Northwestern Montana

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Northwestern Montana

Cabinet Mountain Wilderness, Ross Creek Ancient Cedars, Noxon Rapids on the North Fork of the Flat Head River and Kootenai River near Troy, Montana

July 1, 2007.

 

We are staying in Hi De Ho RV Park, in Sandpoint/Ponderay, Idaho $32.40 gravel interior roads, FHU including cable and wifi. This is an OK RV Park, but much better than the Best Western Campground in Downtown Sandpoint.

 

Just to give you an idea where we are on this travel adventure we traveled east out of Sandpoint, Idaho into Noxon, Montana. We visited Noxon and the Noxon Rapids dam on the North Fork of the Flat Head River then drove north on SR 56 (Bull River Road) to the Ross Creek Ancient Cedars. From there we continued north on SR 56 until the intersection of US-2 where we turned west and visited the Kootenay River and Troy, Montana before returning to Sandpoint, Idaho via Bonners Ferry.

 

 

Noxon Rapids on the North Fork of the Flat Head River

Noxon Rapids on the North Fork of the Flat Head River

 

 

This travelogue starts in Noxon, Montana at Noxon Rapids Dam on the North Fork of the Flat Head River.

 

This is the rapids below the Noxon Rapids Dam just east of Noxon, Montana on SR 200.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Road to Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

 

 

 

 

 

From Noxon Dam we traveled west on SR 200 to SR 56 (Bull River Road) where we turned north. Around 18-miles north of the SR 56, SR 200 intersection we turned west on a National Forest Road to the Ross Creek Ancient Cedars. I would give you better directions but you just have to look for the official sign pointing to the Ross Creek Ancient Cedars. This is the National Forest road taking us to the Ross Creek Ancient Cedars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wildflowers along road to Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the way we kept seeing orange flowers on the roadside. Finally we stopped and took a picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Storm Damage on road to Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

Storm Damage on road to Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

 

 

 

 

 

It is obvious that someone has cleaned the debris off the road resulting from yesterdays thunderstorm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

 

 

 

 

How these trees escaped lumbering, --- one can only speculate. However, in 1960, the beauty and serenity of these giant cedars were preserved for all to enjoy when Ross Creek Scenic Area was established by Northern Regional Forester Charles Tebbe. This scenic 100-acre plot is closed to logging and mineral entry, and is managed for its scientific and recreational values.

 

Joyce is dwarfed by this large cedar tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The base of these red cedar trees in Ross Creek Ancient Cedars, spreads out very much like cypress trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike beside one of the cedar trees in Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

 

 

 

 

 

I was intrigued with this knot on the trunk of a huge cedar tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giant fern growing under the Ancient Cedars at Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

Giant fern growing under the Ancient Cedars at Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the giant cedars in the sky the ground is littered with beautiful fern, in Ross Creek Ancient Cedars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cedar tree cones in Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

 

 

 

 

 

These trees had extremely small cones. Joyce is holding 4 of them that we picked up in Ross Creek Ancient Cedars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Storm damage on road to Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

Ross Creek Ancient Cedars

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is another picture of the area where equipment had been used to clear the road from yesterdays severe storm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cabinet Mountain Wilderness

Cabinet Mountain Wilderness

 

 

 

 

 

These peaks are in the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness. Elevations range from 2,500' to 8,700'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cabinet Mountain Wilderness

Cabinet Mountain Wilderness

 

 

 

Extensive Glaciation produced these high craggy peaks and amphitheater like basins in the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness. As many as 85 lakes were formed and still exist as a result of those glaciers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cabinet Mountain Wilderness

 

 

Montains in the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness.

 

 

Mountains like this (created by glaciers) look like mountains in the Tetons and Glacier National Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kootenai River near Troy, Montana

Kootenai River near Troy, Montana

 

 

 

 

 

This unique rock in the Kootenai River near Troy, Montana can be seen from US 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kootenai River near Troy, Montana

Kootenai River near Troy, Montana

 

 

 

 

And this final picture from our afternoon excursion in Northwestern Montana.

We are heading west on US 2 not far from the Idaho border near Troy Montana.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Montana Adventures

Some Exciting Drives** More 2007 Travel Adventures

 

 

Mike & Joyce Hendrix

Mike & Joyce Hendrix

Mike & Joyce Hendrix who we are

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