{"id":1,"date":"2021-12-26T12:00:03","date_gmt":"2021-12-26T12:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.habitatexchanges.org\/?p=1"},"modified":"2023-03-22T05:24:38","modified_gmt":"2023-03-22T05:24:38","slug":"montana-state-parks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.habitatexchanges.org\/montana-state-parks\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Best State Parks In Montana"},"content":{"rendered":"
Montana\u2019s national and state parks boast some of the country\u2019s amazing landscapes. If you\u2019ve been to Glacier National Park<\/a>, then you know this for a fact. The park\u2019s hiking trails are framed by beautiful alpine peaks and glacial lakes, and then there are the breathtaking views of the gorge when you cross over Avalanche Creek. <\/p>\n The scenes in national parks like Glacier and Yellowstone are stunning, but ever so often, the magic is dampened by the sheer volume of crowds at these places. If you\u2019re someone like me who thoroughly enjoys their time around natural habitats, that\u2019s not always an ideal scenario. <\/p>\n Thankfully, Montana\u2019s state parks can provide equally glorious scenery, but with much less human noise and traffic. As a habitat conservationist<\/a> who\u2019s lived most of his life in the Last Best Place, I\u2019ve been able to compile a list of state parks that are worth every inch of time spent. <\/p>\n These are the five best state parks to visit in Montana: <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Photo: J.B Chandler<\/a> <\/p>\n With impressive formations of rocks that look like Swiss cheese and up to 12 camping sites, Medicine Rocks is a quite picturesque location that\u2019s worth visiting for a few days. Visitors can stay at the park for 14 days during a 30-day period. Being a primitive location that has hosted both indigenous dwellers and European settlers, it not only has historical significance, but is also free to use. <\/p>\n For wildlife, watch out for mule deer, antelope, and sharp-tailed grouse. One of the best activities to enjoy at the park is hiking the short 75-mile trail. Generally, the sandstone rock formations are the highlights, but if you\u2019re looking for a bit of social fun, the campsites would suffice. They are equipped with fire rings, a group area, and picnic tables.<\/li>\n <\/p>\n Photo: Tjflex2<\/a>\/Flickr<\/p>\n Perhaps the most popular state park in Montana, and definitely the first, Lewis and Clark Caverns is home to the famous limestone cave complex. The caverns extend to about 400 feet underground, and you would have to climb about 600 stairs to get to the belly of the complex. In my experience, it\u2019s always a fascinating trip, but if you just so happen to want to do more walking, the park has up to 10 miles of hiking trails above ground. <\/p>\n Apart from the caverns, some of the more enjoyable activities include kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. The park is also open to campers, as it has about 40 campsites with parking spaces for trailers and RVs.<\/li>\n <\/p>\n Photo: Cest La Vibe<\/a> <\/p>\n This is one of the most engaging state parks to visit if you\u2019re more into watching wildlife. Having been used to pasture horses by the Kootenai Indians, the park is home to a few wild horses. While watching the horses will already feel like a surreal experience, you can also spot grizzly bears, bald eagles, falcons, bighorn sheep, and mule deer. <\/p>\n The island is situated in Flathead Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in Montana, so the landscape leaves little to be desired. Camping is not permitted on the island, but the variety of activities makes a day trip worth it. Visitors can hike, swim, kayak, and use sailboats.<\/li>\n <\/p>\n\n
Medicine Rocks State Park <\/h2>\n
Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park <\/h2>\n
Wild Horse Island State Park<\/h2>\n
Pictograph Cave State Park<\/h2>\n