Climbing Near Conner, Montana

Secluded. Lots of rock. Drive South From Missoula past Darby to the West Fork of Trapper Creek, take your first right towards Chaffin Creek TH.

One of the premier areas in the Bitterroot Range. The North face of North Trapper Peak is the main attraction accessed from here, but there is a massive amount of rock lower down and closer to the trailhead, much of which is unexplored. The Spirolina tower is probably the most well known of these lower formations and is located a couple miles in on the north side and has a few routes. There is a trail going up the canyon but it is not well maintained and very overgrown and hard to follow in some spots. In my experience it is also prone to flooding over large portions during runoff. There are no bridges at stream crossings. Further info can be found in the Brunckhorst Montana Alpine guide and in various American Alpine Journals. You are not likely to run into other people here. Park at the Trapper Creek Trailhead and hike in to your objective. The last 7 miles is dirt but generally in good shape and should be passable for any vehicle. To get to the trailhead from Darby go south for 4.2 miles on US 93, and turn right onto the West Fork Road (MT 473). Follow this for 6.3 miles and turn right onto Main Trapper Rd (dirt), passing the Trapper Creek lodge. This turn is 1/2 mile past the Trapper Creek Job Corps. Stay on this road for a 1/2 mile until it forks, choose the left fork (FS 5628) and follow it 2.5 miles to the gravel lot that is the trailhead.

A field of large boulders at 7600' feet near a popular alpine lake. Some of the area can be seen in this video: youtube.com/watch?v=nxNAAh4… Follow the Baker Lakes trail until it crosses beneath a group of large boulders less the a mile from the trailhead and before you reach the lake.