Rattlesnake Recreation Area: Curry Cabin and Sawmill Gulch
Even though the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area is immediately adjacent to Missoula, it is an area that I have explored very seldom. Curry Cabin is a place that I have read about in the guidebooks and blog posts, but it was unvisited…until now that is. Curry Cabin lies at the head of Curry Gulch (imagine […]
Big Creek during the extended Autumn
As the snow falls heavily outside my office window, I was looking back on hikes from the tremendous autumn that we experienced in Montana. One of the best was a quick hike along the banks of Big Creek in the Bitterroot Mountains. This trail is a real cruiser with minimal elevation gain and a great […]
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs – Over Loved and Under Appreciated
Jerry Johnson Hot Springs is gorgeous, accessible, and, often, over-loved. From Highway 12 about 10 miles from the thriving metropolis of Powell, Idaho, you cross the Lochsa River on a pack bridge and continue along the trail for almost a mile and a half. The trail parallels Warm Springs Creek (apropos name) under a canopy […]
Lake Como – Circumambulation
Lake Como, not the Italian one either, is nestled in the Rock Creek drainage in the Bitterroot Mountains. While actually a reservoir, Lake Como is nonetheless stunning, and the fact that there is a trail that encircles the entirety of the shoreline and a massive cascade at the west end of the lake makes this […]
Weir Hot Springs
Weir Hot Springs is the secret that is, well, not much of a secret with the locals folks and, increasingly, travelers. Located along Highway 12 in Idaho roughly 20 miles west of Lowell (known for the terrific Lochsa Lodge), the hot springs are roughly a mile hike along Weir Creek to several pools, although the […]
Bear Creek Falls
Late autumn hikes afford you the opportunity to capture the timeless nature of things. This is Bear Creek Falls in the Bitterroot Mountains, one of my personal favorite spots that can be reached in an afternoon. The trail follows Bear Creek on the south side as it alternatively cascades over boulders and peaceful sections that […]
Flying over Blodgett Canyon in the Bitterroot Mountains
Blodgett Canyon cuts deep through the granite of the Bitterroot Mountains in Montana. The walls are nearly vertical, which is why the area is known to climbers. The canyon was carved out by ice age glaciers, which left behind the U-shaped valley and steeply carved granite cliffs. The glacial valley is carved into granitic rocks […]
Kayaking on the Bitterroot River
It was a hot day, and to escape the heat, we took the kayaks down to the Bitterroot River for a 8 mile float. I brought along the GoPro Hero4 for a little scene capture. The sun shined above us, and below many trouts, whitefish, and other fish scattered from the shadow of the boats. […]
Getting out before the storm: Saint Mary Peak
Atop Saint Mary Peak is a fire lookout that has seen the Roaring Lion Fire and hundreds of lightning strikes in the past few weeks. The hike to the top of this peak starts at a lofty 6800 feet, and well-traveled trail gains another 2500 feet to the summit. From the peak, the Bitterroot Mountains […]
One Weekend, One Montana
A weekend in Montana, is there anything better? We went birding, drank a great beer, took a road ride, rode the WaveRunners, and went for a hike…another great weekend in Montana
Hiking along Cache Creek
We haven’t spent much time in the mountains to the west of Missoula. I have heard of Cache Creek for some time, so we decided to make the trip this past Sunday. The drive to the trailhead from Lolo is great as you travel west on Highway 12, take the Fish Creek Road from around […]
Circumambulation of Clearwater Lake
Buddy Jeff and I completed the short hike around Clearwater Lake at the foot of the Swan Range. While not challenging in the slightest, but enjoyable to the max. The total hike is around 3 miles and circles the lake. We heard and saw Common Loon, and many species of dragonfly were about the margin […]
Canyon Creek & Lake in the Bitterroot Mountains
Difficult, but this hike offers great views of Canyon Falls before reaching Canyon Lake. We arrived late (just before noon), and the parking lot was already filled. This lot serves both the Canyon Creek Trail and the Blodgett Canyon Overlook trailheads. The trail starts off easy for the first 3 miles, although it is a rather rocky and […]
Camas in Bloom at Packer Meadows
Every year during the first week in June, the camas blooms in the meadows of the Rocky Mountains. The dark blue flowers create a carpet that is best viewed from the air. How do we get in the air? Easy with the DJI Phantom.
Glen Lake and No Name Lake – Journey through a ghost forest.
The trail was littered with downfall (thanks to last winter’s winds and the trail crews have not yet made it here), but the views – man, the views – were beyond worth a little more effort and a few scraps. Hiking partner Jeff set a brisk pace (okay, the bastard nearly killed me), but we crossed into the Selway-Bitterroot […]