Hiking the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

by Scott Steinberg

Overview

The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness is a vast domain that encompasses over 2,000 square miles of rugged Idaho and Montana backcountry. In this completely revised and updated guidebook, detailed hike narratives, extensive introductory material, and accurate maps guide you to the rushing waterfalls, rustic lookouts, high peaks, and steaming hot springs scattered throughout this wilderness complex. With over 70 hikes covering access points in both Idaho and Montana, this definitive guidebook describes 600 miles of nikes in detail and provides cursory descriptions of another 300 miles of backcountry routes covering all or portions of six forest service ranger districts in four national forests.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762770892
Publisher:	Falcon Guides
Publication date:	06/19/2012
Series:	Regional Hiking Series
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	1,087,716
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.68(d)

About the Author

Scott Steinberg began his travels in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness with a backpacking trip to Kerlee and Tin Cup lakes in August 1993. He personally hiked every trail in this guidebook, covering nearly 1,500 miles. He lives in Palo Alto, CA.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments viii

Introduction 1

Flora and Fauna 3

Weather 3

Wilderness Restrictions/Regulations 4

How to Use This Guide 4

Trail Finder 6

Map Legend 12

The Hikes

Northern Bitterroot Canyons 13

1 South Fork Lolo Creek to Bass Creek 14

2 Lolo Peak 19

3 Sweeney Ridge 23

4 Little Saint Joseph Peak 27

5 Bass Creek 31

6 Kootenai Creek 34

7 Saint Mary Peak 38

8 Big Creek to Bear Creek 43

9 Glen Lake 48

10 Bear Creek Overlook 51

11 Bear Creek 54

12 Fred Burr Creek to Mill Creek 60

13 Shearman Creek 66

14 Mill Creek 69

15 Blodgett Canyon 73

16 Blodgett Canyon Overlook 78

17 Canyon Falls 81

18 Sawtooth Creek 84

19 Roaring Lion Creek 88

20 Ward Mountain 90

Honorable Mentions 92

A Burdette Creek 92

B Lee Creek Interpretive Trail 92

C Larry Creek 93

D Sweathouse Falls 94

E Gash Point 95

F Coyote Coulee 96

The Lost Horse Portals 98

21 Camas Lake 99

22 Bailey Lake 103

23 Spruce Lake 106

24 Coquina Lake 109

25 Lost Horse Lake 112

Southern Bitterroot Canyons 116

26 Lake Como Loop 117

27 Rock Creek 121

28 Little Rock Creek Lake 126

29 Tin Cup Creek 128

30 Chaffin Creek Lakes 133

31 Trapper Creek 136

32 Baker Lake 139

33 Trapper Peak 142

34 Boulder Creek 145

35 Boulder Point Lookout 149

The Magruder Corridor 152

36 Nelson Lake 153

37 Watchtower Creek to Sheephead Creek 156

38 Sheephead Creek Loop 161

39 Castle Rock 166

40 Nez Perce Peak 169

41 Beaver Jack Mountain 171

42 Bad Luck Mountain 175

43 Spot Mountain Lookout 179

44 Hat Creek 183

Wilderness Gateway and the Western Approaches 186

45 Lower Meadow Creek 187

46 Lower Gedney Creek 192

47 Old Man Point 195

48 Stanley Hot Springs 198

49 Lone Knob Loop 201

50 Bear Mountain Lookout 205

51 Jerry Johnson Hot Springs 209

52 Tom Beal Park to Warm Springs Creek 212

Honorable Mentions 216

G Split Creek Ridge 216

H Snowshoe Falls 216

I Mocus Point 217

J Colgate Licks National Recreation Trail 218

Elk Summit Country 219

53 Wind Lakes 220

54 Walton Lakes 224

55 Grave Peak Lookout 227

56 Friday Pass Loop 231

57 Diablo Mountain Lookout 235

58 Big Sand Lake 239

59 Hidden Lake 243

60 Frog Peak 246

61 Hidden Peak Lookout 251

62 White Sand Lake 256

63 Lower Colt Killed Creek 259

64 Siah Lake 263

65 Spruce Creek Lakes 267

66 Skookum Butte Lookout 270

Honorable Mentions 273

K DeVoto Memorial Grove 273

L Dan Ridge 273

M Rudd-Moore Lake 274

The Selway River Breaks 276

67 Selway River 277

68 Eagle Rock 288

The Art of Hiking 291

Trail Etiquette 291

Getting into Shape 292

Preparedness 292

First Aid 294

Natural Hazards 298

Navigation 299

Trip Planning 300

Further Reading 308

Index 309

About the Author 311