Hiking Schedule

The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness is proud to present our hike series. Winter and summer, we have a hike for everyone, from easy family hikes to overnight trips for experienced bushwhackers (We also have a selection of snowshoes and hiking poles to lend). Come join us for one of our organized hikes and see first hand why the Scotchmans deserve the protection of wilderness designation.

Group size is limited and reservations are required. To sign up contact the RetreatFromStarPeak copy

hike leader listed.

Below this Hiking Schedule is a map with a key that references the trail heads. If you can’t make one of these scheduled hikes, be sure to visit our “Self-Styled Hikes” page.

Please Note: On occasion circumstances force us to change this schedule. If you intend on joining us for any of these volunteer led Group Hikes, be SURE to sign up in advance and also re-confirm with the hike leader a day or so before the hike in case of any unavoidable last minute changes.

Be sure to check out our Scotchman Peaks Education Series hikes and special stewardship projects !

Rating Key: E = Easy M = Moderate S = Strenuous D = Difficult-Experienced Only
Hike Date	Rating	Hike Name	Hike Leader
06/02/12 Saturday	M	National Trails Day: Regal Creek with the family dog!	Phil Hough
Join us for a hike along the newly reconstructed Regal Creek Trail, rebuilt as part of our 2011 National Trails Day celebration. This walk will be along an old mining road, largely in the shade, but with outstanding views up and down Lightning Creek as we cross a large bolder field. This walk is family friendly including your furry friends (dogs) which must be socialized, respond to voice commands and be able to be put on a leash if needed. Overall difficulty is moderate. Space is limited, reservations required. This is a National Trails Day Event! Contact: Phil Hough phil@scotchmanpeaks.org
06/03/12 Sunday	E	Ross Creek Cedars	Carol and Irv Jenkins
Discover the majestic forest cathedral that is Ross Creek Cedars. This loop trail winds through a grove of ancient, perhaps thousand-year-old cedar trees. Lush ferns and moss grow profusely in this magnificent example of an inland temperate rainforest. Picnic tables are available to eat lunch by Ross Creek. Contact: Carol and Irv Jenkins irvorcarol2011@gmail.com 208-265-9204
06/09/12 Saturday	E/M	Old Growth Ecology with Brian Baxter	Brian Baxter
All day. This begins at 9 Pacific time with a classroom component at the Heron Community Center before transitioning to the Ross Creek Cedars. Bring a lunch and wear clothing appropriate to the weather, which can change quickly. Bring raingear. A Scotchman Peaks Education Series hike and National Trails Day event. Cosponsored by Pend Oreille Chapter of Idaho Master Naturalists. Contact: Brian Baxter trails@scotchmanpeaks.org or b_baxter53@yahoo.com
06/10/12 Sunday	E	Little Waders and Streamside Detectives	Mindy Ferrell
Little Waders: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For kids ages 5 – 8. Kids will explore the shoreline along the Clark Fork River for bugs and other critters. Each participant will need to bring a day pack, water bottle, and extra shoes or sandals that can get wet. Parents are asked to join in the fun and help supervise their little ones. Streamside Detectives: 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. For kids ages 9 – 11. This camp will explore both still and moving water and search out what makes each environment so special. Detectives will take samples and explore the water’s edge of both a slough alongside the Clark Fork River, and the more speedy waters of Pilgrim Creek. Participants are asked to bring a day pack, a water bottle, notebook and pencil, and shoes that can get wet. Contact Mindy Ferrell at mferrell_9874@yahoo.com Contact: Mindy Ferrell mferrell_9874@yahoo.com
06/16/12 Saturday	E/M	Leave No Trace awareness and rehab project	Dennison Webb
All Day. This experiential Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop will focus on Leave No Trace practices and ethics. Participants will leave with a greater appreciation for our natural world, through exploring their own land ethic. In addition, individuals will participate in a service-project to rehab a recreation area which will reinforce lesson topics. Participants should be in moderate physical condition and be prepared to be on trail all day, including appropriate outdoor gear, a nutritious lunch/snacks, and (2) 1 liter water bottles. This is a Scotchman Peaks Education Series hike. Contact: Dennison Webb trails@scotchmanpeaks.org or dennison.webb@soleexperiences.org
06/30/12 Saturday	E/M	Riparian Ecology with Brian Baxter	Brian Baxter
All day. This begins at 9 Pacific time with a classroom component at the Heron Community Center before transitioning to the Ross Creek Cedars. All day. Bring a lunch and wear clothing appropriate to the weather, which can change quickly. Bring raingear, a trekking pole and waterproof footwear. A Scotchman Peaks Education Series hike and National Trails Day event. Cosponsored by Pend Oreille Chapter of Idaho Master Naturalists. Contact: Brian Baxter b_baxter53@yahoo.com or trails@scotchmanpeaks.org
06/30/12 Saturday	M/S	Archeological History In Spar Creek	Rachel Reckin, USFS Archeologist
This hike will focus on the Native American foraging lifeway that sustained people in NW Montana/Northern Idaho for at least 8,000 years prior to European arrival. As we make our way along the trail, we will talk about native plant use, hunting strategies, fishing, cooking, and what archaeology tells us about the way the ancient inhabitants of the Scotchman/Cabinet ecosystem lived. Little Spar Lake is a beautiful and popular Scotchmans hike of moderate difficulty. This will be an all-day trip. Snowshoes may be required. Group size limit: 8 Distance: 8 miles round trip. Elevation gain. 2200 feet. A Scotchman Peaks Education Series hike. Contact: Rachel Reckin, USFS Archeologist rachel.reckin@gmail.com
07/07/12 Saturday	E/M	Montana Native Plant Society Hike to Surprise Gulch and Grouse Lake	Judy Hutchins and Brian Lesica of MNPS
Meet at the Rest Area at the junction of US Highway 2 and Mt Hwy 56 (Bull River/ Lake highway) about 3 miles south east of Troy, Montana at 9:00am. From there we will carpool to Keeler Creek and work our way towards the Idaho border. We will check out Surprise Draw and bushwhack up to Grouse Lake in the Kootenai National Forest. Be prepared to get your feet wet as well as to tramp through forested understory. Bring all the usual food, water, bug dope, etc, you might need for several hours in the woods. Contact: Judy Hutchins and Brian Lesica of MNPS jhutchins7494@aol.com
07/08/12 Sunday	M/S	Star Peak Trail Rebuild Kickoff	John Bauer
Help rebuild the historic tread to Star Peak! This stewardship opportunity with our Forest Service partners on the Cabinet Ranger District will be the kickoff for a summer-long project to reclaim a trail abandoned decades ago for another route designed for motorized use. The effort is the result of a discovery by Recreation Tech Joel Sather of an old map of the area showing a trail that once ran up the west side of Big Eddy Creek, on the other side of the drainage from the road that now makes up the lower half of trail #998. The old-new tread will have its own trailhead near the bottom of Fatman Road # 2292 and join the upper trail above the end of the old road, allowing hikers great views of the Clark Fork valley as well as a great trip on a trail designed for non-motorized use. This is for volunteers with moderate to very good fitness, only. Work includes using pulaskis, shovels and loppers as well as moving rocks, small logs and “swamping” for Forest Service sawyers. Volunteers are required to wear hardhats (provided) and long pants (no shorts, please), and should wear stout trail shoes or boots and bring gloves, sunscreen, energy snacks, a good lunch and lots of water. There will be several more workdays on trail #998 as summer progresses. Check for other days in the hike schedule below. Other, unposted opportunities, which we will keep volunteers appraised of, may arise. Contact: John Bauer trails@scotchmanpeaks.org
07/14/12 Saturday	S++	Scotchman Triple Header	Jim Mellen
Three peaks, triple black diamond rated. Begin at the Little Spar trailhead, continue to Little Spar Lake, Scotchman 2, Scotchman, Goat Mountain and exit at the Goat Mt. trailhead. Since this is several notches beyond difficult, the participants need to be prepared to spend a night if necessary. Total mileage 12 +. Elevation gain and loss and gain. 8,000 + Limited to 8 hikers. Contact: Jim Mellen jimnsandii@gmail.com
07/20/12 Friday	M/S	Friday workday on Star Peak Trail rebuild	John Bauer
Help rebuild the historic tread to Star Peak! This stewardship opportunity with our Forest Service partners on the Cabinet Ranger District is a summer-long project to reclaim a trail abandoned decades ago for another route designed for motorized use. The old-new tread will have its own trail head near the bottom of Fatman Road # 2292 and join the upper trail above the end of the old road, allowing hikers great views of the Clark Fork valley as well as a great trip on a trail designed for non-motorized use. This is for volunteers with moderate to very good fitness, only. Work includes using pulaskis, shovels and loppers as well as moving rocks, small logs and “swamping” for Forest Service sawyers. Volunteers are required to wear hardhats (provided) and long pants (no shorts, please), and should wear stout trail shoes or boots and bring gloves, sunscreen, energy snacks, a good lunch and lots of water. There will be several more workdays on trail #998 as summer progresses. Check for other days in the hike schedule below. Other, unposted opportunities, which we will keep volunteers appraised of, may arise. Contact: John Bauer trails@scotchmanpeaks.org
07/21/12 Saturday	M/S	Little Spar Lake	Sarah Lundstrum
A moderate hike though the lush Spar Creek canyon, a fine example of interior rain forest, brings us to sparkling, green Little Spar Lake, one of the best overnight options in the Scotchmans. Group size limit 8 Distance: 8 miles round trip. Elevation gain. 2200 feet Contact: Sarah Lundstrum slundstrum@wildmontana.org 406-755-6304
08/01/12 Wed. thru Sun.	S+	Extreme Pleinair	Sandy Compton
This annual hike to explore and paint the interior of the Scotchmans is nearly full, but we will accept one or two more hikers or artists for a 4-night, 5-day paintout in the Scotchmans. Contact: Sandy Compton sandy@scotchmanpeaks.org
08/03/12 Friday	M/S	Friday workday on the Star Peak Trail rebuild	John Bauer
Help rebuild the historic tread to Star Peak! This stewardship opportunity with our Forest Service partners on the Cabinet Ranger District is a summer-long project to reclaim a trail abandoned decades ago to another route designed for motorized use. The old-new tread will have its own trail head near the bottom of Fatman Road # 2292 and join the upper trail above the end of the old road, allowing hikers great views of the Clark Fork valley as well as a great trip on a trail designed for non-motorized use. This is for volunteers with moderate to very good fitness, only. Work includes using pulaskis, shovels and loppers as well as moving rocks, small logs and “swamping” for Forest Service sawyers. Volunteers are required to wear hardhats (provided) and long pants (no shorts, please), and should wear stout trail shoes or boots and bring gloves, sunscreen, energy snacks, a good lunch and lots of water. There will be several more workdays on trail #998 as summer progresses. Check for other days in the hike schedule below. Other, unposted opportunities, which we will keep volunteers appraised of, may arise. Contact: John Bauer trails@scotchmanpeaks.org
08/04/12 Saturday	S+	Scotchman Peak Southeast Approach	John Harbuck
Tired of the same ol’ trail up Scotchman? Then try this route, as it offers much of the Scotchman Peaks experience wrapped up in one day. Start with a half mile of nasty bushwhacking to get to the ridge, then follow a series of game trails up the ridge. This route offers outstanding views of the Compton Crags, the West Fork of Blue Creek, and the south face of Scotchman. Truly magnificent! Round trip: 10 miles. Elevation Gain: 4200 feet ± Contact: John Harbuck harbuck@norlight.org
08/11/12 Sat. - Sun.	S	Star Peak Overnight	Talasi Brooks
Follow one of Granville Gordon’s finest trails up Star Gulch to the spring below Star Peak for a night in the nearby meadow, then top out on Star Peak for breakfast and huge views of the Clark Fork river valley. Return to the lower elevations by the Big Eddy trail. Group size: 8. Elevation gain: 4,000 ±. Distance on the trail: 10 miles ± Contact: Talasi Brooks talasi.brooks@gmail.com
08/17/12 Friday	M/S	Friday workday on Star Peak trail rebuild	John Bauer
Help rebuild the historic tread to Star Peak! This stewardship opportunity with our Forest Service partners on the Cabinet Ranger District is a summer-long project to reclaim a trail abandoned decades ago to another route designed for motorized use. The old-new tread will have its own trail head near the bottom of Fatman Road # 2292 and join the upper trail above the end of the old road, allowing hikers great views of the Clark Fork valley as well as a great trip on a trail designed for non-motorized use. This is for volunteers with moderate to very good fitness, only. Work includes using pulaskis, shovels and loppers as well as moving rocks, small logs and “swamping” for Forest Service sawyers. Volunteers are required to wear hardhats (provided) and long pants (no shorts, please), and should wear stout trail shoes or boots and bring gloves, sunscreen, energy snacks, a good lunch and lots of water. There will be several more workdays on trail #998 as summer progresses. Check for other days in the hike schedule below. Other, unposted opportunities, which we will keep volunteers appraised of, may arise. Contact: John Bauer trails@scotchmanpeaks.org
08/25/12 Saturday	M	Ross Creek Falls	Neil and Ann Wimberley
Hike through the Ross Creek Cedar grove and past to the Ross Creek Falls in the upper reaches of the South Fork of Ross Creek. A lovely hike through old growth and a cool way to spend a summer day. Round trip: 6 + miles. Elevation gain, 1500 feet. Contact: Neil and Ann Wimberley afwim@yahoo.com or neilwim@yahoo.com 208-264-5379
08/31/12 Friday	S+	Blue Moon Sawtooth Mountain	Sandy Compton
To celebrate the Blue Moon, we will begin in the East Fork of Blue Creek and climb to the summit of 6500-foot Sawtooth Mountain and exit through the South Fork of Ross Creek — or, maybe, vice-versa. This is arguably the hardest day hike in the Scotchman Peaks, but well worth the effort. Walk across a pristine, primitive landscape and gain rare views of the internal Scotchmans and the Crags. Bring your headlamp. Round trip: 12 + miles. Elevation gain, 3500 + feet. Contact: Sandy Compton sandy@scotchmanpeaks.org
09/23/12 Sunday	S	Scotchman Peak	Phil Hough and Deb Hunsicker
This is the classic hike up the namesake peak for our proposed wilderness. It’s short but steep. We will go at a slow pace so that steady effort is all that is needed to summit. Wide panoramas and stunning views of lake Pend Oreille, along with fall colors and possibly late season huckleberries will be highlights. 4 miles one way, 8 round trip with an elevation gain of 3,800 feet. Contact: Phil Hough and Deb Hunsicker phil@scotchmanpeaks.org