The 1.6 million acre
Bitterroot National Forest, in west central Montana and east central
Idaho, is part of the Northern Rocky Mountains. The forest includes two
mountain ranges - the Bitterroot Mountains on the west and the Sapphire
Mountains on the east side of the valley. The nearest urban area is
Missoula, Montana, located 40 miles north of Hamilton, Montana
The forest's beauty
results from glaciers that carved the jagged peaks of the Bitterroot
range. Elevation ranges from 3,200 feet at the north end of the Bitterroot
Valley to Trapper Peak at 10,157 feet in the mountains on the south. In
the Idaho portion of the Forest, elevations drop to about 2,600 feet along
the Selway River and 2,200 feet on the Salmon River.
Wildlife in the Bitterroot Forest includes mule deer, whitetail deer,
elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, black bear, mountain lions, and moose.
Wildlife viewing areas offer you the opportunity to view them in their
natural habitat.
Forest Supervisors Office1801 N. FIRSTHAMILTON, MT
59840-3114
Receptionist
406-363-7100Recreation Info
406-363-7100FAX 406-363-7106Ranger Offices
DARBY
RANGER STATION712 N.
MainDarby,
MT 59829
406-821-3913
STEVENSVILLE RANGER STATION88 Main
Stevensville, MT 59870406-777-5461
SULA
RANGER STATION7338 Hwy
93 S. Sula, MT
59871
406-821-3201
WEST FORK
RANGER STATION6735 West
Fork RdDarby,
MT 59829
406-821-3269
(provided by
the USDA Forest Service is as follows:)
The six mile long Palisade Mountain
Trail skirts the northern edge of the 20,000-acre Skalkaho Game
Preserve and ends at Burnt Fork Lake in the Sapphire Mountains. Travel
along the ridge trail offers views of the scenic Bitterroot Mountains and
opportunities to see big game. The trailhead, 18 miles northeast of
Hamilton on the Willow Creek Road, has a developed campsite, horse-feed
bunks, and hitchrails.
The 23-mile Easthouse National
RecreationTrail follows the Skalkaho Mountain divide north
from Skalkaho Pass, which is 26 miles east of Hamilton on Montana Highway
38. One fork of the trail joins the Palisade Trail. The other fork follows
the divide north along the Skalkaho Game Preserve. Fourteen connecting
trails provide opportunities for access and loop trips.
The Lake Como National Recreation Loop Trail, 17 miles southwest
of Hamilton, extends around the Lake for 7 miles and includes a packbridge
across Rock Creek.
The Big Hole Battlefield Trail begins 6 miles south of the Sula
Ranger Station at a trailhead on the east side of U.S. Highway 93. The
route climbs 3.8 miles to the Gibson Pass area. In 1877 Chief Joseph and
the Nez Perce tribe traveled the trail in their attempt to reach Canada.
Scarred "Indian" trees and wagon ruts are visible along the trail.
Approximately 50 miles of the Continental Divide National Scenic
Trail No. 9 occupies a portion of the southeast boundary between the
Bitterroot and Beaverhead National Forests. A number of developed
trailheads provide access to Trail No. 9. Travel along this trail offers
views of the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness and the picturesque Big Hole
Valley. Deer, elk, and other big-game species may also be observed as one
makes their way along this pleasant byway.
Trail Name
Description
Trailhead Directions
Distance (one-way)
Bass Creek Trail
moderate
Nice uphill hike
with most grades only 10% to 20%. Trail follows the creek with
many places to stop along the way. Fishing is available. Approximate
mileage to some of the stops: 2.5 miles to log dam pond (also
Selway-Bitteroot Wilderness Boundary) 9 miles to Bass Lake.
From Bass Lake you can continue into the Wilderness by going right
on trail #311 or you can turn left on trail #301 and go to Kootenai
Creek Trail (#53).
Thank you David Sandford for this submission.
From Stevensville
Junction (Hwy. 93) north 3.6 miles turn west (left) follow the road
to the Bitteroot Forest and the trailhead is at the west end of
Charles Waters Campground.
9 miles
Bear Creek Trail
Moderate
Bear Creek Falls
On Hwy 93, drive
approximately seven miles north of Hamilton, turn west onto Bear Creek Rd.
Continue about two miles and turn right on Red Crow Rd. Travel less
then a mile and turn left on Middle Bear Creek Rd. Continue for three
miles to the trailhead.
2.0 miles
Blodgett Overlook Trail
Moderate
Blodgett Overlook
Turn west on Main St.
in Hamilton off Hwy 93 (at second stop light). Continue as Main St.
becomes West Bridge Rd. (keep to the right). At the end of West Bridge
Rd. turn left on Blodgett Camp Rd. and follow the signs to the Canyon
Creek Trailhead. This trail provides spectacular views of Canyon
Creek, Blodgett Canyon, and the Valley below.
1.5 miles
Boulder Creek Trail
Moderate
Boulder Creek Falls
On Hwy 93, four miles
south of Darby, turn west onto the West Fork Rd. Travel 15 miles and
turn right into the Sam Billings campground. The trailhead is at the
end of the campground. Destination is located within the Selway
Bitterroot Wilderness.
4.5 miles
Camas Creek Trail
Moderate
Camas Lake
On Hwy 93, travel south
of Hamilton approximately nine miles and turn west (right) on Lost
Horse Rd. Travel a little more then two miles and turn right at the FS
Camas Creek sign. The trailhead is six miles beyond this sign.
3.5 miles
Kootenai Creek Trail
Varies
Follows Kootenai Creek up a narrow canyon. First 1/2 mile is
private land.
Enters Selway-Bitteroot Wilderness approx. 2.5 miles in. Can
go to 4 different lakes each about a mile further from the end of
trail: N. Kootenai Lake, Middle Fork Lakes (2)and S. Kootenai Lake.
You can also take trail 301 (approx. 2.5 miles) which meets Bass
Creek Trail. Thank you David Sandford
for this submission.
From the Stevensville
junction on Hwy 93, travel north one mile. Turn west on Kootenai Creek
Rd. and continue two to three miles to the trailhead.
*
8 miles
Lake Como North Trail &
Rock Creek Trail
Easy
Complete hike around
Lake Como
On Hwy 93, twelve miles
south of Hamilton, turn right on Lake Como Rd. Drive approximately
three miles and turn right on FS Road 5623. Continue to the Upper Como
campground where the trailhead begins. Stock use is restricted on the
North trail. There is access across the dam making this hike a
complete loop around the lake. This loop is also a suggested mountain
bike trail.
7.0 miles
Lake Como North Trail
Easy
Lake Como North Shore
Same as above.
3.0 miles
St. Mary's Peak Trail
Moderate
St. Mary's Peak Summit
Three and a half miles
south of the Stevensville junction on Hwy 93 turn west on Indian
Prairie Loop. Continue west 1.8 miles to St. Mary's Rd, turn right and
continue for one mile to the junction of McCalla Ridge Rd and St.
Mary's Peak Rd (#739). Travel on St. Mary's Peak Rd. #739
approximately 14 miles to the road's end at the trailhead.
The total climb from the trailhead to
the lookout is 2500'. Destination is located within the Selway
Bitterroot Wilderness.
4.5 miles
Warm Springs Trail
Easy
Warm Springs Creek
On Hwy 93,
approximately four miles north of Sula, turn west on Medicine Springs
Rd. (FS Road #5728). Continue for approximately four miles to the
Crazy Creek campground. Follow the signs to the trailhead. Note: only
the first seven miles are considered easy. The remaining two miles are
difficult.
