, leaving large footprints. |
| October 1984 | Unnamed witness | Roosevelt County, near Poplar | A tall, hairy figure was seen near a forest edge, emitting a low growl. |
| July 1989 | Unnamed witnesses | Flathead Reservation, Missoula County | Two loud, guttural vocalizations were heard near a tribal campsite. |
| September 1991 | Unnamed hunting guide | Bowls Creek, Ravalli County | A creature was seen crouching behind a root ball, standing over 8 feet tall. |
| August 2001 | Unnamed witness | Park County, near Livingston | A muscular, hairy figure was spotted on a trail, leaving 16-inch footprints. |
| June 2003 | Unnamed witness | Glacier County, near Cut Bank | A large, upright figure was seen crossing a remote meadow. |
| July 2004 | Unnamed woman | Missoula County, near Lolo | A bipedal creature was seen at the edge of a backyard, moving into the woods. |
| January 2005 | Unnamed witnesses | Missoula County, near Seeley Lake | Two men heard powerful, unearthly screams in a forested area. |
| September 2005 | Mr. and Mrs. Thornton | US Highway 93, Ravalli County | A 9-foot, reddish-brown creature sprinted across the highway in 3–4 steps. |
| September 2006 | Unnamed biologist | Ridge near Missoula, Missoula County | A bipedal figure was seen walking below a ridge, leaving no clear tracks. |
| January 2007 | Unnamed witness | Big Horn County, near Hardin | A large, hairy figure was spotted near a rural road at night. |
| August 2007 | Unnamed witness | Silver Bow County, near Butte | A tall, shaggy creature was seen in a wooded area, moving silently. |
| July 2008 | Unnamed couple | Near Alberton, Missoula County | A former officer and his wife heard unknown screams on their property. |
| October 2010 | Unnamed witness | Granite County, near Philipsburg | A large, bipedal figure was seen near a trail, leaving broken branches. |
| March 2012 | Unnamed fisherman | Flathead River near Paradise, Missoula County | A 15-inch footprint with dermal ridges was found near the riverbank. |
| June 2012 | Unnamed witness | Carbon County, near Red Lodge | A tall, hairy creature was seen near a campground, emitting a high-pitched howl. |
| July 2012 | Unnamed veterinarian | Near Missoula, Missoula County | A family saw a large, upright creature during a morning hike. |
| November 2012 | Unnamed witness | Broadwater County, near Townsend | A hairy figure was seen near a rural road, moving into dense brush. |
| May 2015 | Unnamed retired soldier | Between Helena and Great Falls, Lewis and Clark County | A black, bipedal figure was seen walking 4 miles away through binoculars. |
| December 2017 | Unnamed witness | Sanders County, near Thompson Falls | A muscular creature was seen near a lake, leaving large tracks. |
| June 2018 | Unnamed family of three | Lolo National Forest, Missoula County | Campers reported stalking, rock-throwing, and a tent being dragged. |
| March 2019 | Unnamed witness | Jefferson County, near Boulder | A bipedal creature was spotted near a trail, accompanied by a foul smell. |
| April 2020 | Unnamed witness | Mineral County, near Superior | Strange vocalizations and a tall figure were reported in a remote area. |
| September 2024 | Unnamed witness | Lincoln County, near Libby | A hairy creature was seen near a forest edge, moving swiftly uphill. |
| October 2024 | Unnamed tribal members | Rocky Boy Indian Reservation, Hill County | A creature was seen and recorded near Sandy Creek Rd, with large footprints. |
Note: The additional 26 sightings, reported between 1972 and 2023, lack precise witness names or detailed accounts but are documented in the BFRO database, involving similar descriptions of large, hairy figures, tracks, and vocalizations in counties like Lake, Ravalli, and Gallatin.
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Investigation Efforts in Montana
The pursuit of Bigfoot sightings in Montana involves a range of investigators, from national organizations to local enthusiasts and tribal communities. The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO), founded in 1995, leads these efforts, maintaining a rigorous database of sightings.
BFRO investigators, such as Caitlin and Thomas Ertz, have conducted field studies in areas like Lolo National Forest, examining evidence like broken trees and footprints.
For instance, their 2018 investigation in Missoula County confirmed environmental anomalies but lacked conclusive proof. The BFRO classifies reports into Class A (clear sightings) and Class B (indirect evidence), ensuring only credible accounts are published.
Beyond the BFRO, Sasquatch Watch of Montana, led by Pete Wilson, focuses on local reports, particularly on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Wilson’s team has investigated sightings in Poplar and Frazer, collaborating with tribal members to document vocalizations and tracks.
In 2016, they reported a possible nesting site near Wolf Point, though DNA analysis of hair samples identified bear origins. The Montana Vortex and House of Mystery near Glacier National Park, operated by Joe Hauser, also serves as a hub for undocumented sightings, with visitors reporting strange sensations and fleeting glimpses of a Sasquatch-like figure.
Tribal communities, particularly the Blackfeet and Salish, contribute significantly to investigations. The Blackfeet Nation has shared oral histories of Iskomi-skai, a hairy man-like creature, with modern reports on the Rocky Boy Reservation prompting community-led searches. In 2024, tribal members recorded a blurry video near Sandy Creek Road, analyzed by local elders but not yet verified.
Additionally, independent researchers like Thomas Marcum, a cryptozoologist, have explored Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains, using thermal imaging and audio recordings to capture potential Sasquatch activity. Despite these efforts, skeptics note that misidentifications of bears, moose, or natural phenomena remain plausible explanations, highlighting the challenge of securing definitive evidence.
Detailed Case Studies
June 2018, Missoula County: Lolo National Forest Stalking Incident
In June 2018, a family of three camping in Lolo National Forest near Bonner, Montana, experienced a harrowing encounter. The family, who requested anonymity, reported to the BFRO that their campsite was disturbed over two nights. On the first night, they heard heavy footsteps circling their tent, followed by rocks striking the canvas.
The next morning, they found large rocks in their latrine and noticed young trees snapped 6 feet off the ground, inconsistent with local wildlife behavior. On the second night, their son’s tent was dragged several feet toward a berm, leaving clear skid marks. The family described a pervasive sense of being watched and heard a low, guttural growl.
BFRO investigators Caitlin and Thomas Ertz visited the site, noting the area’s recent wildfire damage but no bear activity. They classified the report as Class B due to the lack of a visual sighting but confirmed the physical evidence as compelling.
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Summer 1977, Missoula County: Rattlesnake Wilderness Encounter
In 1977, a 10- or 11-year-old child riding horseback in the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area near Missoula had a direct encounter. The witness, who remained anonymous, reported to the BFRO that while riding alone, they spotted a creature peeking from behind a tree, approximately 7–8 feet tall with a conical head and dark, shaggy fur. The creature stared briefly before retreating silently, prompting the child to turn their horse and flee.
The witness later recalled hearing gravelly screams near the Clark Fork River on separate occasions, which they linked to the creature. They noted that their grandparents had seen a similar figure in Swan Valley decades earlier, suggesting a generational pattern.
BFRO investigators classified this as a Class A report due to the clear visual encounter and the witness’s detailed recollection, despite the lack of physical evidence.
September 2005, Ravalli County: Highway 93 Sighting
On a September evening in 2005, Mr. and Mrs. Thornton, a trucker couple, witnessed a remarkable event on US Highway 93 between Conner and Sula in Ravalli County.
Around 7–8 p.m., they saw a 9-foot, reddish-brown creature sprint across the highway in 3–4 strides, moving from a mountainside to the Bitterroot River’s brush. The creature, described as heavily muscled with long, flowing hair and a conical head, moved at an extraordinary speed.
Mr. Thornton, familiar with Montana’s wildlife from his work at Glacier National Park, insisted it was neither a bear nor a human. The couple reported the sighting to the BFRO, where investigator David Petti confirmed their account, noting the clarity of the observation under dusk lighting.
This Class A report remains one of Montana’s most vivid Bigfoot sightings, supported by the couple’s consistent testimony and the absence of contradictory evidence.
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Bigfoot Sightings vs Other Cryptid Sightings in Montana
Montana’s cryptid landscape extends beyond Sasquatch, with other mysterious creatures enriching the state’s folklore.
Key examples include:
- Shunka Warak’in (Rocky Mountain Hyena): This wolf-like cryptid, named “carries off dogs” in Ioway, is described as having a hyena-like build with high shoulders and a sloped back. In 1886, Israel Ammon Hutchins shot a creature in Madison County, later displayed at the Madison Valley History Museum. Native American tales link it to livestock predation in counties like Dawson and Garfield. A 2018 DNA test identified a similar specimen as a gray wolf, but sightings persist, with no clear connection to Bigfoot.
- Flessie (Flathead Lake Monster): Since 1889, over 100 sightings of a serpentine creature in Flathead Lake have been reported, peaking with 13 in 1993. Described as 20–40 feet long with dark, eel-like skin, it was first noted by Captain James C. Kerr. Skeptics suggest misidentified sturgeon or optical illusions, but its cultural impact, including local festivals, is significant. Unlike Sasquatch, Flessie’s aquatic nature suggests no direct link.
- Thunderbird: Blackfoot lore describes a giant bird with a 12-foot wingspan. A 1879 sighting near Glacier National Park reported a massive, eagle-like creature with piercing eyes. These accounts differ from Bigfoot’s terrestrial nature but share a cultural fascination with the unknown.
- Wendigo: A tall, antlered creature from Plains Native traditions, the Wendigo is rarely reported in Montana but appears in stories of spiritual malevolence. No modern sightings connect it to Bigfoot.
Unexplained phenomena, such as electromagnetic anomalies at the Montana Vortex near Columbia Falls, add to the state’s mystique. Visitors report disorientation and sightings of shadowy figures, potentially linked to Sasquatch lore due to proximity to Glacier National Park.
The Cryptid Festival in Ennis celebrates these mysteries, drawing parallels between Bigfoot and other legends. While no direct evidence ties these cryptids together, their shared presence in Montana’s wilderness reflects a cultural narrative of unexplored frontiers.
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Conclusion
Bigfoot sightings in Montana weave a tapestry of mystery, blending Native American traditions with modern cryptozoological intrigue. From the 1971 Stillwater County sighting to the 2024 Rocky Boy Reservation encounter, these 55 reports highlight the enduring allure of the Sasquatch.
Detailed cases, like the 2018 Lolo National Forest incident, the 1977 Rattlesnake Wilderness sighting, and the 2005 Highway 93 crossing, showcase the vividness of Montana Bigfoot sightings.
Investigations by the BFRO, Sasquatch Watch of Montana, and tribal communities underscore a commitment to uncovering truth, despite skepticism about misidentifications. Other cryptids, like the Shunka Warak’in and Flessie, enrich Montana’s folklore, reflecting humanity’s fascination with the unknown.
Whether real or legendary, these stories invite exploration of Montana’s wild heart, where the possibility of an undiscovered creature continues to captivate.
