Trip Report: Sculpture in the Wild
Over the last couple of years, I had heard little bits and pieces and saw some very Instagram-worthy photos of people going to visit this seemingly random nature walk/art installation. Finally, after my curiosity finally got the best of me, I did a quick google search and dragged my family out of the house for a quick road trip to Lincoln, Montana to visit “Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild.”
And boy am I glad I did. Located about an hour and a half from Missoula, it is a perfect day trip. Started in 2014 “BPSW” is part nature trail, part international art museum and it continues to grows each year.
My husband, myself, my parents, and our two kids, headed out from Missoula at about 9:00am on a Sunday morning and arrived in Lincoln at 10:30am. There was only one other family there visiting, so social distancing was not going to be a problem. The park had plenty of picnic tables, and much to our surprise, a disc golf course!
Despite the beautiful weather, it was pretty windy and well shaded so we were grateful we had brought extra layers (except the 6 year old, he choose a t-shirt). The walking path is well groomed and stroller friendly, but my toddler happily walked most of the way in a pair of shoes that were two sizes two big. Along the path which diverts and circled back in multiple areas, there are informational signs about each art piece and even signs that teach you about local plants and wildlife.
Immediately upon entering you see a giant “teepee burner” that was once a part of the local mill site. There are large canvas historical photos hung inside and folding chairs. My kids would have happily played inside and around it for hours, but off in the distance they could see other structures just waiting to be explored. There were things to climb, materials to touch and a genuine sense of awe in every direction. Some of our favorites included a twisted house made of willow branches that was straight out of a fairytale and a bridge that appeared suspended mid-collapse with boards that swayed in the breeze. There is even a part that doubles as a home for the native bat population!
As the morning wore on, more visitors arrived, but we found everyone to be very courteous and were able to enjoy each exhibit on our own, without feeling rushed. The rush seemed to pick up around lunch time, which was perfect for us as we had already walked through most of the park when other visitors started to funnel in.
BPSW is free and open from Dusk to Dark year-round and they typically offer music, education and other events during the summer!
I highly recommend making the short drive to Lincoln to see Sculpture in the Wild and enjoy a picnic lunch. Our whole family enjoyed it, and in the future we’ll bring a folf disc! We look forward to visiting again throughout the year to see new installations and view the current ones set to the backdrop of the different seasons.
For more information visit their website at: www.sculptureinthewild.com.
Getting there: From Missoula take Hwy 200 E through Bonner and stay on it for 74 miles until you reach Lincoln. The park is right off of the highway at 1970 Sculpture Way, Lincoln, MT 59639. Map it here.
If you go visit, we would love to see your adventures! Tag us in your photos (@406familiesmissoula) or share your favorites in the comments, in the meantime, enjoy some of the other photos from our visit.
