Makoshika State Park is the largest state park in Montana, featuring unique geological formations, stunning vistas, and even dinosaur fossils! The park is located in Glendive, Montana, and offers several miles of hiking trails that take visitors through the beautiful landscape and badlands of Montana. Below, you’ll find a one-day itinerary that highlights some of the park’s best trails. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!
Entrance Fee:
Montana residents- $9/annually
Non-residents- $8/daily
Lodging:
The park has one main campground, one backcountry site, and one double campsite. A large yurt (sleeps 6) and a tipi (sleeps 8) are also available to reserve. Reservations for all camping options can be made here- Camping at Makoshika.
Look for hotel options in Glendive, MT, if you do not plan to camp.
Dining:
There are no dining options inside the park. The city of Glendive, MT, has several options. We camped, so we cooked most of our meals, but I would recommend Bloom Coffeehouse & Eatery for breakfast or lunch😊
Must Know Before You Go:
- Bring all kinds of sun protection- Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, etc. There is little to no shade on the trails.
- Bring any food/drinks you will need for the day. There will be limited options, once inside the park.
- Most of the trails in the park become slick, and very difficult to hike when wet. Proper footwear is recommended.
- Grab a map at the Visitor Center before heading out for the day- the trails are sparsely marked and sometimes tricky to follow.
Cell Service:
There is limited service throughout the park.
1 Day Itinerary
Visitor Center/Bluebird Trail-
Just past the park entrance is the Visitor Center. If you have any dino-obsessed fans in your crew, you will definitely want to check it out! There are many informational exhibits and plenty of information on the ten species of dinosaur fossils found throughout the park. There is even a triceratops skull and Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil on display😊
After checking out the Visitor Center, start the Bluebird Trail just to the right of the Visitor Center- near the footbridge. This trail is 1.3 miles long with approximately 150 ft of elevation gain. This trail has beautiful views of the scenic landscape the entire way, and in the early morning, we even had plenty of deer sightings along the way😊
Twin Sisters-
After the Bluebird Trail, take the main park road to the very end. Park your car in the circle drive, just past the amphitheater. From there, you’ll already be able to spot the “Twin Sisters”. To get a closer look at the Twin Sisters rock formation, and take in more fabulous views of the park’s unique landscape, follow the narrow trail just off the parking lot. The easy, 0.4-mile trail has minimal elevation gain but does hug the cliff ledge. Use caution near ledges, especially if little ones are running ahead.
Hungry Joe/Eyeful Vista/Hungry Joe Overlook-
The trailhead for Hungry Joe is less than 0.5 miles back down the main park road from the Twin Sisters Lot. There is a small parking lot at the trailhead but no restrooms- the closest restrooms will be back at the amphitheater.
This will be your longest hike of the day at 5.8 miles, with over 600 feet of elevation gain. The Hungry Joe Trail is an out-and-back trail, with the turnaround point being the Hungry Joe Overlook. There will be several trail junctions before you reach the overlook of the Hungry Joe Butte. You will want to veer left at junctions 1/2/4 and right at junction 3.
If you are looking for a longer hike, once you have reached the overlook, there are several alternate routes back to the trailhead. No matter which route you take back to your car, ensure you have a park map before heading out, as it is easy to get turned around with so many intersecting trails. There is also very little shade on this trail. Ensure you have plenty of water and sun protection, especially during summer.
You can also get to the Hungry Joe Overlook via Gunner’s Ridge if you want a slightly shorter hike. If you choose this route, hike this trail immediately after the Bluebird Trail. It is 4.5 miles roundtrip with 700+ feet of elevation gain.
Cap Rock/Natural Bridge-
While the shortest of the day, this trail is probably my favorite at Makoshika State Park. This easy, 0.5-mile loop trail will take you past many unique rock formations and a natural bridge. The natural bridge will be at about the halfway point around the loop. With the sun going down in the evening, all the rock colors on this trail were gorgeous but like most trails in the park, use extreme caution on rainy days. This trail can get very slick in the rain, especially on the rock stairs you’ll need to use to get back to your car at the top of the hill.
Diane Gabriel Trail/Hadrosaur Trail/Sunset Overlook-
Our last stop of the day is the Diane Gabriel Trail. Start the trail near the north side of the campground. The trail is about 1-mile roundtrip with an elevation gain of just over 100 feet, and is known for its unusual rock formations. The trail’s highlight, however, is the hadrosaur vertebrae and the beautiful Sunset Overlook. While most of the trail is easy, climbing up to the fossil can be a bit difficult as the steep set of stairs is significantly eroded. Despite a slightly more strenuous trek, we have a kiddo who hopes to study paleontology someday, so this trail was a must-visit for us! Also, if you’ve made it to sunset I can’t think of a better place to end your time at Makoshika State Park.
*If you have a second day, consider hiking Kinney Coulee, Gunner’s Ridge, and the Vista Trails.
I hope you have an incredible adventure😊
Looking for another Montana adventure? Check out one of our Glacier National Park itineraries!
Also, check out our hiking gear and apparel below!
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