Anaconda

Often overlooked due not to its lack of scenery, but rather because of its proximity to both Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness in southwest Montana is a haven for hikers and backpackers seeking a true wilderness experience. Established in 1964, the area straddle...

Day 1: After pulling into the Middle Fork parking lot, there will be two trailheads. Sign in at either one, but I started at TH 28 to head directly to Johnson Lake. A gradual climb passes beautiful waterfalls and recovering burn scars dotted with flowers. To Johnson Lake is 5.2 miles with an elevati...

Drive along the park road until the road loops back near the campground. Park in any available space. From here, the falls are a short, 200 yard walk down a paved trail. Be sure to wear slip resistant shoes that you don't mind getting wet. After photographing the falls, be sure to follow the trail (...

Distance: 8 miles round-trip Time: 4 hours Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Trailhead: 46.135170, -113.207803 From MT-1, follow the signs for Trail 44 along Twin Lakes Creek Road until it ends. The trail begins at the end of the road. The area is largely second-growth forest, having been cut several tim...