Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1259963
SiG MT 66 DAY TRIP TEXT BY HOLLY MATKIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOLLY MATKIN Anyone who has spent time in the solace of Montana's backcountry can conjure up the childlike excitement they felt when they unexpectedly stumbled upon one of the many hidden treasures nestled away in the secrecy of the forest. Whether it's the staggering way the wind steals your breath and tussles your hair as you crest a mountain summit, or the second that the sunrise breaks through the trees, emblazoning your campsite with a momentary burst of pink and orange perfection, they're the emotional snapshots that are forever branded in our memories – the experiences that keep us coming back for more. e Rocky Mountain Front is home to countless such treasures, including one you can easily access during a 4.5-mile roundtrip day hike or mountain bike trek just south of Augusta. is route will take you to the paradise of the waterfalls on Smith Creek, which are hidden just enough that they are oen overlooked by those traveling into the Scapegoat Wilderness. e Falls on Smith Creek: EXPERIENCE THE EMERALD OASIS Geing ere e journey begins on Highway 435 in Augusta, which is labeled as Highway 434 on some maps. Head south out of town for approximately five miles, then turn right onto Smith Creek Road to travel west across the plains. is gravel roadway becomes progressively more winding over the 12 miles to it's terminus at the Smith Creek Trailhead parking area. Hiing the Trail e path immediately drops into the Smith Creek Valley across two miles of private land, so please make sure to stay on the trail. If you open any of the landowner's gates, ensure you close them again behind you. Approximately one mile into the trek, you'll reach the Pey Creek trail junction. Bear le to stay on the Smith Creek Trail. You'll catch your first glimpse of the falls another 1.2 miles up the path. Clamber down the steep hillside to explore the cascade and it's surrounding cave-like recesses, or continue on the trail a few more feet to a grove of trees at the base of a rock slide. e journey to the falls ends at this point, but the best is yet to come. SiG MT 68 A break in the trees along Smith Creek Trail gives trekkers a brief glimpse of the falls. These icy pools are irresistible!