Bitterroot Backpacking

12/11/2024

National Park views without National Park crowds.

Personalized backpacking adventures on trails less traveled.

11/28/2024

Feelin' grateful today! I have an incredible amount of gratitude for the awesome folks who joined me on over 50 different tours this year! Thank you everyone!

Looking forward to 2025!

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving! We are truly honored and grateful to host tours in this breathtaking place we get to call home. (The Bitterroot National Forest!) It is a privilege to guide fellow nature lovers here and every opportunity to get out on the trail with another group is one that is cherished. There are no other opportunities like it on the planet.

10/08/2024

4 days, 30 miles, 2 nights of sub-freezing temps, and 1 heck of a backpacking trip!

Feel free to reach out for information about this point-to-point route through the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness or if anyone needs a shuttle for this trip in the future.

09/13/2024

Hey can I ask the followers of this page for a big favor? It seems we have fallen completely off the face of the Earth in the eyes of the algorithm, and we desperately need some likes on some posts! Please if you see this, like this post, share it with someone who will also like it, and like some of our past posts too! Thank you for your support!!!

09/01/2024

As the smoke settled overnight, the skies cleared and gave way for a spectacular show. What a treat it is to see the Northern Lights from a fire lookout in the Bitterroot.

Oh so very grateful...

08/23/2024

Each year the Bitterroot National Forest permits us for 200 use days. We're running up on that limit... If you want to get out for a hike and float this year, book now! We are accepting bookings all the way until Oct 10th! Or book for 2025! Our 2025 booking calendar is now up on our website!

08/15/2024

"It was the highlight of our Montana experience!"

Montana's national parks are usually the top destination for visitors when they come to Montana, but when it's all said and done, their top memory is from their experience floating an alpine lake in the Bitterroot with Bitterroot Backpacking.

Between the incredible scenery without the crowds, relaxing alpine float, and the valuable stories and knowledge shared, It's easy to see why our tours are the highlight of our guests' vacations!

08/04/2024

Nowhere else in the US compares! The Bitterroot is easily the most beautiful, most rugged, and emptiest (didn't see a single soul for 2 days) place to backpack in the US!

08/01/2024

I see dog s**t, I clean it up. I see trash, I pick it up.

There are some people out there who seem to think that having a hiking outfitter operate in the Bitterroot negatively impacts the forest, when the opposite couldn't be more true.

Bitterroot Backpacking is not only a trail guiding service, but also a trail stewardship service. A service that only asks for recognition as payment.

Please recognize that we take very good care of the places we recreate at and leave them better than we found them.

07/17/2024

Go up in elevation to escape the heat!!!

Did you know that for every 1000 ft of elevation you gain, the air temperature drops about 5 °F?

Location and humidity affects that temperature difference too.

In humid air, like when it's snowing or raining, the difference is closer to 3.3 °F per 1000 ft.

If you're sitting around a pile of rocks baking under the sun, the difference will be lesser.

If you're under the shade of a tree, that difference will be greater!

And if you made it to the end of this post and want to join us for a lovely day up at one of the alpine lakes in the Bitterroot, you can take $30 off each ticket by using promo code "Beat The Heat".

06/21/2024

I double dog dare you to read this caption!

FREE TRIPS!!!

That's right! Just a few free trips we have planned coming up very soon!

#1 - Lil afternoon hikin up in Blue Mountain Rec on June 25th!
#2 - Floatin the Bitterroot River on July 9th!
#3 - Celebratin Pride month up at Coquina lake on Sunday July 14th!

Signup is through the Missoula Outdoors Meetup group or send me a message to reserve your spot!

05/28/2024

Highlights from Memorial Day weekend! Join us for the wildflower extravaganza again MDW 2025!

05/10/2024

This could be you as soon as TOMORROW!

Starting the season a bit early this year due to low snowpack and warm weather ahead. Looking forward to beautiful sunny days on the lakes!

05/10/2024

A small sampling of wildflowers that can be found on the hillsides around Missoula right now!

Wanna hike and identify wildflowers this weekend? Shoot us a DM!

04/24/2024

Long story short: Trails around the perimeter of the valley are drying out and wildflowers are starting to pop! Expect snow on trails and roads above 6000/6500 ft in elevation, especially if you're heading up one of the drainages in the Bitterroot. The further in you hike, the lower the snow level will be (vs the snow level around the perimeter of the valley)! Make sure to bring ice traction!!!! All of the lakes down in the Bitterroot are still frozen, except Fred Burr and Como, which are reservoirs that have begun to fill up!

1. Bear Creek Overlook - The road up to the TH is mostly clear, but expect a few deeper patches of snow on northern facing aspects that may hold up sedans and other low clearance, non 4wd vehicles. The trail is still mostly snow-covered and ice traction is recommended. Photo creds to Jean of !

2.Blodgett Creek + Overlook - The roads up to these THs are drying out, but mud still exists in places. Expect a small amount of snow near the top of Blodgett Overlook. Blodgett Creek is clear of snow for a considerable distance up the canyon. You won't have to worry about it unless you're going deep back there.

3. Camas and Ward are still completely snow-covered. The road to Camas TH will be covered in snow for the last 2 miles or so and the trail will likely be completely snow-covered. The Ward TH is accessible, but as previously stated, the snow line is around 6500 ft. Do not attempt to go higher unless you have knowledge in avalanche safety.

4.Fred Burr is a great option for a springtime hike in the Bitterroot! No snow, but lots of mud and water along the way. Expect to get your feet wet with all of the little creek crossings! The reservoir is filling up though and will be beautiful!

5.Missoula is drying out big-time! I personally hiked woods gulch last weekend and noticed it's drier than it usually is at this point in the year. Sentinel is completely free of snow. The trail to the top of Jumbo is still closed for the elk herd until May! Blue Mountain is also almost completely dry too, minus north facing aspects near the very top of Blue Mountain.

Feel free to DM us if you want an update for a specific trail!

04/05/2024

Montana wildflower season is less than two months away!
1. Indian Paintbrush (May - Sept)
2. Arrowleaf Balsamroot (May - June)
3. Bitterroot (May - June)
4. Beargrass (Late June - Aug)
5. White-flower Beardtongue (Penstemon) (June - Aug)
6. Yarrow (May - Oct)
7. Glacier Lilies (May - Aug)

02/18/2024

A Winter update from the Bitterroot. 🏔️

The snowpack in the Bitterroot is only 66% of the historic median for this time of year. (100% is normal.) If you Google "Montana Snotel Current Snow Water Equivalent % of Normal" you'll see that the story is the same across all of Montana.

Despite the low snowfall, we've had plenty of opportunities to get out and appreciate the snow that HAS fallen!

And with that said, Winter is long in Montana. There's still plenty of time left to get out and enjoy the snow.

P.S. Did you know Bitterroot Backpacking rents snowshoes and microspikes? Kids rentals are available too.