Lolo National Forest, Montana In the stretch of mountains spanning northwest Montana up to the Idaho border, trout swim legendary rivers like the Blackfoot and the Clark Fork; wolverines, grizzly bears, and moose amble through the evergreen forests; and locals complain it’s too crowded if there’s one other car at the trailhead. In short, it’s paradise— especially in early summer, when wildflowers bloom and before August’s wildfire season rolls around.
![The Great Wide Open](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/6123/224072/5926bb2fda1a5/The-Great-Wide-Open.jpg)
The insider
If you live in northwest Montana and enjoy the outdoors, you either know Alden Wright or wish you did. The lifelong Missoulian holds (or has held) leadership positions in the Rocky Mountaineers hiking club, the Missoula Nordic Ski Club, and the Thursday Night Ride mountain biking group, amassing decades’ worth of knowledge about local trails. For most of the past 30 years, Wright has celebrated his birthday by leading an ascent up 10,157- foot Trapper Peak—this last April with 75 candles on his cake.
Dayhike
The proposed Great Burn wilderness area, a 275,000-acre zone straddling the Montana-Idaho border, draws its name from the catastrophic 1910 wildfires that torched 3 million acres in less than three days. Lucky side effect: The burn kept out logging and development for a century, preserving this now-recovered expanse of subalpine terrain, lush valleys, craggy cliffs, and glittering lakes. Wright’s favorite daysize sampler is the 7.2-mile out-and-back up to Heart and Pearl Lakes, a one-two punch of 6,000-foot tarns tucked in rocky cirques.
Multisport trip
Denne historien er fra June 2017-utgaven av Backpacker.
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Denne historien er fra June 2017-utgaven av Backpacker.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HORROR](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6123/1201578/edwpGCIsv1675335002656/IN-THE-FOOTSTEPS-OF-HORROR.jpg)
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HORROR
CANADA’S MOST REVERED BACKPACKING TRAIL WAS BORN OUT OF A GHASTLY MISFORTUNE
![TRUE NORTH](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6123/1201578/MtNUky6CG1675333520000/TRUE NORTH.jpg)
TRUE NORTH
In pictures, Greenland's backcountry ski terrain looks spectacular. In person? It's even better.
![WHEN THE FOREST IS AN ESCAPE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6123/1201578/V-ZqS3Mgb1675332061580/WHEN-THE-FOREST-IS-AN-ESCAPE.jpg)
WHEN THE FOREST IS AN ESCAPE
The Outdoors Is Powerful Medicine And The Refugee Women's Network Is Helping Displaced Hikers Get Back To It
![The Gear that Changed Backpacking Forever](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6123/1201578/LBe-L6-nA1675329799311/THE-GEAR-THAT-CHANGED-BACKPACKING-FOREVER.jpg)
The Gear that Changed Backpacking Forever
Trend-setters and trailblazers from the last 50 years
![Timeless Adventures](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6123/1201578/Z8H8z1oCs1675326731586/TIMELESS-ADVENTURES.jpg)
Timeless Adventures
In celebration of 50 years of trail beta and inspiration, we look back on our favorite spots through the moments we chose to capture.
![Let The Rivers Run Free](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6123/1025490/6IBHMqi-31659352580263/crp_American-waterways-Wild-and-Scenic-Rivers-Act-Backpacking-Destinations-Outdoor-Skills-Gear-Reviews-Camping-Lifestyle.jpg)
Let The Rivers Run Free
A set of 10 bills currently in Congress will protect 7,000 miles of American waterways— if they pass.
![Thru-Hiking, Canadian Style](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6123/1025490/ojB42e_NB1659353252688/crp_British-Columbia-Tin-Hat-Mountain-Sunshine-Coast-Trail-Hiking-Dolomites.jpg)
Thru-Hiking, Canadian Style
When the pandemic shut down my plans to hike Europe, I found a world-class trail right on my doorstep.
![Training Station](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6123/1008193/qumBjAX--1657693683585/crp_Backpacking-Destinations-Outdoor-Skills-Gear-Reviews-Camping-Lifestyle.jpg)
Training Station
There's a great new wearable for every kind of athletic goal
![CBD for Your Pain](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6123/1025490/9eUn-6HPU1659352627271/crp_Zebra-CDB-Knee-pain-Stress-Low-energy-Sleeplessness.jpg)
CBD for Your Pain
Everyone feels the hurt as we age, but CBD can help you deal with it.
![Home Base](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/6123/1008193/tpGJ6oy6y1657692567113/crp_Shelters-Big-Agnes-Wyoming-Trail-2-NEMO-Aurora-Highrise-4-REI-Wonderland-X-Backpacking-Destinations-Outdoor-Skills-Gear-Reviews-Camping-Lifestyle.jpg)
Home Base
These shelters score major comfort points