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Location: 40 miles north of Columbia Falls. Type of Hike: Out-and-back or shuttle day hike. Total distance: 6 miles. Difficulty: Moderate. Best months: July through August.
Finding the trailhead: Drive north of the
Nucleus Avenue/U.S. Highway 2 junction in Columbia Falls on Outside North
Fork Road for 49.5 miles (paved to the Glacier Rim access and partially
paved before the Polebridge turnoff) past the Ford Creek access and turn
left, heading west on Trail Creek Road (Forest Road 114). Follow this dirt
road for 3.3 miles past the old Mount Thoma-Hefty Trailhead (shuttle option).
After another 1.5 miles, the road forks. Follow FR 114A to the right (may
not be passable with a two-wheel-drive vehicle) for another 3 miles to
where the road deadends past an unmaintained jeep trail and a sharp curve.
Key points 0.5 Thoma-Colt Creek Trail 18 leaves logging roadThe hike: The hardest part of this hike is the long, long dirt road drive to the trailhead, which will likely make this always a lesser-used trail. Mount Thoma lies in an area between Trail Creek Road and the Canadian border, west of the North Fork Flathead Road and east of the Whitefish Range. The period of time this trail is passable is determined by the amount of last winter's snowfall. Expert skiers and persistent snowshoers can climb the trail nearly all year, but casual hikers should wait at least until July. The trail is not heavily used at any time, although hunters use it to some extent in the fall. Grizzly bears frequent the area but have not been a problem to day hikers. This part of the North Fork of the Flathead is reported to have one of the densest grizzly concentrations in the state, so you would be wise to keep alert along the trail. Deer and elk are also present, but probably not as conspicuous as the wilderness traveler would like. Thoma-Colt Creek Trail (18) begins as an old logging road past the trailhead gate and winds gradually uphill past an old harvest area. The road may have some downfall on it and is slightly clogged with alder growth, but easy to follow. After about 0.5 mile, a pile of rocks indicates a trail junction, and a well-maintained trail is visible descending down and to the right. Take this trail as it climbs gently up Colt Creek, which should have water even in September of a dry year. The route up Colt Creek passes through a cool spruce forest and steepens as you get closer to the top of the ridge. After about 2 miles, turn right (south) at the junction with Mount Thoma-Hefty Trail (15). Past the junction, the trail switchbacks a couple times and then summits the ridge for incredible views of Glacier National Park and beyond. A gentle forest of limber pine and subalpine larch highlights this huckleberry-covered ridge. Remember to be bear aware. After about a mile from the junction and a slight descent is the Mount Thoma Lookout. The sweep and magnitude of the view is magnificent. East are the Rockies of Glacier Park, west is the Whitefish Range, north the view is blocked by the bulk of Mount Hefty. The view is both grandly aesthetic and morbidly educational. After visiting the lookout, you have several options. If you left a vehicle at the old Mount Thoma-Hefty Trailhead, you can continue down to it on Trail 15. However, most people would not want to drive two vehicles this far on dirt roads for a day hike, so I suggest you instead climb Mount Hefty. Retrace your steps back to the junction with the Thoma-Colt Creek Trail, but instead of heading back down, follow a primitive trail north up Mount Hefty. The "trail" up Mount Hefty is more of an off-trail route at times, but as long as you keep going up and are careful about your return, you should not get off track. Nonetheless, frequently and carefully check your map. -Originally Contributed by Jack Johns 
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contents © , Travel Montana. All rights reserved. |
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Highlights:
A climb in the North Fork of the Flathead River wildlands, with spectacular
views of the Kintla Massif in Glacier National Park.
