What to See and Do
Hiking and Biking
Collar Peak Loop
The Collar Peak Loop, a fantastic trail for those who enjoy solitude in nature, is a moderately challenging route near Lewistown. The trail features a fair amount of elevation gain, but it isn't particularly rigorous. As you make your way through the mountainous woodlands, you'll be treated to a number of impressive views. Some hikers who have traversed the loop recommend bringing hiking poles to have an easier time with certain parts of the trail.
Length: 5.2 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Uhlhorn Trail #493
Located in the Big Snowy Mountains Wilderness Study Area, Uhlhorn Trail #493 is an extremely long point-to-point trail featuring a variety of landscapes and natural features. The trail, which takes roughly a full day to traverse, features woodlands, rocky areas, caves, and a lake. In addition to hiking, many visitors use the trail for backpacking and mountain biking. The trail includes quite a bit of elevation gain and is pretty difficult at times, so only experienced hikers should attempt it. The ideal time to visit is between May and September, and dogs are more than welcome on the trail.
Length: 18.6 miles
Intensity: Hard
Burnette and New Year Peak Loop
The Burnette and New Year Peak Loop is another peaceful, scenic loop trail near the town of Lewistown. The lushly forested trail is an excellent destination for both hiking and trail running. During your visit, you'll have a pretty good chance of spotting local wildlife, so be sure to keep your eyes open for any movement! The hike does feature some uphill areas, so you'll want to bring along plenty of water and pace yourself.
Length: 6.6 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Fishing & Boating
Though there aren't any large bodies of water near the Judith Peak Scenic Outlook BLM site, there are quite a few small ones where fly-fishing is entirely possible. One decent option in the area is the Judith River. The best fishing will be on the upper part of the river, and you'll have a good chance of reeling in a few brook, brown, or rainbow trout. The mountainous area also boasts quite a few small streams and ponds where visitors can try their luck at angling. You may also be able to go paddling or floating on some of them, but many of them will be too small to do so practically.
Climbing
Although Judith Peak, like the other peaks in the Judith Mountains, isn't an especially popular climbing destination, some adventurous and skilled climbers do occasionally make their way to the summit. The mountains in the range generally consist of limestone, sandstone, and siltstone, and certain geologic formations and rocky areas do offer opportunities for rock climbing. Alternatively, if you don't mind a bit of travel, the Antelope Creek Wilderness Study Area to the north offers several excellent rock climbing destinations.
Wildlife Viewing
The region around the Judith Peak Scenic Outlook BLM site is home to a wide variety of watchable wildlife species. While exploring the forests and mountains of the area, you might come across black bears, grizzly bears, elk, mule, white-tailed deer, and many smaller mammals. The area has plenty to offer bird-watchers as well, with waterfowl and many different songbirds and raptors regularly seen soaring above the peaks.
Picnicking
When it comes to having a memorable picnic at the Judith Peak Scenic Outlook, the only issue in question is finding a suitable spot. There may be a table or two around the site, but if not, you'll need to find somewhere viable for laying out your picnic blanket. Once you find a good place to sit down and eat, you can be sure that the views you'll observe will be breathtaking.
