The Pryor Mountains
The Pryor Mountains
Nestled between the Beartooth and Bighorn Mountains, and the land of the Crow, lie the Pryor Mountains.
The Amazing Pryor Mountains of Montana: A Visual Journey
We’re excited to share a new video offering a breathtaking look at the Pryor Mountains, one of Montana’s most rugged and awe-inspiring landscapes.
In this short feature, Mike Penfold narrates the story of this geologically and culturally rich region, with stunning drone footage captured by Ryan Willett. From sweeping views of cliffs and canyons to quiet valleys full of story, this video offers a glimpse into a place both wild and sacred.
We hope you enjoy this beautiful tribute to one of Montana’s hidden treasures.
Never covered by glaciers, this region hosts unique ecological systems—home to plants and animals found in both northern and southern habitats. Jagged limestone canyons rip through the land and beckon to the adventurer, just as they once did to the first people who migrated from the north and found shelter in the numerous caves.
Vision quest sites of the old ones are still used by the Crow today, as they seek spiritual guidance. Wild horses roam freely here, carrying the genes of their Spanish forebears. Tough as the terrain, they survive the icy bite of winter winds.
For us today, the Pryor Mountains offer a rare opportunity—to learn, to explore, to experience, and to conserve.
The Pryors are managed by the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the Crow Tribe of Indians. This layered jurisdiction creates fractured protection and complicates long-term management.
Over the past decade, the Forest Service and BLM launched planning efforts to chart the conservation future of the Pryors. Our Montana, working in collaboration with the Pryors Coalition, was deeply involved. Roads and trails were walked, cultural sites identified, ecologists consulted, meetings attended, testimony delivered, and many written comments submitted to the agencies.
The resulting agency plans reflect a positive impact—much success. Areas with wilderness characteristics were expanded. But the work is not over. Ongoing diligence, monitoring, and cooperative relationships with the agencies and the Crow Tribe remain critical.
For those wishing to explore, learn more, or plan a visit, excellent information is available at the Pryors Coalition website: pryormountains.org
