State Parks

Near the base of the Pryor Mountains lies the home of Chief Plenty Coups, the last chief of the Crow Tribe. Per the wishes of Plenty Coups and his wife, the property has been transformed into a state park where all cultures can come together to learn about unity. The park offers several picnic sites, walking trails, interpretive displays and a visitor center.

Situated within Billings city limits, this urban park provides a great place to swim, boat (non-motorized only), paddleboard, fish, picnic, birdwatch and walk on the surrounding nature trail. The family-friendly park features a boat launch, playground, fenced dog park and two group-use sites.

Montana’s largest state park expands over 11,000 acres and is arguably the most unique. It features incredible topography, like sandstone formations, cap rocks and fluted hillsides. Some of the world’s best-preserved dinosaur fossils, including those of a Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops are displayed at the visitor center. The park includes an archery site, a scenic drive, hiking and biking trails, 28 camping sites, a group picnic area, outdoor amphitheater and disc golf course.

Nestled along the rolling prairies of Montana’s eastern edge between Ekalaka and Baker lies Medicine Rock State Park. As its name implies, this area was once a place of “big medicine,” where tribal hunting parties gathered before a hunt. Here, you’ll spot fascinating sandstone pillars, sprouting a hundred feet above the rolling prairies. The park includes hiking and biking trails, 12 campsites and a group-use area.

Pictograph Cave State Park is a National Historic Landmark just outside of Billings with historically significant preserved caves. Inside the park’s three caves—Pictograph, Middle and Ghost—you can find over 100 pictographs created by prehistoric hunters approximately 2,000 years ago. The park has a ¾-mile loop trail, day-use picnic area and visitor center with interpretive displays, artifacts and a gift shop.

Pirogue Island State Park is located on the Yellowstone River just outside of Miles City. Widely believed to be the site where the Corps of Discovery and Captain Clark camped in 1806 on their return trip east, the park remains covered with cottonwoods and dozens of plant species that make the island an ideal destination for birdwatching. During low water, visitors can wade through the river channels to reach the island or stop while floating down the river.

Rosebud Battlefield State Park preserves a portion of the site where the Battle of the Rosebud was fought on June 17, 1876. Years preceding the battle, generations of Indigenous peoples used the valley for hunting and gathering as seen on petroglyphs marked into Kobold Buffalo Jump. The remote National Historic Landmark provides a quiet atmosphere where visitors can reflect on centuries of history.

Travel 10 miles north of Decker to visit Tongue River Reservoir for its incredibly scenic views of red shale formations and juniper canyons. The 12-mile-long reservoir is a favorite fishing spot with a few state-record fish snagged in its waters. The park features 160 campsites, a fish cleaning station, two boat ramps, a beach area and a marina store. If you don’t own a boat, you can rent (seasonally) a pontoon boat from Tongue River Marina.