Distinctly Montana Magazine

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 • F A L L 2 0 2 1 22 EXPERIENCE THE MUSIC OF THE LEGENDARY RINGING ROCKS As many savvy adventurers will attest, some of the most spec- tacular gems the Treasure State has to offer aren't necessarily places that grant visitors easy admittance. They aren't offhand stopovers or roadside attractions, they seldom come without some element of risk, and rarely—so very rarely—do they come without a bit of a struggle. But dang it, they tend to be the ones most worth the effort. It is down those dusty mountain trails or at the end of one of the innumerable washed-out dirt roads crisscrossing the landscape that so many of our area's most miraculous natural wonders lie, and the Ringing Rocks are undeniably a part of the trove. GETTING THERE IS HALF THE FUN You won't find any mention of the Ringing Rocks as you travel along Interstate 90 between Butte and Whitehall. No signs an- nounce their presence or urge you to "EXIT NOW!" In fact, the first directional sign for the geographical landmark pops up only after parting ways with the interstate at the Pipestone 241 exit, located approximately 12 miles west of Whitehall and 19 miles east of Butte. "RINGING ROCKS," a sign at the junction just north of the off-ramp simply states. Above it, the outline of a hand points down the unassuming gravel frontage road to the east. It may be part of what makes experiencing the Ringing Rocks so special. The odds of stumbling upon them by happenstance are impossibly low. Only those who set out with the intention of experiencing their melodious tones will be rewarded in the end. I obeyed the pointing hand and ventured down the deserted gravel road just as the sun's first golden rays crested the moun- tain ridgeline and shot out across the plains. The route veered sharply to the north less than a mile later, guiding me across a couple of weathered cattleguards and over a set of railroad tracks as the morning breeze blew through the windows of my squeaky 2004 Jeep Wrangler. Just as I was beginning to scoff at the warnings I had received about the condition of the road, the path began winding up into the mountains and turned a little less hospitable, albeit exceed- ingly interesting. Washouts disrupted the serpentine track and boulders jutted out of the ground, forcing me to studiously ma- neuver my way up the steady incline, rounding bend after bend. The valley floor stretched out behind me while I navigated the last turn, having traveled a mere five miles off the pavement by words and photos by HOLLY MATKIN

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