First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park — Attraction in Great Falls

One may decide if it’s worth $8 going 7 miles (partly on dirt road) off of i15 to a barren cliff with the risk of rattle snakes, a small walk path that’s 15 minutes of site seeing with signage of which includes not a single one telling the actual history with a map of how the Native people sent the buffalo off the cliff. Nor the explanation of how they processed and preserved these animals once they had fallen.

I went happily into the visitor center to glean some knowledge about what there was offered at this site before deciding if I wanted to pay this fee cause from what I could tell, it was just a butte. The first question, where are you from? Second statement from worker, you drove into the gate so you need to pay the $8.

The visitor center looks nice, but the reality is non of the info actually talks about the history of this actual site. A lot of panels telling the current tribes and huge panels that probably cost a ridiculous amount to have a small timeline of the disparity in the 1800s that to this day still harbor discord from unforgiveness and a shame we have to live under after 200 years.

If you have a Montana resident in the vehicle with you or if you are working in Montana paying their taxes, but don’t drive into this park with a Montana car plate, you still have to pay. If you have a Montana vehicle in the shop and renting a vehicle that has out of state plates, doesn’t matter, you have to pay.

The National Park system honors entry to any National Parks pass HOLDER, not the vehicle. Because Montana chooses to regulate based on a hunk of metal verses honoring the actual embodied presence of the human being there, I am giving the entire state park system this one star review. There’s plenty of NP’s, BLM, and private tours to explore in MT before getting caught up in the unjustified rules of the state parks.

And the star goes to the young cashier because she actually is a very good worker and sweet person that is just having to be the regulator of the ridiculous way the state chose to...

This facility from the outside doesn't look like much at first glance, but the museum inside has one of the best presentations I have ever seen. The visuals are outstanding with informative plaques and the voices of first-hand storytellers overhead. The history and importance of the Buffalo to the Native American people, along with the sad story of their demise is so perfectly conveyed. It is a history that everyone should become familiar with. Additionally the staff were incredibly friendly and one of the park rangers is a full blooded Native American woman who gave us additional insight. I feel that I am pretty aware of the history, but I honestly learned much more than I had expected in just a half hour visit. As for the actual jump itself, you can either do a 3 mile hike or drive to the top. But make sure you visit the museum first to understand the importance of the cliff. Definitely make this...

Excellent signage approaching First People's Buffalo Jump from I-15 N. Ample parking, including drop off/pick up area and handicapped parking. Clean restrooms. Bottle filler/water fountain available. The staff members were friendly and gave us easy to follow directions to the upper portion of the park as well as to a nearby Mennonite community. Be prepared for gravel roads. Lower Visitor Area has informational displays that are worth taking the time to see. The park was incredibly quiet for being outdoors - just the sound of the wind. In the upper portion of the park there are prairie dog colonies surrounding the parking area. Take a few minutes to watch for their heads to pop up from their burrows. There are hard surface walkways from the parking area to the top of the jump just a short...