Eye of the Needle, Natural arch site in Montana, United States

The Eye of the Needle was an 11-foot-high sandstone natural arch on the Missouri River, shaped like an inverted "V", about 56 miles downstream from Fort Benton, Montana, beside LaBarge Rock. The top 4 feet had fallen by May 27, 1997, leaving two pillars; six other columns on the south side of the river were also toppled.

Meriwether Lewis recorded the 11-foot sandstone arch in his journal during the 1805 Lewis and Clark Expedition up the Missouri River. On May 27, 1997, an outfitter on a guided river trip found its top 4 feet had fallen, leaving two pillars; six nearby columns had also toppled. Early reports blamed vandals, and a $22,000 reward was offered, but no arrests followed. In 2002 writer Rick Graetz argued erosion and weathering, not vandalism, caused the collapse, citing the lack of human debris and the arch's difficult access.

The arch served as a natural landmark for those traveling the Missouri River and exploring this remote corner of Montana. River travelers and locals used it as a reference point when moving through the area.

The arch stood about 56 miles (90 km) downstream from Fort Benton, on BLM land next to LaBarge Rock. It could be reached only by ascending steep cliffs or by a long hike, which made access difficult. The top 4 feet (1 m) had fallen, leaving two pillars.

The arch's destruction was first blamed on vandals, and a $22,000 reward was offered, but no arrests were made. In 2002 writer Rick Graetz argued that erosion and weathering, not vandalism, toppled it, citing the lack of human debris and the difficulty of reaching the site. The BLM left the remnants in place and built a replica near the Fort Benton levee.