The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex is one of the most spectacular natural settings imaginable. Though our 3-day and 5-day trips are popular ways to sample it, a longer trip allows you gain greater access and more deeply explore the remote corners of this wilderness. Gaining an extra day gives you more opportunity for spotting the big game and rare flora and fauna who’s habitat we share. Or, an extra day to reel in those trout! Explore at your own pace and visit areas untouched by man in the majestic wilderness.
What to Expect
Day 1: Guests leave the Swan Mountain Outfitters base camp off of Lion Creek Road Friday morning and we’ll ride to our upper camp at the top of Lion Creek Basin, some 6,000 feet above sea level. It’s a full day’s ride so we’ll stop for a picnic lunch in the shade of old growth cedars.
Days 2-5: We’ll begin with a hearty breakfast before the day’s adventures. You’ll always return to upper camp each evening where the camp cook has prepared a hot and hearty meal. Around camp, relax at the creek side and scan the craggy peaks for mountain goats. The sun goes down late at our latitude in the summers, but if you stay up by the campfire, you’ll gaze up at more stars than you ever dreamed existed.
As for the daily adventures, we’ll pack along picnic lunches and perhaps our tackle boxes, swim trunks, or hiking boots. The excursion we choose is based on what the group is most interested in doing. Some options are:
- Visit quaint and clear alpine lakes for a dip or fishing for native cutthroat trout
- Focus on trail riding into the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. Steer your horse through mountain passes and along the ridges, taking in the majestic views and hoping to spot some big game.
- Stretch your legs with a little hike up the stream in camp. Or ride up towards Swan Peak or Owl Peak and tie off your horse, then hike even higher! approaching the glaciers and the rocky crags of the mountain goat and enjoying birds eye views of the Rocky Mountains.
Day 6: We’ll mount back up for the final trek down the mountain and back to base camp. Stopping of course for a picnic lunch and returning to base camp in the late afternoon or early evening.
