Muddy Creek Falls
Over the past entries, we have been adventuring (some good, some not so good) through Montana. This week we will explore little known Muddy Creek Falls near Bynum, Montana. I discovered Muddy Creek falls while surfing our intended Montana route via Google Earth looking at pictures posted by other users. Anytime I see a cluster of photos it clues me into something others feel worthy of sharing. In this case, clicking on the photos (represented by blue squares) revealed breathtaking shots of a deep narrow canyon through solid rock with a beautiful waterfall at the end. Wow, basically a slot canyon with a cascading waterfall to boot! Who knew Montana held such wonders? Recording the ever important coordinates of the canyon, falls, end of the nearest road and the required turns to get there, I added them to the itinerary of things to see and do on our trip.
Muddy Creek Canyon
Note Figures For Scale
Upon arrival at the trailhead (much farther from the RVs and bumpier than I had anticipated), my estimated distance from where we ended up parking to the trailhead was off by nearly a mile, meaning a two mile hike (one way) rather than the mile in and a mile out I had told my traveling companions. Of course, the ever present grizzly bear warning didn’t make the prospect of a now four mile hike anymore appealing. It became even more disconcerting when we reached Muddy Creek about halfway along our hike and found it bone dry. No running water means no waterfall. Pressing on (thinking nobody in our group was going to trust me to lead them on anymore adventures), we soon met a couple coming from the direction of the canyon. Seeing they were packing more and bigger bear deterrents than we were wasn’t a big morale booster. However, after sharing each other’s surprise in finding others hiking in this remote area, they assured us there was water coming over the falls and the balance of the distance, which they estimated at well over a mile still to go, was worth it. Thanking them and verifying the real remaining distance, via my trusty GPS, to the falls was only about 3/4 of a mile, we started out once again with renewed vigor. We soon reached the mouth of the canyon with the falls in sight shortly thereafter. Both the canyon and falls were an awesome place and more than the attached photos can even begin to convey.
Pressing on towards the prize in the face of adversity, just another adventure in RVing.
If you decide to go:
You will find the trailhead to the falls at:
N47 59.468 W112 39.825
You will find the falls at: N47 59.437 W112 42.551
Take bear protection with you!
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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