Maps: Butte South and Melrose USGS Quads and BLM Public Land States Map 33.

Finding the trailhead: After driving south of Butte on Interstate 15 for 26 miles, take Moose Creek Exit 99 and head east on Moose Creek Road (Forest Road 0101) for 3.4 miles to the Bureau of Land Management parking lot.

Parking & trailhead facilities: Parking, pit toilet, and interpretive information.

The hike: Of all the roadless country in Montana, the 11,174-acre Humbug Spires area must rank among the most intriguing. Besides the granite protrusions for which it was named, the area has a lovely stream with small cutthroat trout and a forest of primeval Douglas-fir somehow overlooked by early timber cutters.

After leaving the parking area, cross a footbridge to the west side of Moose Creek. In the first 1.3 miles, you pass by numerous ancient trees, possibly 200 years old or older.

At about the 1.5-mile mark, the trail forks. Take the right fork and continue up the east side of the stream, skirting a section of private land. Be sure to respect the landowner's desire to close his land to the public.
Stay on this trail for about a third of a mile, until it begins to fade. At this point, you'll have good views of the Humbug Spires in all their majesty. Game trails proliferate here, so, accompanied by topographic map and compass, you can plot your own route into the Humbug Spires.

If you camp, plan to spend the first half of your second day wandering around among the spires. You will come home exclaiming about the beauty and uniqueness of the Humbug Spires.

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