If you only walk one trail in the Bitterroot Valley, make it Blodgett Canyon. Just west of Hamilton, Montana, this glacier-carved gorge throws up sheer granite walls more than 1,000 feet tall, and the maintained trail runs flat and easy along Blodgett Creek deep into the canyon. It is the most accessible window into the rugged Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, and it works equally well as a casual afternoon stroll or the first leg of a multi-day backcountry trip.
Getting to the Trailhead
From downtown Hamilton, head west on Main Street, which becomes Bowman Road, then follow signs through a maze of county roads (Ricketts Road and Blodgett Camp Road) for about 5 miles to the Blodgett Canyon Trailhead. The last stretch is gravel but passable in any car. There is a Forest Service campground at the trailhead and a vault toilet. Arrive early on summer weekends, because the small lot fills fast with day hikers, climbers, and horse packers.
The Main Canyon Trail
The canyon trail (Trail 19) is the gentle one. It follows Blodgett Creek upstream beneath towering walls that draw rock climbers from across the Northern Rockies. Highlights by distance:
- Mile 1 to 2: Easy walking through ponderosa pine and Douglas fir, with the granite faces of the canyon rising on both sides.
- Mile 3.5: A footbridge crosses Blodgett Creek, a natural turnaround for a half-day out and back.
- Mile 7: A waterfall tumbles in from a side drainage, the most popular full-day destination.
- Beyond: The trail continues toward Blodgett Lake and the Bitterroot crest, country better suited to overnight backpackers.
The grade stays gentle for miles, so distance, not elevation, is what tires you out here. Most day hikers turn around somewhere between the bridge and the waterfall.
The Blodgett Canyon Overlook
For the postcard view without a long walk, take the separate Blodgett Canyon Overlook Trail, reached from the Canyon Creek trailhead a short drive away. It climbs roughly 1.5 miles and 800 feet through a 2000 wildfire burn scar to a rocky perch staring straight down the throat of the canyon. Go in the morning for soft light on the west-facing walls and to beat the afternoon heat on this exposed slope.
Wildlife and Safety
This is black bear and mountain lion country, and the wider wilderness holds grizzlies, so carry bear spray and store food properly. Blodgett Creek runs cold and fast during spring runoff, so do not count on rock-hopping the upper crossings before mid-July. The canyon funnels weather, and afternoon thunderstorms build quickly over the crest in summer, so start early and watch the sky.
When to Go
The lower canyon is usually snow-free and hikeable from May through October. Wildflowers peak in June, the waterfall runs strongest in late spring, and September brings cool air, golden larch higher up, and far fewer people. Winter turns the trailhead road icy and the canyon into a quiet snowshoe.
Turning a Day Hike into a Backpacking Trip
Blodgett is the classic entry point for going deeper. Push past the waterfall and you are committing to true wilderness travel toward the high lakes and the Bitterroot divide. If the canyon hooks you and you want to link it with Canyon Creek, the alpine lakes, and the crest into a full multi-day route, our Selway-Bitterroot backpacking itinerary maps out a five-day loop with camps, water sources, and resupply notes from Hamilton.
Whether you walk two miles or twenty, Blodgett Canyon delivers the scale of the Selway-Bitterroot in an unusually friendly package. Pack water, bear spray, and a camera, and let the granite do the rest.
