GNP
Hiking
Flathead Lake
Yellow Bay on Flathead Lake
Flathead River
cows
mountain tops
creeks and rivers
MMW
holland
Phillips Trail #373
Hike Flathead Lake on Phillips Trail #373. Phillips Trail #373 is 3.8 miles long and climbs about 600 feet; it intersects with Crane Mtn Road #498 and the Beardance Trail #76. This is one of three trails that climb up Crane Mountain. Access by car from Crane Mountain is available 4/1-11/30, otherwise hikers must access from the Flathead Lake side at the Beardance trailhead (4.4 miles up). The trail is open for the following uses: hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
Hike Flathead Lake
Usage: Light
Closest Towns: Bigfork
Directions:
Crane Mtn Access: From Bigfork go south on Highway 35 for 0.7 miles, turning left onto Hwy 209. Stay on 209 for 3 miles, then turn right at the light onto South Ferndale Rd. After 2 miles merge right onto Crane Mountain Rd also called Forest Service Road #498. The trail is 3 miles up on the west side of the road.
Flathead Lake Access: From Bigfork follow Highway 35 south, past Woods Bay, to the Beardance Picnic Area south of mile marker 23. The trailhead is on the east side of the highway, across from the parking lot. If you are planning on vacationing around Flathead Lake, consider Mike’s Flathead Lake Vacation Guide.
Length : 3.8 miles
Elevation : 3,440 feet – 4,039 feet
Flathead Lake Trail #77
This short, family friendly 0.4 mile loop interpretive Flathead Lake trail. The short but steep distance down to excellent view of Flathead Lake and the western skyline. This trail was developed in partnership with the Bigfork High School.
If you have the opportunity to visit this trail during the month of May the may Flowers will be in full bloom. The trail is a little steep going down. However, it is very manageable for young and old alike. The view from this Flathead Lake trail is exceptional. At points on the trail you will see north into Woods Bay as well as east to Wildhorse Island. Once at the bottom of this short trail be sure to refresh yourself with a plunge into the blue waters of Flathead Lake.
At a Glance
Usage: Light
Closest Towns: Bigfork
Water: No
Directions: To get to this trail head from Bigfork, go south on Highway 35 past Woods Bay, and turn right after mile marker 23, entering the Beardance trailhead parking. The trail goes downhill from both parking areas, creating a loop.
Location
Latitude : 47.95622819
Longitude : -114.0329612
Elevation : 3,071 feet – 3,071 feet
There is no camping at this trail head. Camping is available in Wayfarers State Park about 10 miles to the north in Bigfork.
Beardance Trail
The Flathead Lake Bear Dance Trail is 6.7 miles long and climbs about 2,200 feet. It begins off of Highway # 35 from the Beardance Trailhead and follows Forest Road #10222 and terminates at Crane Mountain Road #498. The trail is open to: hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
Usage: Heavy
Closest Towns: Bigfork
Directions: From Bigfork go south on Highway 35 past Woods Bay and turn right after mile marker 23, entering the Beardance trailhead parking. The trailhead is on the east side of the highway.
Season: These trails are typically snow free by April.
Motorized vehicles, including motorcycles are prohibited.
Area/Length : 6.7 miles
Latitude : 47.95678
Longitude : -114.03442
Elevation : 3,071 feet – 5,309 feet
Beardance Area: Trails #76, 373, and 314
Directions: From Bigfork go south on Highway 35 past Woods Bay and turn right after mile marker 23, entering the Beardance trailhead parking. The trailhead is on the east side of the highway.
Flathead Lake Bear Dance Trail Description:
The Phillips Trail 373 leaves from the Beardance parking lot and climbs moderately, enjoy a nice viewpoint of Flathead Lake, then continues to climb through the trees and finally crosses two creeks and then descends to the road.
The Crane Mountain Trail 314 climbs up switchbacks in the shade of a dense forest and follows Crane Creek up to the junction with an old road. Once you reach the old road, the grade levels off for an easy hike to the upper trailhead.
Flathead Lake Bear Dance Trail 76 starts climbing up switchbacks then continue to climb up through a forested area to the trailhead on Crane Mountain Rd.
For a shorter family friendly hike, consider Flathead Lake Trail.
The Go Hike with Mike trail guide contains most every trail head in the Flathead and Kootenia Forest as well as the Mission Mountain Tribal Wilderness. Click here to purchase your copy.
Recreation Permits
Recreation Permits in the Flathead and Kootenai National Forest:
Recreation Permits are not required for hiking or camping on the Forest. The forest is open to the public all year except when extreme conditions threaten the forest (i.e., high potential of catastrophic fire, winter snow or extreme bad weather)
Permits when Camping and Hiking in National Parks
The interagency America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is honored nationwide at all Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Fish & Wildlife Service sites charging entrance or standard amenity fees. The Interagency Annual Pass is $80 for a year pass and is available to the general public.
Tribal Conservation Permit in Montana
CSKT Tribal Conservation permits when Camping and Hiking in the Mission Mountain Tribal Wilderness:
The Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness is located on the western slopes of the Mission Range. The area covers approximately 91,778 acres. It is roughly 34 miles long and five miles wide. Elevations range from four thousand to nearly ten thousand feet.
All recreational activities on Tribal owned lands require a non-member person over the age of 11 to purchase a Tribal Conservation Permit. All non-members must have on their person; whenever engaged in recreation activities on Tribally owned lands of the Reservation, a valid Flathead Reservation Use Permit, and any additional bird, fishing, or camping stamps as required. Certain Tribal campgrounds and recreation areas may have special regulations, which are posted, on site.
NOTE: Recreation Permits must be purchased in person initially from a retail outlet/Reservation Permit vendor to register. After that first registration you can purchase online. Reservation Permits are available on the internet at http://app.mt.gov/Als/Index
Pablo, MT at Zimmer Tackle
Plains, MT at Plains Service Center
Polson, MT at – CSKT, DFWRC, 406 6th Avenue East and Wal-Mart
Ronan, MT at Westland Seed
St. Ignatius, MT at Allard’s Stage Stop
Off-Road Motorized Vehicle Use, Motorcycles, ATVs, and Snowmobiles: Operating motorized vehicles off of authorized roadways is prohibited. For this purpose an authorized roadway is defined as a route specifically built as authorized by the Tribes for the purpose of motor vehicle use.
Hiking Equipment
Hiking equipment varies from trail to trail. You may not require walking poles on the Flathead Lake Trail, but may consider them for Phillips Trail. For your safety Mike recommends these items when hiking most all trails.
Hiking Equipment Essentials:
For just about anyone, hiking any trail Mike recommends this short list of 11 items:
- Map : Know where you are hiking.
- Compass : Again, know where you are.
- GPS: Mike recommends GARMIN
- Bear Spray
- More food and water then you need.
- Headlamp or flashlight
- First-aid kit
- Fire starter with Matches
- Knife
- Sunglasses, sun cream and a sun hat
- Spare warm clothing. Consider packing clothing you can layer.
Again, this a a basic list that Mike recommends. Additional gear is listed below.
Keep in mind you need to pack, carry everything you choose to have so choose wisely.
Hiking Equipment
- Lip balm : to prevent your lips from chapping.
- Spare batteries : in case your headlamp runs out of juice.
- Water filtration Water bottle : this will be useful if you run out of water.
- Shelter : this can be in the form of a tent, a bivy, a storm shelter or even just an emergency reflective blanket.
- Sleeping bag : in case you get caught in low-light and need the camp the night out.
- Whistle : Good way to get attention, can be life-saving if you get lost.
- Bug Spray : very useful for when the critters come out to play.
- Binoculars : you may be able to see an escape route that you can’t see with your naked eye.
- Trekking poles : these can be used for stability while walking while also making great splints should there be any injuries.
- Trash bag : remember : Leave No Trace!
- Dry Bag: Keeps thing dry when all is wet.
- Rain gear : you can never be too prepared for the rain.
- Piece of cord/rope : you will undoubtedly find a use for this, whether it’s a new shoelace or tying your whole shoe back together.
- Blister kit : this will be your best friend when those little blisters start to form.
- Toilet paper : you never know.
Itinerary of your hike : Leave one with a friend, and one in your car at the trail head. - Emergency contact info : have a piece of paper on you with this information, also any medications you may need to take.
- Flare: Mike keeps a flare in his pack when hiking trails. The purpose of the flare is you can start a fire in rainy or snowy weather.
The key here is to bring what you may need and hope you don’t need it…
Enjoy the Trail.
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