North Fork of the Sun Saunter

Hike through one of the last truly pristine large river valleys in the lower 48 states on this 7-day trip. The North Fork of the Sun River is framed by the Sawtooth Range to the east and the Chinese Wall escarpment to the west, collecting water from small mountain streams for almost 30 miles and making it an angler’s dream and a hiker’s paradise. The mountains, rivers, and valleys all seem bigger on this trip as peaks rise over 3,000’ from the valley floor.

For the first leg of our journey, we’ll ride a boat up Gibson Resevoir, allowing us to sit back and enjoy the beautiful Sun Canyon reefs before starting our saunter up the North Fork. Most travel days are mellow, leaving us plenty of opportunities to cast a line into the river or explore the timbered ridges that rise from the valley. For those who enjoy a little scramble, we’ll climb to Beartop Lookout (8094′), a towering sentinel overlooking our entire route and beyond. With the presence of frequent smaller wildfires, the valley has retained an open feel, with parks, aspen groves, and patches of unburned timber making it attractive to humans and wildlife alike. We have seen elk, bears, moose, and wolves in the North Fork – Montana’s very own Serengeti. On our final leg, we will climb over a mountain pass that affords unparalleled views of the Great Plains to the east and the Chinese Wall to the west.

For an added bonus, Alyssa Davis of Traverse Yoga will be joining us and offering an optional daily yoga practice. This trip is wonderful for hikers seeking a more moderate pace, those who want to relax along the river, and backcountry anglers.   It offers great swimming holes, plenty of day hikes, wildlife viewing, and a matchless opportunity to explore a large portion of the wild North Fork of the Sun River Valley.