Picks and Pans – From Red Lodge to Great Falls, MT

We stopped here for the night on our way out of Montana before we got back into Yellowstone for some hiking. It was another in a string of cheap ($9), well-maintained National Forest campgrounds (this one had potable water spigots and pit toilets). Another plus: we were fairly close to the northeast/Cooke City entrance to Yellowstone for our drive in the next morning. The only thing that kept us from thoroughly enjoying our forested campsite were the SWARMS of mosquitoes that were lurking at our picnic table hoping for the return of the 4th of July crowds, even while they made due with our paltry blood sacrifice.

The first 2.5 miles of this out and back hike were a little on the flat side, but the scenery was great! Surrounded by mountains on all sides, I was envisioning a return to use the trail in its wintertime capacity as a cross country skiing trail. However, once you get to the edge of the canyon, the 1.5 miles down to the falls are all steep elevation change, which explains the spectacular waterfall into the canyon. We didn’t see any osprey, but we did have a nice relaxing picnic lunch before we had to chug back up the steep wall of the canyon.

Another highlight on our Yellowstone tour. We glossed over some of the early attractions to avoid the crowds on this one way loop road, but the tree swallowing beauty of Orange Spring Mound and Angel Terrace drew us in for a stop.

Although a little more limited in number than the showers at Fishing Bridge, the $3.25 showers at the Mammoth Springs Hotel were certainly welcome after our 8 mile hike out to Osprey Falls.

After a day of hiking in the Mammoth Springs section of Yellowstone, we left through the north entrance near Gardiner, MT. Lucky for us, we were still in the Gallatin National Forest, which means… more cheap campgrounds. This one was right off the highway and only 7 bucks per night (no potable water available). And it was perfectly placed to start us on our drive up Hwy 89 to Great Falls and my family.

Coffee Crossing is a great combination of an old school, small town coffee shop where nobody’s a stranger and a new fangled coffee shop that serves up quality java in any way you’d like it. Plus, as a result of our long stay at Coffee Crossing, we were in still in Livingston when my dad came through town for work. It was a special treat to see him in such an unexpected place!!