Blackfoot Valley Notes
Independent notes on Ovando, Montana and the Blackfoot Valley.
Ovando is a ranching town of about 80 people on the Big Blackfoot River, at the southern edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. This site collects short, sourced articles about its history, the people and events connected to it, and what there is to do in the valley through the year.
Articles
Ovando, Montana: A Short History of a Blackfoot Valley Town
How Ovando, Montana got its name, why the railroad never came, what the 1919 fire changed, and how a town of about 80 people became a stop for anglers and cyclists.
The 1964 Montana Centennial Train: Montana Goes to the World’s Fair
In 1964 Montana sent a train of exhibit cars, horses and about 300 boosters across the country to the New York World’s Fair. Here is how the Montana Centennial Train came about and where it went.
Things to Do Around Ovando, Season by Season
A seasonal guide to the Ovando area of Montana: fly-fishing the Blackfoot River, trails into the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the Great Divide bike route, and winter skiing and snowmobiling.
Ovando and the Tour Divide: A Small Town on a 2,700-Mile Bike Race
Every June the Tour Divide riders pass through Ovando, Montana on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Here is how the race works and why this small town became a favourite stop.
About this site
Blackfoot Valley Notes is an independent site. It is not affiliated with any business in Ovando. This domain previously belonged to a local inn; that business has its own website, and this site is not connected to it.
Looking for the Ovando Inn? Visit its official website at ovandoinnmt.com.