Highlight Pictures From 2014

Spring and summer of 2014 brought an unusual amount of rainfall to this area of the state resulting in beautiful green landscapes. I wanted to post some of my pictures from last year to show how beautiful it was, and also to get some pictures of some of the many sights or formations you will see when coming to the park.

If you look closely you will see a Hadrosaur fossil in this picture.

This is located on the Diane Gabriel Trail

Some of my favorite rock formations in the park. This one

 is on the Kinney Coulee Trail and looks like it's smoking.

 

A bone I found up one of the Kinney Coulee drainages. It was stuck in the side of the hill. I stopped at the visitors center and showed them the picture to see what kind of animal it was from, and they think it looks old enough to be a buffalo from back when they use to roam the park. It's not fossilized so it's not dinosaur.

 

A view of the lower campground as seen from the top of the
Diane Gabriel Trail which trailheads from the parking lot.

 

 The Diane Gabriel Trail offers a perfect view of the picnic shelter area,
 entrance to the park and distant view of the city of Glendive, Montana.

 

 Pretty little bridge in fall colors located on the Bluebird Trail which trailheads from the Visitors Center's Parking lot.

 

 Diane Gabriel trail not too far from the trail head. It can get pretty muddy and slick through here after a rainstorm. This trail also has a surprise near the top, a Hadrosaurus fossilized vertebrae. If you can make it up all the stairs (not these ones, they get worse), it's well worth the climb to see the fossil. There are park benches along the way if you need to take a break.

 Some of my favorite formations. These are found on the Kinney Coulee
trail up above the switchbacks.

 

 This natural bridge is located on the Cap Rock Trail. One of my favorite trails with some pretty awesome formations. 

 

Some of the man-made stairs on the Cap Rock Trail. I thought

these were pretty cool the first time I saw them.

 

This little watering hole is off the side of the Diane Gabriel Trail.

I like the little archway in the front. 

Makoshika is home to some pretty awe inspiring rock formations.

This one is located off the Kinney Coulee Trail.

Rock formations on the Kinney Coulee Trail

Bluebird eggs. There are over 75 bluebird houses throughout

 the park. These are monitored & documented by my friend the

bluebird man Lew. Wrens and swallows also nest in the houses. 

 

A beautiful view from the top of the switchbacks in the spring of 2014.