Today, Montana is filled with uncrowded spaces.  But that wasn't necessarily the case when dinosaurs ruled the earth.  In fact, Montana has some of the world's most significant dinosaur fossil deposits and has yielded some of the world's most significant dinosaur discoveries.  For instance, Maiasaur nests found at Egg Mountain near Choteau have been hailed as one of the most important discoveries ever for dinosaur biology, and the Maiasaur is Montana's official state fossil.  The first Tyrannosaurus rex fossil - as well as the largest T. rex ever unearthed - were found in Montana.  And "Leonardo" the mummy dinosaur (a Brachylophosaur), named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the "world's best preserved dinosaur," has its home in Malta, Montana.
    Landscape and access are the two keys to Montana's "paleo treasures."  Montana is, of course, known for its stunning variety of landscapes, ranging from the rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the sweeping eastern plains.  The folding and shifting that produced these varied landscapes also exposed rock formations from nearly every geologic era, including the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods, when dinosaurs lived.  In other words, the rock formations filled with dinosaur fossils are "at the surface," often exposed in dry, rocky, "badland" environments.  That means very little vegetation and topsoil cover the fossils, so erosion has helped paleontologists (or, in most cases, farmers, ranchers, hikers and the like) discover them.  Finally, because Montana is sparsely populated, sites haven't been disturbed or covered by heavy development.  Put it all together, and you have the ideal conditions for discovery!
    While the dinosaurs had to fend for themselves, each of the Montana Dinosaur Trail stops, thirteen in all, can help you discover their community's lodging, restaurants, entertainment and recreation servic3es to add comfort to your adventure.  Contact Makoshika State Park for more information on the Montana Dinosaur Trail.