Vinal Creek

Deep in the Yaak Valley, the Vinal Creek Trail is a one-of-a-kind adventure through northwest Montana’s inland rainforest. The trail follows Vinal Creek through old growth cedar and larch before passing through a recovering burn and criss-crossing the creek on a series of small bridges. Keep an eye out for thimbleberries and pikas, and don’t miss the short detour to 60-foot tall Turner Falls. Turn around here for a 6 mile roundtrip, or keep hiking to a string of four small lakes with a few small campsites and plenty of cutthroat, rainbow, and brook trout. Photo by Alison Kreis