Jim Laughery's Eastslope Outfitters

Driving Directions - Fort Smith

Driving Directions - Custer

Directions to
Old Hookers Guest House in Fort Smith:

Driving Time from Billings, Montana: 90 minutes
All Roads are Paved

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM BILLINGS:
Take Interstate 90 to Hardin. Take FIRST exit at Hardin, turn right.
You'll pass gas stations and fast food stations. Go straight, following signs for
Bighorn National Recreation Area and/or Yellowtail Dam.

As you near the edge of town, you'll come to a 4-way stop, go STRAIGHT.
Take the highway about 20 miles to the tiny town of St. Xavier and turn LEFT.
Follow signs for Bighorn National Recreation Area and Yellowtail Dam.

The highway will take you directly into Fort Smith. Watch on the left for our sign
"Old Hookers Guest House," turn left. Go about a block and there will be another, smaller sign.
Turn right. The Guest House is the second and last house. It is well marked.
If you get lost (you won't) ask at the flyshop
for Stretch's guest house ...that's what they call Jim in Fort Smith.

Fishing Licenses are available at the Trout Shop and other fly shops.
There is a small market in Fort Smith for necessities. Because Fort Smith is located on the
Crow Indian Reservation, no alcohol/beer can be sold; however, you are welcome to bring your own.

Cell phones do not work in Fort Smith (no signal).
The guest house phone number is 406-666-2321.
Guests are welcome to receive and make calls from that number.
However, in the case of emergency and nobody answers at the Guest House,
you may leave a message at 406-254-6565.
This is our home in Billings, and the voice mail is checked nightly.

FROM SHERIDAN, WYOMING:
When you come across the Wyoming line, you'll want to take the Lodge Grass, Montana
exit and turn left at ramp stop sign. Go under freeway, over railroad tracks, turn LEFT and follow
highway through town. It will curve and head west.
After a few miles, watch for a sign that says either Fort Smith or St. Xavier; turn RIGHT here.
This is called the Good Luck road because you often need it... it's open range and livestock may be on the road.
Use caution, especially at night. Road will T at a highway, turn LEFT onto highway.
The highway will take you directly into Fort Smith. Watch on the left as you enter town
for our sign "Old Hookers Guest House," turn left.
Go about a block and there will be another, smaller sign.
Turn right. The Guest House is the second and last house overlooking Nat. Park Service meadow.

Directions to Whitetail Camp near Custer

Driving Time from Billings, Montana: 70 minutes
Roads are paved; inclined driveway is not.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM BILLINGS:
Take Interstate 94 east of Billings about 47 miles to the small town of Custer.
Exit here and turn LEFT at stop sign. Go under the interstate, across railroad tracks.
Drive about a mile, you'll cross the Yellowstone River and take the next RIGHT (watch for sign to Hysham)|
on Pease Bottom Road. This is open range, so watch for cattle on the road.
Drive about 9.5 miles, watch on your left for our sign Whitetail Camp.
If you're arriving at night, watch for blue reflectors on the gate.

You'll want to bring your hunting licenses with you, as there are no stores nearby.
There is no phone at the Whitetail Camp, but there is cell phone reception.
In the case of emergency, try Jim's cell phone at 406-670-8998
or leave a message at our home in Billings, 406-254-6565 (voicemail checked nightly).

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM SHERIDAN, WYOMING
Take Interstate 90 to Hardin and take Exit for Highway 47 (second exit, coming from the south).
Turn right at the exit stop sign. This puts you on Highway 47. Drive about 29 miles north
to the Interstate 94 exchange. Take I-94 West (left) about 2 miles to Custer exit.
Turn right, cross railroad tracks.
Drive about a mile, you'll cross the Yellowstone River and take the next RIGHT (watch for sign to Hysham)|
on Pease Bottom Road. This is open range, so watch for cattle on the road.
Drive about 9.5 miles, watch on your left for our sign Whitetail Camp.
If you're arriving at night, watch for blue reflectors on the gate.

Transportation
Major airline service is available to Billings, Montana.
Fort Smith has a 3,800' paved airstrip for private pilots.
Automobile shuttle service is available from Billings to Fort Smith by special arrangement for an additional fee,
or we can recommend several national rental car companies in Billings, with Eastslope Outfitter discount available.
Sorry, no shuttle service is available from Billings to Custer; rental car is advised.

Fort Smith Area Attractions

Yellowtail Dam
(Five minutes drive from Fort Smith)
The dam is named in honor of Robert Yellowtail, former Crow tribal chairman and reservation superintendent.
The dam creates one of the largest reservoirs on the Missouri River tributary system.
This arch type dam is 525 feet high.

Bighorn Canyon National Recreational Area
(Ten minutes drive from Fort Smith)
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966,
following the construction of the Yellowtail Dam by the Bureau of Reclamation.
This dam harnessed the waters of the Bighorn River and turned this variable stream
into a magnificent lake. Bighorn Lake extends approximately 60 miles through
Wyoming and Montana, 55 miles of which are held within spectacular Bighorn Canyon.
The Recreation Area is composed of 70,000+ acres, which straddles the northern
Wyoming and southern Montana borders. There are two visitor centers and other developed facilities
in Fort Smith, Montana and near Lovell, Wyoming. The Afterbay Lake below the Yellowtail Dam
is a good spot for trout fishing and wildlife viewing for ducks, geese and other animals.
The Bighorn River below the Afterbay Dam is a world class trout fishing area.
SOURCE: http://bighorncanyon.areaparks.com/

OK-A-BEH Marina
(15 minutes drive from Fort Smith)
Drive, walk or ride your bike up to the OK-A-BEH Big Horn Canyon Marina.
From Ft. Smith, it is a beautiful 10 mile winding road with spectacular vistas.
While at the marina you can swim, sun, boat, take photos, fish, and even collect unusual pieces of driftwood.
Rental boats and pontoons are available.
Watch for an historic monuments and several scenic overlooks along the drive from Fort Smith,
and during the spring and summer seasons, you'll see an abundance of alpine wildflowers.

Custer Battlefield
(45 minutes drive from Ft. Smith)
Located in southeastern Montana, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
memorializes the site of the Battle of the Little Bighorn which took place on June 25-26, 1876 between
the United States Seventh Cavalry Regiment led by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer,
and the Sioux and Cheyenne under the political and spiritual leadership of Sitting Bull.
A visitor center and museum contains exhibits relating to the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn in
which 210 US Cavalrymen, led by Colonel George A. Custer, were wiped out by
Sioux and Northern Cheyenne warriors. The Museum features exhibits of the history of the battle,
Custer, weapons, archaeology, Plains Indian life, and a walking tour with interpretive markers.
It is wheelchair accessible. Adjoining the visitor center is Custer National Cemetery,
which includes interments from abandoned frontier military posts, the world wars, Korea and Vietnam.
A 4.5 mile self-guiding tour road connects two separate battlefields, the Custer Battlefield
and the Reno-Benteen Battlefield. Handicapped parking is located at these two locations
and at the visitor center. Ranger programs are scheduled throughout the summer,
and bus tours of the battlefield operate from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
During the off-season a 17 minute documentary film is shown at the visitor center.
SOURCE: http://custer.visitmt.com

Hayfield Fight, Montana
(5 minutes drive from Ft. Smith)
Fought on August 1, 1867, three miles from Fort C. F. Smith, Montana, Territory, the battle
pitted a determined stand of 31 soldiers and civilians against more than 700 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors.
Fortified behind a barrier of a low log corral, the combined soldier/civilian force withstood six hours
of attacks before relief finally arrived to disperse the warriors. Known as the Hayfield Fight,
the site is located about three miles from Fort C. F. Smith, Montana.
The site is on private land, marked by a monument and plaque.
SOURCE: http://www.nps.gov/foda/Fort_Davis_WEB_PAGE/About_the_Fort/Hayfield_Fight.htm

Shopping
Shopping in Fort Smith is limited, but you'll find friendly service and vacation necessities
at the local market and fly shops.
Alcohol sales are prohibited on the Crow Reservation,
but please feel free to bring the libation of choice with you.
Easy day trips will take you to great shopping in Sheridan (WY) or Billings (MT).
They both offer a wide selection of museums, galleries, antique shops, restaurants and tourism opportunities.

Map & Directions