BILLINGS — Pictograph Cave State Park southeast of Billings will change to its autumn schedule starting Tuesday. The state park will be open every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the new visitor center will open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Oct. 31.

Admission to Pictograph Cave State Park is free for Montana residents who have paid the vehicle registration fee. Park fees apply to non-residents. A free special-use permit is required for groups of more than 30 people. Guided tours are available upon request. For information, call Pictograph Cave State Park at (406) 245-0227 or the Region 5 Fish, Wildlife and Parks office in Billings at (406) 247-2940.

Two of the three rock overhangs at Pictograph Cave State Park provided shelter for prehistoric Indians as long as 10,000 years ago.  The earliest artists decorated the walls of Pictograph Cave with enduring black and white pigments. Later artists added images of red rifles, horses and plains animals.  The oldest rock art in the cave is more than 2,500 years old. The most recent additions are estimated at 200 to 500 years old. 

-FWP-