U.S.F.S. trail 372 through Munson Creek is one of my favorite trails. It also has what I think is one of the prettiest trail heads, and right now it is, like all the rest of the wild country, celebrating spring. While it is on National Forest land, the presence of apple trees and lilacs gives cause to wonder about its past.
Montana Outdoors 
Wow, I do not wonder if this is one of Your favorite trails when admiring Your photo. It is looking so calming nerves. Apple trees and lilacs must be beautiful when they blooming.
A very lovely place to take a stroll!
LikeLike
Comment by sartenada — May 26, 2011 @ 11:41 pm
This trail has a lot of diversity. The stream flows cold all summer (right now it is very full) and the trail is very steep for most of its length, climbing from about 2500 feet at the trail head to about 6000 feet where it meets two other trails, one of which ascends another 1500 feet to the top of Big Hole Peak. Its canyon is full of old-growth cedar and there are wildflowers along the entire length.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — May 27, 2011 @ 11:05 pm
yes it does….
thanks for the pondering moment!
LikeLike
Comment by Stacey Dawn — May 27, 2011 @ 12:59 am
I know there was a ranch at the bottom end overlooking the river, and the trees may have been planted as part of it.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — May 27, 2011 @ 11:07 pm
True beauty! =)
LikeLike
Comment by Tricia — May 27, 2011 @ 7:20 am
Yes, it’s a beautiful spot!
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — May 27, 2011 @ 11:07 pm
An old homestead? Johnny Appleseed?
LikeLike
Comment by Chad — May 27, 2011 @ 8:27 am
I know the creek was named after the Munson family who I believe ranched there, but I don’t know the extent of their holdings back then.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — May 27, 2011 @ 11:09 pm
Hi Montucky, Like you, I think that the area likely was a homestead property in the distant past as it is not a commonly seen thing to see fruit trees and landscaping shrubbery in the forest. Have a wonderful Friday!
LikeLike
Comment by wildlifewatcher — May 27, 2011 @ 11:51 am
Some of these places have changed since the road and railroad were put in. I think that may have broken up some of the ranches. I don’t know how the private property related to the National Forest that long ago, but clearly the lilacs were planted. There are many apple trees all along the highway, and I suspect that most of them just grew from seeds that were thrown out.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — May 27, 2011 @ 11:12 pm
how pretty! is the apple tree the one w/ the white blossoms?
LikeLike
Comment by silken — May 27, 2011 @ 12:25 pm
Yes. It’s a big tree and the apples are quite good.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — May 27, 2011 @ 11:13 pm
It sure would be a pretty place to homestead, and I will bet that is how the trees got there. If so, they left a lovely imprint behind.
LikeLike
Comment by sandy — May 27, 2011 @ 2:02 pm
Several years ago I received a comment from a man who was raised on the Munson ranch right there somewhere. He now lives on the east coast.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — May 27, 2011 @ 11:14 pm
So peaceful…what a lovely treat!
LikeLike
Comment by Bo Mackison — May 27, 2011 @ 2:18 pm
It is still pretty, but I wish I could have been there to see it in the late 1800’s which I would guess is about when the ranch or homestead was begun.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — May 27, 2011 @ 11:15 pm
A gorgeous place to have a writing cabin… and to be with nature. Indeed. 🙂
LikeLike
Comment by Anna — May 27, 2011 @ 2:21 pm
I would like such a cabin a few miles upstream where it is very wild and completely natural. It’s OK to spend a few days up there if one has horses or doesn’t mind the hike.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — May 27, 2011 @ 11:18 pm
Yes, it’s quite easy to picture a little log cabin tucked in there. It looks like a great spot to take a break.
LikeLike
Comment by farmhouse stories — May 27, 2011 @ 4:31 pm
There is an old log cabin just upstream where it overlooked the creek. I’ve seen it but haven’t really explored it because that’s private land and I don’t know the folks who own it. At the bottom end, the National Forest land is a quite narrow strip containing the creek: further up the forest widens out and is very large.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — May 27, 2011 @ 11:21 pm
Lovely. How old do you think the apple tree might be?
LikeLike
Comment by Candace — May 28, 2011 @ 1:09 am
Hard to guess, but perhaps 70 – 80 years at least.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — May 28, 2011 @ 8:00 am
I love to imagine what life was like when I find an old homestead. I must say, I’ve never seen one quite this beautiful!
LikeLike
Comment by kcjewel — May 28, 2011 @ 8:43 pm
I can remember what it was like on my grandparent’s ranch a half dozen miles up the road back in the 40’s. They sure didn’t have the conveniences that we do today, but they made do just fine.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — May 28, 2011 @ 9:15 pm
Such a beautiful view of this mountain pass!
LikeLike
Comment by Marcie — May 29, 2011 @ 9:27 am
It is a beautiful place. I always spend a few minutes there both when heading up that trail or upon returning.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — May 29, 2011 @ 10:39 pm
Looks like a perfect spot to sit with one’s lunch and contemplate the beauty… lovely image!
LikeLike
Comment by Victoria — May 30, 2011 @ 6:21 am
That trail head is just off the highway and gets an occasional visitor even though it’s not too well advertised.
LikeLike
Comment by montucky — May 30, 2011 @ 8:39 am