Sometimes it’s nice to begin a hike with a pleasant scene.
USFS trail 223 starts along the river at an elevation of about 2,400 feet, climbs up and over a small hill then proceeds up the river for another 7 or 8 miles. In their seasons, wildflowers along it are diverse and plentiful. Those included in this post are the late-season ones.
Evening Primrose (Oenothera villosa): the first one I had seen this year.
These bluebells are everywhere this time of year and I can seldom pass up a chance to photograph them.
As the trail enters the lower and most dense part of the forest, the color is intense.
The shade-loving Three-leaf Foamflower ~ Tiarella trifoliata
The berries of the Devil’s Club (Oplopanax horridus) are just beginning to turn red.
I did mention that I love these bluebells, didn’t I?
Slender Hawkweed ~ Hieracium triste
The seed head of the Blue Clematis, (Clematis occidentalis)
I love the steeper parts of this trail: there is a small stream below.
Another flower which grows at just about all elevations, Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea).
These are the fruit of the Clasping Twisted-stalk (Streptopus amplexifolius) which is a plant that I have seen in only two locations. It is interesting because the flowers and fruit appear on the underside of the leaves.
Montana Outdoors 