Cut Bank Creek Pass, MT

The campground is to the left of the TH. You will see a Trail Sign in front of you giving the different mileage to the various destination hikes including Atlantic Falls at 4.1 miles, Medicine Grizzly Lake at 6 miles as well as the longer hikes to Two Medicine Campground (16.9 miles) or Red Eagle TH (23.2 miles).

You come to a fork in the trail; for a side trip you can take a left (south) which takes you down to the North Fork of the Cut Bank Creek 0.1 miles to the site of the old Cut Bank Chalet. If you stay right, you continue hiking toward your destination through the forest of birch and pine with occasional views of the river and mountains to the south and west.

Staying right for Morningstar Lake, the trail takes a short climb here, mellowing out as you reach the ridge, and follows along the Cut Bank river. You continue hiking through the forest on a pretty-well maintained trail. At 3.9 miles, you junction with the Triple Divide Trail (3.3 miles to Triple Divide Pass or 2.1 miles to Medicine Grizzly Lake).

If you stay left for Morningstar Lake, the trail turns to the south and continues the ascent to the Cut Bank valley crossing Atlantic creek just below Atlantic Falls at 4.1 miles; a perfect quick hike already. If you want to go further for the day, the trail enters an open valley filled with wildflowers. Medicine Grizzly Peak is to the west with Red Mountain and Eagle Plume hovering above the valley to the east. You can start to hear the waterfalls cascading from heights far above the valley floor. At 6.6 miles you will come to Morningstar Lake Campgrounds on the eastern shore at the head of the lake.

If you're feeling more ambitious, the trail then ascends steeply through groves of small tree stands and grassy meadows to reach Pitamakan Lake at 8.6 miles. You cross the lake outlet and head to Pitamakan Lake's west side where the trail now ascends again steeply to the Pitamakan Pass. From here you can look out out over the rugged peaks of Flinsch Peak and Rising Wolf Mountain as well as the super view of of Oldman Lake's sapphire colored water. The trail heads down to Oldman Lake and into the Two Medicine valley and the campground to complete a beautiful trek through an area many people don't hike while in the vicinity of Glacier Park.

Check out the Official Route and Triplogs.

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2011-08-10 tibber