AE7AP's blog

5.9 miles, +3,100 ft, -300 ft

Mostly on-trail, Some Off-Trail

The trailhead (Glacier National Park – Lubec Lake / Firebrand Pass Trailhead) is easy to get to, but also easy to miss.  The trailhead parking is on a short (500-foot) loop turnoff from Highway-2 that is squeezed between the highway and the railroad tracks.  The trailhead is 6.25 miles from the main intersection in East Glacier, and 8.6 miles from the John F. Stevens monument at the summit of Marias Pass.

Goat Mountain:  (1.1 miles, 1,100 ft)

A GPS (with land ownership) is recommended – to help stay on the unmarked public land.

4.0 miles (+2340, -1090) from Bighorn Lake; 15.2 mile approach from Dearborn TH

We made this part of a 4-day backpacking trip that included W7M/CL-082 (Peak 7676) and W7M/CL-008 (Caribou Peak).  See also the trip reports for these summits.  The trip report for W7M/CL-082 describes trailhead parking at the Dearborn Trailhead & the initial portion of the trail to our campsite on the Continental Divide between Blacktail Creek and the Lander’s Fork.

0.7 miles (+940 feet, -190 feet) from saddle; 12.2 mile approach from Dearborn TH

We made this part of a 4-day backpacking trip that included W7M/CL-057 (Peak 7676) and W7M/CL-008 (Caribout Peak).  See also the trip reports for these summits.  The trip report for W7M/CL-082 describes trailhead parking at the Dearborn Trailhead & the initial portion of the trail to our campsite on the Continental Divide between Blacktail Creek and the Lander’s Fork.

0.5 miles, +740 feet; 9.1 mile approach

4.6 miles, 2,200 feet

This is a very nice hike on a well marked trail.

 0.25 miles, 374 ft

Crater Mountain is a quick, but rewarding off-trail hike.  The summit has nice 360-degree views, including the Scapegoat Wilderness to the North.  Trailhead access is suitable for most vehicles so long as it isn’t too snowy.  This would also make a nice winter summit – with an additional 2.6 miles of skiing from Stemple Pass – much of which is along the “North Meadow Loop” ski trail.

3.0 miles, 1,900 ft

1.6 miles, 2,000 ft

Beartooth WMA – Open May 15 - December 2

This is a short, but very steep climb to a seldom visited ridge in the Beartooth Wildlife Management Area.  It would be prudent to have 4wd in case if it rains, as the roads have the potential to be difficult if wet.  The summit cliffs shelter growths of Kelseya Uniflora ( a special flower that is the symbol for the Montana Native Plant Society), and Moss Campion – both of which were in bloom during our activation.

5.8 miles, 3,200 ft

Beartooth WMA – Open May 15 - December 2

Directions (From Wolf Creek – North of Helena):