So for Labor Day I decided to head up to South Meadow Creek Lake by myself. My boss told me about taking an old Land Cruiser up there once and how he didn't think he'd have gotten up there in anything else. Seemed like a short trip with a lake at the top so... why not?
Quick drive down to McAllister from Bozeman and down the North Meadow Creek Rd a ways. There's a dirt road with lots of houses/mini ranches on it. After you pass the homes it becomes Forest Service road. There are camp sites in here and a sign posting that says the maximum camping period is 16 days!
Anyhow, once you get to the sign post for FS-1221 you realize very quickly you can't turn around once you enter. The road becomes rig width (no passing) with a drop off the driver side. It's like this most of the way up. Though there are a couple openings where you can find forks in the road and a clearing at one point with what appears to be an abandoned mill of some type.
Any lifted vehicle with 4x4 shouldn't have a problem with this trail. It gets very rocky (literally the road is nothing but rocks) in a few places. But I never scraped skids on any rocks with my 2015 Tacoma (OME Lift & 33's). My Cooper ST MAXX ate it up without ever slipping a bit (admittedly I never even aired down). Since much of the trail has a drop off, and it was raining all day, I did run the trip in 4LO to be safe. Though admittedly I wonder if 4x4 is really even required.
It rained ALL DAY Sunday, and there was a misting of rain through my whole trip up South Meadow Creek. As I ascended this gradually turned into snow. It was fantastic watching the season change as I climbed in elevation. I could see fog/clouds down below me as I looked down into the valley below. It was absolutely stunning up there - if only I'd had someone with me to take more photos and enjoy it with!
Google Maps will take you nearly all the way to the lake. This can be helpful to avoid a couple wrong turns prior to getting to FS-1221. However, when Google Maps announces "you've arrived at your destination" you realize... you haven't gotten to the lake yet. In fact, although you can't turn around, I'd imagine this is where most vehicles stop. Right at this point is when you get to the real rocks (I didn't photograph it but there's a very pronounced mini wall of rocks you have to drive over). Again, with 33's and a lift there's absolutely nothing to worry about. Just take it slow and crawl over the rock field ahead and navigate a couple tight turns around some 'larger' rocks in the road. It's at this point you realize that the rain/snowfall is actually creating a small stream right over the very rocks you're driving over.
This is easily the bumpiest part of the trail. Fortunately, this also means you're very close to the South Meadow Creek Lake. But the time I crested the small incline before the lake all the trees were covered in snow. The view as I finally spotted the lake through my windshield was amazing. Here was this dark, sullen looking lake overcast with clouds, a super light snow fall, and a thick layer of fog such that I couldn't see the other side of the lake. Honestly, perhaps both romantic and spooky all at once. At this point I was lamenting the fact that I was on a solo 4x4 outing while the GF was out bow hunting. I wished I could have gotten time off to go with her - but this was a reasonable solution to my boredom!
Quick drive down to McAllister from Bozeman and down the North Meadow Creek Rd a ways. There's a dirt road with lots of houses/mini ranches on it. After you pass the homes it becomes Forest Service road. There are camp sites in here and a sign posting that says the maximum camping period is 16 days!
Anyhow, once you get to the sign post for FS-1221 you realize very quickly you can't turn around once you enter. The road becomes rig width (no passing) with a drop off the driver side. It's like this most of the way up. Though there are a couple openings where you can find forks in the road and a clearing at one point with what appears to be an abandoned mill of some type.
Any lifted vehicle with 4x4 shouldn't have a problem with this trail. It gets very rocky (literally the road is nothing but rocks) in a few places. But I never scraped skids on any rocks with my 2015 Tacoma (OME Lift & 33's). My Cooper ST MAXX ate it up without ever slipping a bit (admittedly I never even aired down). Since much of the trail has a drop off, and it was raining all day, I did run the trip in 4LO to be safe. Though admittedly I wonder if 4x4 is really even required.
It rained ALL DAY Sunday, and there was a misting of rain through my whole trip up South Meadow Creek. As I ascended this gradually turned into snow. It was fantastic watching the season change as I climbed in elevation. I could see fog/clouds down below me as I looked down into the valley below. It was absolutely stunning up there - if only I'd had someone with me to take more photos and enjoy it with!
Google Maps will take you nearly all the way to the lake. This can be helpful to avoid a couple wrong turns prior to getting to FS-1221. However, when Google Maps announces "you've arrived at your destination" you realize... you haven't gotten to the lake yet. In fact, although you can't turn around, I'd imagine this is where most vehicles stop. Right at this point is when you get to the real rocks (I didn't photograph it but there's a very pronounced mini wall of rocks you have to drive over). Again, with 33's and a lift there's absolutely nothing to worry about. Just take it slow and crawl over the rock field ahead and navigate a couple tight turns around some 'larger' rocks in the road. It's at this point you realize that the rain/snowfall is actually creating a small stream right over the very rocks you're driving over.
This is easily the bumpiest part of the trail. Fortunately, this also means you're very close to the South Meadow Creek Lake. But the time I crested the small incline before the lake all the trees were covered in snow. The view as I finally spotted the lake through my windshield was amazing. Here was this dark, sullen looking lake overcast with clouds, a super light snow fall, and a thick layer of fog such that I couldn't see the other side of the lake. Honestly, perhaps both romantic and spooky all at once. At this point I was lamenting the fact that I was on a solo 4x4 outing while the GF was out bow hunting. I wished I could have gotten time off to go with her - but this was a reasonable solution to my boredom!
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