Spanish Peaks Loop (Counterclockwise) | Lee Metcalf Wilderness
I set out to run the Spanish Peaks Loop from Big Sky, arriving at the Spanish Creek Trailhead just before 6:00 AM. The adventure actually began on the drive in, where I found myself in a classic Montana traffic jam—a herd of bison slowly making their way across the road brought me to a halt as I was driving through the Flying D Ranch on my way to the Spanish Creek Trailhead.
I started running shortly after 6:00 AM, heading counterclockwise from the Spanish Creek Trailhead. The route begins with a steady climb on the Hell Roaring Creek Trail through dense forest, climbing a series of switchbacks before connecting with the Indian Ridge Trail.
Indian Ridge Trail was the highlight of my day. As I climbed toward Beacon Point, the trees gave way to expansive alpine views that stretched across the Spanish Peaks Wilderness. The ridgeline offered some of the best scenery on the entire loop.
From Beacon Point, the trail drops down fast through a series of steep, technical switchbacks into a spectacular alpine cirque below. The basin was filled with wildflowers, waterfalls, and countless creek crossings, making it one of the most beautiful stretches of trail I've ever run.
The valley eventually ended at a saddle, where I made one final climb over short but steep switchbacks leading to Summit Lake and the junction with the South Fork Spanish Creek Trail. After a rocky, technical descent alongside Spanish Creek, the trail gradually became less technical and more runnable, allowing for a faster finish back to the trailhead.
As I neared the parking area, I encountered the only significant traffic of the day, stopping several times to let groups of horseback riders pass before reaching my vehicle.
Route Stats:
Distance: 22.9 miles
Elapsed Time: 6:55:57
Fuel & Hydration:
Started off carrying 2L of hydration, gels, and gear (Garmin inReach, bear spray, rain shell, first-aid kit, headlamp, GoPro, and DJI nano)
Filtered water once during the run
Nutrition consisted of Tailwind, caffeinated and un-caffeinated gels, and one granola bar
This is an exceptional route from start to finish. The drive through the Flying D Ranch sets the tone, the views along Indian Ridge are among the best in the area, and the cirque below Beacon Point is one of the most stunning alpine landscapes I've had the opportunity to run through.
If you're looking for a challenging mountain loop with incredible scenery, varied terrain, and relatively light trail traffic, I can't recommend the Spanish Peaks Loop highly enough.