D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 1 9
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my vehicle along the
gravel road between the
house-sized sandstone
rocks among the pines, I
noticed only one campsite
of the 12 available was
occupied. After setting
up camp, I embarked on
the six-mile primitive trail
that meanders through the
prairie, past the biggest
rocks, threading its way
through sagebrush and
scrub. Keeping my eye out for prairie rattlers, I marveled at the wild shapes
of the rocks. It's a gold mine for photographers, and the rocks take on an
even more dramatic appearance just before sunset.
e clouds darkened as the afternoon waned, and I got back to my tent
just as a summer shower swept across the plains. A typical summertime
storm, this one passed over quickly, and as evening approached the sun
burst out from underneath the low ceiling of dark clouds that stretched
nearly to the horizon. e light slashed through the campground, making
all the carved inscriptions on the rocks stand out in high relief. Songbirds
warbled in full throat, and their tuneful soundtrack provided a dramatic
end to a gorgeous summer day at Medicine Rocks. As I zipped myself into
the tent for the night, the birds fell silent and the song of the wind in the
rocks took over, whispering ancient secrets from the swooping shapes of
these magnificent monoliths, these prehistoric giants that stand watch on
Montana's southeast plain, providing strong medicine to those willing to
seek them out.
THE ARCHES, TUNNELS, HOLES, AND SPIRES
The author takes notes.
View Medicine Rock's
sandstone cliffs
www.distinctlymontana.com/rocks192
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