Beaverhead Rock State Park in Montana, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-27. Check linked official notices before travel.

Beaverhead Rock State Park is a Montana historic-landmark stop north of Dillon. Its main interest is the rock formation Sacagawea recognized during the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Plan to view and photograph it from a distance, rather than treating the name as a promise of a developed hiking park.

A landmark on the expedition route

Look for the outline that gave Beaverhead Rock its name: the formation resembles a beaver swimming with its head above water. The historical connection makes the view more meaningful than a quick roadside photograph alone.

Know before stopping

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Use the documented viewing area

Arrange this as a viewing stop. Do not rely on the mapped park point to identify a summit trail or an accessible approach to the rock. Ask the park office about designated public access before attempting a walk beyond the viewing area, especially when the approach road is affected by winter weather.

Rules at this day-use site

Remove everything you bring in. Fires and trapping are prohibited. Target shooting and other weapons discharge are prohibited except for lawful hunting during established seasons; rifles are prohibited for hunting here. Keep pets on a leash no longer than 8 feet, unless a posted rule is more restrictive.

Group and special uses

This is a day-use stop, so do not arrange an overnight stay here. Montana requires a special-use permit for groups of more than 30 people and for certain events or facility rentals. Discuss an organized visit with the manager rather than assuming ordinary park entry covers the event.

Location north of Dillon

FWP places the park 16 miles north of Dillon off Montana Highway 41 and lists 62 Beaverhead Rock Road, Twin Bridges, MT 59754 as its physical address. Use the official park information to confirm the stop; an address does not establish a route onto the rock.

Nearby historic parks

• Clark’s Lookout State Park: just north of Dillon off Highway 91. Its published season is April 1–November 30, 8 a.m.–sunset; it is closed December–March.
• Bannack State Park: reached from the Dillon area by Highway 278 and Bannack Road, for a separate historic-town visit.

View the rock and follow its history

Use the view to connect the formation with the expedition’s journey through the Beaverhead country. Photography and historical interpretation are the focus of this stop. The National Park Service account adds expedition context while identifying Montana State Parks as the manager.

A primitive stop

FWP describes a small parking area and no other amenities. Make this a short stop within a larger route, with water and other needs arranged elsewhere. Confirm any specific access requirement with staff before traveling.

Why Beaverhead Rock matters

Sacagawea’s recognition

In 1805, Sacagawea recognized the landmark and believed her relatives might be nearby. Her knowledge gave the expedition hope of obtaining horses for the mountain crossing. The formation is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Contact the managing office

The park is administered through Bannack State Park. Call 406-834-3413 or email [email protected]. Montana’s fees and use information explains general permit requirements.