WE DIG DINOSAURS OUT HERE

MONTANA DINOSAUR TRAIL: For those dinosaur fanatics who can’t get enough, discover our paleontological treasures along The Montana Dinosaur Trail. Trail followers will have opportunities to see one-of-a-kind specimens like “Margie,” the Struthiomimus or visit a dig site at Makoshika State Park. Visit MTDinoTrail.com to learn more about the Prehistoric Passport and all 14 locations across Montana to receive your dino stamps.

If you are dying to see dinosaurs up close and personally, you are in the right place. Southeast Montana is full of paleontological wonders from the Late Cretaceous period and each year, the snow, rain and wind exposes more potential finds.

Start your adventure at the Glendive Dinosaur & Fossil Museum where you’ll find an awe-inspiring collection of 24 full-sized dinosaur fossils and replicas. Exhibits are presented in the context of the biblical timeline, and it is the country's largest creationist dinosaur museum.

Another stop in Glendive, the Frontier Gateway Museum, features a full-size Struthiomimus replica named Margie. Then head to Makoshika State Park where some of the world’s best preserved dinosaur fossils have been found across its 11,000 acres. Inside the visitor center, you can view the remains of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops.

Head down the road to Ekalaka for another stop at Carter County Museum. There’s an impressive collection of paleontological finds, including a mounted skeleton of a Hadrosaur, complete skulls of Triceratops and a juvenile Tyrannosaur—all of which were collected in the local Hell Creek Formation.

GUIDED GIGS & DIGS

We like to get our hands dirty, and you can, too. Several regional organizations lead private or group digs and teach fossil preservation and preparation.

➤ Carter County Museum’s Dino Shindig event brings in leading paleontologists to lecture about their most impressive research and kid-friendly dinosaur activities. Purchase additional tickets to the Fossil Field Expedition to excavate fossils alongside professionals from one of the museum’s active dig sites. The expedition tickets sell out every year, so plan early.

➤ Baisch’s Dinosaur Digs conducts day trips on private land near Makoshika State Park in the Hell Creek Formation. Their experienced guides show you what to look for in excavating fossils and how to cast or prepare them. This dinosaur hunt is a family friendly adventure for children ages six and over.

➤ Makoshika State Park offers a variety of special events throughout the year, including their seasonal Paleo Experience, which includes a look behind the scenes in the paleo lab and an interpretive hike on the Diane Gabriel trail.

➤ Get a bit nerdy with Dino Dave Adventures in Glendive (must pre-register). This hands-on program allows participants to sift through microsites with teeth, vertebrae and fauna from the Late Cretaceous ecosystem.

➤ The Earth Sciences Foundation, located in Roundup, hosts open dig or prep days. Visit their dinosaur exhibit at Musselshell Valley Historical Museum, opening May 2023.

➤ Glendive Dinosaur & Fossil Museum , which follows a creationist approach to dinosaurs, offers full or half-day private digs contributing to their museum’s fossil collection.

Learn more at SouthEastMontana.com/dinosaurs and plan your next adventure out here.