Month: May 2020

The Double Arrow Lookout offers guests a chance to see the Seeley valley and the adjacent Swan Mountains from a different and unique vantage point, high above the hillside. The tower contains a few modern amenities, including electricity, but allows guests to personalize their visits with their own supplies. A variety of recreational opportunities exist in the surrounding mountains, but the view is usually what attracts people to the tower.

The lookout is a 14-by-14 structure atop a 20 foot tower. It was built in 1933 and staffed by Forest Service employees until the mid-80s, when it was opened to the public for recreation purposes. The tower is now listed on the National Historic Lookout Register.

General Information:

Double Arrow has an exterior stairway leading to a platform with a covered walkway all the way around the window-encased living quarters. The facility has electric lights, heat, a cook stove and a small refrigerator. An outdoor vault toilet is a short distance from the tower.

Two single beds and two portable cots are provided, able to sleep up to four people. Camping and sleeping are not allowed in the area around and below the lookout. Cell phone service is available in the area.

Guests must furnish everything they need in the way of bedding, cooking and eating equipment and cleaning supplies. Guests will also need to bring their own food, towels, soap, garbage bags and toilet paper, among other supplies deemed necessary. The cabin will need to be cleaned before leaving.

Accessibilty:

The lookout can be accessed by vehicle, however, the steep dirt and gravel road requires high-clearance vehicles. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety.

Directions:

In the town of Seeley Lake, turn west on Riverview Drive halfway between MM 13 & 14. Drive straight on the paved road for 0.6 mile, where you will cross over the Clearwater River. Continue on the same road another 0.6 mile where the road will split, stay straight (do not go right). The road will narrow, become more rocky and rough. Proceed almost 1 mile where you will make a right turn. After another 0.2 mile, make another right turn. Go another 0.2 mile and turn right again on Forest Road 696. Continue 1 mile where you will come to the lookout gate. Proceed through the gate (using the gate combination number) and in 0.1 mile you will be at the lookout.

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 47° 9′ 52.7400″ N

Longitude 113° 31′ 52.3200″ W

This historic tree nursery, in its beautiful setting, has many features to offer including a visitor center, arboretum, memorial grounds, and cabins to rent.

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 47° 23′ 5.7336″ N

Longitude 115° 23′ 45.5568″ W

This is an open, sunny site along a broad, meandering stream. Streamside fishing opportunities available. Scenic.

Nearby Activities

• Camping

Directions

From the town of Thompson Falls, travel 5 miles east on state highway 200. Turn left (north) onto the paved Thompson River Road (do not take the graveled road). Travel 15 miles north on the Thompson River Road. Turn left (west) on Fishtrap Creek Road #516 for 10 miles. Turn left (south) on the West Fork Fishtrap Creek Road. Campground is on the right after 0.1 mile.

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 47° 48′ 59.7600″ N

Longitude 115° 8′ 57.1920″ W

This large, open picnic area is a great place to spend time with the family or throw a family reunion. Located near the Historic Forest Service Remount Depot and Visitor center, it’s a great place to walk the self-guided nature trail, or just sit and relax under the shade of a large ponderosa pine tree after your tour at the ranger station.

Directions

From Interstate 90, take exit #82 at Ninemile. Then, travel west on MT 10 to the Remount Road. Turn north and continue 1 mile past the Ninemile Ranger Station.

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 47° 4′ 42.2040″ N

Longitude 114° 23′ 54.5280″ W

Located in the Rock Creek drainage, this campground is adjacent to Rock Creek, situated amongst ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir trees. This area is known for its blue ribbon trout stream and rugged canyon environment.

Nearby Activities

• Camping

Directions

20 miles east of Missoula on Interstate 90, take Rock Creek exit #126 onto Rock Creek road. Drive south for 23 miles along Rock Creek Road #102. Trailers, motorhomes and tow vehicles not recommended due to the narrow and rough road.

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 46° 28′ 6.4560″ N

Longitude 113° 46′ 38.6760″ W

Babcock Mountain and the Spring Creek trailhead in Rock Creek can be excellent places to see bighorn sheep. They use the grassy hillsides for foarging and the steep cliffs in the area for protection, especially during lambing season . The Spring Creek Trail (#91) is closed annually from April 15th through June 7th to protect the sheep during lambing season.  An interpretive sign at the trailhead provides information on bighorn sheep habitat.

Directions

20 miles east of Missoula on Interstate 90, take Rock Creek exit #126 onto Rock Creek road. Drive 5 miles south, turn east (left) at wildlife viewing area.

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 46° 39′ 5.0040″ N

Longitude 113° 38′ 40.0200″ W

Established by Congress in 1980, the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness is located on the Missoula Ranger District, northwest of Missoula and southwest of Seeley Lake, Montana. This area is an iconic recreation destination for those visiting Missoula.

The National Recreation Area

The National Recreation Area (NRA) lies south and adjacent to the wilderness and receives heavy recreation use, particularly in the South Zone, within about three miles of the main trailhead. It is a popular area for hiking, biking, trail running and horseback riding.

• Rattlesnake National Recreation Area Brochure (pdf)
• Download a map of NRA trails (pdf).

The Rattlesnake Wilderness

The Rattlesnake Mountains, located four miles north of Missoula, Montana, and adjacent to the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area, form a rugged and scenic vista for the Missoula Valley. This Wilderness is characterized by scenic lakes, forested ridges, open cliff-banded slopes, and mountain peaks. Elevations in the Wilderness range from 4,200 feet at the southern boundary to 8,620 feet at McLeod Peak.

Visit Wilderness Connect for more information about the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area.

Directions

From Interstate 90 in Missoula, take the Van Buren Street exit #105 and head north. Van Buren Street will turn into Rattlesnake Drive. Stay on Rattlesnake Drive for approximately 3 miles until you reach the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area entrance.

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 46° 57′ 59.1084″ N

Longitude 113° 52′ 18.3828″ W

The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness is the third largest wilderness in the lower 48 states, surpassed in size only by California’s Death Valley Wilderness and Idaho’s Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness (RONR). Less than one-fifth of the area lies in Montana (see Idaho, Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness).

Only the 600-foot-wide Nez Perce Trail (The Magruder Corridor), an unimproved dirt road, separates the Selway-Bitterroot from the Frank Church-RONR. This Wilderness straddles both sides of the Bitterroot Mountain Range, which stands along the Montana-Idaho border and includes the Wild and Scenic Selway River, all of which flows through Idaho.

A small portion of this wilderness is within the Lolo National Forest. Montana access is mostly through the Bitterroot National Forest.

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 46° 38′ 6.2952″ N

Longitude 114° 17′ 39.0840″ W

On the western edge of the Lolo National Forest, this area has unique offerings such as the historic Savenac Tree Nursery and Visitor Center, access to the "Rail Trail"/Route of the Hiawatha where you can bike the path of a historic train route, a couple of lookout rentals with wonderful views, and trails to alpine lakes.

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 47° 17′ 41.2944″ N

Longitude 115° 11′ 19.5576″ W

This shady, forested campground is adjacent to Lolo Creek and Lee Creek. Lewis and Clark/ Nez Perce National Historic Trail is nearby. Winter recreation opportunities such as cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are available in the area.

Nearby Activities

• Camping
• Hiking

Directions

From Lolo, Montana drive 26 miles west on U.S. Highway 12.

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 46° 42′ 21.6756″ N

Longitude 114° 32′ 10.1472″ W