Chief Plenty Coups State Park - Pryor, Montana

July 30

State Parks can be small or grand. This one was small, but a very nice tribute to the Crow Indians and Chief Plenty Coups.

We arrived well before the visitor’s center opened at 10:00. We walked the Life Ways Trail and found a few birds along the way. We did see 1 deer take off over the mountains when we arrived. Pryor Creek meanders through the park amongst the prairie and has great views of the Pryor Mountains.

 American Goldfinch & Cedar Waxwing were hanging out together

 American Goldfinch

 Cedar Waxwing

 Pryor Creek

 Cedar Waxwing - immature

 Pryor Mountains

 Northern Flicker

 dry river bed

 we clmbed down into a dry riverbed and then stepped on the roots of the tree to climb out

 Catbird maybe?

 Yellow Warbler

 Chokecherry Bush

 apple tree

 sweat lodge frame

 Chief Plenty Coups two-story log house & General Store

 General Store

he used this in the summer as it was cooler than the log cabin

 His 2-story log cabin was open to self-tour. 

When we finished the trail the visitor’s center was open so we went in. We were greeted by a woman reading a book who looked up to say “are you lost?” We toured the small museum and she never said another word.

 bust of Chief Plenty Coups

 Visitor's Center

“The park is culturally significant because it honors the last traditional chief of the Crow Tribe. Chief Plenty Coups witnessed many changes from the time he was born in 1848 to his death in 1932. He led his people into a new era, bridging the gap between the old ways and the new while retaining their cultural traditions. In one of his visions, he saw himself as an old man without any children of his own but as a leader of many Crow people. He became a chief at the age of 21 and while married twice did not have any children of his own.”

 gravesite of Chief Plenty Coups & his 2 wives and adopted child

We then drove back to Billings for lunch. After lunch we tried to find a way to get to a birding trail, but both ends were closed for roadwork. So, the park was open, but no way to get there. So, we went back to the Audubon place to walk the other side that we missed yesterday. We saw very few ducks, but got better shots of the Lazuli Bunting that we have seen before, but didn’t get good photos. That was worth the trip.

 Mallards

 Mallards

 Lazuli Bunting - male

 Lazuli Bunting - male

 Lazuli Bunting - male

Lazuli Bunting - female with an insect

Not much really happening at the Audubon Center so we headed home.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XayKiwkMW8WWMMkv7

Tomorrow, we are off to explore Pictograph Cave State Park.