The fishing in the Bitterroot River is fantastic, but the river also provides rafting, canoeing, tubing, swimming, sunbathing on secluded sand bars, rock skipping, even snorkeling! If the river leaves you waterlogged, you can head for the hills. The nearby Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area is prime hiking, backpacking and rock-climbing country. After a short drive, you can take a day hike to the top of nearby St.Mary's Peak. From the 9,300' summit, you can see the entire Bitterroot Valley.The 2,800 acre Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge is located just minutes from the B&B. With both wetlands and forested riverbottoms, it provides prime habitat for various wildlife species, complete with walking trails and an interpretive center.
Fishing: The Bitterroot River B&B enjoys excellent riverfront access to unbelievable trout fishing. The Bitterroot is arguably the best dry fly fishing river in Montana, with healthy populations of naturally reproducing rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout (no hatchery fish here!). The fishing begins before the spring runoff, as early as March, with the famed Skwala hatch and lasts well into the fall. At the B&B our riverfront access provides guests with the opportunity to fish the Bitterroot on foot, alone or with a guide. With our Wi-Fi internet, guests are able to purchase fishing licenses on-line and print them right here at the B&B.
For those that want a guided fishing experience, there are several excellent local fishing guides who regularly take our B&B guests float-fishing in rafts or drift boats. These pros know what they are doing and their trips always produce great memories and almost always lots of big fish. We will be happy to recommend a guide that will best serve your particular needs.
The Bitterroot isn't the only game in town; there are several other excellent fishing streams in the area including the Big Hole River, Clark Fork River and Rock Creek. In addition, the many crystal clear creeks that empty into the valley from the Bitterroot Mountains offer consistently excellent fishing for brook and cutthroat trout.
Winter is fun too: Several excellent Ski Areas are located nearby. The skiing at Lost Trail Powder Mountain, Montana Snowbowl, Discovery Ski Area and Maverick Mountain is so good that you will be surprised at the crowds are so thin. Lift lines are never long and lifts access a vareity of terrain to please every ability level. Groomed Cross-country trails and fantastic backcountry skiing, are available nearby as well. If you are not a skiier, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are great ways to get out and experience a Montana winter.