Located on the eastern edge of a tight-knit community of southeastern Montana, Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park is a winning feat of preservation, protection, and – let’s be honest – real-time entertainment.
Sitting at a whopping 98 acres in size and at an elevation of 3,600 feet, this site is home to the beloved black-tailed prairie dog and their wild habitat, the prairie lands of Montana. Get out your binoculars and let’s go!
While this state park was established in 1974, the surrounding landscape was once home to numerous indigeneous tribes, including the Salish and Cheyenne Indians. And being so close to the Yellowstone River, the wildlife here is abundant – but you’ll probably hear the barking prairie dogs before anything else.
Take a walk around and you’ll find multiple interpretive displays on these beautiful and illuminating creatures.
An education moment: these prairie dogs support their ecosystem by building shelters for themselves and other animals, including owls and ferrets. As so many indigeneous tribes and scientists have said, one thing supports the whole – and these prairie dogs are no exception.
While this state park doesn’t offer any camping sites, it has two picnic sites for a memorable lunch date with your new best friends. But be sure to not get too close and keep your own furry friends leashed – it’s for the best of the ecosystem and your own peace of mind.
What do we love most about this state park, besides the cute prairie dogs? It’s right off the interstate from Big Timber, making it an easy family stop before moving along to nearby museums, restaurants, or golf courses.
And it’s right near a fishing spot on the Yellowstone River, so you can go ahead and stretch out your day of entertainment as long as you want. Sit back, relax, and let’s learn more about this state park’s surroundings.
Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park – A Complete Guide
Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park Stats
- Size: 98 acres
- Season: Year Round
- Hours: Day Use Only
- Nearest Body of Water: Yellowstone River
- Number of Campsites: None
- Number of Picnic Sites: 2
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
Main Attractions Around Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park
Greycliff Prairie Dog State Park is an undiscovered gem of its own, but there are so many beautiful sites around the area that it’s hard to pick and choose. Here are a few of our favorites!
Crazy Mountain Museum
What do we love most about this Big Timber museum? It’s certainly unique, offering a replica Norwegian stabbur, or storehouse, a tipi, a homesteader’s cabin, and a one-room schoolhouse.
But our favorite aspect of the Crazy Mountain Museum is absolutely the Lewis and Clark Garden, which is the last of its kind and features Montana plants named in William Clark’s 1806 journals. How cool is that?!
But of course, they also have archeological and geological artifacts, thanks to archaeologist Sam Morris, indigeneous artifacts, and information on early settlers to the area.
Like many small town museums, Crazy Mountain also has a genealogy branch to extend your family tree a bit further, but we really are all about that Norwegian storehouse.
Why is it there? Sweet Grass County has abundant Norwegian roots and ties – back to that family tree – so the Sons of Norway built the unit as a nod to heritage within an American diaspora.
Then, check out local favorite Thirsty Turtle Burgers & BBQ for a delicious Cajun Bleu Burger and waffle fries.
Museum of the Beartooths
In town for July’s Sweet Grass Festival? Sweet! We recommend checking out the nearby Museum of the Beartooths in Columbus, a space that offers plenty of education around Old West Montana, including a covered wagon exhibit, schoolhouse exhibit, former grocery store, and our favorite, the Apsaaloke exhibit (Education moment: Apsaaloke is the tribal name for the Crow Indians!).
The folks at the Museum of the Beartooths have done such a good job curating their material that we dare say this is one of our favorite small town museums.
If you’re lucky, you might even make it in time for their annual fundraiser, the Stillwater Brewfest. How can you say no to that!?
Absaroka Beartooth Outfitters
Stepping away from museums for a moment, we have to share one of our favorite spots in town, the family-owned Absaroka Beartooth Outfitters.
Whether you’re looking to hunt, fish, ride horses, or go on an adventure helicopter, this is the place to do it. This community of Montana enthusiasts prides themselves on offering a thrilling Big Sky highlight for you and your loved ones, from guides to suggestions.
The wilderness is very clearly a second home to them. And speaking of homes, if you’re needing a place to rest for the night, they also offer accommodations in and around Big Timber, from a ranch to a lodge.
But more than anything, the folks at Absaroka know adventure and they want you to partake in the beauty of Montana rivers, skies, and terrain.
Recreational Activities Around Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park
So much fishing and swimming to be around your new favorite state park, as well as camping spots for the initiated and uninitiated.
We’re partial to the beautiful River Rocks Camp for multiple recreational activities, but we’re curious to see what you like most! Your Montana adventure is calling, and we must go!
Hiking & Biking
For a bit of a trek, we like to recommend Meyers Creek Trail, which works great as both a hike and bike trail. It’s only 4.5 miles long, but it hits all the right spots for mountain bikes, hikers – even horseback riding.
Keep in mind that you may be sharing the road with motorcycles for a small portion of the hike!
Another option is the Bitterroot Trail in nearby Livingston, also a fantastic alternative for hikes and hikes. And our favorite? Absolutely Twin Lakes, but we’ll get more into why later. We’ve got you, hook, line, and sinker – and speaking of fishing…
Swimming & Fishing
Being so close to the Yellowstone Ri