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Travel + Leisure
29-05-2025
- General
- Travel + Leisure
This Western State Is a Hidden Gem for Summer Wildflower Blooms—and These Are the Best Places to See Them
In Montana, spring doesn't arrive all at once, but rather it unfurls. It starts in low-elevation valleys, then moves across foothills and alpine meadows in colorful waves. Glacier lilies and arrowleaf balsamroot poke through melting snow before lupine, paintbrush, and beargrass scatter the landscape in purples, reds, and creamy whites. 'Wildflower bloom times are tied to elevation,' Kira Powell, the public affairs officer for the Flathead National Forest, told Travel + Leisure . 'Some plants live in lower elevations and start to bloom earlier, whereas some native plants make their homes in high alpine meadows that are still covered in snow when the lower elevation plants have already finished blooming.' For this reason, wildflower season in Montana can start as early as April and continue all the way through to September. We gathered intel from several U.S. Forest Service to find out the best places and times to see Montana's wildflower displays in full bloom. Custer Gallatin National Forest Some of the state's first blooms arrive in Custer Gallatin National Forest, which has low-elevation prairies and foothills. Morgan De Meyer, the public affairs specialist for the national forest, says that in April and May you'll spot glacier lilies and bitterroot (the Montana state flower). In 'mid-spring,' or May and June, De Meyer says, 'wildflowers begin to populate in higher elevations, including foothills and lower mountain slopes. This season brings a variety of blooms like arrowleaf balsamroot and shooting stars.' Flathead National Forest Not far behind the blooms of Custer are the wildflowers of Flathead National Forest, which sprawls in the northwestern corner of the state. According to Powell, 'One of the first plants to provide a showy bloom is the arrowleaf balsamroot, typically starting in May in lower elevations on sunny slopes.' She adds that Beardance Trail is a nice place to catch the forest's spring bloom. Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest South of Helena, Montana, is the South Hills Trail System, which is part of the expansive Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. The South Hills trails are known for their spring wildflowers, which typically start at the end of May and bloom through mid-June, according to Chiara Cipriano, the public affairs officer for the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Flathead National Forest As spring turns into summer, the wildflowers in Flathead become even more prominent. Powell suggests hiking the Danny On Trail, which she calls out for being 'a good spot for viewing a diversity of wildflowers … in June through early August.' She adds that the Jewel Basin area has great wildflowers but tends to be crowded, while 'the hike to Finger Lake crosses a bunch of different habitats and has some of the bench-like areas, which are excellent for flowers.' Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest The start of summer is also the start of wildflower season in southwest Montana, specifically the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. According to Jaime Trivette, the partnership coordinator for Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, 'Wildflowers start blooming generally in late June through early August.' Trivette adds that, 'the Gravelly Range Road opens on July 1, and blooming wildflowers can generally be seen around that time. This road is a great choice for those seeking the beauty of wildflowers without getting off the beaten path.' Meanwhile, those looking for more remote wildflower viewing will find it in the forest's Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness—specifically, Trivette notes, at Goat Flat. Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest In the central-west portion of the state, in Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Cipriano shares a few standout wildflower viewing spots—from trails and lakes to mountain passes. In late June to early July she recommends checking out the Willow Creek Trail near the town of Augusta and Lewis and Clark Pass near Lincoln. For wildflowers with water views, head to Heart Lake near Lincoln. Custer Gallatin National Forest In Custer Gallatin National Forest, in the south-central part of the state, the wildflowers tend to peak in June and July. De Meyer shares that during these months, 'alpine meadows, subalpine forests, and mountain valleys start to display species like paintbrushes, lupines, and columbines.' Later, as July slips into August, the wildflowers move to higher altitudes. The tall stalks of beargrass appear as do the intricate elephant's head lousewort flowers. Custer Gallatin National Forest In much of Montana, wildflower season wraps up in August, but in higher elevations, the blooms can continue into fall. In the higher elevation regions of Custer Gallatin National Forest, the wildflower season often extends into September. The trick is to get up high where the air is cooler. 'Hiking in the mountains during this time tends to produce alpine forget-me-nots and fireweed,' said De Meyer.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Plan to manage Flathead River recreation garners mixed reactions
Feb. 5—A proposed set of rules aimed at regulating recreation on the Flathead River is generating more questions than answers for many residents. After a five-year hiatus, the Forest Service last month released new information on the long-awaited Flathead Comprehensive River Management Plan, including a set of actions that aim to manage booming river traffic. Since the management plan's last revision in 1986, annual visitation to Glacier National Park has doubled and Flathead County has gained around 50,000 residents. Public affairs specialist for Flathead National Forest Kira Powell said the proposed actions look to balance the interests of an increasing number of paddlers, anglers and river recreationalists by prioritizing different experiences along different sections of the river. "Some segments provide more remoteness, and require more self-sufficiency, while other segments are more developed with more services provided. The proposal seeks to provide a balance of recreational opportunities," said Powell. The plan quantifies these different recreational opportunities through numerical user capacities. Along the South Fork, user capacities vary between 30 and 90 people per day, but the user capacities for high-traffic parts of the Middle Fork exceed 1,000 people per day. While the user capacities are not meant as restrictions or goals, the proposed numbers sparked frustration for many longtime river users who felt the capacities failed to capture how river recreation is changing. "For me, the issue is the imbalance between commercial rafting companies and the Flathead River system fishery," said Michael Basta, a longtime Flathead Valley resident and angler. In a written comment submitted through the Forest Service website, Basta said the uptick in commercial use over recent years has made it more difficult for him to enjoy the river, as large groups of rafts often scare away fish. Several other comments echo Basta's desire to limit commercial use of the river, referencing unpleasant run-ins with outfitter companies and busy river access sites. New limits on guide and outfitter service days are included in the list of proposed actions, but the suggested numbers exceed current use. Under the new proposal, service days would be capped at 86,000 for the whitewater stretch of the Middle Fork between Cascadilla and West Glacier, and 50,000 between West Glacier and the Middle Fork and South Fork confluence. The Forest Service estimated use for the combined stretch has averaged around 71,800 days in recent years. Another key aspect of the proposed plan is a new permit system that would impact people floating the North, South and Middle stems beginning in summer 2026. While the permits would be free and unlimited, some residents voiced concerns the change could be a first step to fully permitting the river. "Actions like this bring us one step closer to permitting the river so the ultra-wealthy that think they 'own' the river, can limit its use by the public," wrote Carson Diehl in a public comment. Others, like Dennis Drayna, said an unlimited permit system would not do enough to address overuse, and that the area's growing popularity made restrictions inevitable. "Everyone wants to recreate on the North Fork, but the reality is that not everyone who wants to will be able to do so if the river is to remain wild and scenic," said Drayna. Other proposed actions include a 50-person group size limit, prohibitions on noise levels above 60 decibels and camping on gravel bars, and a restriction on dogs between Bear Creek and Essex on the Middle Fork. As of Jan. 31, the proposed actions have garnered about 40 unique comments. Additional questions and comments can be submitted through Feb. 7 through an online portal. The Forest Service intends to share a full draft of the Flathead River Comprehensive Management Plan for public comment in August. Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at hsmalley@
