Hike from Top Spur trail head
to McNeil Point
ten miles (according to my GPS)
8/13/15

---- Scroll Down for More Pictures -----




Where we started









Our leader assembles the
group at the trial head
and divides the hikers
into two groups
so that there is not too
many due to wilderness regulations





The Top Spur trail is
steep and rocky with
lots of roots





At the top of the Top Spur trail
there are two options to McNeil Point
Trail 600- Muddy Fork that goes
on the side of the ridge with a view of the valley
Trail 600 - Cairn Basin -
that goes along the top of the ridge in the trees
Our group took the Muddy Fork trail
the other group took the Carirn Basin trail
this was reversed on the return

The two trails come together
at the Cut Off Trail





The trail is quite nice but
somewhat dusty



The are some nice
lookout spots
but the view was
obstructed by the smoke
in the air





We did pass some small streams

The ponds were bone dry

At McGee Creek we come to the
cut off for McNeil Point





At this point the views are nice











This is the ridge one
follows to McNeil Point





There were not many flowers
but on the ridge to McNeil Point
The were some "Old Man of the Mt."
(Western pasque flower or
Anemone occidentalis )

On the way back,
along the top of the ridge trai,
we came to the cut off for the Mazama Trail 625





We did see some mushrooms
These are Boletes

This is a
Red Belted Cock
(Fomitopsis pinicola)
The weeping is called
Fungal Guttation


Click Here to read about
Fungal Guttation

Photo courtesy of Mich


Maps from my GPS


Directions to Top Spur Trailhead

  1. Take Hwy 26 to Zig Zag
  2. Just Before the Ranger Station turn left on Lolo Pass Rd
  3. Drive 4.2 miles to unmarked road on right
    ------ signs say "Campgrounds" and Trailheads"
    ------see picture of signs below --
  4. Stay on this small road for 0.7miles (do not go over bridge)
  5. You will now be on FR 1828
  6. Drive 5.6 miles on FR 1828
  7. Where road turns sharply left stay straight on a dirt road FR 118
    --- sign says Top Spur Trailhead
    --- see picture of signs below
  8. Drive 1.5 miles on this dirt road to the trailhead
  9. Golden Age Pass Required
An alternate way to the trialhead
1) Drive for 10.6 miles on Lolo Pass Rd
2) Turn right on FR 1825 which becomes FR 1828
3) Drive for 3 miles to a junction with a gravel road FR 118 (see item 7 above)







Signs were
one turns off of Lolo Pass Road
--- see item 3 above --

Sign at dirt road turnoff
- see item 7 above --



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