Trail Well Traveled

Since the summer of 2016 the Trail 103.3 has partnered with Montana Wilderness Association to highlight the best Montana outdoor destinations for hiking, biking, floating and skiing.

Every week Craig features a new trail on his Morning Show, tell you what to expect when you get there, and then gives one lucky listener some freebies to help them on their way.

Tune in to the Trail 103.3 every Friday at 9:50 am for the Trail Well Traveled – and make sure to to stay on top of our weekly selections at trail1033.com.

And in the meantime, check out the Montana Wilderness Association’s new user-friendly trails website, hikewildmontana.org, for tips, suggestions, destinations, maps, photos and more!

Thanks to Rangitsch Brothers for sponsoring this weekly travel program!

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Featured Trails Past:

10/27 – Three Larches Trail: A quick trek along an easily accessed – but infrequently used – trail in the Rattlesnake Recreation Area

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0/20 – Warm Springs Ponds WMA: A simple in-between seasons hike to catch the fall colors and do some bird-watching

10/13 – Johnson Peak Trail to McCart Lookout, Trail #435: An easy hike through pleasant forest to a lookout with a stunning view

10/6 – Heart Lake Trail #171: An awesome day trip from Missoula along one of the most heavily used trails in the Proposed Great Burn Wilderness

9/29 – PNT Bluebird Lake: A wonderful – and relatively easy – hike to a backcountry lake in the Ten Lakes National Scenic Area

9/22 – CDT Homestake Pass North #87: Use your imagination to name the rock formations strewn along this stroll through the Boulder Batholith

9/15 – Mission Falls & Lucifer Lake: A moderate hike to waterfalls with a beautiful view and on to a lake that has earned its name

9/8 – Daisy Peak Loop: A long day hike sampling the Little Belt Mountains and an awesome rock arch.

9/1 – Odell Creek Trail: Journey along high alpine wetlands into the Centennial Mountains

8/25 – Targhee Creek Trail #027: Enjoy the splendor of Yellowstone without all the crowds

8/18 – Deadman Lake #91: An overnight backpacking trip in the Italian Peaks Proposed Wilderness in the southernmost point of Montana

8/11 – Medicine Point Lookout Trail #181: A steep hike to a restored lookout in the Bitterroots with panoramic views

8/4 – Waterworks Hill: Great views of the Missoula valley with little effort and, in spring, fields of uncommon wildflowers

7/28 – Three Larches Trail: A quick trek along an easily accessed – but infrequently used – trail in the Rattlesnake Recreation Area

7/21 – Trail Fork to Sphinx Mountain: Your choice: A long day hike, an overnight loop, or a short out-and-back in the Lee Matcalf Wilderness

7/14 – Bobcat Lakes, Trail #226: Knock off three beautiful high-mountain lakes in one hike

7/7 – Warrior Mountain: A chance to glimpse Glacier National Park from the tops of the beautiful and wild Swan Range

6/30 – Sleeping Woman (Ch-paa-qn) Peak, Trail #98: Hike to a unique 360-degree view of three valleys

6/23 – Kircher Trail: A short out-and-back nature trail easily accessed from Big Sky’s Meadow Village and Town Center

6/16 – Cave Ridge Hike: A gentle hike through forests and meadows along limestone canyons with abundant wildflowers in season

6/9 – Bass Creek Overlook: A short hike close to home with nice views of a beautiful Bitterroot creek

6/2 – Lone Pine State Park Loop: A close-to-town state park near Kalispell where locals come to to show off the views to visitors or to run the trails

5/26 – Welcome Creek Trail #225 to Cinnebar Cabin: A short, easy creekside hike with talus slope views to the remains of a historic cabin

5/19 – Humbug Spires: Wander among unique towering megaliths in this unprotected roadless area

5/12 – Blodgett Creek Trail #19: A fairly easy hike not too far outside of Missoula with awesome scenery

5/5 – Crazy Canyon Trail: One of the most popular trail systems in Missoula – close, accessible and suitable for both two-and four-leggeds of all ages

4/28 – South Fork Lolo Creek #311: Hike into the proposed South Fork Lolo Creek Wilderness addition to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

4/21 – Grambauer Mountain Trail #319: The northernmost trail into the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness offers great views, lots of wildlife, and high alpine forest

4/14 – Rooster Comb: An easy-to-moderate climb to the crest of the Sapphire Wilderness Study Area, with views in all directions

4/7 – Buffalo Creek: Rugged river cliffs and breaks perfect for anyone looking to explore some rugged country in solitude

3/31 – Mo Z to Crooked Trail: A  short but wonderful hike on Mount Sentinel that sees very little use

3/24 – North Cottonwood Trail #545-6: A great hike with views during mud season in Bozeman … or for early spring wildflowers

3/17 – Kirk Hill: An easy trail that’s short but fun, with many ways to go

3/10 – Madison Buffalo Jump State Park: Combine history and hiking along a cliff once used to harvest bison

3/3 – Leverich Canyon Trail: A nice day hike south of Bozeman through a forest with beautiful spring wildflowers

2/17 – Packer Meadows Ski Loop at Lolo Pass: We featured this majestic winter wonderland in December, but it was so nice we just HAD to feature it again

2/10 – Devil’s Glen via Dearborn River Trail #206: A short hike/ski to a beautifully sculpted canyon to glimpse the rushing waters of the Dearborn River

2/3 – Bohart Ranch XC Ski Center: Enjoy the wide open trails of this cross-country ski resort for breathtaking views of the Bridger Mountains

1/27 – Ski to Marshall Lake: Great views of the Swan Range and abundant wildlife tracks make this moderate ski into the Missions the perfect way to spend half a day

1/20 – Skeeboggan Trail: Take the kids and let them pretend the trail-side rock formations are forts or castles

1/13 – Ross Creek Cedars Trail #405 Majestic: Towering cedars with a short nature trail accessible year-round

1/6 – Bigfork Foothills XC Trail: Easy, flat nordic ski trails through a mosaic of forested and logged areas

12/23 – Seeley Creek Ski Trails: Excellent any time of year – but during the winter users will find some of the best Nordic skiing on the planet

12/16 – Blacktail XC Trails – “Alpine” Loop: Groomed Nordic trails high above Flathead Lake

12/9 – May Creek to May Creek Cabin: A short, serene hike, ski or snowshoe along a willow flat and creek – leading to one of the US Forest Service’s many rentable rustic cabins

12/2 – Packer Meadows Ski Loop at Lolo Pass: A cross-country ski loop in a majestic winter wonderland

11/18 – Big Hole Lookout: A gradual but steady six-mile climb to a lookout with 360 degree views looking towards the Missions and Cabinet Mountains

11/11 – Ousel Falls Trail: This short, paved trail through a gorge to a wide waterfall is a great choice for kids or visitors who aren’t acclimated to Big Sky’s altitude – and it’s magical year-round

11/4 – Garnet Mountain National Recreation Trail: An old fire lookout tower provides expansive views over the northern Gallatin and Madison ranges – with a cabin that can be rented overnight

10/28 – Red Mountain Saddle (aka Bacon Rind): Want sweeping views of the high peaks of the Madison and lower Gallatin Ranges? Enjoy the best views within a 90 minute drive of Bozeman

10/21 – Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir: A great hike for fall or spring bird-watching and leaf-peeping

10/14 – Bonanza Lakes: With panoramic views into Idaho, this trail passes through dry forest, talus slopes and berry patches on the way to two alpine lakes stocked with healthy brook trout populations

10/7 – Baker Lake, Trail #234: An easy family-friendly day hike that culminates at a beautiful alpine lake in the shadow of Trapper Peak

9/30 – Rattlesnake Main Trail: A close-to-home easy stroll that shows off why it’s so easy to fall in love with Missoula

9/23 – Blodgett Creek Trail #19: A fairly easy hike not too far out of town with awesome scenery

9/16 – Boulder Lakes Trail #142: A run-of-the-mill hike transforms over several miles into one of the most beautiful journey’s in all of western Montana

9/9 – South Fork Lolo Creek #311: Hike into the proposed South Fork Lolo Creek Wilderness addition to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

9/2 – Turquoise Lake: A difficult but exciting hike in a giant bathtub of rock walls, you’ll talk of this hike for years

8/26 – Vista Point Loop: A pretty little loop just with great views of Missoula and surrounding mountains

8/19 – Ringing Rocks: One of just seven places in the world where the rocks will resonate like bells when struck by a hammer

8/12 – Willow Creek to the Palisades, Trail #300: A surprising gem in the Sapphires, with views to the Bitterroots and beyond

8/5 – Hub Lake: A three-mile stroll through ancient cedars to a beautiful alpine lake basin with expansive views

7/29 – Avalanche Lake: A cascading waterfall and a lush forest of ferns and mosses concluding at one of the most beautiful lake scenes in all of western Montana

7/22 – Hazel and Hub Lakes: Deep cedar forests, big ridgeline views and plentiful lakes – this trail highlights the best of it all

7/15 – Lime Gulch Trail #267: Brilliant wildflowers in the spring and early summer, beautiful views of snow-capped peaks in the fall – and wildlife year-round

7/8 – Camas Creek, Trail #125: Quick access to beautiful country and a lake in the Bitterroot Mountains  – Camas Creek Trail should be one of your first choices

7/1 – Glacier Lake, Trail #327: A quick and very enjoyable way to enjoy a beautiful lake in the Mission Mountain Wilderness Area

6/24 – Nez Perce Pass to Castle Rock Trail #16: A beautiful climb ending with a fun scramble up a pile of rocks to the summit – rewarding for both kids and grownups

6/17 – Hall Lake: Venture through noble fir and paper birch through the wooded Groom Creek canyon to a subalpine lake known for its amazing fishing potential

6/10 – Munson Creek: An incredible diversity of flora and fauna in a relatively short distance

6/3 – Continental Divide Trail – Alice Creek to Lewis and Clark Pass: A hike is steeped in history and perfect for those just getting back into hiking mode

5/27 – Mt. Aeneas: The highest point in the Flathead Range, this hike is highlighted by amazing views of the peaks of Glacier National Park

5/20 – Whitaker Bridge Rail Trail: A quiet trail along the Blackfoot River with lots of gravel beaches – perfect for a kids, dogs and novice hikers