January rockfall that blocked road and trails now is cleared

BILLINGS – Pictograph Cave State Park southeast of Billings will reopen Wednesday, April 14, 2021, two months after it was closed by a rockfall that blocked the access road and several trails.

Since the January rockfall, Montana State Parks employees and contractors have worked to clear the road and trails and access the threat of future rockfalls from the sandstone cliffs that form part of the park.

Trails in the park leading to the Pictograph Cave and Ghost Cave, will reopen. One short section of trails will remain closed while crews complete construction on a switchback.

Starting Wednesday, the park will resume regular open hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The visitor center will 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 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.

-FWP-