Hiking Trails and Recreation at The Outdoor Forum Main Page

Hiking Trails

(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 Recreation Trail 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.	*
Kootenai Creek Trail Varies			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.	*

Hiking Trails and Outdoor Recreation in the US National Parks, Forests and Monuments
Bitterroot National Forest Hiking Trails

Bitterroot National Forest Hiking Trails