Need Montana Suggestions

[XMP]

I'm headed to Montana in a couple of weeks. I've hiked and camped in the Glacier area and frequently in the Yellowstone and surrounding area. But I'd like to check out the mountainous region between the two parks. Does anyone have "don't miss" places to camp and hike in the national forests/wilderness areas of western Montana they can suggest?

Pics accompanying suggestions are certainly welcome too. TIA.

 

[XMP]

I'm still looking for some help on this. Anyone used any of the National Forests in western Montana?

 

[TDahlgren]

I lived in Browning for a couple years. There is so damn much between Glacier and Yellowstone it's hard to narrow it down.

Starting on the Blackfeet, it used to be that if you bought a fishing license you also paid for a land use permit - and you could pretty much camp wherever. Mirror lakes was pretty popular - just north of Heart Butte. There about a thousand other spots too, if your vehicle (and heart/lungs) can take it check out the road to Slide Lake way up by the Canadian border (lake's in Glacier NP but the road isn't). Ask around though - the fishing on the Res was fantastic (lunker trout) but I've heard that some of the lakes have crashed.

Leaving the Res head south on highway 89 then 289 to 434 down to where it runs back into 15 just above Helena - all fantastic front range country - you should be able to find someplace to pitch a tent and there is great wildlife viewing along the way. There is some great country just west of Choteau - The Blackleaf WMA and Gibson Reservoir (eastern end of the Sun River Game Preserve - aka Elk Nirvana) to name a couple.

Caveat: ALL of that is grizzly country - use proper bear country camping techniques and be prepared.

From Helena swing over to White Sulfer Springs and check out the Crazy Mountains.

If you don't mind going a bit out of the way try the Snowy Mountains just south of Lewistown.

 

[Troop]

I'm headed to Montana in a couple of weeks. I've hiked and camped in the Glacier area and frequently in the Yellowstone and surrounding area. But I'd like to check out the mountainous region between the two parks. Does anyone have "don't miss" places to camp and hike in the national forests/wilderness areas of western Montana they can suggest?

Pics accompanying suggestions are certainly welcome too. TIA.

Yes...."don't miss" packing your .454 Casull. (Growl)

 

[390beretta]

Try the diamond peak/index peak area. Just outside the Yellowstone boundry. The trailhead is near Cook City MT. About an 8 mile hike to a beautiful meadow and stream. Camp at 8000 ft. and watch Mountain sheep at 12000 ft from the door of your tent. Of course it takes 3 hrs to hike up to them. And by the way....troublesome grizzlies are trapped and relocated out of the park to this area.