Been there. It is beautiful. Amazing terrain.

I've never been there, but who doesn't love dinosaurs?

I've never been there, but who doesn't love dinosaurs?

I've always wanted to visit Makoshika. From photos it looks like southern Utah, not something I would expect in Montana.

Photos of this park look amazing. Can't wait to visit it someday.

There are great short hikes especially to do in the morning or evening. Some great places for photos.

The switchbacks to walk or ride bike are a great way to exercise. Our family likes to walk the Cap Rock and Diane Gabriel trails (short distances once you get there) 1 mile and 1.2 and 1.7 loops. Here's a photo from 7-8 years ago of the Natural Bridge. Christmas Eve eve we hiked to the Natural Bridge but the little bit of snow left the trail impassable. Perhaps in the Spring. The pine smell and fresh air is our haven of the "mountains". The Badlands have their own unique scenery.

Growing up in Billings, I had usually traveled west whenever we wanted to get out of town. So, I was understandably surprised the first time I drove up to Makoshika State Park. The biggest State Park in the state, Makoshika is massive. Lots of hiking trails and scenic areas in the Eastern Montana Badlands. I would definately recommend this unique landscape to any visitor to Montana. What's even better, it's located right next to the lodging and restaurants of Glendive Montana. No trip to eastern Montana would be complete without a stop at Makoshika!

Makoshika State Park is located in the rugged badlands of eastern Montana in Glendive. The name Makoshika (Ma-ko'-shi-ka) is a variant of a Lakota phrase meaning land of bad spirits or "badlands". Although the area resembles the badlands of the Dakotas, these badlands expose older rock layers. Makoshika is the largest state park in Montana, covering over 11,400 acres.

Biking, hiking and camping are all possible. Sunrise in the desert oasis is particularly delightful.

Every year as spring draws near so does something unique to Makoshika State Park, the Turkey Buzzards coming back to the park and every year we in Glendive celebrate it. Though the painted stripes of the badlands of Makoshika may be only 20 miles from our farm as we drive up the switchbacks to the majesty of the ampetheater my family and I were getting ready to enjoy a fun filled morning of kit flying in the park during Buzzard days. As the kids piled out of the van with their new kites and ran to the appointed area buzzards started to fly along with the four kites that were flying in the air for a few minutes we were on with nature.