The Top Choices Include a Mecca for Ice Fishing, a Ghost Town, and Dinosaur Fossils.
Cooney Reservoir State Park
(406) 445-2680
780 surface acres of water make Cooney Reservoir State Park an ice fisherman's paradise, with plenty of walleye and trout available for the angler. Ice skating and cross country skiing can also be enjoyed here. Inquire about ice conditions. Location: 22 miles southwest of Laurel Montana on US 212.
Bannack State Park
(406) 834-3413
The ghost town of Bannack, the site of Montana's first major gold discovery, is designated as a National Historic Landmark. A visit to Montana first territorial capital in the dead of winter can be a chilling experience. The empty buildings of Bannack hold many stories of an 1860’s gold camp. As you arrive and leave from the warmth of you car you will wonder how the folks that made Bannack home survived in such conditions. A great place to visit any time of the year, the streets of Bannack are quiet in the winter time. The local pond is available for skating with skates available for rent. Location: 3 miles south of Dillon on I-15, then 20 miles west on Secondary 278, then 4 miles south on county road.
Makoshika State Park
(406) 365-6256
Wind swept snow blankets the fossils of dinosaurs held in the frozen “Bad Earth” or “Makosika” as the Lakota call it. A visit to Makoshika is a treat in the winter time. Warm up in the visitor center and learn about the formation of this unusual place, enjoy lunch or stay the night in nearby Glendive. Winter in eastern Montana, it harsh but evening sunsets and morning sunrises warm the soul. Park offers opportunities for cross-country skiing and hiking. Location: On Snyder Avenue in Glendive.
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