|
Trail Name |
Length | Difficulty |
| Diane Gabriel Trail | 1.5 Mile Loop | Easy to Moderate |
| The Diane Gabriel Trail is located one mile inside the park at the Cains Coulee Campground. Named for the late Diane Gabriel, a paleontologist from the Museum of the Rockies who did extensive dinosaur research at Makoshika State Park, the 1.5 mile loop trail introduces visitors to the larger features of the badlands landscape, such as the sod tabletops and sinkhole caves that form in the hillsides from erosion. The highlight of the trail is a climb up to a series of Hadrosaur vertebrae left partially exposed in the hillside so visitors can see what it is like to find and excavate fossils. | ||
|
Trail Name |
Length | Difficulty |
| Cap Rock Trail | 1 Mile Loop | Easy to Moderate |
| Cap Rock Trail, located 2.5 miles from the park entrance, introduces visitors to the smaller, delicate features of the badlands landscape. Rills, pinnacles, caprocks and microclimates are touching distance away on this one mile loop trail. Highlights of the trail include a natural bridge and spectacular views from the top of the park. | ||
|
Trail Name |
Length | Difficulty |
| Kinney Coulee Trail | 1 Mile | Moderate to Difficult |
| Kinney Coulee Trail, located 3 miles from the park entrance, provides visitors with an alternative trail to take from the top heights of the park down into a rugged coulee. This trail is established only for the first mile, allowing visitors to scramble and pick their own way once they descend into the coulee. | ||
Backcountry Hiking
With over 11,000 acres of largely undeveloped badlands,
the staff at Makoshika State Park encourages visitors to "take the path
less traveled" and explore the furthest reaches of the park. Some of
the most wondrous formations and views are available only to those willing to
seek them out. However, hikers are cautioned that backcountry travel in
the park is not without dangers; hikers should be in good physical shape,
be experienced in navigating in difficult terrain, and expect
difficult conditions, including unstable terrain, no established trails, extreme weather, no water, and little or no
mobile phone and GPS coverage. Backcountry hikers are encouraged to check
in with park staff as a precautionary measure prior to making extensive backcountry
hiking trips.
Future Trails
Recognizing the value of trails in providing visitors with recreational
and learning opportunities, Makoshika State Park has plans for new trails in
the park. Some of the trails being planned include trails to access the
backcountry, a trail connecting the park's campground, group use shelter and
visitor center, and a trail connecting the park to the local community college
on the edge of town.