Sometimes you find the greatest beauty close to home. It’s funny - I grew up in Philadelphia and yet I did not visit the historic district of the city until several years after my family moved away to the Jersey shore. We oftentimes ignore what is right in our own backyard. Here in Montana I literally have a world class trout river as my backyard. Not that I am much of a flyfisherperson. The hubby is but that is neither here nor there. Where I am leading with all of this is that it is fun to find the gems that are right in your neighborhood. This past week the hubby and I did just that as my oldest girlfriend - in terms of how long I have known her, not as to her age - came to visit for a few days. It was a perfect opportunity to go on one of my favorite things to do. Yes, other than hiking which is pretty much more like walking in the woods for me now, I like nothing more than taking beautiful drives in Montana because there is just much gorgeous scenery.
Trout Creek Road
Trout Creek Road (Forest Service Road 250) is a long, unpaved, twisty road to Hoodoo Pass and Idaho. It’s not exactly a fast drive but it’s incredibly scenic. I’ve been to the top a couple of times. There are several well known hiking destinations there including Heart Lake and State Line Trail.
The view from the top looking over to Idaho is just gorgeous. That’s me and my friend. I’ve known her since I was 12 years old. Let’s just note that has been a very long time and leave it at that. I’ve mentioned before that the hubby and I traveled about the country in a fifthwheel trailer for three years. As part of that adventure we would always visit my friend in Georgia around Christmas. Good times.
This was her first time seeing Montana and she was only here for three days - two and a half really - so we couldn’t do too much. The second day she was here we went for our drive. We showed her the Trout Creek Campground - a Forest Service Campground - where we were camphosts for three summers. It’s on (surprise, surprise) Trout Creek Road and it’s on the Trout Creek. From there we took the road all the way to the top which is just over 6,000 feet.
A Beautiful Day
We had an absolutely perfect day for the drive. It was warm, the sky was just about cloudless and it was that glorious Montana blue that can only be found in the summer. The drive follows the Trout Creek so as you go up (and down for that matter) you can see the water rushing although at some points you are a bit too high to really see it. It originates from Heart Lake and it ends in the Clark Fork.
After we dipped our tires into Idaho just to say we did, we turned around and headed over to Plains but that’s another drive for another post. In fact we meandered our way all the way to Trout Creek, Montana! The hubby and I had never been to Trout Creek so that was fun.
We found ourselves in Paradise right around dinner time so we pulled into Quinn’s Hot Springs and had a delicious meal at Harwood House. Let me just write that the duck is awesome. My friend had the prime rib and she thoroughly enjoyed it. The hubby had trout and there was nothing left on his plate. I have never had a bad meal at Harwood House.
Beautiful Drives in Montana
There are so many beautiful drives in Montana to be taken and hopefully I will be sharing more of them with you in the near future. I haven’t been anywhere in this state that hasn’t caused me to just stare at the scenery in awe. I am so happy we are here. If you ever get the chance to visit Superior I suggest that you take the Trout Creek Road drive - you won’t be disappointed.
Questions? Comments? Leave them HERE
ANY PURCHASE LINKS ARE AFFILIATE LINKS WHICH MEANS IF YOU BUY ANYTHING THROUGH THEM I WILL RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION (AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE TO YOU)
