“musical rocks!”
This unique geological formation is located approximately 18 miles east of Butte and north of I-90. The rocks in this unique geologic area chime when tapped lightly with a hammer. It is believed that the ringing is a combination of the composition of the rock and the way the joining patterns have developed as the rocks have eroded away, if a boulder is removed from the pile, it doesn't ring. Please don't disturb this natural phenomenon!
You definitely need a hammer or some other solid, heavy, metal tool to really hear the sound-- it won't work with a stick. The rocks make different pitched sounds; it's super interesting!
The students in my welding class fabricate the hammers out of old rail road spikes. Our first design looked like a miners pick but they would ring as much as the rocks. The new railroad spike hammers work much better. Enjoy
Worth the drive. Very interesting place, and a great view when you get there. You don't need to bring your own hammer, there are homemade ones there, but be careful they ring as much as the rocks do.
No rating because I didn't actually get there. The address given here (106 N. Parkmont) is the BLM office, not the rocks. At the office, they gave me these directions: Take exit 241 (Pipestone) from I-90 and travel east on a gravel road (parallels I-90) for about 3/4 mile, then turn north on gravel road. Cross the railroad tracks and continue north about 3 miles. High clearance vehicle recommended.
I love the ringing rocks! I went to college for geology in Butte and this was hands down always my favorite place to visit. I recommend a higher clearance vehicle or 4wd to get up there, or you can also hike up!
Do not attempt a vehicle to go up the gravel roads, you will NOT make it the 9miles off-road. There isn’t much of a space to stop & park your car for the complete uphill hike you will have to make.
Gravel road takes you all the way to the rocks. We had to walk the last half mile since we had driven our car in it couldn't make it all the way. My kids loved climbing on the rocks and getting them to make sounds. Definitely a good place to stop and stretch for awhile.
The road was tricky getting in. Our SUV made it most of the way. With about 3/4 mile to go we couldn't drive any farther and had to walk. Worth the trouble, very interesting site. Kids loved it. When we got to the top there was a truck that had driven in so it can be done with the right vehicle.
We tried to get in to the rocks. But to unmantained road off the highway got to rough for our jetta, we had to turned around (tricky).
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Ringing Rocks Montana
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 12:00 am - 11:59 pm
- Sun - Sat: 12:00 am - 11:59 pm
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