SUGGESTED BITTERROOT HIKES If you are looking for beautiful scenery without having to travel too far, you have come to the right place. Listed here are some suggestions for a great day hike. This list of hikes was provided by the Bitterroot National Forest Service.
LAKE COMO LOOP
7.5 miles
CAMAS LAKE
5.4 miles
FULL LOOP EASY On Hwy 93, twelve miles south of Hamilton, turn right on Lake Como Rd. Drive approximately three miles and turn right on FS Road 5623. Continue to the Upper Como campground where the trailhead begins. Stock use is restricted on the North trail. There is access across the dam making this hike a complete loop around the lake. This loop is also a suggested mountain bike trail. North trail ends at the bridge/falls - this is the point of access to the Rock Creek trail.
OUT & BACK EASY - 1,230 FEET ELEVATION GAIN Approximately 9.3 miles south of Hamilton on US Hwy 93, turn right (west) on Lost Horse Road #429, follow this road for 2.3 miles. Turn north on Road #496 signed for Camas Creek and travel 6.1 miles to the signed trailhead. Trail ends at Camas Lake. The first half mile is an old logging road. Beginner mountain biking trail for the first 2 miles. The trail crosses two foot log bridges. This day hike leads to a mountain lake.
BAILEY LAKE
COYOTE COULEE
2 miles
8.8 miles
EASY - 640 FEET ELEVATION GAIN OUT & BACK Take US Hwy 93 to its marked junction with Lost Horse Road, approximately 9 miles south of Hamilton. Turn west and follow this winding mountain road though the countryside and into the canyon beyond. This road features numerous turnouts and reaches the Lost Horse Guard Station in 17.7 miles. Here the road forks; veer left to locate the signed Bailey Lake Trailhead after another .2 mile. This hike takes you to a shallow mountain lake that lies within 45 minutes of the roadside trailhead.
MODERATE - 1,490 FEET ELEVATION GAIN OUT & BACK Take US Hwy 93 to Lost Horse Road approximately 9 miles south of Hamilton. FOllow the paved road west for 2.3 miles and veer right onto Forest Road #496. Continue .2 miles to the trailhead for Coyote Coulee. The trail consists largely of the stitched together segments of old orchard roads and spur railway grades. The entire route offers a varied course with lots of ups and downs. The trail was developed in cooperation with the Bitterroot Backcountry Horsemen, so you should see lots of equestrians on the trail.
BLODGETT OVERLOOK
BEAR CREEK OVERLOOK 2.8 miles
3.0 miles
OUT & BACK EASY - 540 FEET ELEVATION GAIN Turn west on Main St. in Hamilton off Hwy 93 (at second stop light). Continue as Main St. becomes West Bridge Rd. (keep to the right). At the end of West Bridge Rd. turn left on Blodgett Camp Rd. and follow the signs to the Canyon Creek Trailhead. This is a combined trailhead for both BLodgett Overlook and Canyon Creek trails. Both share the same trail for the first 20 yards after which the Blodgett Overlook trail takes off to the right. There are resting spots and benches along the way. 31
OUT & BACK MODERATE - 1,160 FEET ELEVATION GAIN From Hwy 93, turn west onto Bear Creek Road and drive 2.3 miles. Turn right onto Red Crow Road and drive 2 miles. Turn left at the junction 2.25 miles from the end of the pavement onto Forest Road #1325. This turn is not always marked, so pay close attention as you drive. Drive the last 3.6 miles to the trailhead at a Forest Service gate. It takes less than an hour to reach Bear Creek Overlook. There is no other trail quite equal to the visual impact of this trail.
