Painted Rocks State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Painted Rocks State Park |
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 Painted Rocks State Park
Location in Montana
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| Location | Ravalli County, Montana, United States |
| Nearest town | Darby, Montana |
| Area | 23 acres (9.3 ha) |
| Elevation | 4,754 ft (1,449 m) |
| Designation | Montana state park |
| Established | 1963 |
| Administrator | Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks |
| Website | Painted Rocks State Park |
Painted Rocks State Park is a fun place for outdoor activities in Montana, USA. It's a public park found at the south end of the Painted Rocks Reservoir, about 24 miles (39 km) south of a town called Darby. The park gets its cool name from the colorful rocks you can see there. These rocks are covered in bright green, yellow, and orange lichens, which are like tiny plant-like growths. They make the grey and black granite and rhyolite cliffs look like they've been painted!
Park History
How the Park Started
Painted Rocks State Park is located in the beautiful West Fork Valley, part of the Bitterroot Mountains. This area was very important to the Salish people long ago.
The large lake you see today, called Painted Rocks Reservoir, was created in 1939. This happened when a dam was built across the West Fork of the Bitterroot River. Later, in 1963, this special area became a state park for everyone to enjoy.
Amazing Wildlife
Painted Rocks State Park is home to many different animals. If you visit, you might spot some of these creatures:
- Large Mammals: You could see elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, black bear, and even moose.
- Mountain Animals: In the 1980s, bighorn mountain sheep were brought back to this area. These amazing climbers live in the rocky parts of the park.
- Birds of Prey: Peregrine falcons were also reintroduced in the 1980s. These fast birds hunt other animals.
Birds of the Reservoir
The Painted Rocks Reservoir is a very important stop for many birds, especially during spring and autumn. This is when birds like waterfowl fly south for winter or north for summer. It's like a rest stop on their long journey!
Some birds live here all year round. These include:
- Osprey, which are great at catching fish.
- Great blue heron, tall birds often seen near the water.
- Spotted sandpiper, a smaller bird that walks along the shore.
- And the majestic bald eagle, the national bird of the United States.
