Distinctly Montana Magazine

Distinctly Montana Summer 2020

Distinctly Montana Magazine

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w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m 31 THE LITTLE BELT MOUNTAINS THE ALLURE OF THE SLUICE BOXES From the early days, the Sluice Boxes area was renowned for exceptional fishing and hunting. As early as 1913 a "fishing train" dropped off anglers in the morning and retrieved them at the end of the day. Although the train stopped running on November 11, 1945, and the tracks are gone, more than ever, the Sluice Boxes is a popular recreation area. The main entrance is at the Evans-Riceville parking area, where many people start their fishing journey in this popular stream. The other option is to drive up the road to the Overlook parking area to access the upper part of the 7.34-mile trail that crosses Belt Creek 16 times. There is an alternate route that avoids the initial cliff area along the upper trail, but the views of this spectacular area are worth walking the narrow path. There are several opportunities along the trail to visit Belt Creek, making it a per- fect hike for a picnic or quick fishing trip; many people continue along the route to the 200-foot-long tunnel blasted through the rock with its soot-blackened ceiling. This hike is unique as it combines stunning natural beauty with equally intriguing manmade features such as the dry stack stone walls and remaining trestles. Venturing roughly three miles past the tunnel, visitors can explore the ghost town of Albright, a booming limestone quarry for decades, where abandoned boilers and the remnants of the town can be seen. There's only enough room for a half-dozen vehicles, but some hikers park a second vehicle at the Logging Creek Bridge to be able to shut- tle back to their starting point. This is also a popular spot to launch kayaks to float these Class II and III rapids in the spring. Fishing in the Sluice Boxes FOR THOSE SEEKING ADVENTURE OR SOLITUDE, THE LITTLE BELTS ARE THE PLACE TO BE. AMY GRISAK

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