1.6-miles, +821 ft, -160 ft
The Devils Tower hike is a beautiful one that climbs a series of benches through open range and timber. It is nicest in the spring, before it gets too hot. The summit offers panoramic views of the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness, the Helena Valley, and the surrounding mountains.
5.1-miles, +1,705 ft, -963 ft; From Elk Mountain TH
I activated Bilk Mountain on Day-1 of a long backpacking trip.
It is a relatively long drive to the trailhead on good Forest Service Roads. Most vehicles should be able to make it with no troubles, but some clearance is helpful. This summit combines nicely with W7I/IC-172 (Green Mountain), which is a drive-up.
1.5-miles, +920 ft
Elk Mountain has a notable 2,166 feet of prominence and a pleasant trail to near the summit.
It is a relatively long drive to the trailhead on good Forest Service Roads. Most vehicles should be able to make it with no troubles, but some clearance is helpful. This summit combines nicely with W7I/IC-172 (Green Mountain), which is a drive-up.
18.7-miles, +5,750 ft; -1,590 ft; From N. Fork Trailhead
Evans Peak is an iconic mountain that is the 4th highest peak in Lewis and Clark County. I activated it as the fifth summit on a multi-day backpacking trip that went up Lake Creek, down Canyon Creek, up the Dry Fork & Cabin Creek, and then down Dobrota Creek and the North Fork of the Blackfoot back to the car. This route description is the reverse of the final leg, which is the most efficient approach.
15.9-miles, +4,320 ft; -1,060 ft; From N. Fork Trailhead via Dry Fork
I activated this as the third summit on a multi-day backpacking trip. We camped at the mouth of Dwight Creek and climbed from there.
15.7-miles, +3,230 ft; -1,100 ft; From N. Fork Trailhead via Dry Fork
I activated this as the second summit on a multi-day backpacking trip. We camped at the mouth of Dwight Creek and climbed from there, but it is also possible to camp in the area of the Dry Fork – Flathead Divide.
19.7-miles, +4,848 ft; -1,158 ft; From N. Fork Trailhead via Dry Fork
I activated this as the fourth summit on a multi-day backpacking trip. We camped at the mouth of Dwight Creek and climbed from there, from which the summit is a 6.5 mile on-trail hike with 3,200 feet of net elevation gain.
11.3-miles, +3,828 ft; -574 ft; From N. Fork Trailhead
I activated this as the first summit on a multi-day backpacking trip. We camped at Canyon Lake and climbed from there. There is also camping at Lake Otatsy and Camp Pass. The entire route, including the Lake Otatsy area was burned in the 2017 Rice Ridge fire, so care should be taken in selecting a camp to minimize the danger from standing dead trees. Most of the area around Canyon Lake is not burnt.
240 feet from road to summit, +10 ft elevation
This is a short hike through dense regrowth in an old clearcut.
From the Bernice Exit on I-15 (Exit 151) between Boulder and Butte, take the Boulder River Road west as follows:
0.0 Exit I-15 at Bernice
0.5 miles, +160 ft, -35 ft
This is a short hike to a rocky knob on the continental divide.
From the Bernice Exit on I-15 (Exit 151) between Boulder and Butte, take the Boulder River Road west as follows:
0.0 Exit I-15 at Bernice