Montana State Parks (stateparks.mt.gov) announced last week that a temporary road will be constructed at Makoshika State Park this fall, weather permitting.
Heavy rainfall this past spring created soil sloughing causing the existing road to be damaged and closed. The work on the temporary road will be performed by a private contractor and once completed, will allow vehicle access farther into the park.
The traditional park areas are currently open. However, access from the bottom of the switchbacks where the road is closed will be limited to walk-in or bicycle. It is expected that once a bid is awarded, construction of the temporary road will take a few weeks for completion.
“Visitor safety and protecting our resources are our top concerns,” said Chas Van Genderen, Montana State Parks administrator. “While the current road closure is an inconvenience, it is critical to insure that a vehicular accident or personal injury does not occur. We thank the public for their understanding as we work to fix the road situation in a safe and timely way.”
Permanent road repair efforts may be complicated due to current soil and road conditions. Efforts to identify funding to adequately address and repair the problems are underway.
Makoshika State Park is the largest of Montana’s 54 state parks at 11,500 acres. The park saw nearly 40,000 visitors this past summer season. The site of rare dinosaur finds, Makoshika features a visitor center, campground, hiking trails, archery range, amphitheater and scenic vistas. It is open year round.
Visit Montana State Parks (stateparks.mt.gov) and discover some of the greatest natural and cultural treasures on earth.
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