I've been visiting my friend, Kathy, in Bozeman, Montana for a few days. She kept my car while I flew to New Mexico. Last Friday we did a short but beautiful hike along Hyalite Creek. The creek and the canyon are named for a large opal found in the area.
The mostly shady trail starts above the reservoir that supplies Bozeman with water. An accessible trail goes to the Grotto Falls.
The trail goes up another three and a half miles to a little lake and then continues on further to a summit. We turned around here and went back.
This is a very popular local hike and we saw at least ten groups of people and dogs on the trail. One lady was even pushing a jogging stroller.
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| View of Hyalite Creek from a turnout |
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| Another creek view |
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| View of a nearby summit from trailhead |
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| Columbine leaves - most were still green |
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| Wildflower |
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| View of creek from trail |
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| A few of these bushes grew in sunny spots |
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| Choke cherries were ripe |
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| Kathy and me at Grotto Falls |
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| Water flowing over colorful stones in shallow creek |
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| Arch Falls - we could not get a clear view of the arch any more |
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| Rocky bluff along trail |
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| Butterfly with stained glass wings |
This is a very popular local hike and we saw at least ten groups of people and dogs on the trail. One lady was even pushing a jogging stroller.
I wondered how you got to Montana so quickly. I didn't realize you had flown to New Mexico.
ReplyDeleteI drove to Bozeman, then flew to Albuquerque, and drove to Red River where I spent a week. Then came back through Santa Fe where we spent a night and a day, then back to Albuquerque to fly back to Bozeman. Stayed there three days, then have been three nights on the road, heading to South Dakota Badlands tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteCurrently hiding from the heat in the Douglas, WY library.
Looks like it was a lovely if popular hike. I always have a hard time turning around if the trail goes further on even when I know I should. What a great little trip you had. I didn't realize you'd flown either.
ReplyDeleteThose aren't chokecherries.
ReplyDelete