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 U M M E R 2 0 1 9 16 TUMBLEDOWN BASIN (4.9 MILES) e resort community of Big Sky has lots of things to see and do… and lots of people seeing and doing them. To avoid the crowds and find your secret place simply drive a short distance south then hit the trail to stunning Tumbledown Basin. e scenery is breathtaking— better than anything on the heav- ily beaten trails around Big Sky—and both wildlife, including grizzly bears, and wildflowers are abundant. From the Big Sky turnoff, proceed 14.5 miles south on US High- way191, turn right on gravel Taylor Fork Road, and go 11 miles to the road-end trailhead. Hike upstream 0.5 mile to a cold, knee-deep ford of Taylor Fork (dangerous in early summer), then pass a pair of gorgeous meadows to a junction at 1.5 miles. Go right and switchback steeply uphill for 2.2 miles to a junction. Go left and walk awestruck through the gentle wildflower-covered meadows of Tumbledown Basin to trail's end at a small pond, fed by a waterfall. Interestingly, the outlet creek disappears into a sinkhole just below the pond. Views of rugged peaks in almost every direction couldn't be much better. LINE CREEK PLATEAU (3 TO 5 MILES, IT'S UP TO YOU) Spacious alpine plateaus characterize the Beartooth Mountains, but those near busy US Highway 212 are crowded and those in the backcountry typi- cally require lots of tough climbing to reach. Line Creek Plateau is the exception to both rules and is the perfect place to stroll across a gentle above-timberline landscape enjoying views that stretch to eternity. e unsigned trailhead is at the end of a short gravel spur road that leaves Highway 212 about 0.2 mile before reaching the Wyoming border, 23 miles from Red Lodge. With the road having done virtually all the climbing for you, gently descend across windy tundra barrens to a beautiful little lake. From there you loop around to an easy crossing of shallow Wyoming Creek then climb to the treeless alpine paradise of Line Creek Plateau. How far you hike across this wonderland depends only on your energy level and desire to explore. If you can tear your eyes off the view (good luck) look for colorful little wildflowers at your feet and soaring golden eagles overhead. Koch Peak Over Tumbledown Basin

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