Rock Creek Suspension Bridge
Yesterday I drove out of Missoula to Welcome Creek, which is just 14 miles off the Rock Creek Exit.
You can find more about Welcome Creek at the U.S. Forest Service Welcome Creek Wilderness page. The wilderness is in the Lolo National Forest and takes up more than 28,000 acres in a 9x7 mile area. There’s pine, fir, and larch trees mostly. The area butts up against the Sapphire Mountains.
Wikipedia has some good info on the place, including its history as a gold mining area. It all started in 1888 when the first discoveries were made, and soon dozens if not hundreds of miners were in the area. Cabins sprouted up along Rock, Welcome, Cinnabar, Chino, Carron, Ferret, and Spartan Creeks, all the way up to the 7,737-foot Cleveland Mountain that dominates the area.
You can find more about Welcome Creek at the U.S. Forest Service Welcome Creek Wilderness page. The wilderness is in the Lolo National Forest and takes up more than 28,000 acres in a 9x7 mile area. There’s pine, fir, and larch trees mostly. The area butts up against the Sapphire Mountains.
Wikipedia has some good info on the place, including its history as a gold mining area. It all started in 1888 when the first discoveries were made, and soon dozens if not hundreds of miners were in the area. Cabins sprouted up along Rock, Welcome, Cinnabar, Chino, Carron, Ferret, and Spartan Creeks, all the way up to the 7,737-foot Cleveland Mountain that dominates the area.
There are about 12 abandoned mining cabins in the area still, though just two of them are in good shape. I didn’t make it that far on my hike, as the stinging nettle plants really took a toll on my legs. I’m glad I didn’t have my 4-year-old son – he would not have been happy walking through those.
Anyways, it was a fun time, and it’d be a good spot to camp around. If you haven’t been up to Rock Creek and taken the exit, you might want to think about it. Just turn right from Missoula and head 14 miles up the road.
Anyways, it was a fun time, and it’d be a good spot to camp around. If you haven’t been up to Rock Creek and taken the exit, you might want to think about it. Just turn right from Missoula and head 14 miles up the road.
Parking Area for Welcome Creek
Carts probably used by some of the local outfitters and fly fishing establishments that dot the road up from Rock Creek
Welcome Creek Hiking Area
Lots of people go swimming near the Rock Creek Suspension Bridge
Rock Creek Suspension Bridge
There's a wire fence over the suspension bridge. I wouldn't recommend jumping off as there are big rocks below and the water isn't very deep
After the log bridge is a turn. You can go straight and head uphill, which allows you to keep following Rock Creek
Rock Creek and the many smaller creeks are good places for Montana fly fishing, as there are few people on most days
After awhile, the trail disappears
Further into the woods you'll come to the first log bridge on the Welcome Creek Trail
If you pay attention after the log bridge you'll see a sign up above on a tree, pointing you in a generally northwesterly direction to the Carron Cabin, 5 miles ahead
I wouldn't recommend going any further in that direction
All along the Welcome Trail you're walking through boulder patches with this mountain scree on one side of you and hidden Welcome Creek on the other
Many spots of the Welcome Creek Trail are overgrown and the plants will sting your legs. If hiking in summer, pants are a good choice
I went this far on my hike, a couple miles up. Many spots on the trail have fallen trees that you have to go over. It's certainly an intermediate hike, to say the least
Welcome Creek Hiking Map from Hiking Montana by Bill Schneider
You'll run into the Cinnabar Cabin right after the second log bridge on the trail, at the fork with Cinnabar Creek
I would suggest checking out this Welcome Creek blog from May 2011 about some hikers that went up. There are some cool snake pictures. I saw a snake as well, but nothing that size.
If you go 5 miles up the trail you’ll reach the Cinnabar Cabin, right before Cinnabar Creek. You’ll find some images of the cabin interior in this 2007 Cinnabar Cabin post. The Missoula Independent has a good image of Cinnabar Cabin here. You’ll also find some great Welcome Creek winter images in this 2014 post.
If you want more info on awesome day hikes around Missoula, I highly recommend Day Hikes Around Missoula Montana, a 208-page guide with 83 hikes and maps on every page. Have fun!
If you go 5 miles up the trail you’ll reach the Cinnabar Cabin, right before Cinnabar Creek. You’ll find some images of the cabin interior in this 2007 Cinnabar Cabin post. The Missoula Independent has a good image of Cinnabar Cabin here. You’ll also find some great Welcome Creek winter images in this 2014 post.
If you want more info on awesome day hikes around Missoula, I highly recommend Day Hikes Around Missoula Montana, a 208-page guide with 83 hikes and maps on every page. Have fun!
