Makoshika State Park Park

Address: Makoshika State Park, Glendive, Montana, United States

Website: https://fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/makoshika

Hours: Visitor Center seasonal hours; park open year-round (check state park site)

Admission: Day-use fee applies; check Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks for current rates

Makoshika State Park is Montana’s largest state park, known primarily for its badlands terrain and fossil-bearing sedimentary rocks. The park features extensive eroded cliffs, coulees and hoodoos that expose layers of ancient sediments.

Key attractions are the park’s panoramic badland vistas, easily walked interpretive trails, overlooks and a visitor center with displays about local geology and paleontology. Camping and short hiking routes allow exploration of the carved landscape and stargazing after dark.

The area’s rock layers include late Cretaceous and early Tertiary deposits that have yielded fossil material over time, making the park of interest to amateur paleontologists and geologists. Park management provides interpretation but collecting of fossils is regulated.

The park sits near the town of Glendive in eastern Montana, occupying badland country that contrasts with surrounding prairie and river valleys. Road access is via regional highways serving Glendive and nearby communities.

• Size and geology: It is Montana’s largest state park and is noted for its exposed badlands geology and frequent surface fossil discoveries.
• Fossil-bearing rocks: The park’s exposed sedimentary layers preserve fossils and allow visible study of late Cretaceous and early Tertiary strata.

What to See#

• Visitor Center: A visitor center with interpretive displays about the park’s badlands geology, regional fossil finds and local natural history.
• Interpretive trails and overlooks: Marked trails and overlooks that traverse badland bluffs, coulees and prairie, providing short hikes and scenic viewpoints.
• Campgrounds: Backcountry and developed campgrounds with basic visitor facilities used by those exploring the park’s formations and night skies.

Makoshika State Park is located near Glendive, Montana, off Highway 16; it is typically reached by car from Glendive which lies along I-94. The park has multiple trailheads and a visitor center; check the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks site for seasonal road and visitor center details.

• Visit the Visitor Center for fossil exhibits and park orientation-rangers can recommend the best short hikes based on recent weather.
• Bring sun protection-the badlands offer little shade and the sun is intense even on cool days.
• If looking for dinosaur bones, join an organized dig or ranger program-unauthorized fossil collection is prohibited.