The Great Plains Dinosaur Museum (GPDM) is located in the rich land mass of Northern Montana where some the world’s most preeminent dinosaur fossils have been discovered.  A site and member of the Montana Dinosaur Trail, GPDM maintains permanent exhibits of dinosaurs and other prehistoric fossils to advance the visitors experience, allowing them to appreciate, enjoy and fully understand the rich prehistory  of this region.  The Museum also provides the rare opportunity for both youth and adults to explore, dig and excavate fossils with their staff and paleontologist partners in scheduled educational and dig programs.

The Great Plains Dinosaur Museum (GPDM) is governed and operated by volunteer board members of the Judith River Foundation, Inc.   The Foundation is an IRS exempt 510c3 non-profit corporation established in 2002.  The GPDM is not a municipal entity, is not affiliated with any higher education institutions, receives no general tax support, and is entirely self-funded through membership fees, admissions, dig and tour revenue and fundraising.

GPDM is guided by a mission to curate and prepare paleontological resources for use in educational programs, scientific research and interpretive displays in support of the advancement of knowledge and the benefit of all people.

405 North 1st St East | Malta, Montana (406) 654-5300 [email protected]

Adult Paleontology Program

2023 DINO DIGS are Completed!

This year, we returned to our dinosaur quarry in the Little Snowy Mountains. Approximately 150-million-years old, the bones we’re finding come from sauropod (long-necked) dinosaurs that lived in the world-famous Morrison Formation during the Late Jurassic Period. The Morrison Formation was home to some of our most famous and iconic dinosaurs like the sauropods Apatosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus, & Camarasaurus; the plated and spiky-tailed Stegosaurus; and the meat-eating Allosaurus and Ceratosaurus.

While the Morrison Formation is really well known in western states like Utah and Colorado, it is poorly understood here in Montana; and such northern exposures are practically unknown. We are the only museum working in the Morrison Formation here, so help us make and preserve new scientific discoveries!

Dig Dates:

Watch for next year’s dates to be posted!

To learn more about or sign up for this truly unique paleontological opportunity in Montana, please email us at [email protected] or call us at (406) 654-5300.

How Does it Work?

  • For the 2023 Little Snowy Mountains dig, the cost is $1,000.00 per participant. This includes lunch each day, digging equipment, transportation to and from the site from Malta, MT.
  • Participants must be age 12 or older and able to hike short distances and sit on the ground.
  • All youths (under 18) must be accompanied by an appointed guardian. A 50% discount is offered to nonparticipating adults who accompany a participating minor. (12-17 years old)
  • For each dig, we arrive Sunday evening, dig Monday through Friday, and leave Saturday morning. We require a minimum of FOUR participants signed up.
  • For all dig participants, a $200.00 non-refundable deposit is required to book each reservation.

Note: Is your child younger than 12? Please go to the Museum’s “Junior Paleontologist Program.”

For reservations and more information, please email us at [email protected] or call us at (406) 654-5300.

(our former Director of Paleontology, Dr. Cary Woodruff, with pedal (foot) bones from a Tyrannosaurus found during our 2018 Hell Creek Formation dig)

Recommended Gear for the Dino Digs in Montana:

  • small back pack or tote bag
  • refillable water bottle
  • hat
  • neck scarf
  • light weight clothing
  • good boots or hiking shoes (caution with canvas shoes: there is cactus!)
  • sunscreen
  • bug spray
  • camera

2021 dig photos:

Back To Top