At 1,291 acres, Sullivan Lake is the largest natural lake in the Colville National Forest, but the lake isn’t necessarily the main attraction. Brilliant day hikes all around the lake entice hikers and trail runners every fall season because the changing leaves are so intense. Many of the hikes in that area feature a variety […]
Find Epic Fall Colors at Sullivan Lake Read More »
Say good-bye to summer tourists and embrace a peaceful autumn in northwest Montana. Post-Labor Day travel in the Flathead Valley area is an extension of summer, minus the crowds. Sport a bikini by day and a beanie by dusk; pack warm clothes as autumn evenings are refreshing after playing in the sun. Both luxury and
Fall in the Flathead Read More »
While it’s true that waterfall hikes are more spectacular in the full flow of early spring, their cooling properties can be better appreciated on a hot summer day. This hike begins by crossing an open hillside with a good view of nearby Hall Mountain, and includes a little over 500 feet of elevation gain. That’s
Elk Creek Falls and Mill Pond, Colville National Forest Read More »
South of Lolo Pass, on the Idaho-Montana border, the 200-mile-long mass of granite known as the Idaho Batholith lies exposed on the Bitterroot Divide, like a half-extracted fossil. The advance of alpine glaciers during the most recent ice age sculpted this ridge into a series of rugged peaks and steep, incredibly straight canyons cut by
Five Hikes in Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains Read More »
In his essay “Nature,” Ralph Waldo Emerson writes “Nature never wears a mean appearance.” Nowhere is this truer than in Yellowstone National Park, which is why it attracts more than 3 million visitors annually. Those who visit in the fall will find September crowds roughly half those of July, with October crowds one-eighth of July’s
Fall Brings Wild Times without the Crowds in Yellowstone Read More »
The Northwest has hundreds of lakes ranging from tiny alpine tarns to giant pools that sprawl for miles through the mountains. The region’s many diverse lakes each have their own unique feel and personality. While public land and access is limited at some, others like Priest Lake, nestled in the Selkirk Mountains, are a near
The Best of Priest Lake: Hikes, Resorts, Paddling, Fishing, and More Read More »
Like some people, wildlife get winter-weary too. Fortunately there are plenty of opportunities for both to bask in the warming temperatures of early spring. A transition zone between the Cascades and Rocky Mountains, eastern Washington’s low-elevation wetlands, rivers and forests provide the perfect habitat for a rich array of plant and animal life, including some
Spring Wildlife Hikes Read More »
Not all winter adventures have to be into the deep mountains. These winter waterfall trips are found mostly in or near the Purcell Trench, northwest of Bonners Ferry. Myrtle Falls & the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge West of Bonners Ferry, along the east slopes of the American Selkirk Mountains, is the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge.
Go Chasing Winter Waterfalls Read More »
Thousands of Kokanee salmon have started running up Harvey Creek, near Sullivan Lake in Northeast Washington. Huge schools of these bright red fish can be seen from the bridge or creek bank near the lake. The run typically lasts until the middle of December, but if you head up there over the next couple of
Bright Fish and Fall Foliage: Watch Kokanee Salmon & Hike around Sullivan Lake Read More »
Whether your family calls it a nature walk or a hike, when you’re out in nature walking with children the essential goal is the same: to enjoy the journey along the trail. Here are four essential ways to ensure it’s a pleasant experience for the whole family. 1. Use creative ways to motivate. Most kids
4 Tips for Fall Hiking with Kids Read More »
