

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks manages nine fishing access sites along the Bitterroot River between Lolo and Conner (see map). Signs on Hwy 93 mark roads to each site. The amount and quality of habitats vary; most … Continue reading

Drive south of Missoula to Lolo, then go west on Hwy 12 for 33 miles. Watch for American Dippers along Lolo Creek, especially in winter. At the pass take the Packer Meadow Road, which winds into Idaho and back to … Continue reading

Going south on Hwy 93, the Bitterroot Mountains rise to the west, where swift mountain streams have carved numerous dramatic canyons. Many of these have good trails that afford excellent birding such as Bass and Larry creeks (20 miles south … Continue reading

This 2,700-acre refuge is located 25 miles south of Missoula and is composed of a series of ponds and sloughs as well as an extensive riparian area along the Bitterroot River. At either Florence or Stevensville, take the highway east … Continue reading

Public access is permitted from the Woodside Fishing Access (east side of the bridge across the Bitterroot River on the Corvallis Cutoff Road between Hwy 93 and Corvallis). Please stay on the main trail to the north or to the … Continue reading

The main access is behind Westview Junior High on Main St. west of downtown Hamilton. This small area offers a variety of habitats including young and old cottonwood forest, a cattail marsh, shrublands, the Bitterroot River, and associated sloughs. Expect … Continue reading

Follow Lost Horse Creek Road west 2.5 miles from its junction with Hwy 93 about 9 miles south of Hamilton. Turn right on Forest Road 496 at the school bus turnaround where the pavement ends and follow the road for … Continue reading

Find this large, beautiful mountain-ringed lake by following the paved Lake Como Road west from its junction with Hwy 93 about five miles north of Darby. Follow signs past the beach area to the campground and the Lake Como National Recreation … Continue reading
Source: “Birding in the Missoula and Bitterroot valleys” © 2000 Five Valleys Audubon Society, Bitterroot Audubon Society and Montana Audubon.