Ross Creek Cedar Grove, Montana

Ross Creek is located in the Kootenai National Forest, in northwest Montana. Within the mountains and lush forests of the region is a special place where ancient cedars stand.

A 100-acre scenic area is home to a grove of giant western red cedars, which can grow to 175 feet tall and measure up to 12 feet in base diameter. They are the kind of trees you expect to see in a coastal rain forest, rather than in Montana. But this area is home to these massive trees which are more than 500-years-old. Not as tall as coastal redwoods or giant sequoias, but impressive specimens, nonetheless.

(fellow hikers provide a size perspective in the cedar grove)

This stand of trees was flagged by loggers, who instead of felling the trees worked to protect the grove. In 1960, the Kootenai National Forest established the Ross Creek Cedar grove as a protected scenic area.

(a broken giant)

The cedars are in a fairly remote area, but the road leading to it is of good quality (if narrow and winding). A mostly flat trail leads into the grove from the parking lot. Most people walk the 0.9-mile loop nature trail, but there is an option to take a longer 4.5-mile hike along Ross Creek if you have the time and inclination. We just did the shorter hike, which provided a terrific scenic experience! The path leads past informative signs about the history and ecology of plants and animals living in the grove.

12 Ross Creek Cedars

14 Ross Creek Cedars (woodpecker holes in a dead cedar)

(cedar tree fallen onto a bench)

If you can divert your gaze from the huge trees, you’ll see that the understory contains a variety of interesting flora. For example, there are lots of fallen trees, which are left to decay naturally (none are removed, unless they fall across a trail). Arising on decaying trees are small trees that given time will be giants of the future…..