tobacco root mountains

A few last summer photos from two Jeep trips up Dry Boulder Creek (out of Twin Bridges, MT), the first early August and the second a couple weeks later. The destination was Upper and Lower Boulder Lakes. There was a lot of smoke for the first trip and quite a bit less for the second. Southwest...

Another Jeep camping trip from last year. This one was up FS 1221 to South Meadow Creek Lake for overnight and then FS 9649 past the Missouri-McKee mine workings and out on top near the summit of South Baldy Mountain. Camp at South Meadow Lake. South Meadow Creek Lake. Tram tower that...

My wife and I bought a 2016 RZR 900 EPS Trail several years back to use on BLM/FS 50" designated trails. It got severely baptized shortly after purchase and I spent most of the following winter modifying it into something that actually works. Fast forward to the present with my wife quickly...

August 14-15, 2021 It had been over a month since my last trip, so I was getting the itch to get out backpacking again. I also wanted to attempt to stay in shape for two other trips planned for a bit later. So my dog Penny and I went for a quick Saturday-Sunday overnighter to the Hollow Top...

My wife and I did this trip a couple weeks back-strictly Jeep camping and day hikes as it is getting too cold for the elderly to backpack all the cold weather gear. The first day, after driving over to Sheridan, MT from Bozeman, we parked the JK about a half mile above Leiterville on Wisconsin...

My wife and I did this short backpack trip a couple weeks back and although it didn't end up exactly as planned, anytime in the sticks is good time. The goal was Thompson Reservoir on the South Fork and we accessed it via Mill Creek Road (FS 111) and FS Trail 6015. FS 6015 from Upper Branham...

I guess that I've re-discovered the Tobacco Roots. I've been to the popular Lost Cabin and Louise Lakes a few times, but not for five years or so. From my home in Helena, a trip up the South Fork of the Boulder River is at least 80 miles. I decided to spend a few days before summer's end...

A few photos from the past Wednesday and Thursday. We day hiked this on the 4th of July, but a much better experience with an over-nighter. For location info, check some of my previous North Meadow Creek thrreads. My wife and the first use of the new tent (MSR Mutha Hubba NX). It was a good...

A few photos from a 2 nighter trip above Pony, MT a few weeks back. FS Trail 6301 to Hollow Top Lake. About 4.5 miles. Hollow Top Lake. The goal was Skytop Lake, the third in the chain, with Deep Lake in the middle. About another mile from Hollow Top Lake to Skytop. Deep Lake...

Another mixed use trip with a good shot of off-roading plus a couple of day hikes-both on and off trail. Location is our annual 4th of July pilgrimage to North Meadow Creek in the Tobacco Root Mountains in Madison County, MT. Trail numbers and access can be found in some of my previous North...

This was another over-nighter my wife and I did last weekend. The destination was Oval and Triangle Lakes that sit in a bowl north of Hill Reservoir and also Bow Basin to the east of the reservoir on one of the branches of the North Fork of Indian Creek. We managed a 5:30 am exit from our...

Just a few photos from our day hike yesterday to Bell Lake. It is a modest 6 mile round trip with about 2,000' of elevation gain. While back in the late 60's and early 70's there was a Jeep trail all the way to Bell Lake and I did have my CJ5 up to the lake, I must profess a bit of guilt...

Another one night adventure, this one up Mill Creek out of Sheridan, MT that combined a little (very little in this case) Jeeping with some backpacking. We left our place about 10:00 am Saturday morning and made it to the end of the Jeep trail up Quartz Creek by lunch. The plan was to backpack...

My wife and I took advantage of a little blue sky to make an approximately 5 hour trip to the Tobacco Roots, mainly to check snow levels. As usual, we hit Norris Road (MT 84) west from Bozeman, up 7 or 8 miles along the Madison River, to Norris. Then up Hot Springs Creek on Swayback Road (also...

We did this day trip several years back on a late, not too nice, October day. Access here is usually from Harrison, MT on US 287. Thence on MT 283 to Pony, MT. Pony is an old mining town and although a shell of its former self, it has never made ghost town status in my definition of that...

While this trip covered some of the same ground as my previous North Meadow Creek TR (http://backcountrypost.com/forum/threads/tobacco-root-north-meadow-creek-trip.3702/), we also visited the McKelvey Lakes side. As with most trips we do here, access was via Swayback Road, up Hot Springs Creek...

Mill Creek actually runs through the town of Sheridan, MT on its journey to the Ruby River southwest of town. Access to the upper drainage is via Mill Creek Road which becomes FS Road 111 about 4.5 miles to the east. It proceeds northeast approximately 6 miles to a developed campground at...

Our most recent foray into this area was the second week of July. Like a lot of our trips, this one included some off-road Jeeping, backpacking, and hiking. Access to this area is via Sheridan, Montana on US 287. Wisconsin Creek Road (FS 157 at forest boundary) exits US 287 about 3 miles west...

Access to this area is via Sheridan, Montana on US 287. Wisconsin Creek Road (FS 157 at forest boundary) exits US 287 about 3 miles west of Sheridan or you can take a short cut directly from town if approaching from the east. The Noble Fork Road (FS 8300) splits from FS 157 approximately 6...

My wife and I met a couple from BC for a couple of days of seat time in our "antique" Jeeps. Day 2 was a Roots trip (day 1 was Bridger Range). We left our place and headed for North meadow Creek via the Revenue flats. At Sterling on Swayback Road. Sterling remains a mystery to me. I have...