Because sheltering at home has been lifted and we have now moved into the phase of social distancing our local news station filmed a segment on suggested places to visit within the state. Most places we have visited and because we live in Montana they are not just an hour ride down the road but one park caught our eye, Medicine Rocks State Park. Hubby and I hadn't ever heard of the park and it was in an area of the state we had never visited, about a three and a half hour drive. The park is in the south eastern corner of the state. The area contains tiny towns with such distinguished names as Ismay, Mizpah, Plevna, Baker and Ekalaka. Small towns to start and even smaller now.
Not knowing if there were any camping spots we decided to just hop in the car rather than take the truck and trailer. A straight drive one hundred and fifty miles to Miles City, then a turn right and another hundred and twenty miles we were there!
Medicine Rock State Park became a designated park in 1959 but had been enjoyed for many decades before that designation.
Sixty one million years ago there was a river running in the area. It deposited sand along the banks and over the years the sand formed into sandstone rock. Wind and weathering have formed these unusual shapes over millions of years.
Not knowing if there were any camping spots we decided to just hop in the car rather than take the truck and trailer. A straight drive one hundred and fifty miles to Miles City, then a turn right and another hundred and twenty miles we were there!
Medicine Rock State Park became a designated park in 1959 but had been enjoyed for many decades before that designation.
Sixty one million years ago there was a river running in the area. It deposited sand along the banks and over the years the sand formed into sandstone rock. Wind and weathering have formed these unusual shapes over millions of years.
"As the name implies, this site was one of “Big
Medicine,” where Indian hunting parties conjured up
magical spirits that helped to increase courage, strength
and good luck. Judging by the remnants of prehistoric
tools and weapons found here, this area was indeed
popular with early nomadic people. Local Northern
Cheyenne historians say that Native people also visited
this place to collect medicinal plants and seashells,
which were used for adornment.
During the late 1800s, Theodore Roosevelt camped at
Medicine Rocks and commented:
“The sun was just setting when we crossed the final ridge and come in sight of as singular a bit of country as I have ever seen. Over an irregular tract of gently rolling sandy hills...were scattered several hundred detached and isolated buttes or cliffs of sandstone...cut and channelled by the weather into the most extraordinary forms; caves, columns, battlements, spires, and flying buttresses were mingled in the strangest confusion...the sand gave everything a clean, white look. Altogether it was as fantastically beautiful a place as I have ever seen.” (Montana FWP)
It is hard to show in the photos just how tall the formations are. Some are five of six stories in height.
We hiked around the 330 acre park and enjoying the formations. There are a dozen camping spots and I think a two or three night stay in the future would be enjoyable.
“The sun was just setting when we crossed the final ridge and come in sight of as singular a bit of country as I have ever seen. Over an irregular tract of gently rolling sandy hills...were scattered several hundred detached and isolated buttes or cliffs of sandstone...cut and channelled by the weather into the most extraordinary forms; caves, columns, battlements, spires, and flying buttresses were mingled in the strangest confusion...the sand gave everything a clean, white look. Altogether it was as fantastically beautiful a place as I have ever seen.” (Montana FWP)
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