Montana State Park of the Week Rosebud Battlefield State Park

Rosebud Battlefield is one of the most undeveloped, pristine battlefields in the nation. While looking for the Sioux and Northern Cheyenne villages of Chief Sitting Bull, Brigadier General George Cook, along with 1000 troops and Crow and Shoshone scouts, were unprepared for an organized attack.

On June 17, 1876, an equal or greater number of warriors led by Sioux Chief Crazy Horse and Cheyenne Chiefs Two Moon, Young Two Moons and Spotted Wolf, attacked the band of soldiers.

One of the largest battles of the Indian Wars, the Battle of Rosebud, or "Where the Girl Saved Her Brother" as referred to by the Northern Cheyenne, lasted for eight hours. Because Crook's troops had been withdrawn from the war zone in order to resupply, they were not there to support Colonel Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn one week later.

The defeat at Little Bighorn by the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne warriors was a shock to the US Cavalry and lead to a counter attack and the Lakota's loss of the Black Hills.

Rosebud Battle State Park is a very significant historic park where visitors can retrace the steps of soldiers and warriors at the site of the largest battle in the history of Montana.

Although the park does not encompass the entirety of the battlefield, the 3,025-acre park has remained nearly the same as it was during the time of the battle in the 1870s.

This rolling prairie is the site of the June 17, 1876 battle between the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians and General George Crook's cavalry and infantry.

One of the largest Indian battles ever waged in the United States, it set the stage for the Indian victory eight days later when Lt. Col. George A. Custer and his immediate command were wiped out on the Little Bighorn.

The battlefield is still used throughout the year by U.S. Armed Forces to study military strategy, including how troops take on an enemy who is familiar with the landscape.

The park includes Kobold Buffalo Jump, a cliff once used by Native Americans and marked with petroglyphs. A short hike within the gap to the cliffs will allow you to see these.

The use of metal detectors, digging and the collecting or removal of artifacts is restricted and bikes are allowed on existing roadways only. Be very cautious while in the park as rattlesnakes reside in the area!

Although camping isn't available at Rosebud Battlefield, there is camping available at Tongue River Reservoir State Park only 13 miles south.