Rattlesnake National Recreation Area Letterboxes LbNA #3254 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | May 4, 2003 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Missoula |
| County: | Missoula |
| State: | Montana |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | RaceFamily |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Jul 31, 2014 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | May 4, 2003 |
Rattlesnake National Recreation Area Letterboxes
Location: Missoula, Montana
Planted: 5/4/03
Planted by: Rockmover and Quiltmaker
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Five valleys surround the city of Missoula, Montana. The valley on the north side of town is the Rattlesnake Creek drainage. You are probably wondering why it is named Rattlesnake Creek? Are there rattlesnakes in the valley? No one to our knowledge has seen one, but maybe there was one spotted over 100 years ago when the area was named. Some people think it gets its name because the creek “snakes” along down the valley.
The 61,000-acre Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness was established by an Act of Congress in October of 1980. Through a land exchange, the 880 acres containing most of the trails were acquired from a private owner in 1986. The trails in this system have evolved over more than a century. Some were made by prospectors, settlers, and their livestock, beginning in the 1880s and 90s. (Information taken from Missoula Ranger District, Lolo National Forest pamphlet.)
The recreation area is a popular place to walk dogs, ride horses, ride mountain bikes, and go on family outings. We have planted four letterboxes along the trail system. Two are right along the main trail and should be super easy to find. Two are on a side trail and may be more of a challenge.
Directions: From East Broadway at I-90 Exit 104 (Van Buren Exit), drive 4 miles north on Van Buren Street and Rattlesnake Drive to Sawmill Gulch Road (6300 Rattlesnake Drive). Turn left, cross Rattlesnake Creek and drive to the main trailhead parking area.
We adopted these boxes on July 31, 2014 and didn't manage to get down the trail far enough to check the second box. Letterboxing with young ones definitely has limitations.
Letterbox #1 – Spring Creek Letterbox
Follow the main trail until to come to a concrete bridge that crosses Spring Creek. Immediately after crossing the bridge, you will see a small trail to the right. Take this trail for 13 paces to a fir tree marked with a diamond shaped marker bearing the number R 131. The Spring Creek Letterbox is under a rock behind this tree.
Letterbox #2 – Rattlesnake Creek Letterbox
At this point you will have to retrace your steps again heading north on the trail; you will return to the dead snag. Continue on along this trail traveling north. There are many side trails; try to stay on the trail paralleling the creek. Follow this trail until you come to an old foundation remaining from the ruin of an old homestead house. The foundation is a combination of rock and concrete. Turn around and retrace your steps south 65 paces. Turn toward the creek and walk down the small hill (bank). You will see that the creek passes a large rock cliff outcropping that is on the opposite side of the creek. To the right of the open creek bank, you will see a clump of three spruce trees. The Rattlesnake Creek Letterbox is under the large rock between this clump of trees.
Location: Missoula, Montana
Planted: 5/4/03
Planted by: Rockmover and Quiltmaker
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Five valleys surround the city of Missoula, Montana. The valley on the north side of town is the Rattlesnake Creek drainage. You are probably wondering why it is named Rattlesnake Creek? Are there rattlesnakes in the valley? No one to our knowledge has seen one, but maybe there was one spotted over 100 years ago when the area was named. Some people think it gets its name because the creek “snakes” along down the valley.
The 61,000-acre Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness was established by an Act of Congress in October of 1980. Through a land exchange, the 880 acres containing most of the trails were acquired from a private owner in 1986. The trails in this system have evolved over more than a century. Some were made by prospectors, settlers, and their livestock, beginning in the 1880s and 90s. (Information taken from Missoula Ranger District, Lolo National Forest pamphlet.)
The recreation area is a popular place to walk dogs, ride horses, ride mountain bikes, and go on family outings. We have planted four letterboxes along the trail system. Two are right along the main trail and should be super easy to find. Two are on a side trail and may be more of a challenge.
Directions: From East Broadway at I-90 Exit 104 (Van Buren Exit), drive 4 miles north on Van Buren Street and Rattlesnake Drive to Sawmill Gulch Road (6300 Rattlesnake Drive). Turn left, cross Rattlesnake Creek and drive to the main trailhead parking area.
We adopted these boxes on July 31, 2014 and didn't manage to get down the trail far enough to check the second box. Letterboxing with young ones definitely has limitations.
Letterbox #1 – Spring Creek Letterbox
Follow the main trail until to come to a concrete bridge that crosses Spring Creek. Immediately after crossing the bridge, you will see a small trail to the right. Take this trail for 13 paces to a fir tree marked with a diamond shaped marker bearing the number R 131. The Spring Creek Letterbox is under a rock behind this tree.
Letterbox #2 – Rattlesnake Creek Letterbox
At this point you will have to retrace your steps again heading north on the trail; you will return to the dead snag. Continue on along this trail traveling north. There are many side trails; try to stay on the trail paralleling the creek. Follow this trail until you come to an old foundation remaining from the ruin of an old homestead house. The foundation is a combination of rock and concrete. Turn around and retrace your steps south 65 paces. Turn toward the creek and walk down the small hill (bank). You will see that the creek passes a large rock cliff outcropping that is on the opposite side of the creek. To the right of the open creek bank, you will see a clump of three spruce trees. The Rattlesnake Creek Letterbox is under the large rock between this clump of trees.