Distinctly Montana Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.distinctlymontana.com/i/1285019
w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m 29 WHERE Northwest portion of Glacier, off the North Fork of the Flathead River WHY GO Tamaracks – lots of tamaracks!! WHEN TO GO Third week, October NEARBY CAMPGROUNDS Bowman Lake Campground – open as a "primitive" campground through late October, weather permitting (Bring your own water) ACTIVITIES HIKING/PHOTOGRAPHY: Quartz Lake Loop – moderate, 13 miles roundtrip, 1500 ft elevation gain; Numa Ridge Lookout – difficult, 5.6 miles, 2900 ft elevation gain KAYAKING Bowman/Kintla Lakes HOW TO GET THERE Enter the Park just north of the small settlement of Polebridge on the North Fork Road north of Columbia Falls. A gravel road then climbs 6 miles to Bowman Lake. It is not suit- able for larger trailers. There is a fork that leads to Kintla Lake, which also has a campground. While there are aspen stands lower down near the valley floor, the reason to come to Bowman Lake is for the spectacular display of tamaracks. Once these larches start turning gold, it seems that the whole drive up from Columbia Falls is through one massive tamarack forest. It is golden virtually the whole way along this road to the Canadian border. The great thing about Bowman Lake is that once you are there, you can either just kick back and enjoy the show from the lake shore or get out there and be a more active participant. If hiking is your passion, the Quartz Lake Loop beckons. This is a 13-mile trail that leads over Cerulean Ridge, around the two Quartz Lakes (Upper and Lower) and back to Bowman Lake. If you really want a challenge, there is the climb to the Numa Ridge Look- out with stunning views of the mountains at the north end of the Park. The weather is often very calm at this time of year, so it's also a great time to explore the lake by kayak. Either way, it's tamaracks in all directions. Bowman Lake The great thing about Bowman Lake IS THAT ONCE YOU ARE THERE, YOU CAN EITHER JUST KICK BACK AND ENJOY THE SHOW FROM THE LAKE SHORE OR GET OUT THERE AND BE A MORE ACTIVE PARTICIPANT.