Big Creek 4 Day Trek
Montana Backpacking Tour
Backpacking Gear Included
|Fresh Meals Prepared Daily
|Professional Wilderness Guides
Big Creek 4 Day Trek
Montana Backpacking Tour
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Cost:
$1547(4 Day)
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Type:
Backpacking
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Length:
4 days
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Difficulty:
Moderate to Advanced
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Mileage:
20-30 miles
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Season:
June – September
Adventure Details
Big Creek Lake & Packbox Pass: 4-Day Wild Bitterroot Escape
Dive into the untamed heart of Montana’s Bitterroot National Forest on this soul-stirring 4-day backpacking adventure, where solitude reigns and raw mountain beauty steals the show. From the moment you step onto the Big Creek Trail, towering granite spires rise above endless evergreen forests, framing a landscape so rugged and remote it feels like the edge of the world. Hike to Big Creek Lake—the largest backcountry lake in the entire Bitterroot—its crystalline waters brimming with hungry cutthroat trout begging for your fly rod. Spend lazy afternoons swimming in alpine splendor, then push higher along a wildflower-strewn ridge to the Montana-Idaho stateline at Packbox Pass (7,195 ft), where 360-degree views stretch across two states and no one else is in sight. Elk bugle at dawn, mountain goats patrol the cliffs, and the only soundtrack is wind through ancient pines. This is Montana wilderness at its most pristine and private.
Tour Highlights
- Camp beside Big Creek Lake, the Bitterroot’s biggest and most beautiful backcountry gem
- World-class trout fishing (bring your rod and license!)—fish literally jump on the line
- Optional summit day to Packbox Pass on the MT-ID border with jaw-dropping panoramic views
- Swim, soak, or float in crystal-clear mountain water after each day’s adventure
- Prime wildlife viewing: elk, mountain goats, black bears, moose, and soaring eagles
- 20–26 miles of stunning trail with ~4,500 ft elevation gain through wildflower meadows and old-growth forest
- Small groups, expert guides, all permits, gourmet meals, and bear canisters included
- Total escape—no cell service, no crowds, just pure Montana magic
Leave the world behind and find yourself in the real Montana. Limited dates each summer—your Bitterroot wilderness is calling.
*Route Variation - Our specific hiking route and campsites on each departure are dependent upon permit availability.
Adventure Itinerary
Day 1
We will meet you at our Missoula hotel partner and drive to the Bitterroot National Forest. The first day of our hiking tour in the Bitterroot National Forest begins at the Big Creek Lake Trailhead where we will depart for our first leg of the hike. Today we will hike between 5-7 miles to our first campground. The trail winds through the evergreen forest, over a few log bridge water crossings and offers spectacular views of the surrounding valleys and peaks. Tonight will be our first night camping out under the Big Sky of Montana.Day 2
Today we will start our hike with some bun burning hiking up the steep "Stairway to Heaven" on the final push up to Big Creek Lake. This serene trail has dense forest throughout the majority of the hike. There are a few sections where the views open up along the way. Your expert guide will interpret the various rock formations, flora, and if you're lucky any fauna that we cross paths with. Once you have arrived at Big Creek Lake your guide will set up at one of the campsites while you relax near the Lake.Day 3
Awake to fresh coffee and breakfast before heading out for our day hike to the top of Packbox Pass. We will head out on the Big Creek Trail and navigate through the dense forest along the lake shore until we start the 2,000ft uphill trek to the top of Packbox Pass. At the summit of Packbox Pass you will overlook the Montana/Idaho border from 7,195ft. This day we cover 7 miles on the trail including the day hike out to Packbox pass and back.Day 4
On the last day of the Big Creek hiking tour, we're up early for a nutritious breakfast before heading to the back to the trailhead in the valley. The mild downhill on the way out makes for a pleasant hike back to the trailhead. We'll have lunch on the trail and get back to the trailhead in the early afternoon. You will arrive back in Missoula with plenty of time to catch a hearty dinner and cold drink!What's included?
- 5pm orientation the afternoon prior to your hike.
- Backpacking permits.
- Tent camping each night on the trail plus the night of orientation at the backpacker's camp*.
- All food while on the trail prepared by your guide - from dinner at orientation through breakfast on the last day*.
- Double occupancy tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack, trekking poles. A single tent is available for an additional $50.
- A certified, medically trained guide that will lead you safely on your journey.
- An unforgettable experience!
Pickup Locations
Transportation from our Missoula Hotel Partner included in tour cost (hotel cost paid separately)
What to Bring
Our camping and hiking trips include round trip transportation, all pro-quality gear and meals required for your adventure. This includes tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cooking supplies, trekking poles, and daypacks and/or backpacks. We are happy to accommodate food allergies and most dietary restrictions. Please include your preferences in your Registration Form so that we can prepare accordingly.
Gear Included
Discovery Treks tours are all inclusive tours which include:
- All meals from lunch day 1 through lunch day 4
- An experienced Wilderness First Responder Certified Yosemite Backpacking Guide
- Necessary pro-quality backpacking gear including 65 - 75L Osprey backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, trekking poles, double occupancy tent, bear cannister (Single tent upgrade available for $50)
- All permits and fees
Don't see a tour date that works for you?
We may still be able to schedule additional tour dates that fall within your travel window.
Please call our office to inquire at 480-247-9266.