At 11,531 acres, Makoshika State Park is Montana's largest state park.  Designated a state park in 1953, Makoshika protects 20% of Montana's contiguous badlands topography.  The clays and shales of the park erode much easier than the sandstone layers above; when the softer material erodes away, "caprocks" of sandstone are left delicately balanced over spires of eroded material.  The erosion also exposes dinosaur fossils to await discovery.
    Working in conjunction with paleontologists from the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana, and with scientists from other museums and universities, dinosaur discoveries in the park are excavated and prepared for exhibit.  Rare and valuable fossils are kept at the Museum of the Rockies and replicas of the fossils are returned to Makoshika for display in the park's visitor center.  Actual fossils of common dinosaur species are prepared and returned to the park for display, as well.
     Makoshika State Park is open  24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  The first two miles of the park's road system is paved; beyond the 15% grade switchbacks at mile marker two, there are 5 miles of improved gravel road and 5 miles of unimproved road.  During the winter months, the park road system is closed at the base of the switchbacks two miles inside the park; closure will occur with the first significant snowfall of the winter, and will reopen once they have dried out, typically sometime in April.  
     The Makoshika Visitor Center is open year 'round.  Visitor center hours are 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day, and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Labor Day through Memorial Day.  Developed Camping is available year 'round at the Cains Coulee Campground, located one mile inside the park entrance.  Hookups are not available.  Entrance fees can be paid at the self-pay fee post at the park's entrance, or at the park visitor center if open.  Camping fees also can be paid at the self-pay fee station in Cains Coulee Campground.
    Makoshika State Park is easily located  from any of the Interstate 94 exits in Glendive:
    From Exit 210, proceed east through West Glendive and over the Yellowstone River on the Towne Street Bridge.   Continue forward to the last stop light (Merrill Avenue); turn right on Merrill Avenue and proceed south until you reach a railroad underpass.  Go underneath the underpass and proceed to Taylor Avenue; turn right on Taylor Avenue and proceed for six blocks to Snyder Avenue.  Turn left on Snyder Avenue and proceed to the park.
    From Exit 213, travel south on Highway 16 to the stoplight on Towne Street; turn left, crossing the Yellowstone River on the Towne Street Bridge and proceed as directed above.
    From Exit 215, head south from the exit (City Center Exit) on Merrill Avenue.  Follow Merrill Avenue through town until you reach the railroad underpass, then proceed as directed above.