Broadview is a small town in south-central Montana set along the region of the Yellowstone River to the northeast of Billings.
The population is below the 200 mark, even though the post office was established in 1908. This was around the time of the Great Northern Railway’s Billings and Northern line construction.
Broadview is just 30 minutes from Billings and was one of the railroad towns created in the northern part of Yellowstone County once the railway gained a firm footing there at the turn of the 20th century.
Incorporated in 1917, Broadview is now the largest of those rail towns formed in the county to the north of Billings, with the town’s well-preserved Great Northern passenger depot serving as a reminder of the railroad’s impact on the region, along with agriculture.
An overview of the townscape presents the typical traits of the region’s industry and environment, from the train depot to the rather obvious grain elevators that help form the town’s layout and can be seen from Highway 3 which leads into the community.
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Cultural and Historic Points of Broadview
The Yellowstone County Museum is just 28 miles from Broadview along Highway 3 close to the airport and on the way into Billings. The museum was first established in 1953 by the Yellowstone Historical Society and opened to the public in 1956.
It houses a collection of information, items, artifacts, photographs, archives, and other materials which help preserve the history of Montana’s Yellowstone River Basin region. This is done largely through a range of dynamic exhibitions and educational programs.
Visitors to the museum can witness an amazing collection of culturally and historically related artifacts and memorabilia going back to the earliest Pioneer and Homesteader days. The historic McCormick Cabin is one of the museum’s centerpieces, and it dates back to 1893 so it hasn’t always taken pride of place at the entrance of what is now the museum.
You can get to the museum by going past the airport around Circle Road and parking is available. Typical hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 10.30 am to 5.30 pm.
Recreation Activities in and around the Area
Hailstone National Wildlife Refuge
This smaller refuge forms part of the larger Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, with this satellite facility being established for the wetlands’ protection and use for breeding purposes by migratory birds and waterfowl, as well as other wildlife.
The refuge’s land is located within a bigger area known as the Big Lake Complex, a well-known and productive region for waterfowl in Montana between Broadview and Rapelje.
There is nothing here along the lines of developed or maintained recreation facilities, and this adds to its appeal for the many hunters, hikers, and birders who head to this area.
Hiking
The Yellowstone River Loop via Two Moon Park Road is a popular and relatively easy-going 2.6-mile loop-style route in Two Moon Park.
The nearby Acton Recreation Site is another local option for hiking and biking trails between 0.2 and 8.0 miles of varying degrees of difficulty.
Phipps Park is another potential hiking site on Highway 3 side of Billings, then there are the local Mystic Park and Swords Park, not forgetting that the Pictograph State Park is not too far from this region either.
Fishing
Broadview Pond is the town’s main fishing access site. This is a 20-acre body of water off Highway 3 near its northern tip.
This is Yellowstone County and the waters are rife with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout along with a few Largemouth Bass and some Lake Chubb to name just a couple of other prevalent species in the pond.
Camping
The Yellowstone River Campground is a family-run campground and RV park located along the Yellowstone River just minutes from downtown Billings.
The facility has pull-through and back-in RV sites and tent spaces. Situated along the I-90 city exit (450), the campground is close to all local amenities and attractions.
Accommodation Hotels and Lodging
As you can probably imagine there isn’t much along the lines of developed hotel accommodation in a town as small as Broadview.
You’d have to head more in the direction of Billings to find some of the options you might be looking for accommodation-wise.
Special Events in or near Broadview
- June – Big Sky 200 – annual Yellowstone off-road race
- July – Broadview Days – annual summer event with competitions, activities, BBQ, entertainment, etc.
- Aug – Montana Fair Billings – annual event held at MetraPark in the historic fair tradition
Activities and other Points of Interest near Big Sandy
Forests/State/National Parks/Wilderness Areas
- Custer National Forest
- Swords Park
- Two Moon Park
- Mystic Park
- Pictograph State Park
- Lake Elmo State Park