Trapper Peak

A 10,000 foot view, plus a little

The Highest Peak in the Bitterroot Mountains

Trapper Peak is located in southwest Montana, near the historic town of Darby.

The 10,157′ peak rises more than 6,500′ above the Bitterroot Valley floor.

It’s the tallest peak in the Bitterroot Mountains, more than 800′ taller than nearby St. Mary’s Peak near Stevensville.

Trapper Peak is the 200th tallest peak in Montana, about 1/2 mile shorter than the tallest peak, 12,799′ Granite Peak in the Beartooth Mountains.

It must feel strange for a mountain top to feel a little short when it’s over 10,000 feet tall, but this is Montana.

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Fire and Ice Created Trapper Peak

Tens of millions of years ago molten rock rose to the earth’s crust, then cooled to form huge expanses of granite rock that formed the Bitterroot Mountains.

Tectonic plates were colliding, magma was pushing from below, and the entire top of the Bitterroot Mountains slid dozens of miles to the east.

It was time for new peaks to emerge, and Trapper Peak was born.

Our Bitterroot Mountains article has a fascinating video that explains how the Bitterroot Mountains were formed, and it’s quite the story.

Flash back to a couple million years ago and this area was mostly covered in glacial ice.

Things looked a lot different around here during the Pleistocene Ice Age.

Huge glacial ice sheets were on the move, and they were cutting U-shaped canyons in the Bitterroot Mountains until they melted about 15,000 years ago.

Trapper Peak’s jagged granite peaks, horns and circs were carved and shaped by these glaciers, leaving behind the spectacular scenery we enjoy today.

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It’s Easy to See

While Trapper Peak isn’t one of the tallest peaks in Montana, it’s one of the most iconic.

The visibility from Highway 93 and the popular historical marker stops most Bitterroot visitors, and many locals get the pleasure of seeing the peak from home or work.

Although not as dramatic as the view from Highway 93, you can also see the peak from the south as you travel the West Fork Road (Hwy 473) towards Painted Rocks Reservoir.

Along with Lake Como and Skalkaho Falls, Trapper Peak is one of the most iconic features of the spectacular Bitterroot Valley.

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It’s Not as Easy to Hike

Anywhere you find 10,000′ peaks, you’ll find hikers and climbers wanting to get to the top.

So it’s no surprise that hiking to Trapper Peak is a very popular summer activity in the Bitterroot Valley.

There are several routes to get to the peak, but the Trapper Peak Trailhead is the most popular route.

This hike begins at the end of Forest Service road 5630-A, and gains 3,800′ in just over 4 miles.

As the above video shows, most of the hike passes through pristine sub-alpine forest on a well maintained, but steep trail.

Once you emerge from the tree line, the hike becomes a little more challenging as the trail is less obvious and there’s plenty of scrambling on the loose rocky trail.

It’s a moderately difficult hike and hikers should be well prepared with plenty of water and extra layers as weather can change quickly in Montana.