Montana hiking trails – Calypso Trail, Prairie County

LOCATION
Latitude: 46.79389
Longitude: -105.46806

Calypso Trail in the Terry Badlands Wilderness Area, Prairie County, Montana:

The Calypso Peak dominates the Terry Badlands Wilderness Area

The Bureau of Land Management’s Miles City Field Office hosted its 2006 National Public Lands Day event north of Terry, drawing over 50 volunteers from across eastern Montana, including Miles City, Terry, Baker and Glendive Sept. 30.

The annual event was held on the Calypso Trail, located on BLM-managed land. Volunteers installed a gate, erected an interpretive kiosk, picked up litter and performed trail maintenance. Over $4000 in associated labor costs were donated as a result.

According to Harvey Wolff, NPLD event coordinator, volunteers gathered over 15 cubic yards of trash and rusty wire, later hauled to a nearby landfill for disposal.

“We are pleased to have these folks show up to take an interest to preserve and protect their public lands,” said Wolff,  ”We also appreciate all their hard work and effort.”

Part of the project included a foot-trail leading to the renowned Natural Bridges, several horizontal sandstone monoliths exposed by erosion which span a ravine. The Natural Bridges were made famous in several photographs captured by Evelyn Cameron, British immigrant and photographer of Prairie County, during the late 1800′s and early 1900′s.

For hiking, photography, sightseeing and wildlife viewing the Terry Badlands Wilderness Study Area cannot be missed. It is located three miles northwest of Terry, Montana, north of the Yellowstone River, with access to the scenic overlook by a westbound dirt road directly off “The Big Sky Backcountry Byway” Highway 253.  Access is currently restricted due to a dispute between the private property owner and Prairie County.

You can also access the area by way of the Calypso trail, an un-improved dirt road accessed by the old Milwaukee railroad grade on the western side of the Wilderness Study Area.

The Terry Badlands Wilderness Study Area has a triangular shape, measuring about 10 miles wide at the base adjacent to the Yellowstone River and eight miles long from the river to the area’s northwest corner. The Terry Badlands exhibit soft marine and non-marine sedimentary rock, which has been eroded over time by wind and water into arches, bridges, flat tabletops, pinnacles, spires and scoria escarpments. Landforms reach up to 2,900 feet in elevation in some areas.

Overnight camping is allowed, however no facilities provided. Roads are unimproved, primitive and impassable when wet. This is a “Pack In, Pack Out” area and all garbage must be removed. Be mindful of seasonal and area fire restrictions. Nearest medical help and places to stay and eat are in the nearby Town of Terry.