Get your family outside and marvel at the rock paintings in Pictograph Cave State Park. Take an easy hike and have a picnic while you’re there. It’s a great family outing.
Just a short drive from downtown Billings, the Pictograph Cave State Park is a place to go, walk, picnic, and enjoy some local lore. Our Montana road trip took us all over the southeastern part of the state, and we loved so many of the famous sites, like the Pompey’s Pillar, Yellowstone, and the Battlefield of Little Bighorn as well as a day out hunting for gems.
like this teepee for children to explore located in the picnic area.
I hadn’t ever heard of the Billing’s pictographs before, so I was completely taken by surprise when I found out how interesting and beautiful this small state park was on the outskirts of the city. Complete with a small museum and informative placards, it was both educational and fun.
Pictograph Cave State Park
With over 65,000 visitors a year, Pictograph Cave is definitely one of the main attractions in the vicinity of Billings. It’s a relatively small park with one main walking trail that will take you past the three caves.
than the time required to read the park informational signs.
The main cave is Pictograph Cave, which is the important one. It’s the only cave that still contains known pictographs. The walking trail begins at the end of the parking lot, under a roofed information panel.
The hike to Pictograph Cave is about 1/4 mile long, which only takes about ten minutes. It is up hill, but it’s paved the entire way. The scariest part, was at the very beginning of the path reading the “Beware of Rattlesnakes” sign.
What are Pictographs?
Pictographs are paintings on the walls of caves, which depict the life of the native tribes that lived and migrated through the area. They are different from petroglyphs, because they are painted on the rocks instead of carved into the rocks.
How Did the Pictographs Get There?
The land that included the state park has traditionally been a stopping point when the tribes were migrating from one feeding ground to another. It’s in a protected valley thanks to the cliffs of sandstone, near a water source, and in protected shelter.
The tribes that were thought to have frequented the area include the Crow. They have been in the area for over 300 years. Attracted to this particular place due to its proximity to the Yellowstone River, it was often a place of respite.
small museum in the Pictograph Cave visitor’s center.
Artifacts Found in the Area
The caves were first discovered in 1937 after a storm. A piece of rock fell and revealed the crevice, or overhang that is part of the cave. Soon after a small archaeological dig recovered over 30,000 artifacts of native American life. (source)
The cave, itself, showed signs of temporary inhabitation with a fire pit. In it were found all kinds of tools, bones, and basketry. Some items were not from this area, but were traded for, but many of the items originated in the southwest.
as you begin the short hike to Pictograph Cave.
The Pictographs
After my short hike, not seeing any snakes, thank you very much, I was excited to see the pictographs. The path ends at the overhang, or cave, and it has a good view of much of the wall. Right away, you can see a few splashes of color.
There is an informational placard which claims there were once over 150 pictographs, but many have since faded. The one that draws many people’s attention is the one below of seven rifles and perhaps a shield next to them.
Why rifles? Had they been traded for? Were they captured? No one really knows.
What to Do at Pictograph Cave State Park
After walking up and enjoying the few visible pictographs, reading the many informational signs, really this area is just great for taking a hike, having a picnic, and enjoying the views.
The visitor’s center provides clean bathrooms and water, and there are maps indicating the various hikes you might want to do. Being so close to Billings, it makes for a short morning or afternoon stop to just get outdoors.
How to Get There
There really is only one way to get there and that is by car. From the center of Billings, get on I-90 East. Take exit 452 and turn onto Coburn Road. This road winds around for six miles through beautiful landscape for six miles until you come to the gate of the state park.
Note: There is no overnight parking or camping at this park.
Practical Info
- Montana State Parks Website
- Cost: Free if you are an Arizona resident, others pay $6.00 per car.
- Opening Hours: Summer 8:00 – 8:00 with the visitor’s center open from 9:00-7:00. The rest of the year hours are 9:00 – 5:00, with the visitor’s center opening at 10:00.
- The visitor’s center and the main walking path is fully accessible, with a paved trail good for strollers and wheelchairs. It is, however, on a hill so that make it a little tough on some people.
- Dogs are allowed.
Things to Do Nearby
- Billings, many places to go
- Pryor Mountains
- Red Lodge
- Hobson and the Montana Bale Trail
- Pompey’s Pillar
- Little Bighorn Battlefield
- Bighorn Canyon Recreation Area
Conclusion
For a half day excursion while visiting Billings, head out to Pictograph Cave State Park. An easy hike brings you back in time when the Native Americans used the cave to camp for a night and painted pictographs on the rock wall.
Author Bio – Corinne is an avid camper and traveler. She’s been to all 50 of the US states and has four more Canadian provinces to visit. However, she’s not stopping yet. There’s always more to see of this great continent! Corinne loves local foods, getting outdoors, landscape photography, and road trips.
