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Backpacker Magazine – February 2008
Hike Montana's Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness
This wilderness area houses a classic section of the CDT but is a little off the beaten path.
Kurt Peak and Queener Mountain, Scott Bischke
On your final day, climb yet two more passes named Rainbow and Pintler (exhibits A and B in uninspired naming), losing and gaining elevation in 1,000- to 2,000-foot gulps. Bypass Oreamnos Lake, the most heavily used spot on the route, and tromp down the eight-mile descent to the Pintler Creek trailhead. Now you're ready: Raise a glass to your own private wilderness preserve.
The Way
From Anaconda, take MT 1 west 15 miles. Turn left/south on FS 675 and follow it another 15 miles to the Storm Lake trailhead (the last mile or two may require 4WD). To reach the Pintler Creek trailhead, follow MT 43 off of I-15 (south of Butte) to the well-maintained FS 185.
Season
The high country is generally free of snow by mid-July, and the hiking stays good through mid-September.
Map
Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness Map; montanamaps.com/wil.pintlar.asp, $8
Contact
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest: Wise River Ranger District, (406) 832-3178; Pintler Ranger District, (406) 859-3211; fs.fed.us/rl/bdnf for both
Permit
None required.
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READERS COMMENTS
What a joker, like most of the neophytes that visit this area, they do not understand the energy, and what this place is about.
This place is best left to those of us who understand.
Posted: Apr 21, 2009 Emerine Kid
I agree with Richard Layne's comment. Somebody did a Fantasy Island map trip in the APW for this entry. Please see my blog, EcoRover, for more detailed info about bagging peaks and backpacking in the Pintler.
Posted: Jul 19, 2008 Pat Munday aka EcoRover
Where did you get your info? In the first place you don't scramble up to West Goat Peak during the winter from Warren Lake. I do not believe the information here to be accurate from someone's experience. I say this because of my own extensive APW winter experiences that include pretty much all the areas you just described. My website will more than back up what I just said. Like I asked three times now, who got this info?
Posted: May 02, 2008 Richard Layne
Where did you get your info? In the first place you don't scramble up to West Goat Peak during the winter from Warren Lake. I do not believe the information here to be accurate from someone's experience. I say this because of my own extensive APW winter experiences that include pretty much all the areas you just described. My website will more than back up what I just said. Like I asked three times now, who got this info?
Posted: May 02, 2008 Richard Layne
As the long-time Wilderness Ranger in these parts, I can tell you that there IS a mandatory permit required for this Wilderness. It is free and self-issuing at any trailhead entry point (such as the far side of Storm Lake).
The permit is required to be on your person while in this Wilderness area. This system has been in affect since 2001.
Some other small errors in this article.
Pintler Ranger Station phone number is best bet for up-to-date info on this area.
Posted: Apr 25, 2008 Lucinda Jann
Call a place paradise, and kiss it goodbye- the last best place is no more.
Posted: Apr 08, 2008 Ridge
CALL A PLACE PARADISE AND KISS IT GOODBYE,THE LAST BEST PLACE IS NO MOORE.
Posted: Apr 08, 2008 ALLEN
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