Medicine Point is a popular US Forest Service rental lookout. The hike is pleasant on a well-maintained good-grade trail, FS #181. I set up SOTA operation a couple of hundred feet away from the lookout to not disturb a young couple that had rented it. Much of the southerly ridge from the trail junction to the lookout is within the activation zone. A highlight of seen wildlife, numerous mule deer and Clark’s nutcrackers was a very dark silver-fox hunting golden mantle squirrels and chipmunks in a large boulder field.
I’ve only seen these silver foxes in this southern Bitterroot area and in nearby Idaho summit hikes. Elsewhere, summits hikes have featured the standard ‘red-brown’ colored foxes.
The summit is forested with ample trees and snags to hang wire antennas.
Use caution on windy days as the trail and summit have abundant fire and insect-killed trees. These snags are of age to fall randomly especially on windy days.
Lookout and Rental Information: Medicine Point Lookout, Bitterroot National Forest - Recreation.gov
Trail miles: 7 miles roundtrip (per USFS website above)
Elevation gain: 2100’
Water: None along the access road or summit.
Bear Spray: Recommend for all Montana summit hikes.
Camping: Campgrounds are nearby off Highway #93. Dispersed camping is also allowed along summit access road FS#728 and at the trailhead.
Map: US Forest Service, Bitterroot National Forest, Darby/Sula Ranger District
Directions: Travel south on Highway 93 approximately 12.7 miles south of Darby, MT. Turn west on Laird Creek Road, FS #370. Continue nearly 5 miles to Bear Creek Saddle. Turn northwest on FS #5731 for another 1.8 miles to the trailhead, FS #181.
