Areas
Where Our Renters Go
Closest to the ranch • Helena-Lewis and Clark NF
Elkhorn Mountains
The range closest to our Clancy ranch: a "mountain island" of meadows, grassy parks, steep gulches and mining history. Seasonal road closures between fall and spring protect elk, so check the Motor Vehicle Use Map. Skip Crow Creek Trail #109 with llamas; the Forest Service says stock is not recommended there.
Elkhorn Mountains llama trips →East of Helena • Helena-Lewis and Clark NF
Big Belts & Gates of the Mountains Wilderness
The Gates of the Mountains Wilderness was designated in 1964 and has about 53 miles of trail. Most access is in the Beaver Creek drainage near Nelson, and some low, dry trails suit spring trips. Water can be scarce. Hunters Gulch trailhead has room for trucks with trailers. Vigilante Campground limits trailers to 16 feet, which our 12 ft stock trailer fits.
Big Belts & Gates llama trips →Lincoln side • Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex
Scapegoat Wilderness & the Southern Bob
The Scapegoat shares its long northwest border with the Bob Marshall. Near Lincoln, the Arrastra Creek and Alice Creek trailheads list parking for stock trailers. Complex-wide limits are 15 people and 35 head of stock per party. Stock must be led single file, and caching feed is not allowed.
Scapegoat Wilderness llama trips →Swan Range • Flathead NF • Gateway to the Bob
Holland Lake & Upper Holland Lake
From the Owl Creek Packer Camp trailhead (also called Holland-Gordon), off Holland Lake Road #44 east of Highway 83, Trail #35 runs around the south side of Holland Lake to Upper Holland Lake and on toward the Bob Marshall. The Forest Service describes the trailhead as heavily used by pack strings and stock parties, and often muddy.
- Trail #35 timing rule: stock travels uphill before noon and downhill after noon.
- The reservable Owl Creek Corral has a 12-head stock limit. Holland Lake Campground requires stored human food, stock feed and garbage.
- Complex rules apply inside the wilderness. Swan Lake Ranger District: (406) 837-7500.
Rock Creek drainage • Lolo NF
Welcome Creek Wilderness
Small, steep and heavily timbered, about 25 miles east of Missoula, with no lakes. Elk and bear hunters are the most common visitors.
- Group limit: 10, counting people and stock together. No grazing, so pack in all the feed.
- The Forest Service says vehicles hauling trailers aren't recommended at the Welcome Creek Wilderness trailhead. Call us and the Missoula Ranger District (406-329-3814) before you plan to tow there.
Custer Gallatin NF • Montana–Wyoming
Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness
Beartooth Plateau tundra and lakes, plus Absaroka forests and high meadows. Backcountry camping permits aren't required on the Custer Gallatin.
- Groups are limited to 15 people. The stock limit is 15 head in the East Unit (no grazing) and 25 head in the West Unit. No tying or picketing stock within 200 feet of a lake or 100 feet of a stream. No game carts.
- Llama closures: a Custer Gallatin order names pack goats and llamas. It closes Zimmer Creek Trail #574 and Lady of the Lake Trail #31 year-round, Pine Creek Lake Trail #47 from Dec 2 to Sep 15, and the areas within 1,000 feet of Summerville and Castle Lakes. It also limits stock on parts of the Beartooth Plateau.
- Food storage rules cover trailers: no openings larger than 10 inches in two dimensions, and food kept at least 3 feet from any opening.
Mountain goat or sheep hunt? Read the FWP moose, sheep, goat and bison regulations. Keep your llamas under close control and give wild sheep and goats a wide berth. FWP works to keep domestic sheep and goats apart from wild herds because of pneumonia risk.
Gallatin Range • Custer Gallatin NF • South of Bozeman
Hyalite Canyon
About 17 miles south of Bozeman, with trails to Hyalite Lake, Blackmore Lake, and Heather and Emerald Lakes. The Blackmore trailhead by the reservoir has parking, toilets and drinking water.
- The road is closed to motor vehicles April 1 to May 15. Along the road, camp only in developed campgrounds or signed sites.
- From July 16 to September 4, the Hyalite #427 and East Fork #434 trails are open to bikes and motorcycles only on certain days. A llama party may prefer the off days. Ask the Bozeman Ranger District (406-522-2520).
- Keep llamas off the busy Palisade Falls and Grotto Falls accessible trails, and confirm parking for your truck and our 12 ft trailer before you tow.
