"Eastern Montana has got to be one of the most underrated places in the country to visit. You can't beat the views, the food, or the museums — and the generosity and genuine interest from the locals made every interaction special. I tell everyone: a trip like this needs to be on your bucket list!"
— Emily Graslie (@egraslie) took a summer road trip to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Montana Dinosaur Trail, highlighting great fossils and science at museums along the way.
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For aspiring paleontologists and archaeologists-at-heart, this five-day prehistoric expedition through eastern Montana will satisfy your curiosity with up-close-and-personal experiences with the creatures that once roamed the area. In between learning about Montana’s early inhabitants, explore the towns on the Montana Dinosaur Trail. With stops at exciting museums, awe-inspiring state parks and friendly small towns, you’ll find so much more than dinosaurs on this adventure.
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Your prehistoric adventure begins in Billings, Montana’s largest city. As a bridge between the mountains and the prairie, Billings is the hub for all things art, culture, outdoor recreation and more on the eastern side of the state. For history buffs, don’t miss the Moss Mansion Museum and the Western Heritage Center to learn more about Montana’s past. If you have an eye for artwork, make sure to pay a visit to the Yellowstone Art Museum, which features an expansive collection showcasing works from both regional and national artists. After a day of discovering all that Billings has to offer, head to your hotel to rest up for tomorrow’s adventures.
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Today, travel east to Ekalaka to visit your first stop on the Montana Dinosaur Trail. This “trail” features 14 locations that tell the story of Montana’s prehistoric history, with most of the stops concentrated in the eastern and north-central parts of the state. Each location houses different fossils, bones, teeth, and even partial skeletons of the dinosaurs that once lived here. When you arrive in town, have some lunch, and then visit the Carter County Museum, the first museum in Montana to display dinosaur fossils. Afterward, make your way to Medicine Rocks State Park to see the natural rock formations jutting out of the ground. These rocks are recognized as sacred by the local Native American tribes, as this area was once used as a gathering place for Indian hunting parties. Return to Ekalaka for the evening.
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This morning, hit the road toward Baker, where you can fuel up with breakfast and coffee before the day’s adventures. Then, set your GPS north to Glendive to visit your second stop on the Montana Dinosaur Trail: the Frontier Gateway Museum. Situated in the heart of the Hell Creek Formation — one of the world’s best records of the late Cretaceous period, rich with fossils of such dinosaurs as T. rex and Triceratops — the museum displays a full-size Struthiomimus cast and features fossils from several other locally located dinosaurs. Then, grab lunch before setting off for the badlands of Makoshika State Park. Not only is it Montana’s largest state park, it has also been the site of more than 10 dinosaur discoveries — making it a stop on Montana’s Dinosaur Trail. Walking through the dramatic rock formations, it’s easy to imagine the dinosaurs traversing this terrain. After you’ve meandered among the hoodoos, travel to Fort Peck for the night.
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Enjoy a slow morning in Fort Peck before making your way to Malta by lunchtime. Then, visit your fourth Dinosaur Trail stop: the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum. The museum features an impressive collection of specimens — including a Stegosaurus, a complete Triceratops and “Leonardo,” a mummified Brachylophosaurus — as a result of its location on the Hell Creek Formation. If you’re visiting during the summertime, the museum offers guided archaeological digs for curious paleontologists of all ages. After perusing the artifacts, travel to Saco for a well-deserved dip in the hot springs pools of Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs Resort. The naturally warmed spring is derived from a 3,200-foot-deep well that produces mineral-rich water at a comfortable 108 degrees. Lounge in the pools or relax in the sauna as you unwind. A restaurant and lodging are available on-site.
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Head back to Malta to grab breakfast before visiting the Phillips County Museum, your last Montana Dinosaur Trail stop. Showcasing a unique blend of prehistoric life, Native American heritage and homesteader history, this eclectic museum pays homage to the area’s diverse past. Make sure to catch a glimpse of “Elvis,” a prized, preserved Brachylophosaurus. Then, grab lunch before traveling back to Billings.
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