Quick Tips
- Be physically prepared, it is rough country
- Good fishing in the many small streams and lakes
- Bring good optics and good quality clothing
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep | 140"-160" | 165"+ |
On The Ground
This district is in the Spanish Peaks Wilderness Area. It is a rugged mountainous area with many high peaks and alpine lakes filled with Yellowstone Cutthroat trout. This district is located a few miles south of Bozeman and just north of Big Sky Ski area.
This district has a respectable sheep population and only slightly down from historic highs. The Spanish Peaks get a lot of use in the summer by backpackers and horseback riders. It is an absolutely beautiful area.
Terrain
The trailheads start out in the creek bottoms and it is a gradual start, but soon gets steep. The mountains are very steep from the creek beds to the tops of the peaks. The valleys are long and the headwaters are above timberline. From here it is talus slopes and boulder fields leading up to the rocky ridges and sheer rock peaks. There are numerous subalpine basins and most of them have lakes in them.
Roughly 388 square miles
45.2% public land
Elevations from 6,000-11,000 feet
Vegetation
From the stream bottoms to mid slope it is heavily timbered with spruce, fir and pine trees. The next elevation is covered with subalpine grasses and scattered stunted subalpine conifers. This area is intermixed with boulder fields and rocky spines. From there are steep talus slopes leading up to the rocky peaks, only alpine forbs, moss and lichens are found in this zone.
Access
The primary access is from Highway 191 to the Spanish Creek Road, follow this to the trailhead. From here it is backpack or horseback into an adventure of a lifetime. There are several other trailheads that will also get you into the district, such as Hellroaring, Dudley Creek, Deer Creek and Cascade Creek.
ATVs are not allowed in any part of this district
Hiking will be strenuous, it is all very steep terrain and rocky
Camping and Lodging
There are spectacular places to camp throughout this district. Many are next to a subalpine lake full of trout and Deer Lake has grayling in it. With a little bit of glassing you may spot sheep and goats from camp or while you are catching some fish.
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