I took a backcountry ride up Morrison creek a few days ago. This trail is a main access for the Forest Service to Schafer meadows in the Great Beat Wilderness. I planned on turning off of the trail to Schafer and going down Big river to a location known as three forks. This is a well maintained trail to Schafer, but heading downstream the trail had not been cut yet and showed no signs of any traffic. I did end up cutting quite a bit of deadfall in the last 1.5 miles of trail. A lone grizzly was moseying down the trail on the ride in, but he scampered into the woods immediately upon seeing us. Good Bear! I haven’t been into this little campsite since on a pack trip in 2007. It is a real nice secluded area that gets very little traffic. Unfortunately the wilderness traffic in this area doesn’t come down the trail anymore. 

The number of river floaters these days is astonishing. Back in the late 70’s my father and I used to fly into Schafer meadows and float the Big River down to the Bear Creek area. We would rarely see another person, and if we did it was such an oddity that you would stop and have conversation. Today the Middle Fork of the Flathead is insanely busy with floaters and even high up in the wilderness the outfitters, guides and DIY adventurers have become regular scenery on the river.

Breakfast in the morning did get interrupted with an uninvited guest.

This black bear showed up and refused to leave us.

This bear appears to have become habituated to man. Bears with no fear that do not choose to refrain from human encounters are the ones to be afraid of. They have become accustomed and possibly have been rewarded with some food source from the numerous folks coming down the river.

Horsepackers and backpackers shouldn’t avoid these wilderness river areas just because of the traffic. They are still beautiful, challenging, and the fishing can still be outstanding.Morrison Creek – (no fishing here)

The trail crosses a shale field on the way in.

It’s about 12.5 miles from the trailhead to the three forks area, so it’s a pretty good jaunt for just an overnight trip. You can access the trail to Flotilla lake from this point, but crossing the river can be treacherous if the water is high.