Plan Your Visit

Tippet Rise Art Center is in Fishtail, Montana, off Highway 78, south of Interstate 90 between Billings and Bozeman and a few hours north of Yellowstone National Park. There are several ways to experience Tippet Rise in-person, including:

Hiking and Biking
Tippet Rise is an art center and working ranch where large-scale sculptures are sited across 12,500 vast and hilly acres and share pastures with cows and sheep. Bring your own mountain bike or your hiking shoes and tour the land on your own via 15 miles of trails and 13 miles of gravel road that connects the sculptures at Tippet Rise.

Distances between each sculpture vary from .5 mile to 3 miles on hilly terrain with very steep grades. Plan to spend at least a half day. Hiking and bicycling at the art center are free of charge but require advance registration. To learn more, click here.

Cottonwood Campus Self-Guided Tours
Visitors can also opt to explore our main Cottonwood Campus, where gentle, family-friendly trails lead to works by Francis Kéré, Patrick Dougherty, Alexander Calder, Ai Weiwei, and Marie Watt. Our Visitor Center is located within the Olivier Music Barn, and dining options are available from Will’s Shed. Visitors may even experience a “pop-up concert” during the concert season at the Tiara Acoustic Shell, Xylem, or elsewhere outdoors. Self-guided tours of the Cottonwood Campus are free of charge but require advance registration. To learn more, click here.

Annual Concert Season
A summer concert season is presented annually featuring internationally acclaimed chamber musicians and soloists. Concerts are held at venues indoors and out, including the Olivier Music Barn, Will’s Shed, the Tiara Acoustic Shell, and occasionally at artworks sited throughout the ranch such as the Domo by Ensamble Studio, or via musical walkabouts through our Wander concert series. Pre-purchased tickets, which are priced at $10 and free to those 21 and under, are required for concert admission. Tickets are made available every spring through a randomized drawing process. For alerts about the concert season and ticketing, please sign up for our e-newsletter and check our Events page.

Family Concerts
As part of the summer concert season, Tippet Rise presents a small number of concerts geared towards families with young children. These will be announced through our website. e-newsletter, and local advertisements. Family concerts are free of charge but require advance registration.

Geo-Paleo Tours
Led by our partners at the Yellowstone Bighorn Research Association (YBRA), this experience allows guests to gain an understanding of the various geological and paleontological features scattered across art center. These tours last approximately 2.5 hours and include van transportation. The cost is $10 per person, free to guests 21 and under. Dates and ticketing information are announced via our e-newsletter.

Special Programs and Events
Throughout the summer and fall, Tippet Rise collaborates with local and regional cultural organizations for events such as Shakespeare walking tours, film presentations, and poetry readings. Art workshops are also held for students and adults. Information about special events is announced via our e-newsletter, social media, and local advertising.

Packing for Your Visit
Tippet Rise is in a remote, yet beautiful landscape and the weather can change quickly from hot and sunny to cold and rainy, even snowy—even in the summertime. Please come prepared for the outdoors. Here’s a packing list to help you enjoy Tippet Rise to the fullest:
• Water & refillable water bottle
• A helmet if you plan to bike (required)
• Sturdy shoes for walking outside on the land
• Sun protection
• Hat
• Raincoat
• A small bag or backpack to carry your belongings
• Binoculars, if you wish, to view nature, wildlife, and landscape

A Working Ranch, A Fragile, Beautiful Environment
* Tippet Rise is a working ranch. A friendly reminder: please do not approach, pet, or feed any animals.
* Pets and drones are not permitted at Tippet Rise.
* Please adhere to all marked signs and stay on marked roads and trails.
* Tippet Rise is entirely non-smoking.

Thank you for visiting Tippet Rise!

From Billings Logan International Airport

Travel Time: Approximately 1 Hour, 20 Minutes

From the car lot at the Billings airport, turn left onto the immediate rotary.

At the rotary, follow N. 27th Street toward the City Center. Drive straight through Billings to Interstate 90. It’s a total of 3.4 miles from the airport rotary to the interstate.

Take I-90 west toward Butte.

After 30 minutes or so, take the MT 78/#408 exit into the town of Columbus. Highway 78 winds from the interstate through Columbus. You’ll come to a “T” in Columbus, go right.

Then, quickly make the first left onto S. Pratten Street and cross the railroad tracks. You are still on Highway 78.

Drive 12 minutes or so to Absarokee. Once you’ve entered Absarokee, please drive slowly (the speed limit is 25mph).

At the flashing light in downtown Absarokee, turn right onto West Grove Street, which will soon become Stillwater River Road.

Travel 6.1 miles. Just after the 6-mile marker, turn left onto Grove Creek Road. There will be a white house on your right at the turn.

Continue on Grove Creek Road. After 2 miles you will meet a four-way intersection, continue straight. The road becomes South Grove Creek Road. Disregard the “No Outlet” sign.

Tippet Rise Art Center, 96 South Grove Creek Road, Fishtail Montana 59028

From Bozeman

Travel Time: Approximately 2 Hours

Merge onto I-90 East.

Follow the interstate 98.4 miles to the MT 78/#408 exit.

Take the MT 78/#408 exit into the town of Columbus. Highway 78 winds from the interstate through Columbus. You’ll come to a “T” in Columbus, go right.

Then, quickly make the first left onto S. Pratten Street and cross the railroad tracks. You are still on Highway 78.

Drive 12 minutes or so to Absarokee. Once you’ve entered Absarokee, please drive slowly (the speed limit is 25mph).

At the flashing light in downtown Absarokee, turn right onto West Grove Street, which will soon become Stillwater River Road.

Travel 6.1 miles. Just after the 6-mile marker, turn left onto Grove Creek Road. There will be a white house on your right at the turn.

Continue on Grove Creek Road. After 2 miles you will meet a four-way intersection, continue straight. The road becomes South Grove Creek Road. Disregard the “No Outlet” sign.

Tippet Rise Art Center, 96 South Grove Creek Road, Fishtail Montana 59028

From Red Lodge

Travel Time: Approximately 50 minutes

Turn left onto MT-78 North.

Travel 27.8 miles and turn left onto Nye Road/Slim’s Lane at the Rockin’ J Gas Station.

After roughly 3 miles, you will enter the town of Fishtail.

Continue to follow Nye Road through town.

You will see the Post Office on your left.

After the post office, travel .4 miles and turn right onto Grove Creek Road (this quickly becomes a gravel road).

Stay on Grove Creek Road for 4.8 miles. At the intersection with Lower Grove Creek Road continue left at this Y intersection to stay on Grove Creek Road.

Continue on Grove Creek Road for 1.2 miles until you reach a four-way intersection.

Turn left onto South Grove Creek Road.

Continue on South Grove Creek Road for .9 miles to arrive at the Tippet Rise Art Center’s front gate.

Tippet Rise Art Center, 96 South Grove Creek Road, Fishtail Montana 59028

From Absarokee

Travel Time: Approximately 20 minutes

From Highway 78/ South Woodward Ave head south into Absarokee.
At the flashing light in downtown Absarokee, turn right onto West Grove Street, which will soon become Stillwater River Road.

Travel 6.1 miles. Just after the 6-mile marker, turn left onto Grove Creek Road. There will be a white house on your right at the turn.

Continue on Grove Creek Road.

After 2 miles you will meet a four-way intersection, continue straight. The road becomes South Grove Creek Road. Disregard the “No Outlet” sign.

Tippet Rise Art Center, 96 South Grove Creek Road, Fishtail Montana 59028

From the Fishtail General Store

Travel Time: Approximately 15 minutes

From the Fishtail General store on Nye Road, head west toward the Post Office.

After the post office, travel .4 miles and turn right onto Grove Creek Road (this quickly becomes a gravel road).

After approximately 0.5miles, turn right onto Grove Creek Road (this quickly becomes a gravel road).

Stay on Grove Creek Road for 4.8 miles. At the intersection with Lower Grove Creek Road continue left at this Y intersection to stay on Grove Creek Road.

Continue on Grove Creek Road for 1.2 miles until you reach a four-way intersection.

Turn left onto South Grove Creek Road.

Continue on South Grove Creek Road for .9 miles to arrive at the Tippet Rise Art Center’s front gate.

Tippet Rise Art Center, 96 South Grove Creek Road, Fishtail Montana 59028

Sculpture van tours last approximately 2.5 hours, with stops at six of the monumental sculptures sited across the ranch, including the Beartooth Portal, the Domo, and the Inverted Portal by Ensamble Studio; Satellite #5: Pioneer by Stephen Talasnik; and Proverb and Beethoven’s Quartet by Mark di Suvero. All sculptures are visible from the van; however, guests are welcome to walk to the sculptures at each stop to get a closer look and take photos.

We are thrilled to welcome back our two culinary partners from last year, who will be selling their delicious creations out of Will’s Shed.

From June 16 through August 13, the Red Lodge-based Samurai Sue’s Everyday Foods will offer an assortment of to-go style sandwiches, bowls, snacks, and drinks that can be enjoyed indoors or out on the trails.

During the concert season, August 18 through September 17, lunch and dinner on Fridays, and lunch on Saturdays and Sundays, will be available for purchase from our culinary partner and two-time James Beard nominated PREROGATIvE Kitchen.

As always, guests are also welcome to bring their own provisions to enjoy at the ranch.

Tippet Rise is located at the end of a winding gravel road in a bucolic, rural setting. Lodging in this region ranges from guest ranches and private homes within a half hour’s drive from the art center to hotels in the bustling downtowns of Billings and Bozeman, approximately one to two hours away. Amenities, likewise, vary, from the Fishtail General Store, just a 15-minute drive from Tippet Rise, to restaurants, bars, and grocery and gourmet food stores in the bigger towns and cities relatively nearby. Please link to the following pages for insights on accommodations, eateries, and other resources for your visit to Tippet Rise and beyond.

Community Guides
Absarokee, Montana (9 miles from Tippet Rise)
http://absarokeearea.com/

Billings, Montana (65 miles from Tippet Rise)
http://www.visitbillings.com/

Bozeman, Montana (124 miles from Tippet Rise)
http://www.bozemancvb.com/

Columbus, Montana (22 miles from Tippet Rise)
http://www.stillwatercountychamber.com/

Red Lodge, Montana (42 miles from Tippet Rise)
http://www.redlodge.com/

Regional and Statewide Guides
Montana Office of Tourism
http://www.visitmt.com/

Southest Montana
http://www.southeastmontana.com/

Yellowstone Country, Montana
http://visityellowstonecountry.com/

Concert Ticket Drawing and Performances

Are concert tickets only available through the randomized drawing?
Primarily, yes. However, should any tickets become available through cancellations, they will be for sale on the Events page of the Tippet Rise website on a first-come, first-served basis during the week of each concert.

How do I register for the 2023 concert ticket drawing?
The 2023 concert ticket drawing opens on Tuesday, March 21 at 12:00 PM (noon) Mountain Time and closes on Monday, April 10 at 12:00 PM (noon) Mountain Time. You may enter your name into the drawing via the Tippet Rise website by clicking a button on the homepage that says, “Enter the Drawing.” To enter the drawing, we only require your first and last name, phone number, e-mail address, and zip code.

How many times can I register for the drawing?
Registration is limited to one entry per person. Anyone with a valid e-mail address is qualified to enter. Duplicate registrations will be discarded, including second entries made with disposable email accounts. A disposable email address is an alternative email address which serves as an alias for your true email account and forwards all mail it receives to your true account.

Is there a limit to the number of people from one household who can register for the drawing?
No. Registration is open to anyone with a valid email address. Registration is simply limited to one entry per person.

How will I know if I won the chance to purchase concert tickets?
Winners will be selected from all eligible entries in a randomized electronic drawing on Tuesday, April 11 and notified via e-mail by 12:00 PM (noon) Mountain Time that day. Those who have not won will also be notified by email at that time.

What happens if I don’t use my entire four-ticket allocation?
Winners are not obligated to purchase all four of their allotted tickets. If any tickets remain after the initial drawing and purchasing period concludes on Sunday, April 16, they will be offered via a second drawing, which will take place on Monday, April 17. Winners of a second drawing will be notified that day.

How long are the concerts?
Each scheduled concert as part of the 2023 season is approximately 60 minutes, without an intermission unless otherwise noted in the program description.

How much are concert tickets to Tippet Rise?
Concert tickets are priced at $10, and free to those 21 and under.

Will food and beverages be available for purchase during the 2023 concert season?
During the concert season, from August 18 to September 17, lunch and dinner on Fridays, and lunch on Saturdays and Sundays, will be available for purchase from our culinary partner PREROGATIvE Kitchen. They will be serving from Will’s Shed. Please check back here for the latest food and beverage options offered during the pre-concert season, June 16 – August 13.

Tippet Rise Tours

If I’m attending a concert, can I also hike and bike? Do I need a separate reservation?
Yes, please make a hiking & biking reservation for that day so we can accurately account for the number of hikers and bikers out on the land.

If I’m reserved for a different tour or concert, do I also need a Cottonwood Campus tour reservation?
No. Anyone with a hiking and biking or Sculpture Van Tour reservation, or a concert ticket, may also tour the sculptures and structures located within our main Cottonwood Campus at their leisure. The Cottonwood Campus self-guided tour option is for visitors who would like to experience Tippet Rise, but wish to stay within our gentler, nearby trails.

How much are tickets to Tippet Rise?
Sculpture Van Tours are priced at $10, and free to those 21 and under. Hiking and biking, and self-guided tours of the Cottonwood Campus, are free of charge, though advance registration is still required.

How do I learn about other in-person events, tours, and programs at Tippet Rise?
Tickets to special events, tours, and programs such Geo-Paleo Tours, Family Concerts, art workshops, and theater, film, and poetry programs are often announced via our e-newsletter, social media channels, or local fliers and advertisements.

Other

Can I visit Tippet Rise other times of the year?
During the fall, winter, and spring, Tippet Rise occasionally hosts in-person public events and art workshops. These are announced via our e-newsletter, social media channels, or local fliers and advertisements. Tippet Rise also engages with local and regional schools throughout the year.

Do you have an application for artists-in-residence?
There is no official application process for artist residencies, but Tippet Rise is happy to learn about new artists and their work. Feel free to email us at info@tippetrise.org.

I am a sculptor/painter/musician. Can I submit my work/perform at Tippet Rise?
We welcome you to share your credentials and proposals at info@tippetrise.org for consideration at a later date.