List of pillars in Montana facts for kids

Pompey's Pillar, a famous rock pillar in Montana.

Montana is a state in the western United States known for its amazing natural beauty, including towering mountains, vast plains, and unique rock formations. Among these natural wonders are many tall, standalone rock structures called pillars. These pillars are like natural sculptures, carved over millions of years by wind, water, and ice. They often have interesting shapes and names, and some even hold historical importance.

What are Rock Pillars?

A rock pillar is a tall, narrow, and often isolated rock formation. Think of them as natural towers made of stone. They are usually formed through a process called erosion. This happens when softer rock around a harder rock wears away over time due to weather. Imagine water, wind, and even ice slowly chipping away at a large rock formation. If there's a section of rock that's tougher or more resistant to this wearing down, it will remain standing while the surrounding, weaker rock disappears. This leaves behind a tall, pillar-like structure.

Many pillars in Montana are made of sandstone or other sedimentary rocks. These rocks are formed from layers of sand, mud, and other materials that have been pressed together over millions of years. Different layers can have different hardness, which helps create the unique shapes of these pillars.

Famous Pillars in Montana

Montana is home to at least 73 named rock pillars, each with its own story or unique appearance. Some are well-known landmarks, while others are hidden gems in the vast landscape.

Pompey's Pillar

One of the most famous pillars is Pompey's Pillar in Yellowstone County. This isn't just a cool rock; it's a piece of history! In 1806, the famous explorer William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition carved his name and the date into the rock. This makes it the only remaining physical evidence of the expedition along the entire trail. It's named after Sacagawea's son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, who Clark nicknamed "Pomp."

Eagle Nest Rock on the Gardner River.

Other Interesting Pillars

Many other pillars in Montana have names that describe their appearance or local legends:

• Chimney Rock: Several pillars across Montana are called Chimney Rock because they resemble tall, narrow chimneys.
• Castle Rock: You'll find multiple "Castle Rocks" that look like ancient castles or fortresses, complete with turrets and walls.
• Eagle Nest Rock: This pillar, found in Park County, might have been a nesting spot for eagles, giving it its name.
• Elephant Rock: Located in Meagher County, this formation looks like a giant elephant, showcasing how erosion can create amazing shapes.
• Barking Dog: In Lewis and Clark County, there's a pillar named Barking Dog, which must have a shape that reminds people of a canine friend.

These natural monuments are not only beautiful but also important for understanding the geology and history of Montana. They remind us of the incredible power of nature and the long history of the land.

List of Named Pillars in Montana

Here is a list of some of the many named rock pillars found across Montana, along with their locations and elevations:

• Alcatraz Rock, Fallon County, Montana, 46°03′18″N 104°28′12″W / 46.05500°N 104.47000°W / 46.05500; -104.47000 (Alcatraz Rock), el. 3,396 feet (1,035 m)
• Alp Rock, Park County, Montana, 45°05′14″N 109°54′04″W / 45.08722°N 109.90111°W / 45.08722; -109.90111 (Alp Rock), el. 9,793 feet (2,985 m)
• Baker Monument, Fergus County, Montana, 47°40′59″N 108°58′27″W / 47.68306°N 108.97417°W / 47.68306; -108.97417 (Baker Monument), el. 3,081 feet (939 m)
• Barking Dog, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, 46°48′27″N 111°38′02″W / 46.80750°N 111.63389°W / 46.80750; -111.63389 (Barking Dog), el. 5,426 feet (1,654 m)
• Bear Tooth, Liberty County, Montana, 48°49′34″N 111°07′07″W / 48.82611°N 111.11861°W / 48.82611; -111.11861 (Bear Tooth), el. 4,790 feet (1,460 m)
• Big Rock, Glacier County, Montana, 48°26′32″N 113°04′05″W / 48.44222°N 113.06806°W / 48.44222; -113.06806 (Big Rock), el. 4,793 feet (1,461 m)
• Black Rock, Chouteau County, Montana, 47°39′30″N 110°22′37″W / 47.65833°N 110.37694°W / 47.65833; -110.37694 (Black Rock), el. 3,340 feet (1,020 m)
• Castle Rock, Powell County, Montana, 46°32′11″N 112°39′49″W / 46.53639°N 112.66361°W / 46.53639; -112.66361 (Castle Rock), el. 5,686 feet (1,733 m)
• Castle Rock, Pondera County, Montana, 48°10′11″N 112°13′33″W / 48.16972°N 112.22583°W / 48.16972; -112.22583 (Castle Rock), el. 4,035 feet (1,230 m)
• Castle Rock, Park County, Montana, 45°19′20″N 110°33′43″W / 45.32222°N 110.56194°W / 45.32222; -110.56194 (Castle Rock), el. 6,709 feet (2,045 m)
• Castle Rock, Carter County, Montana, 46°02′27″N 104°27′47″W / 46.04083°N 104.46306°W / 46.04083; -104.46306 (Castle Rock), el. 3,445 feet (1,050 m)
• Castle Rock Spire, Carbon County, Montana, 45°05′50″N 109°38′35″W / 45.09722°N 109.64306°W / 45.09722; -109.64306 (Castle Rock Spire), el. 12,539 feet (3,822 m)
• Castle Rocks, Phillips County, Montana, 47°49′39″N 107°27′00″W / 47.82750°N 107.45000°W / 47.82750; -107.45000 (Castle Rocks), el. 3,054 feet (931 m)
• Castle Rocks, Big Horn County, Montana, 45°20′05″N 108°32′42″W / 45.33472°N 108.54500°W / 45.33472; -108.54500 (Castle Rocks), el. 5,810 feet (1,770 m)
• Chimney Rock, Carter County, Montana, 45°30′34″N 104°17′14″W / 45.50944°N 104.28722°W / 45.50944; -104.28722 (Chimney Rock), el. 3,802 feet (1,159 m)
• Chimney Rock, Dawson County, Montana, 47°30′39″N 104°32′48″W / 47.51083°N 104.54667°W / 47.51083; -104.54667 (Chimney Rock), el. 2,303 feet (702 m)
• Chimney Rock, Park County, Montana, 45°03′21″N 109°57′11″W / 45.05583°N 109.95306°W / 45.05583; -109.95306 (Chimney Rock), el. 10,216 feet (3,114 m)
• Chimney Rock, Powder River County, Montana, 45°26′36″N 106°01′54″W / 45.44333°N 106.03167°W / 45.44333; -106.03167 (Chimney Rock), el. 3,770 feet (1,150 m)
• Chimney Rock, Park County, Montana, 45°31′58″N 110°46′36″W / 45.53278°N 110.77667°W / 45.53278; -110.77667 (Chimney Rock), el. 7,480 feet (2,280 m)
• Citadel Rock, Chouteau County, Montana, 47°49′55″N 110°04′26″W / 47.83194°N 110.07389°W / 47.83194; -110.07389 (Citadel Rock), el. 2,566 feet (782 m)
• Cleft Rock, Flathead County, Montana, 48°55′02″N 114°31′37″W / 48.91722°N 114.52694°W / 48.91722; -114.52694 (Cleft Rock), el. 7,142 feet (2,177 m)
• Crow Rock, Garfield County, Montana, 46°57′21″N 106°07′07″W / 46.95583°N 106.11861°W / 46.95583; -106.11861 (Crow Rock), el. 2,700 feet (820 m)
• Cupids Heart, Gallatin County, Montana, 45°24′38″N 110°56′57″W / 45.41056°N 110.94917°W / 45.41056; -110.94917 (Cupids Heart), el. 8,809 feet (2,685 m)
• Dog Tooth Rock, Park County, Montana, 45°12′44″N 110°58′29″W / 45.21222°N 110.97472°W / 45.21222; -110.97472 (Dog Tooth Rock), el. 7,739 feet (2,359 m)
• Dutch Oven, Garfield County, Montana, 46°54′41″N 107°46′54″W / 46.91139°N 107.78167°W / 46.91139; -107.78167 (Dutch Oven), el. 3,123 feet (952 m)
• Eagle Nest Rock, Park County, Montana, 45°00′40″N 110°41′37″W / 45.01111°N 110.69361°W / 45.01111; -110.69361 (Eagle Nest Rock), el. 5,499 feet (1,676 m)
• Eagle Rock, McCone County, Montana, 47°32′20″N 106°05′23″W / 47.53889°N 106.08972°W / 47.53889; -106.08972 (Eagle Rock), el. 2,654 feet (809 m)
• Eagle Rock, Chouteau County, Montana, 47°51′41″N 110°03′47″W / 47.86139°N 110.06306°W / 47.86139; -110.06306 (Eagle Rock), el. 2,572 feet (784 m)
• Eagle Rock, Beaverhead County, Montana, 45°42′24″N 113°01′53″W / 45.70667°N 113.03139°W / 45.70667; -113.03139 (Eagle Rock), el. 6,568 feet (2,002 m)
• Eglise Rock, Madison County, Montana, 45°12′22″N 111°25′36″W / 45.20611°N 111.42667°W / 45.20611; -111.42667 (Eglise Rock), el. 9,485 feet (2,891 m)
• Elephant Rock, Meagher County, Montana, 46°37′51″N 110°29′26″W / 46.63083°N 110.49056°W / 46.63083; -110.49056 (Elephant Rock), el. 6,447 feet (1,965 m)
• Goat Rocks, Sanders County, Montana, 48°08′04″N 115°43′33″W / 48.13444°N 115.72583°W / 48.13444; -115.72583 (Goat Rocks), el. 4,242 feet (1,293 m)
• Goose Rock, Missoula County, Montana, 46°56′52″N 113°34′37″W / 46.94778°N 113.57694°W / 46.94778; -113.57694 (Goose Rock), el. 3,527 feet (1,075 m)
• Haystack Butte, Chouteau County, Montana, 48°00′01″N 111°10′08″W / 48.00028°N 111.16889°W / 48.00028; -111.16889 (Haystack Butte), el. 3,560 feet (1,090 m)
• History Rock, Gallatin County, Montana, 45°29′30″N 110°59′44″W / 45.49167°N 110.99556°W / 45.49167; -110.99556 (History Rock), el. 6,798 feet (2,072 m)
• Indian Head Rock, Jefferson County, Montana, 46°16′08″N 112°18′34″W / 46.26889°N 112.30944°W / 46.26889; -112.30944 (Indian Head Rock), el. 5,676 feet (1,730 m)
• Indian Head Rock, Cascade County, Montana, coordinates unknown, el. 3,425 feet (1,044 m)
• Indian Rock, Fergus County, Montana, 47°04′29″N 109°36′18″W / 47.07472°N 109.60500°W / 47.07472; -109.60500 (Indian Rock), el. 4,058 feet (1,237 m)
• Jones Cone, Fergus County, Montana, 47°40′10″N 109°27′05″W / 47.66944°N 109.45139°W / 47.66944; -109.45139 (Jones Cone), el. 2,762 feet (842 m)
• LaBarge Rock, Chouteau County, Montana, 47°54′40″N 110°03′42″W / 47.91111°N 110.06167°W / 47.91111; -110.06167 (LaBarge Rock), el. 2,648 feet (807 m)
• Mil-mil-teh Hill, Meagher County, Montana, 46°53′57″N 111°31′44″W / 46.89917°N 111.52889°W / 46.89917; -111.52889 (Mil-mil-teh Hill), el. 6,821 feet (2,079 m)
• Napi Rock, Glacier County, Montana, 48°44′51″N 113°29′25″W / 48.74750°N 113.49028°W / 48.74750; -113.49028 (Napi Rock), el. 7,474 feet (2,278 m)
• Needle Butte, Rosebud County, Montana, 46°47′23″N 106°37′20″W / 46.78972°N 106.62222°W / 46.78972; -106.62222 (Needle Butte), el. 3,251 feet (991 m)
• Peyton Rock, Ravalli County, Montana, 45°44′56″N 114°25′59″W / 45.74889°N 114.43306°W / 45.74889; -114.43306 (Peyton Rock), el. 5,650 feet (1,720 m)
• Pikes Peak, Valley County, Montana, 48°47′36″N 106°35′58″W / 48.79333°N 106.59944°W / 48.79333; -106.59944 (Pikes Peak), el. 3,097 feet (944 m)
• Pilot Rock, Chouteau County, Montana, 47°58′27″N 110°06′10″W / 47.97417°N 110.10278°W / 47.97417; -110.10278 (Pilot Rock), el. 2,526 feet (770 m)
• Pipe Organ Rock, Beaverhead County, Montana, 45°04′02″N 112°48′14″W / 45.06722°N 112.80389°W / 45.06722; -112.80389 (Pipe Organ Rock), el. 5,479 feet (1,670 m)
• Point Stupid, Park County, Montana, 45°24′42″N 110°48′51″W / 45.41167°N 110.81417°W / 45.41167; -110.81417 (Point Stupid), el. 7,802 feet (2,378 m)
• Point of Rocks, Flathead County, Montana, 48°38′40″N 114°43′22″W / 48.64444°N 114.72278°W / 48.64444; -114.72278 (Point of Rocks), el. 3,412 feet (1,040 m)
• Pompeys Pillar, Yellowstone County, Montana, 45°59′43″N 108°00′19″W / 45.99528°N 108.00528°W / 45.99528; -108.00528 (Pompeys Pillar), el. 3,005 feet (916 m)
• Prohibition Rock, Gallatin County, Montana, 45°07′32″N 111°13′03″W / 45.12556°N 111.21750°W / 45.12556; -111.21750 (Prohibition Rock), el. 7,887 feet (2,404 m)
• Proposal Rock, Beaverhead County, Montana, 45°38′06″N 113°21′19″W / 45.63500°N 113.35528°W / 45.63500; -113.35528 (Proposal Rock), el. 7,598 feet (2,316 m)
• Pulpit Rock, Gallatin County, Montana, 45°05′00″N 111°12′43″W / 45.08333°N 111.21194°W / 45.08333; -111.21194 (Pulpit Rock), el. 6,880 feet (2,100 m)
• Pumpelly Pillar, Glacier County, Montana, 48°28′29″N 113°27′02″W / 48.47472°N 113.45056°W / 48.47472; -113.45056 (Pumpelly Pillar), el. 7,457 feet (2,273 m)
• Red Rock, Missoula County, Montana, 46°56′28″N 113°35′24″W / 46.94111°N 113.59000°W / 46.94111; -113.59000 (Red Rock), el. 3,566 feet (1,087 m)
• Road Agents Rock, Beaverhead County, Montana, 45°11′48″N 112°58′12″W / 45.19667°N 112.97000°W / 45.19667; -112.97000 (Road Agents Rock), el. 6,667 feet (2,032 m)
• Sand Rocks, Blaine County, Montana, 48°17′56″N 109°09′47″W / 48.29889°N 109.16306°W / 48.29889; -109.16306 (Sand Rocks), el. 3,707 feet (1,130 m)
• Sentinel Rock, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, 47°00′21″N 112°03′35″W / 47.00583°N 112.05972°W / 47.00583; -112.05972 (Sentinel Rock), el. 3,563 feet (1,086 m)
• Sheep Rock, Gallatin County, Montana, 45°28′42″N 111°15′58″W / 45.47833°N 111.26611°W / 45.47833; -111.26611 (Sheep Rock), el. 5,882 feet (1,793 m)
• Sheep Rock, Jefferson County, Montana, 45°55′16″N 112°00′01″W / 45.92111°N 112.00028°W / 45.92111; -112.00028 (Sheep Rock), el. 5,433 feet (1,656 m)
• Ship Rock, Chouteau County, Montana, 47°52′19″N 110°02′40″W / 47.87194°N 110.04444°W / 47.87194; -110.04444 (Ship Rock), el. 2,789 feet (850 m)
• Signal Rock, Granite County, Montana, 46°08′40″N 113°46′47″W / 46.14444°N 113.77972°W / 46.14444; -113.77972 (Signal Rock), el. 7,638 feet (2,328 m)
• Square Butte, Phillips County, 47°43′42″N 108°35′46″W / 47.72833°N 108.59611°W / 47.72833; -108.59611 (Signal Rock), el. 3,048 feet (929 m)
• Stack Rocks, Carter County, Montana, 45°02′48″N 104°58′33″W / 45.04667°N 104.97583°W / 45.04667; -104.97583 (Stack Rocks), el. 3,963 feet (1,208 m)
• Stands Alone Woman Peak, Glacier County, Montana, 48°25′50″N 113°18′04″W / 48.43056°N 113.30111°W / 48.43056; -113.30111 (Stands Alone Woman Peak), el. 7,326 feet (2,233 m)
• Steamboat Rock, Rosebud County, Montana, 46°42′54″N 106°11′34″W / 46.71500°N 106.19278°W / 46.71500; -106.19278 (Steamboat Rock), el. 2,904 feet (885 m)
• Steamboat Rock, Beaverhead County, Montana, 44°49′07″N 112°22′15″W / 44.81861°N 112.37083°W / 44.81861; -112.37083 (Steamboat Rock), el. 8,100 feet (2,500 m)
• Sugarloaf Rock, Fergus County, Montana, 47°43′53″N 109°23′31″W / 47.73139°N 109.39194°W / 47.73139; -109.39194 (Sugarloaf Rock), el. 2,520 feet (770 m)
• The Bear, Park County, Montana, 45°16′39″N 111°00′13″W / 45.27750°N 111.00361°W / 45.27750; -111.00361 (The Bear), el. 6,601 feet (2,012 m)
• The Castle, Meagher County, Montana, 46°33′07″N 110°53′57″W / 46.55194°N 110.89917°W / 46.55194; -110.89917 (The Castle), el. 5,102 feet (1,555 m)
• The Chimneys, Phillips County, Montana, 47°51′56″N 107°28′48″W / 47.86556°N 107.48000°W / 47.86556; -107.48000 (The Chimneys), el. 3,005 feet (916 m)
• The Needles, Meagher County, Montana, 46°27′54″N 111°11′25″W / 46.46500°N 111.19028°W / 46.46500; -111.19028 (The Needles), el. 7,556 feet (2,303 m)
• The Painted Rock, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, 47°06′09″N 111°50′20″W / 47.10250°N 111.83889°W / 47.10250; -111.83889 (The Painted Rock), el. 4,180 feet (1,270 m)