Painted Rocks State Park ~ Montana

Flickr album link: Painted Rocks State Park

Painted Rocks State Park is located in the Bitterroot Mountains west of Highway 93 and Butte, Montana. It does take a while to get there, but the scenery along the way is as picturesque as can be. The main attraction of this park is the Painted Rocks Reservoir Lake, which is a very large body of water that is fed by the Bitterroot River. One look at this amazing landscape is all it takes to figure out how this park got its name, since the towering bare rock outcrops certainly do shine bright colors. The deep pine forests provide a lush green backdrop that spells pure wilderness adventure, while the lake ensures plenty of fun in the sun for the entire family. 

The cool lake water definitely is the star of the show, especially during mid summer when the temperatures in the lower elevations are nearly unbearable. The developed portion of Painted Rocks State Park is basically managed as a recreation area, which is complete with boat launches, fish cleaning stations and a large campground. Small craft boat and ATV rental vendors often setup shop in this area during the summer season, so practically anybody can join in on the fun. This recreation area is equipped to handle large group outings and big summer events take place throughout the warm weather season. This park can be crowded on weekends, so it is best to reserve the campsites, yurts or cabins onsite. Overnight canoe camping ventures in the far reaches of this lakeside wilderness are popular too, while the world class trout fishing simply can't be beat. Painted Rocks State Park is a weekend destination like no other, so be sure to chalk this picturesque spot high on the list!
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