Crystal Theater / Babcock Spires  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Lat, Long:  46.6373, -114.586 Map Page Views:  2,221. Good page?    Administrators:  grk10vq, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  joshf on May 4, 2009 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

Description 

The spires are a group of boulders and cliffs located around Lolo Pass. The largest of these rocks is around 300 feet in height. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Rho are the major formations in the area with Alpha being the largest. The rocks are closely grouped so I will post distinguishing features individually for each crag.

Getting There 

From Missoula, head south on 93. Take a right at Lolo onto 12 and take a right onto Crooked Fork Road (less than 0.25 miles east of the visitor center on top of Lolo Pass).

Lower Approach: From 12 drive up Crooked Fork Road about 0.6 miles. There is a difficult to see turn off to the right on a left hand turn in the road. Follow this road for a bit and park by the locked gate. Continue following the road until you can get a view of the spires then bushwack your way up to the rock of your choice.

Upper Approach: Drive up Crooked Fork Road about 4.4 miles and turn right at a sign marked Granite Ridge Trail. Drive another quarter mile and park before the road goes up a steep hill. Granite Ridge Trail (unmarked at this point) goes off to the right. Follow this trail for a few minutes to a hard left turn. At this point take a right and contour down the ridge bearing slightly left.

The Classics