first peoples buffalo jump

A little of the beaten track but well worth the visit.There are two parts to this site, the high plateau itself and the small museum about a quarter of a mile away. Both were fascinating - you need to do both to appreciate how skilful and brave young native americans were. Young people will love it -listen to every word the guide says, look at the plateau and then use your imagination to sense what it must have been like. One mistake and it would be you that would be dead - not the buffalo.

This was a trip favorite. We enjoyed the 3-mile hike to the top of the cliff and learned lots of little tidbits from the trail guide. When we returned to the visitor center, the Ranger gave a most-interesting talk about how the buffalo were run over the edge, tanning hides, and other topics. The little museum is very well done.

This site has a good interpretive centre and also a viewpoint from the top with interpretive trails at both ends.

On our visit to Great Falls, we read about this site, which dates back centuries, and provided many tribes with their annual buffalo needs. Tribes would come from all directions to drive huge herds of buffalo over the cliffs of this vast plateau. Stop at the outstanding Visitor's Center prior to going to the top of the plateau to see vistas that stretch to the horizon.Well worth a visit.

Visited here with family just in time for a tour guide narrated explanation of the native Americans use of the Buffalo jump between the years 900 AD - 1500. Very interesting and informative displays and artifacts. Well worth the visit if you're in the area and only $5 per car (if you have Montana plates - it's no charge).

It's incredible to hear the history from the park ranger, and more impressive is to go hiking to the top of the hill and imagine how the native Americans directed the buffaloes there to jump and be caught, I recommend this place to visit if you are interesting in the plains Indians!

Excellent interpreter talk with Ms. Reyes at the state park center (museum). Small visitor shop has several books and a few local handcrafts at artisan prices. Tshirts and posters also for sale. Enjoyed the small but comprehensive displays in center about buffalo, the lodges (tepees), and how the hunt using the cliffs were organized. Lodges outside the center were great to get a feel of the size of these before the use of horses for the local first peoples. A short drive up the hill will give you a short walk to the cliff itself. Caution for small kids as this is a steep drop off. Pit toilets are available at the top of the jump cliff hill. Windy day with minor clouds gave us great views of the plains and the large butte off in distance from the jump cliff. Really you should sit and listen to Juanita Reyes, she is awesome park staff. State parks request a $5 donation per car for out of state visitors.

Great place to learn about Native American history and buffalo. Beautiful scenery as well. Spent 30 minutes in the museum and then hiked out to the buffalo jump. Enjoyed watching the prairie dogs as well. Very interesting.

Spend some time walking through the trails; look out on the horizon as far as you can see; at some point you realize you can see for 100 miles in any direction and you come to understand the significance of this place to native peoples. Powerful!

On the drive up to the Buffalo Jump the Prairie Dogs were popping up everywhere. Their chatter was really cute. The hawks overhead were beautiful to watch as well. There were indian huts where the indians spread the buffalo skins to dry. When reaching the jump the scenery was beautiful, the trip was worth the drive from Great Falls.

We visited the Visitors center, and thought it was great. Wish we would have taken the time to walk up to the butte, too. We heard from others later that it was wonderful! They said, "It's an amazing trail with lots of info. The view from the top of the butte is beautiful. The prairie dogs are very cute and fun."The topic sounded kind of hokey, but it wasn't at all. There was much history to learn here and the people who work there were very knowledgeable. Our speaker was a Native American who spoke with her heart. We learned about the native americans in the area, and thoroughly enjoyed it, including a multimedia presentation of a young boy explaining how his big brother "tricked" the bison into following him to their doom. We read and enjoyed the free brochures and bought items from the gift shop. (My grandchildren loved the "arrowhead replicas we sent them.)The day we were there at the very end of September, it was terrifically windy and lots of tumbleweeds . It's just a 10 minute drive from Great Falls. This is a state park so the entry fee for the day will be applicable at other state parks...and we highly recommend the Springs State Park in Great Falls.

This state park protects an old Bison jump used 500 - 1,000 years ago. The visitor's center is small, but has nice displays of life on the plains back then. There is also a short talk the staff will give every hour. It is interesting and you can get more information from it. There are 2 ways to get to the top of the jump site. You can drive about 2 miles up a gravel road, or there is a 3 mile round-trip hiking trail. Unfortunately I did not have time to hike, so I drove. Up at the top there are some interpretive signs, as well as a gorgeous view of the area. There is also a prairie dog town at the top protected by the state park. this is a great place to spend an hour or two.

If you are anywhere nearby, this is worth a detour to see and hear about the history of this remarkable area. The interpretive center and staff are very interesting and informative, the setting fascinating and the opportunity to walk on the buffalo jump area intriguing and haunting. A must-see.

Free for those with Montana license plates, including rental cars, since its a state park. Interesting talk explaining how the indigenous people hunted buffalo before the time of horses. Interesting authentic samples of artifacts, plus recorded stories to listen to. Then, you can walk or driveup to the jump and walk around at the top.

Only about 8 miles west of Great Falls, this park is a must see. I say this after spending the last 10 days at the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone & Glacier National Park. After visisting tge cisitor center and paying the non-resident $5 fee, we took in the museum and the 15-20 minute talk. Afterwards we drive to the top of the jumo sute and were in awe of the drop off as well as the view...