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Below: A view of Rimrock Bluffs from the highway below |
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Once this area looked like the modern coast of south Texas - except that dinosaurs roamed the countryside instead of cattle. The Yellowstone River began cutting into the rims about one-million years ago as the river migrated back and forth across the valley. The process continues today with the river cutting into the South Hills.
Black Otter Trail was constructed in 1936 by 150 men employed by the Works Progress Administration. The 2.5 mile scenic road was promoted by the Billings Commercial Club and included interpretive signs and observation points.
Imagine this area was once the edge of a shallow sea where sharks and swimming carnivorous reptiles patrolled the waters. |
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Below: Lee Duquette at the top of the bluffs, getting an excellent view of
the city from Black Otter Trail. Visitors can bike, walk, or drive approximately
three miles around historic Kelly Mountain along the sandstone bluffs
known as Rimrocks. Black Otter Trail was an original wagon trail and
is steeped in Native folklore. Again, they had the area to themselves
on this date. |
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Below: Karen Duquette came upon a lone patch of flowers growing
out of the rocks. |
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From here, Lee and Karen Duquette
continued on to see Yellowstone Kelly's Grave and more while still basically
in the area known as the Rimrocks. Use the sub-menu below for more places
in this area. |
