Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 1 9 18 GRANDVIEW POINT BIG SNOWY MOUNTAINS PROPOSED WILDERNESS e Big Snowy Mountains are an isolated mountain range in Central Montana near Lewistown that includes a 98,000-acre proposed wilder- ness study area. e mountains are lush and have extensive forests includ- ing magnificent aspen groves at lower elevation, and a high 12-mile-long alpine-like plateau lying at 8,500-8,700 feet in the center of the range. e Snowies are located between Great Falls and Billings and frame the Judith Basin and Judith River. e Judith River was named by Cap- tain Lewis of Lewis and Clark for his sweetheart Julia. e Judith Basin is a "snow trap" that created lush grasslands for herds of bison and later large cattle ranches. Although there are many opportunities for longer hikes, the short Grandview Trail 403 trail climbs 3.5 miles steeply up a ridge to a spec- tacular view of Crystal Lake as well as the Judith Basin. If you have a bit more energy you can continue another 1.5 miles to West Peak, the high- est point in the range. On a clear day you can see 100 miles! To find the Grandview trailhead from Lewistown, go west on Hwy 87 to the Crystal Lake Road. Follow this gravel and paved road 22 miles to Crystal Lake and campground. Lewis and Clark NF, Judith Ranger District, 109 Central Ave, Stan- ford, Montana. TIMBERLINE LAKE ABSAROKA BEARTOOTH WILDERNESS e Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness lies immediately north of Yel- lowstone National Park and is one of the largest wilderness areas in the country at 937,000 acres. e heavily glaciated landscape contains Montana's highest summits, including 12,799-foot Granite Peak. One of the attractions of the wilderness are the more than a thousand lakes and ponds that dot the high plateaus. One of the more easily reached high alpine lakes is Timberline Lake which lies below majestic 12,547 Silver Run Peak, sixth highest in Montana. To find the trailhead which is just outside of Red Lodge, Montana drive 11 miles on the West Fork Road (Forest Road 71) to the parking area. Although the lake itself lies within the AB Wilderness, the 9-mile round trip hike starts out in a timbered corridor. At 3 miles or so you will reach a trail junction where you keep left for Timberline Lake. In another mile you reach Gertrude Lake, a beautiful spot in its own right, but the best is yet to come. Continue up to Timberline Lake at 9,500 feet which as the name implies has shrubby whitebark pine lying just at timberline. FOR MORE INFORMATION contact Beartooth Ranger District 6811, Highway 212, South Red Lodge, Montana. HEART LAKE GREAT BURN PROPOSED WILDERNESS In 1910, the largest forest fire recorded in the western United States roared across northern Idaho and western Montana. Dubbed the 1910 Burn, the fire charred between 3 and 3.5 million acres in two days of hot, dry weather with hurricane force winds. e fire helped to create support for the U.S. Forest Service as the primary forest fighting agency and solidified its position as a federal land management agency. e blaze produced one of the rarest habitats in the West—the snag forest that results from high severity burn. Shrub habitat generated by the fire supported burgeoning elk herds and superb fish habitat. It also cre- ated spectacular treeless alpine-like terrain at much lower elevations than would otherwise occur. Reflecting the areas high precipitation levels, one of the special attributes of the area is the occurrence of western red cedar. Lying west of Missoula in the northern Bitterroot Mountains along the GRANDVIEW POINT TIMBERLINE LAKE 2 3 4 Hiker at Grandview Pt. above Crystal Lake

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