Hiking to Bear Creek Falls during a Montana Winter
January 15, 2021
Hiking
Not every spectacular hike requires hours or days of travel or many miles of hoofing it up a mountain. In fact, some of our favorite treks are just outside our front door in the Bitterroot Mountains. On this day, we hiked along Bear Creek to the eponymously named chasm that tumbles and rumbles a shade more than a mile and a half from the trailhead.
Getting There
From Missoula, drive 35 south Highway 93 and then, turn right onto Bear Creek Road (if it is called Bear Creek you must be on the right track). Follow the trailhead signage for roughly 6 miles to the Bear Creek trailhead parking lot.The Trail
- Distance – 4 miles
- Elevation Gain – 625 Feet
- Type – Out and Back
This trail is a cruise with moderate vertical gains and great footing. While crossing several boulder fields at the beginning, you can pikas bouncing around the stones. Strange to find the little lagomorphs (related to rabbits and hares) at such a low elevation. In fact, these particular little fluff-balls are the lowest elevation population that I know about in the Bitterroots. After 1.5 miles, the forest fades into a clearing with large, smooth rock faces and Bear Creek Falls roars below as it slowly carves its path through the rock.
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Hiking
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