Exploring Ulm Buffalo Jump on dry and windy day

A Buffalo Jump perspective

The iconic Great Falls area symbol --- Square Butte

Grass and sky dominate the landscape above the buffalo jump

The hoodoos below the jump

I guess we could have skied.  

The snow in the mountains, though thin, is ski-able.So we opted for a sure thing, instead ---- a hike at the Buffalo Jump outside Ulm, a mere 11 miles away.

It offers a 360 panoramic view of the mountains and plains and the Missouri River below.

We walked out along the rim of the jump as far as the rims go to the west, climbed a high point, dropped to the valley below and re-climbed the rims for a hike of about 3.3 miles with about 550 feet of elevation gain and loss.

The area was bone dry despite being the end of December, when you expect snow and ice. It was so open the prairie dogs frolicked in their town, almost stripped bare of vegetation with overgrazing.

This is being written two days after the hike and as I look outside winter has finally arrived, with about 5 inches of fresh, powder snow. 

It had been so dry previously that despite it being mid-December, Katie had taken to watering the lawn and trees, fearful of drought damage.

This First People's Buffalo Jump State Park is a must for future guests, as well as the Highwoods, Little Belts, Front and Sluice Boxes State Park.

We live in a magnificent part of Montana!