Crooked Mountain, Bob Marshall Wilderness Area
Trailhead: Pondera Public Park and Campground at Swift Reservoir
Distance: 5 miles one-way
Difficulty: Medium
This backpacking trip is a great weekend trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness to escape the rush of daily life and experience the Eastern side of Montana’s Rocky Mountains. The Bob Marshall Wilderness Area was established as part of the Wilderness Act of 1964, which designated certain areas as protected wilderness, free from development and motorized vehicles. This wilderness area provides ample opportunities to enjoy solitude, see a diverse array of wildlife, and travel an expansive network of trails.
Alternate Trip Options:
Boat Across Swift Reservoir and start hiking from the SW side of the lake.
Do this as a day hike!
Extend this into a longer backpacking loop along Birch Creek to Phone Creek to Potshot Creek to Canyon Creek and back to Hell Roaring Spring connection with the primary trail along Swift Reservoir
Click on map for link to map
2 or 3-day Backpacking Trip Description:
Day 1: Head along the lake to the South end of Swift Reservoir, where Birch Creek (its a river let’s be real) meets the large water body. You’ll pass Hell Roaring Spring, gushing water out of the ground and if its warm, there is easy shorline access as you get closer to the S side of the reservoir. There is an existing campsite on the E side of Birch Creek, with existing fire rings, where the trail crosses over the river. If you can continue 2 miles beyond that, hiking to the next trail junction provides a more remote and secluded experience. This is approximately 5.3 miles one way from the trail head and gains 1,180’ (but loses about 800’), so is a great trail for beginners who can manage some up and down hill both directions.
Day 2: Explore deeper into the Bob Marshall with a day hike or head back the same way you came for a simple, one-night camp-out! Recommended Day hikes for the most open views would be to head up the South Fork of Birch Creek. The Middle Fork of Birch Creek is still worth a short hike to see the steep, rocky drainage between Crooked Mountain and Mount Sentinel.
