Welcome Creek may not strike you as a very welcoming place, at least not at first glance. It's not…read moreunwelcoming, exactly, but it makes an impression - an intimidating impression. It's steep, rocky, rugged, and wild. Once you cross the swaying suspension bridge from the trail head parking to the other side of Rock Creek, you're really entering another world, in which humans rarely tread. As far as wilderness areas go, this one is tiny at just over 28,000 acres, but it doesn't feel tiny when you are there. It's a single watershed, a clear mountain creek whose headwaters are high above in the Sapphire Range, where snows linger into late spring and early summer. A rough hewn trail follows the creek all the way to the top of the dividing ridgeline. To the East is picturesque Rock Creek, brimming with trout fishermen. To the West over the ridge is the Bitterroot Valley. In between are wilderness, deep canyons, steep mountains, dense forests, and diverse wildlife. It's not a place that many people explore, and recent wildfires have rendered the landscape even less inviting. It looks and feels frightening. But these feelings are initial ones only. They will fade away, and what remains is an appreciation for the protected wildness that is Welcome Creek. You really are the leave-no-trace visitor here, and you'll know it. Whether you are clambering over fallen trees, negotiating a rocky talus field, or scrambling atop boulders to get a better view, the wilderness value of this place is abundantly evident. If you linger long enough, you'll detect the small things that reveal a healthy forest in the process of healing itself, hiding the traces of its gold mining past, and slowly replacing the burnt trees and scorched hillsides with new growth and green foliage. The sounds are minimal, but majestic. The wilderness can be a welcoming place, if you open your eyes, calm your mind, and respect the limits of man in a place that is not his alone to possess. The plants and animals can have Welcome Creek as a sanctuary. I'll play the role as guest, any day.

This is our go-to place for hiking. Known simply as "The Rattlesnake" to locals, here you can find…read morea variety of hiking trails for people of all ages. This area is gorgeous and full of natural beauty. Regardless of which hiking trail you decide to explore, you will be taken back by the beautiful Montana scenery. My family and I have been coming here for 13 years now, and it still remains our favorite spot to soak up some nature. If you are just traveling through the area and came to this review, I promise you won't be disappointed. Here's a little secret: during huckleberry season, you will find there are plenty of huckleberry bushes scattered throughout the different trails. I would suggest grabbing a handful to snack on while you are hiking. If you aren't sure what they look like, Google "huckleberry bushes." The second you taste the sweetness of one, you will know. Be sure to bring some water with you if this is your first time. Also, don't forget to take lots of pictures!

Wonderful hiking area with abundant wildlife! Fortunately we did not come across any bears!read more

Spring hiking in the Northern Rockies is an adventure. Even a relatively mild trek to a popular…read morewaterfall that in summer would be a simple matter is considerably more interesting. That is why it's worth the extra effort, because places change with the seasons. And the more special that place is, the more dramatic the changes. I've never been to Morrell Falls, a well-known day trip outside of Seeley Lake, during tourist season. I imagine that it's fun, but you'll share the trail with others. In early May, when snow alternates with bright sun and spring meltwater causes the falls to roar and gush down from the heights, you'll find only a few hardy souls out and about. The trailhead was not accessible yet, as snow banks covered parts of the road still, so I parked and walked about a mile in. From there, it was 2.5 additional miles through a mix of snow and dirt to the falls. The trail is easy to follow. Even the short 1/4 mile ascent to the upper falls was relatively straightforward. The roar of falling water makes a fantastic motivator to see the upper section, where the plunging cascade pools into a small basin before continuing the journey down to the lower portion, which is all most visitors usually see. Are the upper and lower falls worth it? They aren't easy to describe in words without diminishing their magnetic appeal. We all get this: falling water is astonishing each time you see it. And at Morrell, you can't take your eyes away, and you wish that time would just stand still so that you can savor it all. It's such a pristine and private place that there is nothing whatsoever to improve. It's simply perfect. Over a course of 200 feet, Morrell Creek drops down from its headwaters high above in the Swan Range and spreads out into a crystal clear flow of fresh, cold, shallow water. It passes through a tight rocky squeeze to get there, creating impressive torrents of falling water. No matter how many you see, each waterfall is special. Morrell is definitely no different. Even though this hike is popular (in summer), it's still not exactly easy to access. You need to drive miles on forest service roads and head deep into thick pine forest before the falls appear. Plodding through wet snow to reach them may not be your idea of a good Cinco de Mayo celebration (which is when I visited). But for me, it was a fiesta of sights and sounds that will resonate for many months to come. Morrell joins my mental scrapbook of the world's many wonderful waterfalls. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning, indeed.

Perfect day hike. Around 7 Miles round trip of mostly flat or slight grades to impressive water…read morefalls and alpine ponds. Fire damage evident but should show quick regrowth. Great for kids.

I LOVE the M trails in Montana! I've never seen anything like it in other states but they're so…read morecute and always great little hikes. I live in Bozeman so I was very excited to compare M trails. The parking here was a little stressful as there are only 3 visitor spots and the rest you need a campus tag. It's nice for the students that it's so close by (that's not the case in Bozeman) but hard if you're not a student. There is only one way up to the M while there are several ways up to the Bozeman one. I loved the Strava map that showed all the crazy looking switch backs but in reality it was an easy hike with amazing views. The wildflowers were so vibrant and I loved that you can touch and sit on the M. The bathrooms are also fantastic! The hike is 1.8 miles with a little more than 500ft elevation so it's very fun and doable for most people.

It's a nice uphill work out! Much shorter than I thought but overall a fun hike. It was smoky when…read morewe stopped by here so I know the view is so much better when cleared

It's a moderate 4.5 miles in and out trail. Make sure you have a 4WD since the road to the…read moretrailhead is unpaved and narrow. Also bring bug repellant! I thought my bug days are over when I left Florida but the horse flies were huge and they bit me through my leggings.

There are some places I know that I would prefer to keep secret. And then there are those that are…read moresimply too beautiful not to share with others. Knowing the difference between these two types of places is important. The Bear Creek overlook, nestled in a slightly hidden but basically very accessible location, is definitely a "share with others" kind of place: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bear-creek-overlook-victor?select=UjA3dqSObaa9wFLG3-emJA#UjA3dqSObaa9wFLG3-emJA There is a trail there, for one. And it's fairly short, for another. And the payoff is immense. As Bitterroot Mountain guidebook authors have pointed out, it's like a summit-view without the summit effort: a sweeping panorama of granite, larch, and pine and thousands upon thousands of feet of vertical nothingness a hop, skip, and a jump away. Well, really only a hop would do it if you get close enough to the overlook's brink. But that's kind of the point: you don't need to be a daredevil or a hiking fanatic to get here. No crampons or climbing ropes needed. Even a backpack would be optional. It's like Yosemite without the crowds. Note: the drive to the trailhead is on a dirt forest service road and is a little rutted but you don't need 4x4 or high clearance to get here. It snows out by November and melts only in June, but in those months in-between, the overlook is pure Montana gold, and that's worth sharing with others.

What a fun park! I definitely recommend whether you're local, or just passing through.read more

The folks living near this 42 acre park are lucky. A oasis in Missoula with lots of trees and a…read morecreek called the Rattlesnake Creek running through it. When I was there it seemed that many locals had walked to the park with their dogs. They are supposed keep their dogs on a lease per local ordinance though three people were letting the dogs run around of the lease. This is a problem especially when the dogs are not well trained and jump up on strangers. I was not to happy about a wet dog jumping on me. There is a small free parking area near Spruce Street with boards put up by the local Audubon Society to educate visitors to what type of birds like the park. Most of the park was donated by The Greenough Family in 1902.

My husband went to high school in Missoula and we were back for his reunion so we decided to take a…read moremoment and do this hike. It's not that far out of town from Missoula and has a decent size parking lot. There's also a few trails that you can take one being the Canyon Creek Trail, and the other being the Blodgett Canyon. We went with Blodgett Canyon. This trail is approximately a 3 mile hike up to the top where it is spectacularly beautiful! The hike itself is not that difficult although there are a few steeper parts. The view along the way is spectacular, so we didn't hike very fast...once we got to the top we hung out for about half an hour just looking at all the amazing beauty surrounding us. We were also there on a day when it looked like someone had gotten engaged at the top as we found a trail of rose petals, and a heart of rose petals at the top. I say kudos to whichever guy planned this!!! It was so cute and such a beautiful backdrop for an engagement!

What a beautiful hike and way to spend some time enjoying nature!…read more For the overlook trail, you are mostly going up hill the whole time so be prepared for a bit of an incline. The trail has a lot of trees so a good portion of it is shaded, but parts are still in the sun. Depending on the time you come, this trail gets pretty busy so be prepared for that. There is a nice opening spot up top so you can hangout and enjoy the views. I recommend packing a lunch or little picnic to enjoy up there before heading back down.

Thank you Wayne and Gia,…read more Absolutely fantastic trip. Every detail was organized perfectly. Particularly enjoyed both the quality and quantity of food. Tremendous lasagna and then a pork tenderloin. Staff are amazing. Also the attitude of we're out in the wild let's do some fun stuff. Absolutely amazing. Thank you very much

We did the Clark Fork afternoon trip. Jack was our guide. We had a 7-year-old and a 10-year-old in…read moreour group. We all loved it. The photos were worth it, especially since the price was so cheap, but the experience was incredible. Jack was perfect! We loved this and would do it again!

The trailhead is located 3.1 miles up Pattee Canyon Road. The parking area is on the left and is…read morewell marked by a brown sign on the right hand side of the road. There is ample parking and a restroom at the trailhead, but no water source. Here are the stats: Distance: 6.5-7 miles r/t depending on which route you take for the final ascent up to Mt. Sentinel Elevation gain: ~1,500 feet Intensity: Mostly easy-moderate, with the last half mile being more strenuous Trail: Fire access road for most of the trip, well maintained, rocky in spots Three miles into the hike you will reach a point where the crazy canyon trail and the Hellgate canyon trail meet. At this point, you can either take the easier path to the right, which ascends via switchbacks, or you can continue straight up the road in front of you. The later is very strenuous, and a bit rocky, so I only recommend it if you are prepared for the challenge. At the top you will find a 360 degree view of Missoula, the Rattlesnake Wilderness, Pattee Canyon, Lolo Peak and East Missoula. Even though the trail gets a fair amount of traffic, you will usually find you have the top to yourself, something you never find when hiking in California.

This is a small park right by the hotel that I stayed at. I stopped here a few times on my trip to…read moresome steps in and also enjoy the spectacular views. There is a nice trail that goes through the park if you want to get a real walk/run in. My favorite part of the trip was one evening when I sat on the embankment and enjoyed some quiet time looking at the river and taking in the views of the mountains.