Fish Lakes Canyon

Highlights: A 50-foot waterfall and a chain of five lakes in a rugged, low-elevation canyon.

Location: 30 air miles north of Libby on the east side of the Yaak River.

Type of hike: Out-and-back day hike or overnighter.

Total distance: 12 miles.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Best months: June through October.

Maps: Lost Horse Mountain, Mount Henry, and Yaak USGS Quads; and Kootenai National Forest Map.

Finding the trailhead: Drive west of Libby on U.S. Highway 2 for 29 miles (through Troy) and turn right, heading north on Yaak River Road. After a 29.5-mile drive up Yaak River Road to the town of Yaak, turn right, heading south on South Fork of the Yaak River Road (Forest Road 68) for 4.2 miles, then turn left, heading north on Vinal Lake Road (FR 746). You can also reach Vinal Lake Road by driving north of Libby on South Fork of the Yaak River Road, but it is a dirt road drive in contrast to the paved route to Yaak described above. Drive 6.1 miles north on Vinal Lake Road past the Vinal Lake turnoff and look for Vinal Creek/Fish Lakes Trailhead on your right.

Key points

3.0 Turner Falls and junction with Mount Henry Trail
3.5 South Fish Lake
6.0 Upper Fish Lake

The hike: To some, Fish Lakes is an overnight trip. To others, it is a full day's hike. However, for every hiker, it is one of the most scenic and diverse trips they will ever take. The trail is well maintained and gets rocky only along a few talus slopes. There is plenty of drinking water along the way. Elevation gain is a mere 600 feet to the northernmost lake.

It takes an average hiker 12 hours to make the complete round trip. However, if you only want to see South Fish Lake, the first in the series of five, the trip should take eight hours. This makes Fish Lakes Canyon suitable for almost any hiker-families with children to veteran backpackers.

The area feels quite remote if you start at the Vinal Lake Road trailhead, but logging roads to the north and to the south parallel the trail, and when I visited the area in 1998, I was able to drive to within a mile of South Fish Lake. It is likely that road restrictions will prevent access to the Mount Henry cutoff route. The best hike is up the valley anyway, because the entire surrounding area has been logged.

Wildlife and wildflowers abound and are characteristic of northwestern Montana-moose, deer, black bear, wake robin, Canada dogwood, and clematis-to name a few. Wild roses line Vinal Creek in great abundance. Bear danger is low, but mosquitoes can be vicious in June and July. Try this hike anytime during the late summer or fall.
Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the hike is Turner Falls. However, even without the falls, this would be one of the most beautiful hikes in Montana. Here are five mountain lakes strung through a narrow, rugged canyon lined with a quiet forest of large cedar and larch trees. The Fish Lakes/Vinal Creek Trail has been designated a National Recreation Trail and has been given semi-primitive, nonmotorized recreation status on the Kootenai National Forest Plan.

Montana River Trips

Big Sky Country offers some of the most exciting white water rafting and scenic river trips in the nation.

From Montana's snowy peaks and the Yellowstone plateau, pristine waters converge and flow through spectacular canyons and valleys. Experience the thrill of whitewater on a raft trip down the Middle Fork of the Flathead, near Glacier Park or run the Alberton Gorge, outside of Missoula. Looking for solitude? Paddle the tranquil beauty of the wild and scenic Upper Missouri, near Fort Benton. You can explore Montana's rivers in many ways, guides offer a variety of trips on driftboats, rafts, kayaks and canoes. Or rent a boat yourself and explore Montana's waterways.

LAKE KOOKANUSA LOOP

Location: Between Eureka and Libby
Type: Road Ride
Rating: Experienced
Mileage: 80miles

This 80-mile loop ride is arguably one of the best road riding opportunities in the Big Sky state. When the government created Libby Dam in 1972, they flooded towns and the whole Kootenai River Valley. The monster of a lake created now extends 90 miles upstream with 48 miles in the U.S. and 42miles in Canada. Without knowing it, the Corps also created a road cyclist's dream.

It is difficult to find a level section on this ride...you'll continually find yourself going either up or down and around another bend as the road hugs high above the lake's shore. The hills and the distance earn this ride an Experienced rating.

Hiking and Backpacking

Montana-The Land of Shining Mountains!

Montana is a word borrowed from the Latin expression meaning "mountainous." The rugged Continental Divide zigzags across western Montana from the jagged peaks of Glacier Park to the ancient Beartooth plateau. The potential for hiking and backpacking in Big Sky Country is endless and inviting. And don't forget; when you're in the backcounty, it pays to know what to do

if you get into an unexpected situation.