Painted Rocks State Park
Named for the green, yellow and orange lichens that cover the grey and black walls of the granite and rhyolite cliffs, Painted Rocks State Park is located in the West Fork Valley of the Bitterroot Mountains.
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Looking to camp?
Painted Rocks State Park offers 25 campsites, a boat ramp and a boat dock. Be sure if you’re bringing your trailer or RV that it’s no longer than 25 feet!
And if you like to hike, there are many trailheads near the park that offer access to national forest land.
Painted Rocks Dam was originally planned to be constructed for agricultural use!
The Montana Water Conservation started work on Painted Rock Dam in 1939. Today, Painted Rocks Reservoir provides water for irrigation, stock water, domestic use and in-stream flows for fish. The reservoir the dam creates is the perfect location for boating or fishing!
While in the park, keep your eyes open for the diverse populations of wildlife including elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, black bear or moose! You may even catch a glimpse of bighorn sheep or peregrine falcons which were reintroduced to the area in the 1980s.
Are you or do you know an avid birdwatcher? If you happen to be in the area in the spring or fall, you’re in luck! Osprey, great blue heron, water ouzels, spotted sandpiper and kill-deer make pitstops in their migration patterns at Painted Rocks State Park.
Part of the homeland of the Salish people for many years, this area continues to be a place of great value to the Salish. The area did, and still does, provide great hunting and a place to gather traditional foods such as huckleberries, serviceberries, Bitterroot, trout, as well as other fish and mountain tea.
Curious what other visitors have had to say about the park?
Park
Open Year-Round
Dawn to Dusk
Location
8809 West Fork Road Darby, MT 59829