At the far southern end of the Bitterroot Valley, the Little Boulder Trail is a lightly used path to a group of gorgeous alpine lakes. The trail climbs steadily through dense conifers, ponderosa pine, and old burned areas, passing through patches of mid-summer thimbleberries and late-summer huckleberries. After 4 miles, you can choose to summit 9,000-foot Piquett Mountain or keep heading uphill to Piquett and Slate Lakes, which sparkle under the late-afternoon sun. Campsites are limited on the steep and rocky shores, but the alpine beauty might well lure you into spending a night watching the stars overhead.

Photo by Mark Wetherington

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