medicine rocks state park
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medicine rocks state park印象
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I like to make "finds" when travelling. I pore over state tourist brochures and guidebooks, and then question folks behind info desks. One park employee got excited when I said I wanted to go here. We mapped a long way 'round from Billings through the southeast corner of Montana and back up to the park which is near the same latitude of the North and South Dakota border. The young man was happy to tell me that one of the roads, a secondary state highway, had recently been paved. The park is better reached by travelling south from Baker in US 12.I arrived at the park after a beautiful sunset, paid my camping fee, and picked up a brochure at the self-pay station, and drove to the right from the entrance road until it ended at a parking area loop with toilets. I pulled into a a nearby tree-shaded pullout that I had passed. Behind a rock formation was a picnic table and tree ring. The next morning, I took a walk on a path from the parking area out among isolated formations and wildflowers.I drove back towards the entrance stopping along the way to explore different areas of the park and to search for a carving pictured in the brochure. I found the Native American warrior and woman (and a very bad imitation), but never found the artistic cameo. I did see incredible formations. At the other end of the park, a long trail circled past a view of the highway and rocky outcropping formations 3/4 of the way back to the north. I saw evidence of wildlife, more flowers and eerie rocks. Check out the park map link at the park website, http://stateparks.mt.gov/medicine-rocks/Non-resident entrance fee of $5 is reasonable, but camping fee--$20--felt pretty steep for a park with only vault toilets and water at the entrance via a hand-pump. I spoke with a worker named Beaver who told me that there are carvings in a cave in one of the distant formations by the parking circle that has a horse carving by a young girl who was his aunt and had died when dragged by her horse while riding in the park area. He also insisted I try the water from the pump, that it was the best water he had ever tasted. It was indeed sweet and tasty. Be sure to fill your water bottles.
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This state park is probably not going to be on your way, but it is worth the trip if you have the time. The rocks are a unique geological formation and provide for great viewing. We were able to grab some lunch in Miles City and have a nice picnic at the park. After lunch we had a nice walk through the park and got to see several of the interesting rocks. The park is primitive and remote, with only a handful of vault toilets. The amenities are sparse and the rocks are the main attraction.
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"As fantastically beautiful a place as I have ever seen." That is Teddy Roosevelt's review, not mine. Considering the grandeur of our national parks, I would consider Teddy's testimonial to be a bit of an exaggeration. However, if you are traveling east or west on Rt. 12 between Montana and North Dakota, a side trip south on Rt. 7 would be an excellent diversion. Medicine Rocks State Park is 330 acres which has sandstone formations that have been sculpted by the weather along with considerable human graffiti. There is a small fee for non Montana visitors at the entrance which is handled on the honor system. This site was considered sacred by Native Americans. There are also about a dozen campsites. It is a great way to break up a long drive.
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Went here during the winter (not recommended) but the park was completely open. We were the only people in the park. We saw some whitetail deer. I recommend drinking some water from the onsite spring (it was delicious and very cold).
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We spent a night here the only campers in this state park. Medicine Rocks is a wonderland of rocks and a very spiritual spot. However, it is visibly marred by all the visitors who seem to think their name or their drawing is important and therefore carve it into the rocks. We had heard there were Indian petrogylphs here. Couldn't find the. Why? Because people have carved EVERYWHERE on the rock. We did see a little "historical" graffiti but everywhere else it was marred by individuals carving their inscriptions.
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We were visiting friends in Ekalaka, Montana and they told us about Medicine Rocks State Park. We decided to take a drive and check it out for ourselves. The park is really nice. We actually were in a hurry and didn't even get out of the car; you can drive on the road through out the park and see the beautiful formations. We got some great pictures! There is actually a sign in the park asking you not to touch the Medicine Rocks because of the oil or something from our hands hurting the rocks. To me, the rocks looked like a great place for rattlesnakes to hide anyhow. There was also a sign stating that the Native Americans gathered there for hunting parties and for vision quests, which I thought was interesting. If you are in the area, it's worth a drive to take a look. There is no park ranger or anyone running the park. There is just a small fee for non Montana visitors upon entering the park. You jut put the money in the collection box.
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Medicine Rocks isn't the sort of place you come across by accident. You have to be traveling through Ekalaka to even come near it. We were en route from Teddy Roosevelt NP to Devil's Tower and it seemed at interesting spot on the map (the only one... for miles...) It's a very interesting spot and the only reason it doesn't get a top rating is that Montana State Parks doesn't seem to have decided if they want to support it or not yet. 5$ entry fee is reasonable although they don't do much in terms of maintenance. A hiking trail map for instance might be nice. In the absence of that though, wandering around the rock formations is fun.