Oct. 1, 2026

I went to two different sections of this forest with the first stop at Alva lake. This looks like it is probably busy in the heat of summer, this time of year I had the place to myself. Maclay Flats and Blue Mtn trails were next just outside of Missoula. I walked next to the Bitterroot river and saw the most typical Montana scene: river in foreground and mountains in back. A pygmy nuthatch was noisily pecking at insects on a pine tree while squirrels ran about collecting the last of winter stores.