Pictograph Cave State Park reopened Wednesday, April 14, 2021, two months after it was closed by a rockfall which blocked the access road and several trails. In the months following the rockfall in January, employees and contractors for Montana State Parks have worked tirelessly to clear the road and trails and assess the threat of future rockfalls from the sandstone cliffs that form part of the park.
Trails leading to the Pictograph Cave and Ghost Cave, are once again open to the public. One small section of trails will remain closed as crews complete construction on a switchback.
The park has resumed regular open hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The visitor center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the same days. The park and visitor center are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The 23-acre park southeast of Billings includes three main caves that were home to prehistoric hunters. Approximately 30,000 artifacts, ranging from stone tools, weapons, paintings and instruments have been excavated from the site.
The park has a ¾-mile long loop trail to the caves, with interpretative displays identifying and explaining the natural features, prehistoric paintings and vegetation found in the area.
Further information about the park is online at https://fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/pictograph-cave.
