I am making some final plans for a trip with two hiking buddies from Texas. We are flying into Missoula on August 14, so we'd like to find a trailhead within 3-4 hours of the airport if possible. We attempt to hike a new state every year and this year we are excited to hike Montana. So, this may be a once in a life time hike for us. I'm looking for something outside of Glacier (too many people) where we can backpack in, see epic scenery, run into few people, and catch some decent trout over the course of 4-5 days. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
well I live here but it has been such a long time since I hiked in this area. many of the favorite places have been shut off for one reason or another (private or govt). some places are not worth going to because of recent fire damage.
consulting a good map of the sw portion should give you some good places around the selway-bitteroot wilderness, areas around lolo, there might be something just outside missoula in the rattlesnake recreation area. these are within your time frame.
Go south down the Bitterroot.
Day 1. Up Bear Creek and up the Middle fork. Camp at Bryan Lake.
Day 2. Up Bear Creek Pass then up Sky Pilot peak. Cross country to Packbox pass and down to Big Creek Lakes. Fish
Day 3. Down Big creek and up the S Fork of BC to South fork lake. Fish
Day 4. Cross country to Bear lake. Could be cliffy. May need to go back to Bryon lake instead.
Day 5. Out to car.
Don't tell the locals who sent ya.
Or look at about a hundred other loops. Up Mill creek and out Fred Burr?
mmmm Bitter roots!!!....we did the long 12+m approach to tin cup lake (stay a night at the bed n breakfast cabins)....
hope ya have 5 nights....over the pass above tin cup is amazing...
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