TOBACCO ROOT GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY 51st ANNUAL FIELD CONFERENCE
Plains, Montana, JULY 23–26, 2026
View of megaripples in Camas Prairie, Montana
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Plains Area Details, Conference Schedule and Registration
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This year’s Annual Tobacco Root Geological Society Field Conference will be held in Plains, Montana. The conference check-in opens late Thursday afternoon (July 23). There will be a pre conference trip starting in Missoula at 9am Thursday morning (July 23), and main conference activities beginning in Plains Friday morning (July 24) and lasting through Sunday afternoon (July 26).
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A cursory inspection of the Montana and Idaho state geologic maps might give the impression that Plains is centered in a proverbial sea of Proterozoic Belt sedimentary rocks with no other features of geologic interest. A closer look tells us the region has a rich structural, metallogenic and glacial history. The 2026 conference will focus on current MBMG geologic mapping, active mineral exploration and mining projects and the local building stone industry.
This announcement provides information on the meeting schedule and events, lodging, and meals. A catered dinner will be offered at the fairgrounds pavilion in Plains on Saturday night, and sacked lunches will be provided to registered field trip participants. Please note that you must make or obtain your own breakfast and coffee/tea. Group camping will be available at the Sanders County Fairgrounds for a modest daily fee. If you stay elsewhere, budget plenty of time to reach the pavilion to catch your field trip group. If you are staying in a motel, book early – tourist season can get busy.
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On-site meeting registration and conference venue
Our primary venue will be the Sanders County Fairgrounds located on the south side of the Clark Fork River (marked in red on the map below).
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Research talks and posters will be in the pavilion (green box below). Attendees are encouraged to bring camp chairs. Parking can be found in the lots near the rodeo grounds, pavilion, and north of the fairground (marked in blue on the map). And both tent and powered camping will be located in the area indicated in yellow on the map.
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​​​​Conference registration and check-in will begin late Thursday afternoon at the group site pavilion. Tent camping will be a $15 fee, and powered camping will be $25. Poster presenters are encouraged to check-in and set-up in the pavilion before the meeting begins Friday morning.
Camping and Lodging
The Campground near the pavilion has been reserved for group camping, which will be the most suitable area for tent camping. You are encouraged to share campsites, accommodating as many campers as possible. This area has shade and is generally a flat grass lot. Amenities include bathrooms and water. The pavilion has power for charging electronic devices. Potable water is available, but campers are encouraged to bring water. Camping is first-come-first-serve, and a fee of $15 per person tent or $25 per powered hook up will be collected on-site.
Motel rooms are available in Plains (Dew Duck Inn, (877) 726-2571) within a 10-minute drive of the fairgrounds and in nearby Thompson Falls (Riverfront Motel and Cabins - (406) 827-3460 and Rimrock Lodge - (406) 827-3536), Hot Springs (Symes Hotel - (406) 741-2361), and St. Regis (Super 8 - (406) 640-4423, Little River Motel - (406) 649-2713), all within 30 miles.. There are several restaurant and grocery options in Plains.
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Plains Area Details, Conference Schedule and Registration
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THURSDAY (July 23) - Group Site Pavilion
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9:00- 3:00 Missoula Landslides (preconference field trip begins in Missoula)
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4:00–7:00 Conference check-in and registration at Sanders County Fairgrounds in Plains; set-up posters in pavilion
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Field trip:
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Missoula Landslides (Jim Sears)—This trip starts at 9am, meeting at the Waterworks Hill Trailhead parking lot in Missoula, and will consist of road stops, with short walks, only requiring 2WD vehicles. You could spend the night in or near Missoula on July 22 to get to Waterworks Hill Trailhead by 9 am. To get there, go north off Broadway on Madison St, cross RR tracks and go under I-90. Madison changes name to Greenough at RR tracks. After 0.22 miles, turn left off Greenough on Minckler Loop to the trailhead parking lot.The trip will finish up in Frenchtown- leaving a 2 hour drive to the conference site.
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FRIDAY (July 24) - Ceremonial opening, nearly full-day field trips, and research presentations
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7:30–8:30 TRGS check-in / registration / light refreshments
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8:30–9:30 Opening remarks and general TRGS business
9:30–10:00 Field trip prep: pick-up sack lunches, coordinate vehicles, load coolers
10:00–5:00 Field trips
6:00–7:00 Dinner on your own
7:00–9:00 Geologic overview and research presentations in the pavilion
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Field Trips:
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A1 Murray Mining District Idaho (Rob Morgan & Bruce Cox)—2-Wheel drive vehicles with road stops, with short walks
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A2 Sheet Flood Facies / Baldy Mountain (Stuart Parker)—A moderately strenuous hike.
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SATURDAY (July 25) – Full-day field trips, map blast, poster session
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7:30–8:30 Field trip prep: pick up sack lunches, coordinate vehicles, load coolers
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8:30–5:00 Field trips
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6:00–7:00 Catered dinner at the pavilion
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7:00–9:00 Map blast and poster session at the pavilion
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Field trips:
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B1. Hog Heaven Mining District (Chris Gammons)—High clearance 4 wheel drive vehicles required with short walks. Limited to 25.
B2. Glacial Lake Missoula / floods,(Larry Smith and others)— 2-Wheel drive vehicles with road stops, with short walks.
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SUNDAY (July 26) – Final day of field trips and conference close
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7:30–8:30 Field trip prep: pick up sack lunches, coordinate vehicles, load coolers
8:30–5:00 Field trips
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Field trips:
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C1. Building Stone Geology / Quarries, (John Mills and Bruce Cox)—road stops with some easy walking.
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REGISTRATION
Registration for the meeting includes a hard copy of 2026 Northwest Geology, edited by Alan English. Questions about the field conference, accommodations, or volunteering should be sent to Bruce Cox (bcox737@gmail.com). Additional conference information may be posted on the TRGS webpage (http://trgs.org) or the TRGS Facebook page.
REGISTER BY MAIL: Complete the registration form and pay by check (postmark by July 10). Send to: Tobacco Root Geological Society, P.O. Box 118, Butte, Montana 59703-0118.
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REGISTER ONLINE: Online registration opens on June 16 at www.trgs.org. After registration opens, complete the online registration form and send a check for registration fees to Tobacco Root Geological Society, P.O. Box 118, Butte, Montana 59703-0118 or pay by PayPal. Please be sure to print your completed registration form before you submit your responses. Please complete the online registration form no later than July 15 so that we can accurately plan for lunches and food.
Online registration is the preferred method for accurate attendee contact information, trip registration, and meal counts.
Reminder: No breakfasts or coffee are offered during this conference!
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All field trip participants, including leaders, must register for the conference. Field trip leaders do not need to pay for the field trip(s) they are leading. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday field trip registration includes sack lunch.
Please note that there are two places on the form where you can contribute to the scholarship fund of the TRGS – by purchasing a conference T-shirt or by making a direct contribution to scholarships.
