Bitterroots at Gopher Hill - Libby Saturday, June 6 We'll walk on a road and through a number of rocky openings on the way to viewing Montana's state flower. These shallow soils areas always hold a variety of spring flowers, with excellent views of Lake Koocanusa as well. Moderate, 4 miles. Contact Jon Reny at […]
Exploring the Prairie - Melville Saturday, June 6 – 8 am to 5 pm Join Jeff Copeland and Matt Lavin in exploring the native plants on state lands in northern Sweet Grass County. During an easy meander of 1-to-2 miles, we should see many plant species of the northern grasslands and sagebrush steppe. Jeff and […]
Tobacco Valley - Black Lake Saturday, June 6, 9:30 am A saunter through the Tobacco Plains to look for bitterroot, milkweed and other grassland species. Meet at the Historical Village in Eureka. Call Joe Rizzi at 406-334-9583 for more information and to reserve a spot.
House of Sky Trail - Missoula Tuesday, June 9 – 11 am Join Annie Garde for a morning hike on the House of Sky trail above Pattee Canyon. We hope to see abundant wildflowers and breathtaking views of the Bitterroot Range and Miller Creek Valley. Plan to meet at the top of Pattee Canyon, on […]
Flora of Lost Creek: Lost but not found Wednesday, June 10 – 6 pm Join Krystal Weilage for an early evening hike from Lost Creek State Park. A leisurely hike uphill following Lost Creek through forest and meadow environments, looking especially for any uncommon species in the Anaconda-Pintler area. For more information and to register […]
Foraging Montana - Pony Saturday, June 13 & Sunday, June 14 Walk with expert Thomas Elpel through meadows and woodlands, learning to identify edible and medicinal plants and the techniques and essential guidelines for ethical foraging. Harvest wild greens and prepare communal dinners with Tom, author of Foraging the Mountain West and Botany in a […]
Pulpit Ridge trail #709 - Troy Saturday, June 13 – 8:30 am to 5 pm Moderate hike, up to 6 miles round trip, depending on the flora and group’s interests. Trail 709 starts on Road 331 (Rabbit O’Brien) and follows the ridge toward Pulpit Mountain. We’ll see spring flowers, grassy meadows, shaded forest, open soil […]
Hike in Hay Canyon to see Short-styled columbine - Utica Saturday, June 13 – 10 am Matt Stewart will lead a hike through Hay Canyon to see Aquilegia brevistyla in flower. We’ll meet at 10 am at the Utica Museum in Utica. Email kelseychaptermnps@gmail.com to sign up and receive hike details.
Botany & Geology on the Boulder Batholith, S of Butte Sunday, June 14 – 10 am A preview trip by Mike Garverich ahead of the MNPS Annual Rendezvous. An all-day tour of the geology and fauna of the Fish Creek drainage on the flanks of the Highland Mountains, through sagebrush steppe on Tertiary sediments, open […]
Lubec Hills trail wildflowers - carpool from Columbia Falls Thursday, June 18, 9 am to 5 pm Enjoy the magnificent views and prolific wildflower displays of the Lubec Lake Trail system east of Glacier National Park. Be prepared for the weather, and to hike frin 3 to 4 miles with considerable elevation gain. Meet at […]
Pipestone Pass weed pull - south of Butte Thursday, June 18 – 8:30 am Under the Adopt-a-Trailhead-Montana Program & in partnership with the Butte District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, the Calypso Chapter of MNPS will conduct our 6th annual weed pull on Pipestone Pass. For information and to register, contact Karen at karenwporter44@gmail.com or […]
Bridger Bowl Blooms - Bozeman Saturday, June 20 – 8:30 am A moderate 4-mile hike meanders through the open runs of Bridger Bowl Ski Area, and zigzags up the rocky slopes below the ridge. Habitats include wet meadows, forested stands, and alpine scree, which yield everything from Solomon’s plume and coralroots, to monument plant and […]
Jocko River Restoration (Scilip - formerly Dixon) Tuesday, June 23 – 10 am Rusty Sydnor, Wetland/Riparian Restoration Ecologist with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, will walk us through the Jocko River restoration project. The project aims to move a section of the river that was straightened for agricultural purposes, back into its historical meandering […]
The 2026 annual membership meeting, aka "rendezvous," will take place on June 26-28, 2026, at Homestake Lodge on the Continental Divide. The lodge is a private inholding on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The closest place that looks like a community is Pipestone at the eastern base of the pass -- Homestake Pass is the one […]
River Weed Rodeo on Middle Fork of the Flathead River June 26, 2026 - starting at 9 am Groups will have a full day of rafting with one of the four commercial raft companies or by joining the group of private boaters. Along the way, we'll stop to listen to a short educational talk on […]
Gravelly Range wildflower tour, S of Dillon Thursday, July 2 – 9 am This almost-annual tour offered by the Madison Ranger District is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to immerse yourself in the abundant floral display of the Gravelly Range subalpine meadows. Registration not required. Meet at the Madison District Office, 5 Forest Service Road in Ennis. […]
Little Beaver Lake - Whitefish Saturday, July 4 – 9:30 am A ‘fen’-nominal exploration along the Whitefish Trail system. We’ll visit managed forest, fen and riparian plant communities. Meet at the Beaver Lake Trailhead. Call Joe Rizzi at 406-334-9583 for more info and to reserve a spot.
Botany & Foraging "Intensive" along the Magruder Corridor - S & W of Darby July 5-18 Join Tom Elpel and guest instructors for a botanical exploration of southwestern Montana and central Idaho, exploring ecosystems ranging from sagebrush rangelands to cattail swamps, coniferous forests and alpine meadows. We’ll have five different campsites, visiting the traditional lands […]