Cabinet Divide Loop — Basic

Description

Cabinet Divide Advanced Loop, Flower Creek/Sky Lakes/Parmenter Tie Trailhead or Parmenter Creek Trailhead

- 28 miles, 8,000 ft climbing

- Kootenai Nat'l Forest, Cabinet Mtns Wilderness, Libby Ranger District

- Flower Creek Trail #137, Hanging Valley Trail #135, off trail, Sky Lakes Trail, Flower Creek Trail, Dome Mountain Trail #360N, North Fork Parmenter Trail #139, Parmenter Creek Trail #140, Parmenter Tie Trail #15

"This loop in the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness in far Northwestern Montana uses surprisingly clear trails (usually) that are diligently maintained mostly by locals. In July '20, there were some blowdowns on the Parmenter Creek Trail, but nothing that was difficult to go around. The off trail pass between the Sky Lakes and Hanging Valley is a steep class 3 scramble on the west/Sky Lakes side, and the trail between the Hanging Valley and Flower Creek is steep and somewhat primitive but easy to follow. The Cedar Lake/Cabinet Divide section of this loop is ridiculously beautiful, but the Divide can hold challenging snow banks through July. Bringing traction devices is a good idea. The Parmenter Tie trail is lovely, open, and serene old growth forest."