Trapper Peak supplies an abundance of outstanding high-mountain scenery atop the Bitterroot Mountains’ most immense and imposing summit.
Trapper Peak, Highest Point in the Bitterroot
The best times to tackle the beautiful Trapper Peak are from July to September, though perennial packets of snowfall at the summit are not unusual. An early start is suggested, as is an accurate weather forecast and a GPS system. Take plenty of water too, as there are no reliable water sources.
The trail starts at the Trapper Peak Trailhead and at 1.6 miles enters the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, the wilderness encompassing more than 2,000 square miles of lightly traversed, remote Montana and Idaho backcountry. Elevations with the Selway-Bitterroot wilderness range vary from less than 2,000 feet along the Selway River to the mammoth 10,157-foot zenith of Trapper Peak.
Hike Trapper Peak, Montana
Certain portions of the Trapper Peak Trail are poorly defined, ill-maintained, and hard to follow, especially on the return trip. The early segments trudge relentless upwards through lodgepole pine, white bark pine, and Douglas-fir. During the summer months, thick snowfields still cover much of the upper trail and mountain crest. At the halfway point, the trail wraps northwest and breaks free from the dark forest, leaving the realm of alpine larch and coming to light near the 9,000-foot contour.
The last half-mile or so of this hike becomes a mountaineer’s route, scooting boulders and rock fields. East of the apex, a massive detachment of Trapper Peak appears, where stacks of rock cairns indicate the true summit. To reach the lofty head of Trapper Peak requires a brief scramble atop huge rocks and stone. At 4.0 miles the trail reaches the summit of Trapper Peak, where a metal register and plaque greet the hearty, exhausted climber.
Peerless views of rock glaciers, strange curvatures, looming cirques, undulating granite and ice fields, and the rugged silhouettes of Montana and Idaho mountains near and far, reward climbers who reach the top of Trapper Peak. Trapper Peak is indeed an awesome atmosphere.
Directions to Trapper Peak, Bitterroot
Drive U.S. Highway 93 North to its junction with Montana Highway 473, 4.4 miles south of Darby. Follow the road south for 11.4 miles to a marked turnoff for Trapper Peak. Head up Lavene Creek Road 5630-A for 6.5 miles to reach the trailhead, a rather inconspicuous corner represented by wooden signs and a few tight parking spaces. Two-wheel drive vehicles shouldn’t encounter any problems along the way.
Brian D'Ambrosio - Brian D'Ambrosio is the author of more than 500 published articles and seven books, including From Haikus to Hatmaking: A Year in the Life ...
