Montana
Must See the Natural Bridge Falls near Big Timber, Montana
Nature is my church, and I keep the Sabbath holy.
After a long week with a July 4th holiday, I treated myself to a road trip and hike to the Natural Bridge Falls on the Boulder River south of Big Timber.
While the actual rushing water and gorge and forest were all natural, the trailheads and lookouts have been developed to a Tolkien Elvish pristine. You wonder if Gandalf the wizard or a Hobbit would appear. The paved paths were edged with stacked rocks. A wooden bridge spanned the Boulder to the other side where the dirt path began.
Credit: Travis Lee, TSM
The river itself crashed underneath then falls into the rock. A short way’s farther shows the water cascading into a level basin for less than a hundred yards before the continued falling down the gorge.
The beginning dirt trail is quite gentle and easily traversed by kids. The green foliage can make the track really narrow. The morning air in the sunshine has a warm pine and earth smell, while the shade is appreciably cooler.
There is a Canyon Bottom Access trail to get where the river pours out of the rock, but that is the real challenge. Have a walking stick handy. This switchback trail is much steeper and rockier, and if a little muddy is much trickier. A real strain on the knees. The signs say Do Not Cut Across Switchbacks and they mean it; the slope down is steeper than 45 degrees with rocks at the long bottom. A slip and fall will definitely hurt you.
Credit: Travis Lee, TSM
Take your time and pick your way down carefully, and you can get to about 25 yards from the falls safely. The roar of water fills the air.
If you can’t risk the Canyon Access trail, no loss; the overhang lookouts provide all the majesty on gentle paths and stone stairs on top of the gorge ridge.
How to Get to Natural Bridge Falls
Exit the interstate at Big Timber, cruise 1st Street to McLeod which is also Highway 289. Turn south and follow it all the way to the pavement’s end. Do not turn off of the road at all.
289 is a narrow, winding, 2-lane road so slow down and enjoy the drive. You will pass farms and modern homesteads in a sweeping basin of countryside. There are a couple bumpy patches of highway with warning signs, so both hands on the wheel.
Watch for the signs that verify you are on the right road. The Natural Falls trailhead will be to the left just before the pavement end. If you start driving on gravel, you have gone just a bit too far.
It’s a little over an hour and a half to drive there from Billings, but it is a great expedition for the day. Enjoy in the little Adventure.
Credit: Travis Lee, TSM
Where’s Waldo Time! Can you spot the rock climber in this picture? Credit: Travis Lee, TSM
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Montana
Montana Lottery Big Sky Bonus, Millionaire for Life results for May 10, 2026
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 10, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from May 10 drawing
06-22-28-31, Bonus: 08
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 10 drawing
01-03-20-35-46, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Montana
Montana Vista residents meet with grid developer in heated meeting
The Socorro Independent School District honored and celebrated its top two educators at the 2026 Teacher of the Year Gala on Friday, May 8 at the El Paso Convention Center.
Cristina Garcia, a fifth-grade teacher at Mission Ridge Elementary School, was recognized as the 2026 SISD Elementary Teacher of the Year. Javier Esparza, an audio and video broadcast teacher at Socorro High School, was named the 2026 SISD Secondary Teacher of the Year.
https://www.ktsm.com/news/socorro-isd-honors-top-2-teachers-at-gala-celebration/
Montana
Montana Vista residents question impacts of proposed Pecos West energy project
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A proposed high-voltage transmission project in far East El Paso is raising concerns among residents in the Montana Vista area, as developers work to determine a potential route that could impact private property.
The project, known as Pecos West, is being developed by Grid United and would create a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line connecting El Paso to southeastern New Mexico.
According to the company, the goal is to link major parts of the U.S. electric grid, specifically the Western and Eastern interconnections, allowing electricity to move in both directions between regions. Developers say the project could strengthen energy reliability, expand access to power markets, and help prevent outages during extreme weather.
Grid United also describes Pecos West as a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure investment that could bring jobs, tax revenue, and long-term economic benefits to communities along the route.
However, for residents in Montana Vista, the immediate concern is not the long-term benefits, but what the project could mean for their land.
At a community meeting Saturday morning, several residents were able to voice their concern, telling KFOX14/CBS4 they feel they have not received enough information about the project’s path or timeline, especially as discussions about a preliminary route continue.
“We haven’t got anything from you,” said Armando Rodriguez, president of the Montana Vista Landowners. “Not one quote.”
Others echoed concerns about communication, calling on the company to directly notify homeowners who may be affected.
“You need to go to these houses, give people information, and say this could affect you,” one resident said.
Grid United says the project is still in the planning and development phase, and no final route has been approved.
The company says construction would only begin after securing regulatory approvals and negotiating land agreements with property owners.
Company representatives also emphasized that landowner participation is voluntary.
“Pecos does not have eminent domain,” said Alexis Marquez, community relations manager for the project. “If a landowner does not want it on their property, we would look at alternate routes.”
Developers say outreach will continue as planning progresses, but residents are asking for more direct communication now, especially those who believe they could be directly impacted.
The project is not expected to be completed anytime soon, with Grid United estimating that Pecos West could become operational in the mid-2030s if approved.
For now, the conversation in Montana Vista reflects a familiar tension seen in large infrastructure project, balancing long-term regional benefits with local concerns about transparency, property, and community impact.
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