Crystal Park Picnic and Mineral Collection Area

Area Status: Open

Crystal Park is a unique recreation area at an elevation of 7,800 feet in the Pioneer Mountains in southwest Montana. Crystal Park is open for day use only and has a fee per person. Facilities include three picnic sites with tables and grills, information signs, toilets, and a paved trail with benches as well as an overlook. The facilities are designed to be universally accessible (ADA).

Quartz crystals are scattered liberally through the decomposed granite of the unique 220-acre site that's been reserved by the Forest Service for the popular hobby of rockhounding. Quartz crystals are hexagonal (six-sided) prisms, with a pointed "face" at each end. The crystals found at Crystal Park can be clear, cloudy, white, gray, or purple. They can be smaller than your little finger or up to several inches in diameter. Gray, purple, and other colors are caused by minerals within the quartz. Gray crystals are known as "smoky" and the highly prized purple ones are called amethyst. Single crystals are most common at Crystal Park. Most of the crystals have little value other than as collector's items.

Rules established for Crystal Park include a ban on tunneling. The rules are listed on signs throughout the park and in brochures that are available at the site. Hand tools are the only tools allowed for use, and there is a five-day-per-person season limit on digging.

View Crystal Park Recreational Mineral Collection Area brochure.

 

At a Glance

Operational Hours: Open seasonally from mid-June through mid-October, dependent on snow and weather conditions.
Area Amenities:
  • Interpretive Site
  • Picnic tables
  • Fee charged for some activities
  • Parking
  • Toilets: Vault (No showers) Accessible
  • Accessible
  • Drinking water
Fees: There is a $5 fee per person, per day fee for this site. There is no fee for children 10 years of age and younger. The fee is collected at the Crystal Park parking area. 
Closest Towns: Dillon, MT
Water: Yes
Restroom: Yes
Information Center: Dillon Ranger District
Phone: (406) 683-3900

General Information

Directions:

From Dillon take I-15 South for 3 miles. Take the Highway 278 exit and continue West for 22 miles. Turn North onto the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway Road 73 and continue for approximately 17 miles. 


Accessibility:

The day use area and the toilets are ADA accessible.


General Notes:

The Day Use area is open annually from mid-June through mid-October depending on snowpack and weather.


Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Picnicking

The day use area has picnic tables and fire grills available. 

Reservation Info The picnic area is available on a first come, first served basis.
Fire Information There are fire grills available for use.
Fees: There is a per vehicle fee for the area.

Rockhounding

The Crystal Park Mineral Collection Area is nearby.

 

Usage: Please dig only in the designated areas and follow all area rules.  Please pack out all your trash.
Hours of Operation: Sun up to sun down

Scenic Driving

The Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway is nearby.

Related Information

Recreation Areas

Recreation Activities

Location

 
  Latitude : 
45.48734

  Longitude : 
-113.10089

  Elevation : 
7700 feet