Pictograph Cave State Park is located along the edge of an ancient, Cretaceous era seabed. The 'caves' are really just eroded alcoves along the base of eagle sandstone cliffs near Billings, Montana, a region of the Northern Plains of North America. These rock shelters were used by indigenous first peoples who painted symbolic images on the rock that date at least to 2,145 years ago and perhaps ear
lier. Within our 'green' designed Visitor's Center, you can see artifacts left behind during the thousands of years of occupation and learn about these fascinating people that camped here. Located just five miles southeast of Billings, this 23 acre park features walking trails, picnic grounds and interpretive trail stations; everything you need for a fun and educational get away! This unique place is believed to have been used by different plains tribal groups for ceremonial and vision quest purposes. Over time, after these native people painted on the walls of this cave, surface water has leached through this porous rock depositing soluble minerals on the cave wall and images. Often, during winter months, condensation acts to saturate the sandstone wall and that veil of minerals is lifted and the images hidden beneath become more visible. While on a dry day you may see 10-15 pictographs, on very wet ones, 25-30 images may appear more clearly. The Crow people say that some of these images were drawn by the spirits, and whichever ones you see are meant to provide the viewer with a personal message. Internet and cell service can be unpredictable and unreliable here.
