BIGHORN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA:
The Yellowtail Dam rises 525 feet between the rugged walls of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. The lake extends for 71 miles throughout the 1,480 foot canyon. Many fish, including walleye, trout, perch, and others are readily caught in the lake.
Limited boat tours, hiking trails, camping, scenic drives, and ranger-led activities are offered in the Fort Smith, Yellowtail Dam area.
There is a Visitor Center at the dam, which is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, from 9 to 5. For more information, call (406)666-3234.
CHIEF PLENTY COUPS STATE PARK:
Chief Plenty Coups Memorial is 35 miles south of Billings, on Highway 416. The park is open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM from May 1 to September 30. The visitor center-museum is open daily, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. In addition to the museum is Chief Plenty Coups' homestead, a medicine spring, and a memorial to his peace efforts and to the Crow Indians.
A picnic area is completely developed with tables, grills, restrooms and drinking water. Camping isn't allowed.
An entrance fee will be charged. Call (406)252-1289 for more information.
"Makoshika" is a different spelling of a Lakota phrase that means land or bad spirits. Today, the badlands have been set aside for visitors to see and enjoy. In addition to the evergreen-spotted land, the park also holds the fossil remains of such dinosaurs as tyrannosaurus and triceratops.
There is a visitor center in the park, which houses a triceratops skull and other badlands interpretive displays. Other attractions in the park include an archery range, scenic drives and nature trails, a campground, a group picnic area, and many picnic sites.
The visitor center is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and the park is open year-round. It is located in Glendive.
The Medicine Rocks was a place of "big medicine" where Indian hunting parties aroused magical spirits. It has been described as "fantastically beautiful a place as I have ever seen," as Teddy Roosevelt said in the late 1800s.
Weathering has given the sandstone rock formations a honeycomb look. The park is also a haven for mule deer, antelope, and sharp-tailed grouse.
Call (406)232-0900 for more information.
Besides being a State Park, it is also a National Historic Landmark. It is located 7 miles southeast of Billings. Camping isn't allowed, and pets have to be kept on a leash.
The site has paved trails to Pictograph Cave and Ghost Cave with interpretive panels along the way, which explain the significance of the people who lived there and natural features. Also available are: picnic tables, fireplaces, restrooms, benches, a water fountain, and parking. Visitors should bring binoculars to help in viewing the pictographs.
An entrance fee is charged for the park. Call (406)247-2955 for more information.