Medicine Rocks

Weird, eroded rocks in the middle of nowhere Montana. 

What brought me to this Montana state park in the middle of nowhere (but with fantastic cell service)? It had a convenient campground. I wouldn’t have stopped otherwise, but I’m glad I did. Luckily, I had left Devils Tower early enough for some exploration before the sun set.

Medicine Rocks State Park is a small state park surrounded by prairie. A series of eroded, almost hoodoo-like sandstone rock formations start randomly showing up as you drive down the highway. Medicine Rocks got its current name by the medicinal plants that used to grow around them. Teddy Roosevelt even visited and described the area “as fantastically beautiful a place as I have ever seen.”

As it is a Montana State Park, there are no decent trail maps to be found anywhere online. So, I kind of winged it and just started walking. (There is still a 2021 program schedule on the website. Worst state park website system ever.)

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

The park only has dirt roads. They wind around these large eroded rock formations.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

The Montana prairie. A mowed trail goes across the prairie from the road. No trail name was posted so I named it the Prairie Trail. It fits.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

Very weird rock formations. Very weird.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

They just randomly sit in the prairie.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

They tend to run in ridge like lines through the landscape.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

There are even more outside of the park. I’m not sure how much farther this trail goes.

The campground is actually just a random series of campsites strewn about the park. There was only one other campsite being used. I really liked the one next to that guy, but I wanted solitude since I could. This campsite was by itself and surrounded by more weird rocks.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

I’m glad it wasn’t busier since a trail basically ran through the site connecting it to other campsites and other parts of the park.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

A trail crosses most of the park. I took it from my campsite towards one I knew existed (only because I drove past it. Heaven forbid a map of the park would be posted in the park).

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

A bit of fall color showing up.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

Looking a bit like Swiss cheese.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

A little natural arch.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

This trail actually had a name! The Sunset Loop. It wasn’t a loop though.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

More Swiss cheese.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

All the rock formations line up in lines but they still seem so random.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

They apparently are just weird hoodoos.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

Very random hoodoos.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

Continuing out in the prairie.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

There is a big grouping on the Sunset Loop, which you can climb.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

Very cool looking.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

Another natural arch.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

I walked back to my campsite and then took the Dalton Trail, which may be the trail that I took to get to the Sunset Trail. No idea.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

If you look closely, you can see the eagles’ nest.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

That nest is gigantic.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

The sun was getting fairly low.

Medicine Rocks State Park, MontanaJana Irving

Little natural arch in the middle there.

I turned around after the last photo. Hunger compelled me to.

Medicine Rocks was a surprising gem. It’s a small park in the middle of nowhere and poorly signed, but it was fun. It was a perfect for a late afternoon exploration.

 

Check out my next update where I will be visiting Montana’s badlands!

or

Start at the beginning of this northwest Midwest road trip!

About Wandering Jana

Traveling the world to discover the past.
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