Tower Rock

Tower Rock State Park encompasses 66 acres along the Missouri River in Cascade County, protecting a dramatic 424-foot volcanic rock formation that rises above the river. The rock is a prominent landmark visible from great distances across the Montana plains.

The Missouri River supports walleye, rainbow trout, and catfish. Raptors including prairie falcons nest on the rock's cliff faces. Mule deer and pronghorn inhabit the surrounding terrain. Rattlesnakes occur in the rocky areas.

Native grasslands surround the rock formation. Juniper and limber pine grow on the rock's sheltered ledges. Sagebrush and bunchgrasses cover the surrounding prairie. Lichens colonize the exposed volcanic rock surfaces.

Tower Rock is an igneous intrusion, a volcanic neck where magma solidified within a volcano's conduit. Erosion removed the surrounding softer rock, leaving the resistant igneous core standing as a dramatic landmark above the Missouri River.

Central Montana near the Missouri River experiences cold, windy winters and warm summers. Annual precipitation averages about 13 inches. The exposed rock and open terrain amplify wind effects.

Meriwether Lewis noted Tower Rock on July 16, 1805, during the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The formation has served as a navigation landmark for travelers along the Missouri River for centuries.

Tower Rock State Park was established to protect this striking geological formation and Lewis and Clark landmark along the Missouri River.

The dramatic rock formation is the primary attraction. Interpretive signs explain the geology and Lewis and Clark connection. Fishing access on the Missouri River is available. Photography of the formation is popular.

The park provides day-use facilities and fishing access. It is located about 22 miles south of Great Falls along the Missouri River, accessed via Hardy Creek Road.

The park protects the geological formation and its historical significance. The natural landmark is maintained in its undeveloped state to preserve its character.