Ravalli County: Nature, Trails and History

Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge lies between the Bitterroot Mountains and the Sapphire Mountains and includes a stretch of the Bitterroot River. This connection to the landscape is a good introduction to Ravalli County’s varied offerings: wildlife, lakes and trails alongside architecture and regional history.

Wildlife and Seasonal Landscapes

Activities at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge include hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, photography, environmental education and interpretive programs. The refuge is open for day use from sunrise to sunset; check that these hours are still in effect before you travel. Check for notices about temporary closures before your visit.

At the ponds next to the visitor information area, visitors can borrow binoculars and spotting scopes to observe waterfowl; if borrowing these is important to your visit, check in advance whether the service is available.

Painted Rocks Reservoir also combines recreational activities with seasonal connections to nature. In the West Fork Valley of the Bitterroot Mountains, visitors can go boating, camping and fishing; water access is seasonal. The reservoir also serves as a resting area for waterfowl during spring and fall migration. Activities on the water are therefore shaped by access conditions, while its role as a resting area is tied to the two migration seasons.

Along West Fork Road, green, yellow and orange lichens cover gray and black granite and rhyolite cliffs. Painted Rocks takes its name from these colorful rocks.

Lake Como and Trails Through the Landscape

Lake Como offers a connection to the Ice Age: approximately here was the southernmost point reached by glacial Lake Missoula. The Lake Como National Recreation Loop Trail is also suitable for hiking and mountain biking. Lake Como is also a starting point for the Lake Como National Recreation Trail. The area’s landscape history and trails offer two distinct ways to experience this place.

Blodgett Canyon is characterized mainly by multi-pitch rock spires; there is also a smaller cliff near the parking lot. One specific hiking option is the Blodgett Overlook Trail: It is 3 miles long and rated easy to moderate. From there, visitors can enjoy excellent views of Blodgett Canyon, extending into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.

Lost Trail is on the Continental Divide along Highway 93, where Montana and Idaho meet. Chief Joseph Pass has more than 13 miles of groomed ski trails. The location at the state line and the trail mileage at the pass are distinct points of reference for planning your trip.

Architecture and Regional History

Daly Mansion combines impressive scale with a specific visitor offering. The building has more than 50 rooms and 24,000 square feet across three floors, as well as a full basement. Tours are offered Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., subject to volunteer guide availability. Check availability before your visit.

Ravalli County Museum presents local and Montana history through permanent, changing, outdoor and virtual exhibits. It’s worth checking the current exhibit schedule before your visit. The museum is located in the former Ravalli County Courthouse, built in 1900 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. In the Bitterroot Valley, it is at the confluence of the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail, the Nee-Me-Poo National Historic Trail and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

A Regional Point of Reference

The paved Bitterroot Trail offers another way to get your bearings in the region: It is 50 miles long, follows the Bitterroot River and runs from Missoula to Hamilton. This also places Hamilton in the context of the wider Bitterroot Valley, rather than focusing your plans only on individual attractions.

Discover more destinations: Darby, Hamilton, Phillips County, Prairie County, Mccone County, Hill County, Park, Richland County.

For the broader travel overview: Montana.