Billings Area Attractions

Yellowstone Traffic To Be Moved To New Gibbon River Bridge

As one road project in Yellowstone nears completion, several other smaller projects are set to get underway.

Work on a section of road between Norris and Madison through Gibbon Canyon began last spring. Since Monday, July 12, traffic has been shifted onto the new road alignment and across the new bridge over the Gibbon River.

Once this shift occurs, restoration of the two miles of old road segment along the Gibbon River will get underway.

Visitors can continue to expect up to 30-minute delays through October 20. This section of road will also be closed to travel between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. every night until September 1.

On the east side of the park, the contractor is gearing up to start work on a one mile section of the East Entrance road through Sylvan Pass. Once construction begins, visitors can expect up to 30 minute traffic delays through the area until work concludes in the fall. There will be no night time closures.

Park road crews also have two chip seal projects planned for the coming weeks.

The road between Canyon Junction and Fishing Bridge Junction is also set to be chip sealed. Work is scheduled to start Monday, July 26 and end Thursday, August 5. No work is scheduled for Friday, July 30 through Sunday, August 1. Visitors can expect traffic delays of up to 30 minutes when work is underway.

Updated road information is available 24 hours a day by calling (307) 344-2117.

Interpretive Center and Trail Lead to Caves at Pictograph Cave State Park

A new, sandstone-hued interpretive center rises at the foot of rimrocks where Pictograph Cave has drawn human beings for over 3,000 years. Designed for high energy efficiency, the center features a classroom, restrooms, gift shop and indoor exhibits with replicas of artifacts - such as a wooden paint applicator and a bone turtle effigy - found during a Works Progress Administration excavation.

A short 5-mile drive from Billings, the park is an ideal spot to enjoy a shady picnic, add to your birding life list, attend an interpretive program, or just take a stroll in the quiet outdoors.

The Pictograph, Middle and Ghost cave complex was home to generations of prehistoric hunters. With its abundant wildlife and vegetation, the fertile river valley provided an ideal campsite for travelers.

These caves were the site of Montana’s first professional archaeological studies and excavations beginning in 1937. Over 30,000 artifacts have been identified from the park. A short paved trail allows visitors to view the rock paintings, known as pictographs, that are still visible in Pictograph Cave, the largest of the three. Interpretive signs tell the story of the archaeological studies.

In Billings, take Lockwood Exit off I-90, then 5 miles south on Coburn Road. Call the visitor center at (406) 254-7342. (Lat 45.738, Lng -108.433)

Leashes are required for pets. The maximum combined length of a vehicle unit is 40 ft

Pictograph Cave State Park is open daily, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. The visitor center is open daily, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. June 1 – August 31.

No entrance fee for Montana residents. Park fees apply to non-residents. Call (406) 254-7342 for information or visit fwp.mt.gov.

Earth Stewardship for Young Folks at Pictograph Cave State Park

Earth Stewardship for Young Folks is an annual summertime program at Pictograph Cave State Park that is geared toward students, ages 7 through 10. It takes place every Friday, from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the Park, from June 11 through August 20, 2010.

Find the park easily on the map in the center of this issue. The program focus is on helping students develop a relationship with the Earth, by way of storytelling and nature-based activities. A $2 donation is requested for each weekly program, to cover costs for snacks and materials. Space is limited to 15 students each week and pre-registration is required. For more information or to reserve a space for your future earth steward, call (406) 254-7342.

July 30, Animals of Central Montana

August 6, Animal Tracks and Scat

August 13, Reptiles and Amphibians of Montana

August 20, Dutch Oven Day!

Pictograph Cave State Park is open daily, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. The visitor center is open daily, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. June 1 – August 31.

No entrance fee for Montana residents. Park fees apply to non-residents. Call (406) 254-7342 for information or visit fwp.mt.gov.

Pictograph Cave State Park Releases Program Schedule

July 31 (Sat) at 7:00 p.m., “Sign Talker (Indian Sign Language)” (Ron Garritson)

August 7 (Sat) at 7:00 p.m., “Geocaching 101” (Asa Mowery)

August 14 (Sat) at 8:00 p.m., “Summertime Celestial Viewing” (Yellowstone Valley Amateur Astronomers)

August 28 (Sat) at 7:00 p.m., “Photographing Wild Birds” (John Havener)

September 4 (Sat) at 7:00 p.m., “Ghosts on the Land: Apsáalooke (Crow Indian) Interpretations of Rock Art (Timothy P. McCleary, Ph.D.)

September 18 (Sat) at 7:00 p.m., “Recent Archeology in the Billings Area” (Steve Aaberg, Aaberg Cultural Resource Consulting Service)

October 16 (Sat) at 7:00 p.m., “Autumn Celestial Viewing” (Yellowstone Valley Amateur Astronomers)

October 30 (Sat) at 7:00 p.m., “Are There Really Ghosts at Ghost Cave?” (Pictograph Cave State Park Rangers)

Unless otherwise noted, all programs take place in the Park’s visitor center. Please bring your own lawn chairs for outdoor programs (August 14, October 16 and October 30).

No charge for Montana residents; park fees apply to non-residents. For information or special needs call (406) 245-0227 or 247-2940 or visit fwp.mt.gov.

Montana Historical Society’s Glacier Centennial Exhibit Now Online

A Glacier National Park Centennial exhibit, titled Land of Many Stories, is currently on display at the Montana Historical Society Museum in Helena, Montana’s capital, and now a virtual tour of the exhibit is just a mouse click away. The exhibit represents the rich history of the park and features a wide diversity of tangible artifacts from the early 1900s to today.

The exhibit explores the many ways people have used and enjoyed the area now known as Glacier National Park from pre-European contact to present day and illustrates how, although much has changed over the years, a great deal remains the same for today’s visitor.

There is also a traveling exhibit which parallels the theme and content of the major exhibition currently on display at the Montana Historical Society. The traveling exhibit is comprised of reproductions of historic photographs, graphics and accompanying interpretive text. The traveling exhibit is currently at the Central School Museum in Kalispell, Montana, through August 31 and then moves to the Museum of the Beartooths in Columbus, Montana from September 1 through October 30.

The virtual Land of Many Stories exhibit is a collaboration to help make the exhibit accessible to more people. Deirdre Shaw, Glacier National Park Museum Curator and Jennifer Bottomly-O’Looney, Montana Historical Society Curator of Collections developed the content for the virtual exhibit. Glacier Interpretive Specialist David Restivo designed the online tour. Not every artifact is highlighted but the virtual tour gives viewers a taste of the exhibit through the use of still photography to create the online experience.

Website visitors are able to get an overview of the exhibit and then take a closer look at items of interest. Virtual visitors can experience a wide variety of exhibits including ornate Glacier Park Hotel Company china, Native American tools and arrowheads, park ranger equipment and initials carved into a tree by one of Glacier’s first rangers.

Funded through a donation by the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Foundation (to the Glacier National Park Fund) the exhibit is the product of a partnership between Glacier National Park, the Montana Historical Society, and Glacier National Park Fund.

The Land of Many Stories and virtual tours of the Going-to-the-Sun Road construction and a few popular park hikes are viewable at nps.gov/glac/photosmultimedia/virtualtour.htm.

Camping Regulations Change at Stillwater Fishing Access Sites

Camping rules at three fishing access sites managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in the Stillwater River drainage will change for the 2010 season.

Overnight camping at Fireman’s Point fishing access site will not be allowed this summer. The site is heavily used as a take-out point for whitewater rafters, kayakers, fishermen and float-tour companies. Because of the small size of the site, one or two camps can congest traffic and limit parking for other users.

At two fishing access sites, FWP will charge fees this summer where camping was free during previous years. FWP will collect nightly fees at its Whitebird and Castlerock fishing access sites. Fees are $7 per might for campers with a current Montana fishing license or $12 for those without. Fees charged for camping will help cover the cost of maintenance.

Rules will remain the same this summer at all other Stillwater drainage fishing access sites. No camping is allowed at the Swinging Bridge, Jeffrey’s Landing and Absaroka sites, where the land size and primary uses are incompatible with overnight camping.

Free camping still is available at the Itchkepe, Cliff Swallow, Moraine, Buffalo Jump and Rosebud Isle fishing access sites.

FWP has 320 fishing access sites on rivers, streams, ponds and lakes throughout the state.

Campers Can Reserve North Shore at Cooney

Visitors to Cooney State Park near Boyd will notice some significant improvements for this summer’s season. Manager Jennifer Alexander said the improvements are intended to make the park operation more efficient and give visitors a better experience.

First, groups of campers will be able to reserve the entire North Shore campground this summer. On days that it is not reserved, the campground will remain open on a first-come, first-served basis for any campers.

The North Shore campground has five spots, each capable of handling two campers, trailers or motorhomes. It also has a latrine, but no potable water or electrical service. Cost to reserve the campground is $100 per night with a $100 one-time, refundable cleaning and damage deposit. Groups with a maximum of 40 people may reserve the entire campground for as many as seven days. Reservations can be made by calling the park office at (406) 445-2326 at least seven days before arrival.

Also, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has installed commercial trash dumpsters at Red Lodge Arm, Cottonwood and Marshall Cove campgrounds. The bins are intended to make trash removal from the campgrounds cleaner, more efficient and more convenient for campers, Alexander said.

Finally, campers and day-users will be able to buy snacks, bait, ice and firewood at a new concession at the North Shore boat ramp. Ed and Keith Sandefer will keep the store open from 8 am. until at least 8 pm. daily through the summer, Alexander said.

Cooney State Park is about 30 minutes southwest of Laurel and accessible by county road from either Boyd or Columbus. It surrounds the 733-acre Cooney Reservoir. It is one of 50 state parks in Montana. For online information about Montana State Parks, visit fwp.mt.gov and click on Parks and Recreation.

Lake Elmo State Park Summer Hours

Summer hours at Lake Elmo State Park in Billings Heights started May 1. External and internal gates at the state park will open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Visitors will not be allowed in the park during closed hours. A restroom at the boat ramp will be open during park hours. After June 1, other facilities will open.

Visitors are asked to remove all vehicles from the parking lots at the boat ramp and on the north shore of Lake Elmo before the park closes each day at 10 p.m. Security officers will warn visitors about 10 minutes before the gates close. After the gates are locked, visitors will not be able to remove cars from the closed parking lots.

Alcohol is not allowed at Lake Elmo State Park. Violators may be cited by police, park personnel or Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game wardens. Pets are to be on leashes except in the fenced dog beach area. Motorboats are not allowed on the lake.

Lake Elmo State Park covers 183 acres in Billings Heights and features a 1.4-mile loop trail, playground, pavilion shelters, boat ramp, bathrooms, beach, wheelchair-accessible fishing pier and 64-acre reservoir.

Further information about the park and fishing opportunities is available online at fwp.mt.gov.