[kvpair]

Hello all,
We're planning on a road trip out to Jackson in the 2nd-3'rd week of July and wanted to do some day trips along the way. We were looking at stopping either in Kalispell (detour) or in Missoula for a break and some hiking.Wife and I have a 8 year old with a range of about 7-8 miles, wife doesn't backpack.

(1) Near Kalispell we were looking at the Jewel Lakes basin or the Glacier View Ranger District - we'd like to do Mt Aeneas but not sure if our Toyota Camry will make it up, otherwise Link Lake, Tongue Mountain and Blackfoot Lake also seemed like possibilities. So did Link Lake/Lake Mountain or Nasukoin Mt

(2) Near Missoula there did not seem to be all that much other than Sentinel Peak though I could be totally wrong.

So, is it worth it to make the detour to Kalispell? Or are there better options?
thx
v

[whitebark]

Missoula has some good alpine hiking areas south of town in the Bitterroot Mountains. The hike up to St. Mary's Peak is spectacular. Near the town of Hamilton is Blodgett Canyon.  Further south, The Lake Como Loop trail is relatively easy and scenic.

Right in Missoula is the Rattlesnake Creek recreation area. The walk up the canyon is easy and scenic, good if you are limited for time and need a quick forest getaway.

Mt. Sentinal (starting from Patee Canyon) is quick to reach also. Most of the way, this is a mellow forest hike. Good view from the top.

So you can easily spend several days staying in Missoula and doing hikes.

Hope this helps!

[kvpair]

Thanks Whitebark. So is your take not to divert to Kalispell since our ultimate destination is Jackson Hole? Just trying to figure out if the Kalispell diversion is worth it or can be more usefully included in a separate trip to Glacier NP......

[olderthanIusedtobe]

To chime in, Kalispell doesn't make any sense if you aren't planning to go to Glacier NP.

I definitely enjoyed poking around in the Bitterroots a little bit.  Blodgett Canyon (saw a young moose crashing around by a creek right by the trail head) and Trapper Peak.  The peak is the high point of the range and is a walk up, fantastic view at much of the rest of the range.

[Pyrites]

Evening in Missoula. Short season A baseball.

Go Osprey.

Best.

[monorail]

Great bookstore in Missoula: 'Shakespeare & Co.'

[sarbar]

Kalispell is the gate to GNP. It's a LONG drive off of 90 to get there. A pretty drive, but still a drive. You can find plenty to do along the way to Jackson Hole - are you driving though Yellowstone??

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Freezer Bag Cooking, Trail Cooking, Recipes, Gear And Beyond:
http://blog.trailcooking.com/

[kvpair]

Yes, it seems that Kalispell is a better detour when we do Glacier - likely next year. So Missoula it is - on the way to the Tetons and Yellowstone. Our plan is to stay in Jackson Hole and make a few drives to Yellowstone early in the AM.

I'm sure Yellowstone will be a complete zoo.....

[kvpair]

[olderthanIusedtobe]