Chrome Mountain Friday Camping

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406Camper

406Camper

Joined
Apr 26, 2021
Threads
24
Messages
409
Location
Billings, MT
Anyone interested in pre-run on 7/18 or 7/19? It isn't scheduled to open until 7/16. I have never been on this trail.

onX Offroad

webmap.onxmaps.com webmap.onxmaps.com
 
We could camp near Pickett Lake (blue X) on FRI the 18th and hit the trail up Iron Mountain over to Chrome Mountain on SAT.
1751750043828.png
 
I would if I could but I will be above the Lochsa River in ID checking on the huckleberrys and then on to see my dad.

A chain saw or two would be a good item for a trail that is just opening up for the season. Ck the lakes for fish!
 
My bad. So we won't be able to pre-run it since it doesn't open until the 16th. I will probably head up FRI (the 18th) and camp near the lake.
 
Tom, I have never been up there. I was thinking by the Lakes indicated with the blue X. I'll go up with you on FRI.
 
That area is super narrow and the forest is real tight, plus a good chunk of the 4x4ish stuff is before that.

There's not a ton of dispersed camping off Picket Pin, it's very thick forest and the valleys are super narrow. I think we'd be able to find a spot somewhere along there though. Happy to go poking around and pick one out.

There is a FS campground down below, at Initial Creek, that's supposed to be good but the road "is terrible". Sounds like our kind of thing maybe?
 
Hey, thanks for kicking off these discussions @406Camper. Sorry for not posting something sooner. I will be honest and say my experience up there is limited, as I have only been in that area a couple of times, and I have only gone to Iron Mountain.

That said, my plan/suggestion was to camp further down below, before Picket Pin. I plan on joining Friday evening for camping as well. If we camp at the one right before the bridge, it seems like a solid place to meet folks driving up on Saturday as an air down point for us all.

Suggested Camping Location: 45.429968, -109.983933
1751943319410.png

There is an additional camp spot we could hit before the coordinates I have above, but I think it might be a little tight for multiple rigs. Folks could potentially camp further up the tail for Saturday night, if they would like.

We could do a quick run up near Iron if we wanted on Friday, to at least to a quick scope, but you are right that this trail only opens a few days before our planned Saturday ride.

Thoughts on the camping location? @WreckDiver1321, do you think this is decent enough option?

FYI, I will make a separate post tonight on the trail ride, just to ensure its clear on the official plan. But we can banter on here still to lock in these details.
 
MTsoul said:
Hey, thanks for kicking off these discussions @406Camper. Sorry for not posting something sooner. I will be honest and say my experience up there is limited, as I have only been in that area a couple of times, and I have only gone to Iron Mountain.

That said, my plan/suggestion was to camp further down below, before Picket Pin. I plan on joining Friday evening for camping as well. If we camp at the one right before the bridge, it seems like a solid place to meet folks driving up on Saturday as an air down point for us all.

Suggested Camping Location: 45.429968, -109.983933
View attachment 3944758
There is an additional camp spot we could hit before the coordinates I have above, but I think it might be a little tight for multiple rigs. Folks could potentially camp further up the tail for Saturday night, if they would like.

We could do a quick run up near Iron if we wanted on Friday, to at least to a quick scope, but you are right that this trail only opens a few days before our planned Saturday ride.

Thoughts on the camping location? @WreckDiver1321, do you think this is decent enough option?

FYI, I will make a separate post tonight on the trail ride, just to ensure its clear on the official plan. But we can banter on here still to lock in these details.
Click to expand...

This could work, that area is a bit tight though. Not a lot of big camping areas. Options are limited that far up.

Other potential good spots:

45.4288425, -109.9336027 (I think this area is a good meeting spot?)
45.4282418, -109.9360419
45.4328741, -109.9614605

Like I said in the other thread, I plan to run out while my wife and kids are busy to set up camp, then I'll head back out and pick them up and come back later that evening. I can scout and select a spot, set my stuff up, and then fire off the coordinates in the main thread for people to meet when they get down here while I'm in cell service.
 
So I took a poke around the area yesterday to see where the best places to camp Friday would be.

The biggest problem with this area is lack of camping opportunities lower down, but there's a lot in the surrounding area that I think is worth considering.

45.42972, -109.98390 and 45.43074, -109.98277 are about 30 minutes up the trail we're planning on doing, but they're small for a group of trucks and very close to a stagnant pond, so the bugs are horrible. I didn't venture much farther up the road, but from my memory and satellite images, there's nothing decent until many miles in.

The surrounding area is a bit sparse but there are some options either you can drive up above the Stillwater Mine and go to some dispersed sites, or you can drive to the Woodbine USFS campground.

My main concern with the area above the mine is how long it takes to get to the Picket Pin area. The closest sites (45.41729, -109.88108 and 45.40791, -109.89367) are a bit small still and a solid 20-30 minute drive to get back to 419, then another then another 15 ish to get to one of the better gathering spots. There are some INCREDIBLE spots at the end of that road, but it's probably closer to an hour to get back to 419 from there and the road is very bumpy.

I the interest of time, Woodbine might be a better option, but the one group site they have has already been reserved.

Any thoughts from the group?
 
Tom, Did you check out Initial Creek Campground? That would be my vote.
 
Tom, how about here at the Initial Creek Rd turnoff (45.4292, -109.9338) ? Appears there are fire rings and it is a large area.
1752628918925.png
 
406Camper said:
Tom, how about here at the Initial Creek Rd turnoff (45.4292, -109.9338) ? Appears there are fire rings and it is a large area.
View attachment 3950118
Click to expand...

It's a large area, yes, but it's almost guaranteed to be filled with trucks and trailers that dropped off side by sides. Also it's nowhere near flat.
 
Yeah, I saw all the trucks on google maps. Bummer.
Ok
1752631368540.png
 
I don't have much recommendation here, but I can totally see the compromises of each spot you covered, @WreckDiver1321.

We don't have to lock this in yet, but one good suggestion for a good meet up spot for us all on Saturday morning would be at or near 45.4292, -109.9338
 
MTsoul said:
I don't have much recommendation here, but I can totally see the compromises of each spot you covered, @WreckDiver1321.

We don't have to lock this in yet, but one good suggestion for a good meet up spot for us all on Saturday morning would be at or near 45.4292, -109.9338
Click to expand...

Yes, I was thinking that exact spot for meet up.
 
Tom, How about before Initial Creek Campground? Like near here (45.41821, -109.91165). That would make the drive shorter to the meetup place on SAT.
1752724686070.png
 
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