Haystack Mountain Trail

North of Butte, the Haystack Mountain Trail is a shady summer hike perfect for a half-day adventure. The trail leads to the former site of an old lookout tower, and while the tower might be gone, the views from the summit are still spectacular: you can gaze out over the Boulder River Valley, Elk Park, and broad areas of the Continental Divide. The trail itself is narrow, forested, and intersected by numerous small creeks that flow down from the higher elevations, keeping things lush and cool on a hot summer day. Photo by Chris McDonald