BILLINGS – The face of a sandstone cliff overlooking Pictograph Cave State Park east of Billings collapsed this week, sending boulders over the roadway and a hiking trail. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials have closed the park indefinitely until they can repair the roadway and assess the potential for additional rock falls.
Nobody was injured and no buildings were damaged by the rock fall, which left boulders – ranging in size from a basketball to twice as big as a car – strewn at the base of the hundred-foot-tall cliff and across the park access road and a hiking trail. The roadway since has been cleared of rocks, but damage to the surface remains.
Meanwhile, geological engineers are assessing the potential for additional rock slides which could cause damage or injury in the area. Until that work is done, the park will remain closed to the public.
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Fish, Wildlife and Parks photo:
This aerial photo shows a rock fall below the face of a sandstone cliff that collapsed recently at Pictograph Cave State Park east of Billings, damaging the access road and closing the park indefinitely.
