8 minute read
itterroot National Forest
from 2022 Vista
elcome to the Bitterroot National Forest
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Leave your stress behind! You will find this spectacular 1.6 million acre forest in southwest Montana and Idaho to be a priceless national heritage.
Half of the forest is dedicated to the largest expanse of continuous pristine wilderness in the lower 48 states -- the Selway Bitterroot, Frank Church River of No Return, and the Anaconda Pintler. Much of its beauty can be attributed to the heavily glaciated, rugged peaks of the Bitterroot Range. Drainages carved by glaciers form steep canyons that open into the valley floor.
The abundance of natural resources offers a wide range of opportunities for recreation, grazing, wildlife, fisheries, timber, and minerals. Come enjoy the magnificent mountains, the serenity of wilderness, the miracle of spring flowers, majestic big game, and the sounds of birds here in our land of multiple uses.
Visit the Bitterroot National Forest website: www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot and ‘Like Us’ on Facebook www.facebook.com/discoverbitterrootnf for further information.
Camp out and play in the mountains of Montana
Summer is a great time to visit the Bitterroot National Forest. There are 26 developed campgrounds in the Forest, hiking on more than 1,800 miles of trails, fishing for brook and rainbow trout in crystal-clear Alpine lakes, boating, biking, horseback riding and more. There are many species of wildlife including deer, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and moose, plus many varieties of smaller animals and birds. There are two easily accessible Recreation Areas on the forest, Bass Creek and Lake Como, which provide wide varieties of outdoor recreation opportunities in beautiful mountainous settings.
Bass Creek Recreation Area, located just north of Stevensville, lies adjacent to Bass Creek and is located at the base of the Bitterroot Mountains. Adventures visitors can pursue include camping, picnicking, horseback riding, nature trails, fire ecology trails, mountain biking, hiking, group camping, fishing, Wilderness access, and cross-county skiing in the winter time.
Lake Como Recreation Area also provides visitors with a wide array of outdoor recreation opportunities. Visitors can camp in one of the three campgrounds, rent a group site for family reunions or gatherings, take watercraft on the 900 acre lake, swim in the designated swim area, play at the sandy beach, or hike/bike/run/ ride horses on the lake trail. A pass is required during the summer months to help pay for operations and amenities the recreation area has to offer. For more information go to www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot or contact the Darby-Sula Ranger District at 406-821-3913.
Revel in spectacular hiking in the Bitterroot Mountains
The Bitterroot Mountains offer many choices for the avid hiker. For spectacular views of the massive cliffs and rock spires of Blodgett Canyon, hike along Blodgett Creek. For short hikes with scenic views, try the Bear Creek Overlook near Victor or Blodgett Overlook near Hamilton.
For an easy and scenic hike, try the first three miles of Bear Creek Trail with its pools, falls and natural waterslides. For grand views of the valley and rugged crags of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, hike four miles to the summit of St Mary’s peak west of Stevensville which has a fire lookout. For a challenging trail hike, try Trapper Peak, the Bitterroot’s highest at 10,157’.
For more information, visit the Bitterroot National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot for locations and descriptions of many hikes or visit any Forest Service office.
Local bookstores also carry excellent guidebooks.
Vista 2022 - Page 41 Visit historic forest ranger stations or “camp” at a rustic guard station
Did you know the Bitterroot Valley is home to the oldest surviving Forest Service Ranger Station? The historic Alta Ranger Station is located on the West Fork of the Bitterroot and was built in 1899. This one- room log cabin with a sod roof gives visitors a good feel for the rigors and hardships faced by the earliest rangers.
The Bitterroot National Forest offers visitors a unique recreational experience at one of its many rental cabins and lookouts. Get away with family or friends and enjoy an experience from yesteryear. A night spent in a Forest Service fire lookout or cabin can be a unique and memorable experience! There are three rental lookouts that provide stunning views of the surrounding Sapphire, Bitterroot, and Anaconda Pintler mountain ranges. Four rustic cabins offer a serene and relaxing getaway.
With the exception of a few cabins, do not expect the modern conveniences that we have become accustomed to. Two of the cabins that can be rented out are the East Fork Guard Station on the East Fork of the Bitterroot River near Sula and the Magruder Ranger’s
Bitterroot365.com is a comprehensive and user-friendly events site for the Bitterroot Valley community.
Events are free to post and free to navigate! Check it out!
Bitterroot365.com is hosted by the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce.
House on the Selway River in Idaho. These rustic, historic cabins offer easy access to fishing, hiking, nature viewing, and pure relaxation. Rental fees are used by the Forest Service to manage and maintain these historic facilities for the public to enjoy.
For more information on how to rent one of the lookouts or cabins, call 406-363-7100, or visit www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot or www. recreation.gov.
Bicycling on the National Forest
The Bitterroot National Forest offers mountain bikers miles of roads and trails on which to ride. There are wide, quiet roads for beginners to get acquainted with their bikes, and there are challenging, arduous trails that will test the advanced rider.
If you plan to strike out on your own to explore with your bike, it would be wise to buy a National Forest map (available at any Forest Service office). Please respect the rights of private landowners, and always ask permission before you ride on their land. Also be aware of the wilderness boundaries when you are riding on the trails. Bicycles are not allowed in the wilderness areas.
Remember to wear protective gear when riding your mountain bike; helmet, gloves and sturdy shoes. Also plan on taking food, water, sunscreen, and a basic tool kit on all of your outings. Always maintain control of your bicycle and be ready to stop. Watch for traffic on forest roads. Be aware of hikers and livestock along trails. As a courtesy, please step off your bicycle on the downhill side of the trail and allow livestock to pass. Some stock may be afraid of your bicycle, so stay in plain view and speak softly. Enjoy the beauty of the outdoors on your national forests. View the wildlife and the scenery. Keep in mind that the forests and meadows are fragile lands, so please practice low impact, tread lightly techniques.
The Bitterroot National Forest along with the Ravalli County Off Road User Association, is inviting the public to ride the ‘Darby Trails’ on the Darby/Sula Ranger District. The ATV trail system, which opened in 2018, is located east of Darby in the Sapphire Mountains and boasts nearly 50 miles of motorized routes on the forest open to motorcycle and ATV travel. The trails, which are part of the recent Darby Lumber Lands Watershed Improvement and Travel Management Project, include spectacular panoramic views of the Bitterroot Valley and Sapphire and Bitterroot Mountains.
They feature both 28-mile and 15-mile loop routes. All ATV’s must be 50 inches or under and machines should be clean and free of weed seed. The trail system utilizes formerly abandoned logging roads along with forest roads and newly constructed connector trails. The land, which was originally granted to the railroads around the turn of the century, was acquired by the Forest Service in 2005, and had extensive road systems built decades ago for logging. Unfortunately, many of the low standard roads and clearcutting had negative impacts on the local watersheds by chronically elevating sediment levels.
The Darby Lumber Lands project is helping improve watershed and stream health while also creating a sustainable motorized access system. The new routes were also designed to be suitable for all riders.
For more information and to see maps of the trails visit https:// go.usa.gov/xwWCR or www.ravallioffroad.org. Fire prevention chipmunk leads adventure on a new Agents of Discovery Mission
The franchise of Agents of Discovery missions hosted by the Nez Perce National Historic Trail (NPNHT) has grown to five missions.
Current missions-all in the Bitterroot Valley and developed last season, can be found at Travelers Rest State Park, Lolo; St. Mary’s Mission, Stevensville; River Park in Hamilton, and Lake Como in the Darby area. The new mission is located at the Bass Creek Nature Trail within the Bass Creek Recreation Area on the Stevensville Ranger District.
Agent Anna, Fire Prevention Chipmunk was specially designed for the Larry Creek Mission with the focus on Fire Ecology. Agents of Discovery is an augmented reality, geo- triggered app that gets you outside, active, and engaged in the world around you. With Agents of Discovery, you become a top-secret Agent, dedicated to solving the greatest mysteries of science, culture, technology, and nature. This app is free, and provides a great way for kids to explore and learn about our area.
To play Agents of Discovery Missions, download the FREE app from the App Store or Google Play and select the Bass Creek Mission. V
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