Hiking

The following hikes are all within one hour or less to Ovando and a wonderful way to spend a day, a morning or half a day:

Morrell Falls

• Morrell Falls: 5 mile hike round trip. Easy, beautiful hike to breathtaking falls. Directions: Take Hwy 200 west to Highway 83 north about 15 miles. Just outside of Seeley Lake, cross the bridge next to the Vets Memorial, and take a right at Morrell/Clearwater Road. Follow the signs to Morrell Falls trailhead [watch the signs as you will take a left from the main road] and parking area. Note: on trail, when you come to a ‘T’, take the trail to the left.
• Holland Lake Falls: 3 mile hike round trip to the falls and a breath taking view of Holland Lake. Difficult, especially in hot afternoons as it climbs up a sunny hill. Falls are beautiful and you can walk under them in lower water. Approximately 1 ½ hours from Ovando but worth the drive. Continue up Highway 83 approx 40 miles to Holland Lake exit [on right]. Follow dirt road to end and park. Follow signs. Note: when it looks like the trail ends at a rock pile, continue. The path is just on the other side of the rock fall.
• Monture Creek Trail: As long a hike as you wish as the trail goes into the Bob Marshall Wilderness over twenty miles. Easy hike that crosses creeks and streams and into old growth forest. From Ovando, take west exit across the highway right onto Monture Creek Road. Follow road approximately 15 minutes. Just before bridge that crosses Monture Creek, look for entrance to camping/trailhead. At end of road park at trailhead.
• Monture Creek Falls: Continue on the above hike for 12 miles round trip. Wonderful seldom seen falls.
• Lubrecht Forest: Self guided, easy, as long as you want on informative nature trails. Take Highway 200 west toward Missoula. Just before Garnet Ghost Town exit, take the left into the Experimental Forest entrance. Park at the buildings. The area is surrounded with paths and brochure pick up points that detail the vegetation and environment.
• North Fork Trailhead: Highway 200 east from Ovando, over the North Fork of the Blackfoot, take North Fork Trailhead road on your left, driving through the flats up into the canyon where the road ends at the trailhead. You hike for as little or as long as you want. A 16 miles round trip can take you to the Falls. Bring plenty of food and water. Bleak beginning on the trailhead from a fire that ravaged the area enters into wonderful canyon lands and open alpine areas to spectacular falls.

Honestly, there are too many to even try to list. With the Blackfoot Game Range to the west, the forest and wilderness to the north and wildlife viewing areas to the east, you can hike forever and still not see everything.