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.

To Yelpers!!!!! Do not miss out! BRO is clearly the bomb and remains our go-to crew for all…read morethings fly fishing in Montana. The whole crew continues to amaze us with service, value and the quality of the educational experience that they provide. Consistency is key and they just keep getting better. Terri and John have this whole program DIALED IN and you won't be disappointed. Book it early folks. The trout are waiting! Thanks to Phil, John and Kurt for 2 great days and of course Noelle for organizing EVERYTHING for us! Hey yall. Go Getchasumma that BRO!

My husband and I fished two days with Chad, our guide, for the second year. He helped me with some…read moreimprovements to my casting and I was able to catch a 19" brown. Chad has a lot of stories and knows the rivers and area very well. Never been disappointed.

Nice small but quiet campground. Clear nice water. Small swimming area and a decent area to launch…read morea boat. People riding tubes in 44 degree and rainy weather!!! They seemed happy!!

The lake provides killer sunsets and sunrises. The clouds and sky are so vibrant, and lively…read more It is worth it just to kick it, picnic, bbq and stay on land. The weather in summer is the best! Hours are funky. Basically closed during winter and limites hours at other times due to flooding risks and all that good stuff. Salmon Lake is ideal for boating, camping during summer and lounging around. Im not sure about swimming in the lake. Kinda sketchy depending on boats and human pollution. Night time is surreal on clear nights. The night sky illuminates all the stardust in their pure glory. The colors are different than what we cali scumbags are accustomed to seeing based on their proximity to the north. Either way. Kick back and relax. Let nature sooth your soul.

Brooks Isaac terrific guide - you'll have a wonderful day fishing with him. He's extremely…read moreknowledgeable about the. Bitterroot and other rivers near Stevensville. You'll catch many fish within guy.

Brooks took me up to Rock Creek yesterday for a magnificent day. No joke- I caught 25 fish and saw…read morea moose. Brooks taught me to fish a few years ago when my dad starting bringing me on his fly fishing trips. Now I come up to Montana to fish with Brooks a couple times per year. Guides everywhere tell me Brooks is the best. He grew up on the rivers in Montana and knows every nook and cranny of the Bitterroot, Clark Fork, Blackfoot, Missouri, and the ever so special Rock Creek. I know that when I'm out with Brooks, if the fish are biting, I'll get as many as the Montana regulars or like yesterday, 25. On my very first trip out, on a cold February day, I caught 7 on the Clark Fork. Brooks has also had me catching a couple trout during snow storm on the Missouri. If you know anything about trout, those are pretty excellent numbers on cold Montana days. And if I'm really lucky (and if you are really lucky), Brooks will cook up an elk burger for lunch. Brooks works with some pretty amazing other guides as well. As an outfitter, he doesn't mess around with guides who don't know rivers or trout, aren't safe, or jerks.

Absolutely the best views in the refuge. Plenty of wild life and stunning views of the valley,…read moremountains, and the beautiful Bitteroot River. Nice fall walk in the refuge.

This is a great place to see some nature. They have a few different trail options including a paved…read moreloop near the visitor center. You can take one of the additional walking paths to make for a longer walk which is really beautiful. There were lots of birds to see near the water. Staff in the visitor center were friendly and knowledgeable and they had a large display of animals that you might see in the park. Definitely worth a few hours of your time when you're in the Stevensville area.

Great group of people and a cool little fly shop. Our two guides put us on fish all day long even…read morewith low flows! Would definitely use them again.

Casual. Accommodating. (I use the shop for fly tying…read morematerials. If you run into George K., he's a wealth of knowledge and fun to talk to.)

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

The Cabins at Rock Creek are the perfect "off the beaten path" getaway for outdoor enthusiasts with…read moreaccess to 9,000+ acres & 9 miles of frontage to some of the best blue ribbon fly fishing in Montana and North America.

What a lovely place. We came here both to hike and to hang out at the beach on a warm spring day…read more The beach near the parking area is pretty gravelly, and the lake was still a bit cold for the likes of us, so we stuck to hiking. We took Trail #502 along the north shore, and were richly rewarded with views, waterfalls and wildlife. I would come here again in a heartbeat. Como Lake is tucked in along the eastern edge of the Bitterroot Range. Snow capped mountains form much of the horizon, and the lake is a lovely turquoise blue. Ponderosa pines seem to be the dominant tree cover, and there are many different kinds of rock formations, particularly scree slopes and some gorgeous bedrock formations close to the water. Moss, ferns and lichens are everywhere, and we were here just as the wildflowers were starting to bloom. There was also lots of wildlife--we saw ospreys, woodpeckers, wild turkeys, jays, garter snakes, squirrels and chipmunks, and I would guess there are other, bigger animals around here if you are lucky. The trail is pretty easy and there is basically no elevation change. Lots of excellent vistas, meadows, and cool spots to look at how the area was affected by wildfires several decades ago. Hike all the way to the junction with Trail #580 to see a great little waterfall, probably about 3.5 miles or so from the trailhead. There are primitive facilities at the trailhead and at the beach, and also a boat launch. It wasn't crowded at all and everyone we met was super nice. Lots of cute dogs too.

it was very pretty and I enjoyed the view. I however did not have any Perry Como music with me. lol…read more took some nice photos