Hiking meeting set in Havre Tuesday

Press release

People have a chance to stop, visit and learn about the summer hikes offered through the Montana Wilderness Association Wilderness Walks Program and the Havre Trails Hiking Program at an event next week in Havre.  

A kick-off event — Hiking and Public Lands — will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Triple Dog Brewing Co. at 651 First St. W.

Starting at 6:15 p.m., the event will include presentations by MWA Central Montana Field Director Mark Good and Havre Trails President Lindsey Brandt-Bennett featuring hikes in Central Montana and along the Hi-Line. They will be followed by a short presentation on the value of public lands by Nick Siebrasse with Havre Back Country Hunters and Anglers.

“This is a great way to learn about all the upcoming hikes, meet other outdoor enthusiasts, and support our wild places, while enjoying a Montana-brewed beer,” Brandt-Bennett said.

Beginning in May and lasting throughout the summer, Montana Wilderness Association is offering more than 100 free day hikes, field trips, and trail-building and maintenance projects across some of the state’s most magnificent backcountry, including wilderness areas, proposed wilderness areas, and roadless lands. This year’s line-up includes 22 hikes in north-central Montana including the Rocky Mountain Front, Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument and Big Snowy, Highwood and Little Belt island mountain ranges.

Wilderness Walks books are only provided to members of MWA, but the Walks are posted on the MWA website, http://wildmontana.org, and a book can be downloaded. People can join MWA or renew their membership at http://wildmontana.org//donate.

So far this year, Havre Trails has eight organized hikes in the Havre area, including hikes to Centennial Mountain and Bailey’s Mountain in the Bear Paw Mountainss as well as Devil’s Chimney in the Sweetgrass Hills. To learn more about the upcoming hikes, people cam visit the Havre Trails Facebook page.

About Montana Wilderness Association

Montana Wilderness Association is a community of people who love the outdoors and champion wild places. Founded in 1958, MWA works with communities to protect Montana’s wilderness heritage, quiet beauty, and outdoor traditions, now and for future generations. The group’s vision is for a Montana where, from the rugged mountains to the vast prairies, wild places are protected, connected and restored, because the citizens of the state value wilderness as essential to their heritage and way of life.

About Havre Trails

Havre Trails is a local organization for everyone interested in promoting and improving the walking, running, and bike paths in and around Havre with the goal of encouraging health, safety, access to nature, and a pride of place.

Lis of Wilderness Association hikes

This summer Montana Wilderness Association is offering more than 100 opportunities to get outdoors to learn some new skills, see new places, and meet new friends. This is just a sneak peek of local offerings. The full list of statewide hikes is available at http://wildmontana.org/walks, where people can also register.

Timber Creek

Sunday, May 21

6 miles, Moderately Strenuous Leader: Tim Faber

Experience the more primitive and less-traveled side of the Snowy Mountains while enjoying outstanding views of the eastern Montana plains, the Crazy Mountains, and other distant mountain ranges.

Wagner Basin

Saturday, May 27

3.5 miles, Easy

Leaders: Amy Grisak and Grant Grisak

Hike along limestone cliffs adorned with pictographs as you make your way to an open area known as Wagner Basin. This area showcases the local geology and is great for wildlife viewing and plant identification. One can then take a rest at the ‘skull tree’ before venturing farther.

Hannan Gulch

Saturday, June 3

2.5 miles, Easy

Leaders: Dan Bennett and Dave Shea

Start your hike at Hannan Gulch Bridge and follow the Sun River. Continue up to a saddle and onto a hogback, where there are amazing views. Join us to discuss plants, wildlife, geology, and history along the way.

Windy Peak

Sunday, June 4

7 miles, Moderately Strenuous

Leaders: Roger Peffer and Lindsay Brown

This hike is a beautiful loop through the heart of the Highwood Mountains. June is an excellent time to explore this area, as there should be an assortment of wildflowers. The trails start in a Douglas-fir forest and climbs to ridgelines with mixed fir/aspen and meadows of wildflowers. It then drops down, back into heavy forest along a creek and to our starting point.

North Fork Dupuyer Creek

Saturday, June 17

4 miles, Easy

Leaders: Dan Bennett and Dave Shea

Join us on a leisurely wildflower stroll across the Old North Trail and grizzly country. The hike will start at Johnson's Crossing and wander across the prairie toward North Fork Canyon, with Walling Reef as a backdrop. Dave Shea, legendary naturalist and former Glacier Park ranger, will help identify wildflowers, wildlife species, and the outstanding geology of the area.

Buffalo Lakes

Sunday, June 18

4 miles, Easy

Leaders: Kendall Flint and Miki Flint

Join us on a journey to Buffalo Lake, a short distance into the Badger Two-Medicine. There will be opportunities to stop and look back at Glacier National Park's mountains, check out wildflowers, and listen for birds.

Crown Butte

Saturday, June 24

3 to 4 miles, Moderately Strenuous Leader: Roger Peffer

Crown Butte is a local gem that is accessible nearly all-year long. The hike to Crown Butte travels through native prairies and at the top, beautiful views of the Rocky Mountain Front, Highwood Mountains, and Big and Little Belts are visible. From atop the cliffs you can look down on Prairie Falcons as they cruise the thermal winds along the cliff faces.

Two Medicine Fight Site

Tuesday, June 27

4 miles, Moderate

Leaders: Larry Epstein and Callie Epstein

Walk a wild stretch of prairie through river breaks and cottonwoods to the historic site where Meriwether Lewis and his party encountered the Blackfeet. This is a great opportunity to learn about the events surrounding this significant Corps of Discovery conflict.

Tenderfoot and Deep Creek

Saturday, July 1

5 miles, Moderate Leader: Randy Gray

Experience grand views of the Tenderfoot and Deep Creek drainages in the Little Belt Mountains. Located within Smith River country, this is a place where MWA is working to protect wilderness character. You can camp at Logging Creek Campground or other sites in the area for the weekend if you like.

Hall Creek

Saturday, July 1

6 miles, Moderate

Leaders: Casey Perkins and Miki Flint

This hike enters the stunning Badger-Two Medicine wildlands, west of East Glacier Park. We will follow trails from the South Fork of the Two Medicine River to historic Hall Creek and the proposed Hall Creek oil well site.

Ice Caves

Sunday, July 2

12 miles, Extremely Strenuous

Leaders: Sadie Russell and Sarah Dettemer

This hike to the Big Snowy Mountains offers incredible views that stretch from Wyoming to Canada. We will climb to the top of the Snowies, traverse several miles along the top, and then drop down to the Ice Caves, where snow and ice linger throughout the summer.

Lost Fork

Friday, July 7

7 miles, Moderate

Leaders: Chuck Jennings and Gerry Jennings

As part of an event to celebrate the artist Charlie Russell, MWA, in cooperation with the Montana Painters Alliance and the C.M. Russell Museum, will lead a hike into the backcountry area Russell described as a 'hunter’s paradise.' Hikers have an opportunity to see elk calving grounds, beaver dams, and a scenic canyon. Several members of the Montana Painters Alliance will be setting up easels and capturing the beauty of the area through their art.

Ear Mountain and Yeager Flats

Saturday, July 8

6 miles, Moderate

Leaders: Dan Bennett and Dave Shea

Explore the rich transitional landscape of the Rocky Mountain Front. You will have the opportunity to see a wide variety of plants and animals and to discuss the history of the Métis and the Old North Trail.

Middle Fork Judith

Saturday, July 8

5 miles, Moderate

Leaders: Noel Birkland and Mark Good

As part of an event to celebrate the artist Charlie Russell, MWA, in cooperation with the Montana Painters Alliance and the C.M. Russell Museum, will lead a hike into the Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area. You will explore some grottos and a very scenic canyon.

North Teton Hike

Saturday, July 15

2 miles, Easy

Leaders: Mary Thibaudeau and Maria Winslow

Experience native wildflowers and possibly wildlife along this hike. This leisurely walk showcases the area as we lunch on the banks of the Teton River with Mount Wright as a backdrop. Join us as we experience Mother Nature at her finest.

Maynard Ridge and Lost Peak

Saturday, July 15 10 miles, Strenuous Leader: Tim Faber

The Big Snowy Mountains remain the most intact, roadless island range in Central Montana. The hike travels through an old-growth forest and gradually ascends to an open ridge.

Half Dome

Saturday, July 22

12 miles Extremely Strenuous

Leaders: Dylan Desrosier and Kendall Edmo

Join knowledgeable local leaders for an off-trail adventure in the unparalleled Badger-Two Medicine area. From the top of Half Dome peak, you will be able to see for hundreds of miles into Glacier National Park and down the Rocky Mountain Front.

Cow Creek

Saturday, August 26 - Sunday, August 27 6 miles, Moderate

Leader: Tim Faber

Enjoy a scenic drive along the Bear Paw Mountains on the historic Cow Island Trail, where bullwhackers freighted during the Missouri River steamboat era. On Saturday night camp out under the stars overlooking Cow Island and on Sunday hike along the Nez Perce Trail and into the Cow Creek Wilderness Study Area.

Middle Fork Judith

Saturday, September 16

13 miles, Moderately Strenuous

Leaders: Noel Birkland and Sandy Birkland

Explore a diverse landscape in the island ranges. This area has amazing views, large caves, tremendous cliffs, and rock formations. This adventure will venture across the Judith River. After the hike, a must stop visit is the Oxen Yoke Inn for one of their famous burgers.