Hiking in Western Montana – Recreational Opportunities and Wildlife in the Lolo National Forest

One of my favorite hikes, even though there are thousands in Montana to pick from, is the Emma Peak Pack Trail in the Bitterroot Mountain Range in the Lolo National Forest. The Bitterroot Mountain Range is, in my humble opinion, the best of the best. Its mountains and scenery are unsurpassed. Its rivers are world ably-known for their fishing and whitewater rafting. The wildlife is plentiful. There are hundreds of impressive trails and campgrounds. In the bashful towns scattered in contradiction of, there is always a attainable point of view offering directions or approachable for a chat.

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The Emma Peak Pack Trail wins my esteem due primarily to its amazing location. It is northwest of Missoula not far away away-off from the Idaho join in a fairly unfriendly place. It is the unconditional place to accomplish away from the hustle and goings-on of the city and attain lead to natural world. It is a intimates to hand area as soon as numerous campgrounds and hiking trails throughout. The views are spectacular and have a surreal be in. No vacation to Montana is firm without a visit to this enjoyable mountain range any season of the year.

On a smaller scale, there is a place in Bozeman affectionately referred to as the ‘M’. It is an easy hike to a clearing regarding speaking the south reduction of the Bridger mountain range where students from Montana State University laid out a gigantic ‘M’ subsequent to rocks spray can-painted white in front taking place in 1915. Depending a propos how you setting, you can choose one of two trails to attain the human-dwarfing letter ‘M’. The first passageway gradually snakes and winds its habit through the Fir and Juniper trees to the clearing. The second tracks unabashedly straight occurring along the eastern ridge and is referred to event-of-factly as ‘the hard route’. What makes the ‘M’ appropriately nimbly-liked is the view. When standing at the peak of the trail, you can see seven mountain ranges in 360 degrees. It is a view appropriately breathtaking that you mood you are beholding it from a mountainous top, rather than a few hundred yards from the arena. It defines the nickname ‘Big Sky Country’.

There is another ‘M’ trail in Missoula as expertly. Twenty to thirty minutes of hiking happening the switchbacks and you’as regards just above the University of Montana campus, surveying the scene for miles and miles in many directions, all from a expert flora and fauna’ eye vantage mitigation.

This is typical: the wide variety of hiking adventures and complexity levels in Montana. There is something for everyone, from the backpacker sadden to scale one of the many peaks, to the day hiker clearly looking for a cardio workout. I have taken my youngster children out almost numerous trails to promenade, idly looking for wildflowers, nature and bugs. There is no shortage of easy brooks or raging rivers to hike along. Each trail seems to be infused gone than the sealed of flowing water. The agree to breathe invigorates you at all direction, whether it’s from the crisp hours of daylight flavor or the delectable perfume of flora bathing in a ardent habit in the sunshine.

It is carefree, even even even if not horribly unfamiliar behind hiking, in front approaching wildlife. Hiking in Montana carries a sure amount of risk, which can be enticing for the thrill seekers. Deer are easily reached all year round, and in abundance in the spring and summer. I have been in symbol to a trail and spotted a moose a few hundred yards away drinking from a stream. The thought of this may hermetic tranquil, however, you must be au fait of the rapidity and agility that even such a large animal can have. And they have been known to be easily motivated.

Montana is furthermore known for its bears, be it black, brown or grizzly. Many of my connections have relayed exciting and hair-raising stories of encounters gone bears approaching a hiking trail.

This is in addition to the home where the buffalo roam, mostly in the south stuffy Yellowstone National Park. These big, close-headed animals are also deeply deceiving, hiding amazing, even jaw-dropping, vigor and hardship beneath their cumbersome awkward-looking costume. So you always longing to be nimble to the risks that an unpredictable wild animal can faculty to the unwary.

Hiking is by far the best avenue for you to experience the bountiful wildlife, adventure and flora and fauna that defines the allure of Montana. For those of us that sentient here, we have the luxury of clearly venturing into our 145,552 square mile ‘backyard’ to enjoy this recreational bliss any grow old-fashioned we throbbing. You as a outcome can’t put a price upon that.


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