WARD MOUNTAIN LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: Strenuous LENGTH: 9-mile round trip TRAILHEAD: 2 miles south of Hamilton, turn right on Roaring Lion Road, follow the signs to Ward Mountain Trail.
From the floor of the Bitterroot Valley, Ward Moun- tain looks as tame and gentle as a tittering sea otter, and because it’s so close to the town of Hamilton one might predict it to be unexciting. Once you start hiking the roughly blazed dirt trail, however, the town is seldom seen and the flora, the fauna, and the rocks are lush and fierce, underscoring an impressive and eclectic milieu, more diverse than anything else ready to be found in surround- ing canyons. Ward Mountain is one of the steepest trails in the Bitterroot. The trailhead begins at 4,180 feet, with the summit cradling 9,119 feet. Beginning at the southern outskirts of Hamilton, Ward Mountain Trail climbs nearly 5,000 vertical feet in less than 5 miles, reaching a former lookout site at the vertex. Known for its unpredictable weather, it often snows at the summit in July. On a searing
summer afternoon, Ward Mountain is extremely oppres- sive, only appropriate for those in strong physical condi- tion. The hike out can be hard on the knees any time of year. The excellent news, however, is that the mountain is practically free of crowds, and rife with opportunities for solitary adventures, as well as wildlife. Quite possibly the single most exhausting trail in the entire Bitterroot Range, its lofty vantage point spanning the full length of the valley makes the precipitous jaunt worthwhile. Panoramic perspectives include views of the Skalkaho, Roaring Lion, and Sleeping Child drainages.
Avid hiker Brian D’Ambrosio is a frequent contributor to Distinctly Montana. His favorite hike is usually the one he happens to be experiencing at the time. He lives in Missoula, Montana.
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