Description: Painted Canyon sites are about 40 miles southeast of Great Falls. The canyon walls and small rockshelters support paintings that date from the Late Archaic period through the early historic period. The earliest dated shield-bearing warrior and one of the only painted atlatls is here. Access to the sites is by paved and two-track roads. The walk along the canyon bottom is mostly easy, although the climb to a painted rockshelter is difficult.
Difficulty: Access is along the canyon bottom and most sites are easily viewed from the bottom. A climb to the one high painted rockshelter is an 80 foot elevation gain. Total walking round trip about 2 miles. There is a two-track along the canyon bottom that can be followed.
Vehicle Distance (One Way): 40 miles paved with a very short two-track
Vehicle: Any
Number of Participants: 15
Meeting time: 9:00 am
Leader: Larry Loendorf
