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YELLOWSTONE COUNTY, MONTANA

Yellowstone County – Your Ancestral Past Trail Series

Out in the Boonies Trek #12

Pompeys Pillar

By Dave Dodge

 

 

 

Porcupine Creek Area, Hole-in-the-Rock & McGinnis Peak

Rev: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 (corrected links)

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

 

 

 

 

This trek is about a six-hour round trip drive from Billings. The roads to Hole in the Rock are mainly un-graded dirt; and totally unsuitable for rainy weather. A 4-wheel drive vehicle is recommended.  Virtually the entire trek is across private land, with right-of-way to cross for most of the distance. The final destination is the Hole-in-the-Rock location; however it is entirely within private land stewardship.

 

 

 

Directions:

 

Part 1 – Hole in the Rock

 

This trek was an adventure over very rough roads, some with deep 10-14 inch grooves. Since the final destination is enclosed totally within private land, we didn’t venture to it without permission. If you are planning to visit, obtain permission. We were able to get within three miles of the final destination where a gate was closed to entrance. The country surrounding Big Porcupine Creek is outstanding & vast to the eye.

 

Located in Section 21 R36E T13N it sits on Big Porcupine Creek. According to an earlier notation, this was the headwaters of Big Porcupine Creek.

The site is located on Paul D Shoup's ranch (10,500+ acres)

 

An earlier picture from Huffman’s collection shows how it looked in earlier days. (From “Before Barbed Wire -  by Brown …1956”)

 

 

A current picture would be very welcome – to post for future travelers to see. (Contact the WebMaster – Cleve Kimmel)

 

 

Part 2 - McGinnis Peak (On Private Land)

 

Note: This trek also covers two separate Rock Cairns located north of the Peak (Named McGinnis Butte on some Maps).

 

Start this segment from Ingomar (Garfield County) and head north on the Ingomar Road North. The township was platted in 1910 by the Milwaukee Railroad and named by them. Ingomar is located on Hwy 12.

The Jersey Lilly was originally the Wiley, Clark & Greening Bank; founded in 1914, reorganized in 1918 as the Ingomar State Bank – then was chartered as the First National Bank in 1921 & was sent into receivership. In 1933 Clyde Easterday established the Oasis Bar in it. In 1948 it became the Jersey Lilly.

At the rear of the building are two of the most novel & colorful restrooms in the state. Be sure to visit.

This trek can be combined with the travel to Hole in the Rock. Consult the BLM Melstone Map for road connections. The owners of the Jersey Lilly will assist in giving directions.

 

 

Traveling north from Ingomar, the Ingomar Road North connects with state highway 200. McGinnis Peak will be on the left of the road, about ½ mile distant. The peak is about 250 feet above the plain; and on its top is a small rock cairn. The peak is symmetrical about its base. This road segment is suitable for travel in inclement weather, and can be conducted by auto.

 

Normal view, ½ mile from the road.

Rock Cairn is clearly evident on the top. It’s about 6’ tall.

The Land Ownership map[1] shows that McGinnis Peak is located on part of the US Bank & Trust Department land (#172). They hold over 33,700 acres in and around the vicinity. The peak’s coordinates are about:

 

  46° 56.710’ N

107° 22.934’ W

 

Note: yellow denotes BLM land; blue State land.

 

Construction was made by the Army Signal Corps, soon after Fort Keogh was established in 1876. They established communication sites at high points near Fort Keogh, Junction City, Fort Custer and some others by 1879.

 

Part 3 – Twin Cairns

 

This trek is a continuation of the McGinnis route. Continue north on Ingomar Road North until you reach coordinates a few miles south of State Hwy 200:

 

  47° 06.026’ N

107° 21.210’ W

 The cairns are on the small hill towards the southwest about ½-mile distant. They are located in Section 35, Range 34E T16N.

 

There are two cairns. A round one near the center of Section 35, and a square one on the boundary line between Sections 34 & 35. Both of these appear to be survey markers, as they sit on or close to their respective quarter-section markers. The survey maps haven’t been researched.

The cairns are located on the CharAngus Ranch Inc property. They have about 28,800 acres. The “black Line” is highway 200.

This is a “poor” enlargement of the square cairn. The round one needs higher resolution to see properly.

 

 


[1] Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (//nris.mt.gov/) Melstone Map




  Email me:
Katy Hestand
Yellowstone County Coordinator


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