First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park - Great Falls

Located just outside of Great Falls, MT, First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park is one of the most significant and well-preserved Native American Heritage sites in the country. This archaeological site is believed to be the largest bison cliff jump in North America. Plains tribes, including the Blackfeet, Salish, and Shoshone, used it for at least a thousand years before Lewis and Clark’s expedition through Montana. They skillfully drove herds of bison off the cliff as part of a complex communal hunting tradition.

The site features several interpretive hiking trails that wind through native prairie, leading visitors to the top of the jump, offering panoramic views and a powerful sense of place. The bison jump site is a mile-long sandstone cliff that rises to 50 feet, with remnants of drive lines and up to 18 feet of compacted bison remains below the cliff.

The park includes picnic tables, a black-tailed prairie dog town, and a 6,000-square-foot visitor center. At the visitor center, you’ll find immersive exhibits, traditional tools, and archaeological displays that shed light on Indigenous peoples’ lives, customs, and survival techniques in Central Montana. Educational programs and ranger-led tours make this an engaging stop for families, school groups, and heritage travelers.

First Peoples Buffalo Jump is ideally located near other must-see Great Falls attractions, including Giant Springs State Park and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, making it a perfect addition to your Montana road trip itinerary.

http://stateparks.mt.gov/first-peoples-buffalo-jump
ccarlson-thompson@mt.gov

Mailing Address
Not Available

Street Address
342 Ulm-Vaughn Road
Ulm,  MT 59485

Phone: 406-866-2217
Fax: 406-866-2218

First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park is located 10 miles south of Great Falls on I-15 at Ulm Exit #270, then 3.5 miles northwest on county road.

Season
All Year

Hours
Winter Hours: 9/17- 3/31 Visitor Center and Upper Access Area: 10am-4pm Wednesday - Saturday and 12pm-4pm Sunday. Closed Mon/Tues

Summer Hours: 4/1 - 9/30 Visitor Center and Upper Access Area: 8am-6pm Daily (7 days a week)

Payments
Not Available

Reservations
Not Available

Childrens Activities, Gift Shop, Handicapped Accessible, Interpretive Display, Maps, Parking, Pets Allowed, Public Restroom, Toilets, Trail

Bird Hunting, Bird Watching, Bow Hunting, Childrens Activities, Education, Exhibit, Heritage, Hiking, History, Horseback Riding, Museum, Nature, Photography, Picnicking, Sightseeing, Upland Bird Hunting, Wildlife Viewing