Best Hike Report: Montana’s Chinese Wall Loop

The Best Hike blog just posted this great trip report from the Chinese Wall. The Chinese Wall (not the Great Wall of China) is a stunningly beautiful 12-mile, 1,000 foot limestone rock outcropping in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness near Glacier National Park.

Photographer Ralph Thornton completed the 6-day Chinese Wall backpacking trip on October 1st and took some incredible photos to prove it. Photos of all 65 miles of the trip are laid out on his website, including a full expedition report. Check it out if you’re looking for a great backpacking trip to dream about.

I reached camp early enough to set up, have dinner and take a walk to the pass before dark. The Chinese wall was in shade but it was still magnificent and seemed to stretch on forever.

I watched a big bull elk bugle down in the valley of Moose Creek. Every time he let loose several other elk up and down the valley would also bugle. They kept this up all night and well into the next day.

If you want to take the hike yourself, it sounds like fall is the time. Thornton was serenaded by bugling elk (bull elk bugle in hopes of attracting a mate) and enjoyed swatches of golden aspen along the way. The weather seemed just about perfect – chilly in the early morning but warming up to the mid 80’s by the afternoon.

All in all, sounds like a perfect hike.

You still have plenty of time to take your own perfect fall hike. If you need hiking gear or apparel, we’ve got an awesome selection – all at 35 – 70% off.