Welcome Creek may not strike you as a very welcoming place, at least not at first glance. It's not…read moreunwelcoming, exactly, but it makes an impression - an intimidating impression. It's steep, rocky, rugged, and wild. Once you cross the swaying suspension bridge from the trail head parking to the other side of Rock Creek, you're really entering another world, in which humans rarely tread. As far as wilderness areas go, this one is tiny at just over 28,000 acres, but it doesn't feel tiny when you are there. It's a single watershed, a clear mountain creek whose headwaters are high above in the Sapphire Range, where snows linger into late spring and early summer. A rough hewn trail follows the creek all the way to the top of the dividing ridgeline. To the East is picturesque Rock Creek, brimming with trout fishermen. To the West over the ridge is the Bitterroot Valley. In between are wilderness, deep canyons, steep mountains, dense forests, and diverse wildlife. It's not a place that many people explore, and recent wildfires have rendered the landscape even less inviting. It looks and feels frightening. But these feelings are initial ones only. They will fade away, and what remains is an appreciation for the protected wildness that is Welcome Creek. You really are the leave-no-trace visitor here, and you'll know it. Whether you are clambering over fallen trees, negotiating a rocky talus field, or scrambling atop boulders to get a better view, the wilderness value of this place is abundantly evident. If you linger long enough, you'll detect the small things that reveal a healthy forest in the process of healing itself, hiding the traces of its gold mining past, and slowly replacing the burnt trees and scorched hillsides with new growth and green foliage. The sounds are minimal, but majestic. The wilderness can be a welcoming place, if you open your eyes, calm your mind, and respect the limits of man in a place that is not his alone to possess. The plants and animals can have Welcome Creek as a sanctuary. I'll play the role as guest, any day.

This was the most fantastic family vacation ever. Everything from the beautiful cabins with full…read more size washer and dryer. The decor was beautiful, food was excellent, there were a plethora of activities for our family of 17 which included children and grandchildren. My favorite activities were sapphire mining and cowboy. The staff was very attentive and always concerned that we had everything we needed. The ranch manager, Will, ran a well managed resort. Our kids/grandkids had never been fly fishing before and they all said they now have a new hobby. Our stay was over July 4th and Will arranged for a cow boy concert around the fire pit which excellent and a great way to end our stay. I highly recommend the resort.

My husband and I just returned from a magical few days at The Meadows. Us "city folk" had always…read moredreamed of exploring Montana and its offerings, but this exceeded anything we imagined. The accommodations were lovely; darling fully furnished cottages with a spectacular clubhouse/ dining area all looked out across a beautiful meadow with Rock Creek bubbling in the background. The service was top notch with every attention to detail handled by Will and his staff. The food was incredible; what a gem Chef Casey is! He's a master at developing flavors and creating beautiful dishes using local meats and fresh vegetables. His potatoes are legendary, and his cobblers are the best I've ever had! The quality of the food and wine are first class. The all inclusive aspect allowed us to try many new things. Fly fishing was fantastic, and our guide, Henry, was very patient with us newbies. His instructions miraculously saw us both catching cutthroat trout. We also did archery (super fun!), horseback riding, and had a ton of fun doing some distance shooting. I was very intimidated, but with fabulous instruction, felt relaxed and really enjoyed it. We enjoyed some hikes and gem mining to round out our time. Highly recommend a getaway to The Meadows.

Such a cool store. Always a must stop when we come into Missoula. Staff is friendly and helpful.read more

Service was awesome. Very knowledgeable about local conditions. Will definitely be backread more

During our two hour ride with Jody and Keith, our running joke was to say things like, "Views too…read moremajestic: one star," or "Guide likes to make jokes: one star." This was a really fantastic experience that I think may become a tradition with my family. Jody, Keith, and all the horses (even Spike, who was kind of a pill) were a real pleasure to interact with during our visit. The ride itself was a delight. Sure, I was sore afterward, but that's to be expected. Consider going to any of Montana's hot springs to recover afterward. If you're visiting in the summer, I do suggest scheduling a ride in the morning, as it's never too hot at 9AM.

I stayed here during my wedding weekend with my bridal party, though the guest ranch is often used…read moreby hunters and vacationers looking for the Montana experience, it also worked so well for our purposes! The rooms were clean and inviting and had multiple living spaces which was great for a large group! The dining area let in beautiful morning light and was spacious (pictured below) making it easy for us all to dine together. Jody was amazing and made the whole experience special; we wanted for nothing. Would highly recommend this place for whatever your purpose is, a great way to experience a beautiful area.

Called Tony for 3 days fishing in Missoula. We fished in early August. It was me and my two boys,…read moreages 13 and 14. We are from Florida with zero experience fly fishing for trout. Our first time to visit Montana. Tony set us up with Zack Scott, Scott Stanko and Lane Armstrong as our guides. This was a wonderful trip. These guides were top notch...patient, knowledgeable, hard working and enthusiastic throughout the three full days of float fishing. We were in the fish constantly each day with several nice fish per day. They were especially good with my kids and when I had a day on a raft just me and the guide, he easily switched to all business and worked hard to keep me on the fish and coach me on proper technique with encouragement throughout the day. Concerning Tony, though we did not fish with him, he was quick to respond during the planning with accurate and helpful information...super easy booking through him. I would highly recommend Montana Trout Outfitters.

Tony is the top professional fishing guide in Montana. His incredible knowledge of both the rivers…read moreand trout around Missoula is unparalleled. I've used Tony and his guides several times for my group utilizing up to 12 boats at a time and the results have been flawless. My colleagues and spouses have had a blast and caught loads of beautiful trout. I highly recommend Montana Trout Outfitters for wonderful day on the river.

Great fly shop for fly tiers or fly buyers. great advice and customer service.read more

Stopped in to buy our son an inexpensive fly rod for a backpacking trip. Wonderful selection and…read moregreat customer service. Highly recommend!!

What a lovely place. We came here both to hike and to hang out at the beach on a warm spring day…read more The beach near the parking area is pretty gravelly, and the lake was still a bit cold for the likes of us, so we stuck to hiking. We took Trail #502 along the north shore, and were richly rewarded with views, waterfalls and wildlife. I would come here again in a heartbeat. Como Lake is tucked in along the eastern edge of the Bitterroot Range. Snow capped mountains form much of the horizon, and the lake is a lovely turquoise blue. Ponderosa pines seem to be the dominant tree cover, and there are many different kinds of rock formations, particularly scree slopes and some gorgeous bedrock formations close to the water. Moss, ferns and lichens are everywhere, and we were here just as the wildflowers were starting to bloom. There was also lots of wildlife--we saw ospreys, woodpeckers, wild turkeys, jays, garter snakes, squirrels and chipmunks, and I would guess there are other, bigger animals around here if you are lucky. The trail is pretty easy and there is basically no elevation change. Lots of excellent vistas, meadows, and cool spots to look at how the area was affected by wildfires several decades ago. Hike all the way to the junction with Trail #580 to see a great little waterfall, probably about 3.5 miles or so from the trailhead. There are primitive facilities at the trailhead and at the beach, and also a boat launch. It wasn't crowded at all and everyone we met was super nice. Lots of cute dogs too.

it was very pretty and I enjoyed the view. I however did not have any Perry Como music with me. lol…read more took some nice photos

Bonnie and Jim Fly shop was fantastic. Set up the perfect guide with Drew to teach a first time…read moreFlyfisher woman how to cast and actually catch fish on the main section of the Bitterroot going through Darby Montana.!. we visited the shop on multiple occasions, and all of the staff was personable and helpful. Recommend hitting his place for any and all trips to the bitterroot!

Stopped into the store for some local flies and met the lovely owner, Bonnie. She was great to chat…read morewith and had a great visit. Will be back!