- Hike: Lolo National Forest
I did not realize just how big Lolo National Forest was until I got to St. Ignatius. It’s important to research the trail you want to hike and what side of the National Forest it is on. I will admit, St. Ignatius was not the closest town to Lolo National Forest, but I don’t mind a drive. Be prepared to drive about an hour and a half to get to your trail. My favorite was Morrell Falls Recreation Trail. This 5.5 mile out and back trail takes you to both a lake and a waterfall. Plus, just outside the trail is Salmon Lake State Park, where we stopped after our long hike to take a cool swim in the lake’s clear water.
2. Eat: Treat and Huckleberry Jam Factory
Located in central St. Ignatius and virtually side by side are Treat and the Huckleberry Jam Factory. Treat offers smoothies, coffee, ice cream, and chocolates inside an adorable store so you can both shop and relax. I got a huckleberry lemonade for myself and a scoop of vanilla ice cream for Max and then took it out to the car with me. There are shaded, outdoor tables next door at the jam factory if you wanted to stay and eat. The Huckleberry Jam Factory offers delicious “smash burgers”, ice cream, and cheesecakes, as well as jam. Max and I sat on the covered patio and shared a burger, then got some huckleberry ice cream. Delicious!
3. Explore: National Bison Range
Only about twenty minutes from town is the National Bison Range. For $20, you have access to a two-hour scenic drive up, around, and down a mountain with roaming bison. There are even a few trails along the drive where you can stop and get out to walk and stretch your legs. I was surprised at how lax their rules were. Dogs have to be on a leash at all times, but your car windows are allowed to be down, and you are even allowed to step out of your car, just not walk away from it. Max loves hanging his head out the window and getting a good look and smell at the bison.
4. Stay: MT Country Cottage
We stayed at an airBnB that was surrounded by farmland on all sides. It is a small one room cottage, but that is all I needed for just Max and me. The Country Cottage was one of the most peaceful, restorative places I’ve stayed. The sunrises and sunsets, mountain views, and animals everywhere you look was unbeatable. Max absolutely loved laying in the yard and watching the horses in the pasture right behind us. We would walk to the end of the street every morning and say hello to the cows. Everywhere I turned, there were deer cutting through the pastures or right in the front yard. I think we were both very sad to leave this airBnB. My only grievance about it is the hosts are VERY anal about dog fur. They mention it several times in the listing, in their welcome book, and in signs around the cottage. There is even an additional fee for “overly excessive hair shedding.” I felt paranoid the whole trip that I would be charged for hair shedding. It is mid-July and Max is part husky: the boy is shedding. I would call this airBnB dog tolerant, not dog-friendly. It seems they are more worried about people with dog allergies than they are accommodating of people traveling with dogs. If you have a dog that doesn’t shed, this is a great stay. We truly had a wonderful time and Max loved every minute. I just wish I didn’t have to be so concerned the whole time about his fur.
