Makoshika State Park

Makoshika State Park ("ma-KO-sh(ih)kuh") is derived from the Lakota meaning "bad earth" or "land of bad spirits". Makoshika is one of the greatest probably little known places in Montana to go hiking, exploring, camping, blue bird watching, look for dinosaur bones, and much more. What does Montana's largest state park (11,531 sq acres) have to offer besides spectacular views, landscapes and rock formations? Amazing trails that wind through natural prehistoric landscapes offering up scenic vistas where you can see for miles, you may find dinosaur bones and maybe even an arrow head or two. (It is illegal to remove artifacts from the park, so please leave for others to find...but take all the pictures you want!) There is also RV camping on the lower portion and tent camping available on the upper portion. The best things to see can not be seen from your car window. Get out, walk the trails, explore and have fun! Oh, and bring water. Water is currently not easily accessible in the park. Check in at the visitor Center located at the entrance to the park. The rangers are knowledgeable and can give you information regarding trails and camping information. The gift shop is a great place to pick up a souvenir from your trip. All photographs are my own work unless stated otherwise. Please give credit if reposting.

Ponderosa Trail

This is a great trail for hot sunny days. It's a nice little walk on mostly flat to hilly ground. This trail loops around through the ponderosa pines and offers accessibility to the McCarty pond and also McCarty Cabin. Both of these two attractions will be on your right, located on your way out on the trail. Easy to miss if you are not watching for them. The best way I have found to get to the cabin so far on this trail is to go to the pond and then follow the trail to the left.  You'll also see the old orange water well and hand pump before you get to the cabin which will be on the hillside to your right. On the way back there are some pretty cool little rock formations of which you will have to venture just a little off the trail to see.  There is a bathroom and picnic table located near the trail head. Enjoy!

McCarty Pond
 





Cattails on the pond. Several kinds of birds use this
area as a nesting ground.
 
My understanding is that the pond was man-made for the ranchers that use to graze cattle in the area before it became part of the park. Today it is used by the birds for nesting and for the horses that roam into the park. Many tourist think that the horses are wild horses natural to the park. They actually belong to someone and roam into the park through it's unfenced boundaries.
 

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