BUTTE, HELENA, AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA - Montana and Wyoming - page 340

There are numerous outfitters eager to introduce anglers to the trout in the Big Hole
River. Among them are Sunrise Fly Shop (472 Main St., Melrose, 406/835-3474,
www.sunriseflyshop.com , $475 full-day guided float trip for 1 angler, $400 full-day back-
country fly-fishing) and Troutfitters (62311 Hwy. 43, 2 miles west of Wise River, 406/
832-3212, www.bigholetroutfitters.com , $480 full-day guided float trip for 2, $60 rod for
trophy ponds), both of which can also provide lodging.
Rockhounding
There is a reason this part of the state is known locally as Gold West Country. There are a
number of places still open to rockhounding. One of the best places to look for gems is at
Crystal Park (Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway/Rd. 73, 406/683-3900, May 15-Sept. 30
depending on road conditions, $5/vehicle day use), at 7,800 feet elevation high in the Pion-
eer Mountains, where visitors can dig for quartz crystal and amethyst, among other stones.
There are picnic benches and grills on-site as well as toilets.
Hiking
The Big Hole is surrounded by the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (406/
683-3900, www.fs.fed.us/r1/b-d ) , the state's largest national forest, which encompasses
several mountain ranges and innumerable phenomenal hiking trails. Three of the longest
running through the region are the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, the Nez
Perce National Historic Trail, and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.
A great day hike near Elkhorn Hot Springs is the trail to beautiful Sawtooth Lake, filled
with colorful lake trout. It's a 4-mile hike to the lake (and 4 miles back), climbing just over
1,500 vertical feet. The trailhead is off Willman Creek Road (Forest Rd. 7441). Go east
on Willman Creek Road through the Taylor subdivision for 1.8 miles until it forks; keep
right for 0.3 mile to the trailhead, where you'll see the parking lot and vault toilet. The trail
crosses the creek twice, which can be treacherous at high water or any time the logs are wet.
CAMPING
There are countless campsites in the vast Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (406/
683-3900, www.fs.fed.us/r1/b-d ) . You can choose RV campgrounds, tent sites, or even cab-
in rentals by location on the website.
The Boulder Creek Campground (406/689-3243, $8-10/night summer, free in winter)
near Wise River has 13 sites in a high-elevation and heavily wooded site; another with only