Montana: Beartooth Hiking for Women

Note: since most of our hikes are "out and backs" it is easy to shorten or lengthen the distances of the main routes noted below. 

DAY 1

We meet in Billings this morning, either at the airport or at our designated hotel, and shuttle directly to Red Lodge, about an hour away. Once we've arrived, we'll drop off our luggage at the hotel, discuss our plans for the week and the trails, and pack a trail lunch to take with us.  After a short shuttle to the trailhead, we'll begin our introductory hike, a gentle and gradual uphill along the beautiful rushing waters of the Lake Fork of Rock Creek, where we commonly see moose. Squeezed between Hellroaring and Silver Creek plateaus, the trail offers access to a lake-filled mountain valley, but since this is our first day of hiking, we will turn around at Broadwater Lake (actually just a widening of the river) after stopping at our favorite place on the trail - Snack Rock. We'll then return to our hotel to check in before departing for dinner at our friends' fun, casual tapas restaurant downtown.

Main Hiking Route: 7 miles - with up to 800 feet of elevation gain.

DAY 2

This morning we shuttle 90 minutes to our trailhead in the West Rosebud Valley. Although it is only a few miles as the crow flies, we have to drive around the mountain range along the sky-high ranch country of the Beartooth Front to get to one of the most stunning locations in the area: Mystic Lake, a large lake made even larger by a hydroelectric dam. Because most of the hike is in a protected wilderness area, the power company that controls the dam has had very little impact to the lake itself and it is a nice example of man's progress melding with nature. A steady climb of three miles along West Rosebud Creek and through Custer National Forest will take us past a plethora of huckleberry bushes, through rock fields and stands of Lodgepole Pines and Aspens, to the edge of the lake.  Before reaching the lakeshore, make sure to pause at the overlook to get a glimpse of Montana's uniquely shaped tallest mountain, Granite Peak. You can stop here to enjoy lunch, or continue another 2.7 miles around the lakeshore to Huckleberry Creek before turning around and heading back to the trailhead. We'll stop at Red Lodge Ales on our way home before cleaning up at the hotel for dinner in town at a local eatery.

Main Hiking Route: 6 miles round trip to the edge of the lake with 1,200 feet elevation gain (plus an opportunity for an easy extension around the lakeshore trail of almost 6 additional miles).

DAY 3

Today we take to the trail for one of our favorite hikes: Glacier Lake, a beautiful alpine lake that not only is the source of the beautiful Rock Creek, but also the source of Red Lodge's drinking water, judged by some as among the best in the country. The drive to the trailhead is bumpy (which keeps out many would-be hikers) and although the hike is only two miles each way, it has some steep sections. The reward is a stunning crystal clear lake surrounded by steep mountains.  We recommend having your lunch on the rocks along shore and then relaxing there for a good long while, but if you want more hiking you can take in a couple more nearby lakes (Little Glacier and Emerald) before descending to the trailhead and back to Red Lodge. We'll get back to town in the afternoon, and set you free to explore town on your own this evening.  

Main Hiking Route: 4 miles with 1,022 feet of elevation gain (plus an opportunity for extending another two miles of nearly flat hiking).

DAY 4

Today is a big day!  We depart Red Lodge in the morning to drive up the famous Beartooth Pass, considered one of the most beautiful drives in the country. Up, up, up we go - to almost 11,000 feet - keeping our eyes open to try and spot the mountain goats that are commonly seen in this beautiful high-altitude tundra. We'll get out for pictures at the top of the pass before getting out to hike from Gardner Lake to Hauser Lake, the only point-to-point hike of the trip. After a short steep decline, the rest of the hike is relatively flat with beautiful scenic views in every direction. Tonight, we will have a special farewell dinner!  

Main Hiking Route: 6 miles.

DAY 5

On our last morning together, we will have an easy hike at one of the town’s most popular trails - Silver Run, which is used all year long as a hiking, snowshoeing and skiing trail. There are four interlocking loops with one side of the loop system that borders the West Fork of Rock Creek much of the way. Much of the trail is in the shade and it is common to see bear and moose here. You'll have time to shower before checking out of the hotel. We'll let you loose on Red Lodge one last time to have lunch on your own before shuttling everyone back to Billings, where you can catch your flight home or extend your stay.

Main Route: up to 5 miles.