Highlights: Outstanding panoramic views of northwestern Montana and Flathead Lake from a delightful ridgeline trail.
Location: Just southeast of Columbia Falls.
Type of trip: Shuttle three-day backpacking trip, with several day hike options.
Total distance: 20.5 miles.
Difficulty: Strenuous.
Best months: July through September.
Maps: Doris Mountain, Jewel Basin, Hash Mountain USGS Quads; and Flathead National Forest Map. Finding the Trailheads: To reach the Columbia Mountain Trailhead, drive east of Columbia Falls on U.S. Highway 2 and turn east at the junction with Highway 206 (from Bigfork). Shortly after the junction and 3.5 miles from Columbia Falls, turn right off US 2 on an unmarked dirt road just past the House of Mystery. Follow this road south for 0.2 mile until you see the Columbia Mountain Trailhead on your left. (This is a newer trailhead that became necessary to avoid crossing private land.) Columbia Mountian Trail (51) starts to the southeast of the parking area.
Finding the Trailheads: To reach the Columbia Mountain Trailhead, drive east of Columbia Falls on U.S. Highway 2 and turn east at the junction with Highway 206 (from Bigfork). Shortly after the junction and 3.5 miles from Columbia Falls, turn right off US 2 on an unmarked dirt road just past the House of Mystery. Follow this road south for 0.2 mile until you see the Columbia Mountain Trailhead on your left. (This is a newer trailhead that became necessary to avoid crossing private land.) Columbia Mountain Trail (51) starts to the southeast of the parking area. To reach Strawberry Lake Trailhead (for leaving a vehicle, having someone pick you up, or doing the Strawberry Lake day hike), drive east of Kalispell on Montana Highway 35 (or south back on Highway 206 from Columbia Mountain Trailhead). Just after the junction with Highway 206, turn left, heading east as the highway turns south, on Lake Blaine Road. Two miles farther, the road splits; stay straight on Foothills Road (Lake Blaine Road heads north) for another 7 miles (9 miles from MT 35) and turn left (east) on Krause Creek Road (Forest Road 5390). Drive 3.2 miles on FR 5390 until it deadends at Strawberry Lake Trail (5) Trailhead.
Parking & trailhead facilities: Ample parking at both trailheads, but no other services.
Key points
8.0 Columbia Mountain/Junction with Alpine Trail (7)
Location: Just southeast of Columbia Falls.
Type of trip: Shuttle three-day backpacking trip, with several day hike options.
Total distance: 20.5 miles.
Difficulty: Strenuous.
Best months: July through September.
Maps: Doris Mountain, Jewel Basin, Hash Mountain USGS Quads; and Flathead National Forest Map. Finding the Trailheads: To reach the Columbia Mountain Trailhead, drive east of Columbia Falls on U.S. Highway 2 and turn east at the junction with Highway 206 (from Bigfork). Shortly after the junction and 3.5 miles from Columbia Falls, turn right off US 2 on an unmarked dirt road just past the House of Mystery. Follow this road south for 0.2 mile until you see the Columbia Mountain Trailhead on your left. (This is a newer trailhead that became necessary to avoid crossing private land.) Columbia Mountian Trail (51) starts to the southeast of the parking area.
Finding the Trailheads: To reach the Columbia Mountain Trailhead, drive east of Columbia Falls on U.S. Highway 2 and turn east at the junction with Highway 206 (from Bigfork). Shortly after the junction and 3.5 miles from Columbia Falls, turn right off US 2 on an unmarked dirt road just past the House of Mystery. Follow this road south for 0.2 mile until you see the Columbia Mountain Trailhead on your left. (This is a newer trailhead that became necessary to avoid crossing private land.) Columbia Mountain Trail (51) starts to the southeast of the parking area. To reach Strawberry Lake Trailhead (for leaving a vehicle, having someone pick you up, or doing the Strawberry Lake day hike), drive east of Kalispell on Montana Highway 35 (or south back on Highway 206 from Columbia Mountain Trailhead). Just after the junction with Highway 206, turn left, heading east as the highway turns south, on Lake Blaine Road. Two miles farther, the road splits; stay straight on Foothills Road (Lake Blaine Road heads north) for another 7 miles (9 miles from MT 35) and turn left (east) on Krause Creek Road (Forest Road 5390). Drive 3.2 miles on FR 5390 until it deadends at Strawberry Lake Trail (5) Trailhead.
Parking & trailhead facilities: Ample parking at both trailheads, but no other services.
Key points
8.0 Columbia Mountain/Junction with Alpine Trail (7)
17.5 Strawberry Lake/Junction with Strawberry Lake Trail (5)
20.5 Strawberry Lake Trailhead
The hike: This backpack is not for beginners or small children. However, you may consider the easier option of just visiting popular Strawberry Lake. Doing this entire route usually requires three days with a full pack and involves a 3,500-foot elevation gain. You can cover this route in two days, but to really enjoy the scenery on this high-altitude hike, allow three. Although the trail is remote and primitive, it is still well-maintained and easy to follow. There is a fair chance of spotting elk or deer, and a great variety of wildflowers will greet you in summer, particularly in mid-July. Snow may block this trail until early July. The main attraction is the views. There is water at many places along the trail; however, there are some dry stretches on the northern half of this hike. Mosquitoes can be a problem early in the season, but they seem less severe than in many areas. Drinking water and shelter from the wind can often be found by dropping over the ridge to the east into the high meadows.
Starting on the Columbia Mountain Trail (51), you climb steadily up the slopes of Columbia Mountain to the intersection with Alpine Trail (7). From Columbia Mountain, take Trail 7 as it follows the top of the ridge, with views in all directions, including Hungry Horse Reservoir, the peaks of Glacier National Park, and the Flathead Valley. There are several places to camp along the trail, including Doris, Jenny, and Lamoose Lakes. Although there is some fishing in Strawberry and Lamoose Lakes, this hike is not known for its fishing. Once you descend to Strawberry Lake, turn west on Strawberry Lake Trail (5) for a 3-mile descent to Strawberry Lake Trailhead and the end of your three-day excursion.
Black bears and grizzlies inhabit this area, so there is a chance of a confrontation. The likelihood of such an encounter might be higher here than on many trails in Montana's national forests, but the probability of bear trouble is still much lower than in nearby Glacier National Park. Proper bear country manners will further lower the chance of bear trouble.
Options: Strawberry Lake is a very popular day hike for locals and tourists, but it is a pleasant hike if you don't mind greeting a few bikers and horses along the trail.
You could easily be lured into extending your trip on Alpine Trail to nearby Jewel Basin or even farther south. Alpine Trail follows the crest of the Swan Range all the way to just south of Broken Leg Mountain. Then, about 6 trail-less miles later along the crest, the trail begins again and continues to Inspiration Pass near Swan Lake. You could spend anywhere from a week to two weeks hiking and camping along the Alpine Trail, but the off-trail section between Broken Leg and Sixmile Mountains makes this a trek for experienced and physically fit hikers only. You can also reach Inspiration Pass via Trail 484 from Soup Creek Road (FR 10510).
Starting on the Columbia Mountain Trail (51), you climb steadily up the slopes of Columbia Mountain to the intersection with Alpine Trail (7). From Columbia Mountain, take Trail 7 as it follows the top of the ridge, with views in all directions, including Hungry Horse Reservoir, the peaks of Glacier National Park, and the Flathead Valley. There are several places to camp along the trail, including Doris, Jenny, and Lamoose Lakes. Although there is some fishing in Strawberry and Lamoose Lakes, this hike is not known for its fishing. Once you descend to Strawberry Lake, turn west on Strawberry Lake Trail (5) for a 3-mile descent to Strawberry Lake Trailhead and the end of your three-day excursion.
Black bears and grizzlies inhabit this area, so there is a chance of a confrontation. The likelihood of such an encounter might be higher here than on many trails in Montana's national forests, but the probability of bear trouble is still much lower than in nearby Glacier National Park. Proper bear country manners will further lower the chance of bear trouble.
Options: Strawberry Lake is a very popular day hike for locals and tourists, but it is a pleasant hike if you don't mind greeting a few bikers and horses along the trail.
You could easily be lured into extending your trip on Alpine Trail to nearby Jewel Basin or even farther south. Alpine Trail follows the crest of the Swan Range all the way to just south of Broken Leg Mountain. Then, about 6 trail-less miles later along the crest, the trail begins again and continues to Inspiration Pass near Swan Lake. You could spend anywhere from a week to two weeks hiking and camping along the Alpine Trail, but the off-trail section between Broken Leg and Sixmile Mountains makes this a trek for experienced and physically fit hikers only. You can also reach Inspiration Pass via Trail 484 from Soup Creek Road (FR 10510).
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