Please note: These walks are interpretive in nature and probably not suited for fidgety children. There will be many stops and lots of talking on an adult level.
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History Tour-Camp Disappointment and Lewis & Blackfeet Encounter SiteLength: 3-5 miles
Elevation gain: less than 500 feet Meet: 8:30 a.m. Bandshell, Gibson Park to caravan to Cutbank City Park Total time: 8 hours Travel Distance to Trailhead: 109 miles; 270 miles of driving total Age limit: 12 and up; children with legal guardian Max. Number: 35 Difficulty level: Moderate with uneven footing, bushwhacking Coordinator: Larry and Callie Epstein Note: Blackfeet permit is a must and will be checked at the park. SUV required as we will drive off-road. Also, this hike will be cancelled if it rains, due to gumbo roads. Blackfeet Tribal permit required. Join Larry and Callie Epstein who will host tour to sites of the Meriwether Lewis’s exploration of the Marias and their encounter with the Blackfeet on the Two Medicine River. This is a historical drive to several sites with walks that will have many stops for narrative and historical context. The geography is beautiful with unusual rock formations. We will caravan from Gibson Park to meet the hike coordinators at the City Park in Cutbank and drive to where the tour begins at Great Northern Monument for Camp Disappointment on U.S. Highway 2, travel to Two Medicine Holy Family Mission with visit to Tribal Historical marker for James Willard Schultz grave, then to the site of Lewis’ encounter with young warriors of the Blackfeet Tribe in late July, 1806. Finally, we will hike to the site of Lewis-Blackfeet encounter, read from Lewis’ journals and discuss events on the Two Medicine. This walk has lots of local history and a very moderate hike. It is a great day of local history and outdoor explanation. Non-Tribal members will need a $10 Blackfeet Tribal Conservation License. Licenses will be checked at the park. Purchase one at https://blackfeet.nagfa.net/online/ or at Scheel's. Hike will be cancelled in case of rain. Historic District with North-
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South Fork Judith-Wildflower WalkLength: 3.6 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 740' (74 flights of stairs) Meet: 8:30 a.m. Gibson Park Bandshell to coordinate caravan Total time: 8 hours Travel Distance to Trailhead: 95 miles, two hours Age limit: 12 and up, in good shape; children with legal guardian Max. number: 16, Coordinators: Wayne Phillips and Gordon Whirry Difficulty Level: Moderate Note: SUV advised This wildflower interpretive walk follows old roads and trails in beautiful canyons of the South Fork Judith country, with lots of wildflowers and possibility of seeing rare columbine. We will be taking our walk slowly with lots of opportunities to identify the flowers we see and learn about native plants, including plant anatomy and latin names. A side trip to a cool limestone arch is possible. Bring your wading shoes in addition to your hiking boots as we have one stream to cross. We also need high clearance all-wheel drive vehicles. Historic Downtown Business DistrictLength: approximately 3 miles
Elevation gain: none, all sidewalk travel Meet: 10:30 a.m. Gibson Park Bandshell; leave from park Total time: 2 Hours Travel Distance to Trailhead: None. Leave from park Age limit: 14 and up; children with legal guardian Max. Number: 20 Difficulty Level: Easy Coordinators: Ike Kaufman and Channing Hartelius Join Ike Kaufman, owner of Great Falls’ longest single-family owned business, and Channing Hartelius, part-owner of the Celtic Cowboy Pub, for a whirlwind tour of the historic business district. Learn the history of the business owners who operated flourishing stores, taverns, theaters, and hotels in in the historic business district. Ike and Channing will share their extensive research and long-standing family knowledge of establishments from the past. You will gain a new perspective on how you see downtown next time you travel along Central Avenue and the lower south side. For those interested, a post-walk celebration at the Celtic Cowboy is an optional activity. |