Sixteen Mile Creek (also known as Sixteenmile Creek) is a long tributary of the Missouri River in western

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbi ...

in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. It forms at the

confluence In geography, a confluence (also: ''conflux'') occurs where two or more flowing bodies of water join to form a single channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main stem); o ...

of the Middle and South forks of Sixteen Mile Creek, approximately east of Maudlow. The canyon through which it travels is known as "Sixteen Mile Canyon". The abandoned grade of the

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (CMStP&P), often referred to as the "Milwaukee Road" , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until 1986. The company experience ...

("the Milwaukee Road") parallels the creek through the canyon; the canyon is referred to as "Montana Canyon" in Milwaukee Road promotional material. Sixteen Mile Creek rises in the

Lewis and Clark National Forest Lewis and Clark National Forest is located in west central Montana, United States. Spanning , the forest is managed as two separate zones. The eastern sections, under the Jefferson Division, is a mixture of grass and shrublands dotted with "islan ...

in the

Crazy Mountains The Crazy Mountains, often called the Crazies, is a mountain range in the Central Montana Alkalic Province in the U.S. state of Montana. They are a part of the northern Rocky Mountains. Geography Spanning a distance of 40 miles (64 km) ...

in southeastern Meagher County. It flows generally west, south of the

Big Belt Mountains The Big Belt Mountains are a section of the Rocky Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana. Situated mainly in the Helena National Forest, the mountains are used for logging and recreation for the surrounding residents. Nearby are the cities of He ...

, and southwest, past Maudlow and joins the Missouri southeast of Toston, at the site of the

ghost town Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to: * Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned Film and television * Ghost Town (1936 film), ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser * Ghost Town (1956 film), ''Ghost Town'' ...

of Lombard. Sixteen Mile Creek is one of the more historically important areas in Montana. Its name derives from the fact that it enters the Missouri River downstream from

Three Forks, Montana Three Forks is a city in Gallatin County, Montana, United States and is located within the watershed valley system of both the Missouri and Mississippi rivers drainage basins — and is historically considered the birthplace or start of the M ...

. The rail bed of the original

Montana Railroad The Montana Railroad was an American railroad built and operated between the towns of Lombard and Lewistown, Montana, a distance of approximately 157 miles. The railroad connected with the national railway network via a connection with the North ...

runs through this creek canyon, which includes some really outstanding scenery. The Milwaukee Road abandoned this line in 1980.

Notes

Rivers of Montana Tributaries of the Missouri River Bodies of water of Broadwater County, Montana Rivers of Gallatin County, Montana Rivers of Meagher County, Montana {{Montana-river-stub

See also

Notes