Sluice Box State Park

by | Adventures

A trip to the Sluice Box State Park

This past weekend, I was able to get up a few hours North of Bozeman, into the Sluice Box State Park. I have heard great things about this place, so I had to make my way up there. It started out with a long drive through some flat country abound with bails of hay. It almost felt like I was back in Iowa up until I started my journey through the Little Belt Mountains on Hwy 89. After passing some neat mountain towns, I arrived at the turn for Sluice Box State Park. Steep canyons begin to appear from the gravel road as you work your way back there. I remember thinking that this area doesn’t even seem hike-able. Once at the trailhead, I stuffed all my fly gear into one of Explore’s awesome new Alps Mountaineering packs and headed down the trail. I was glad I also grabbed some of Explore’s new trekking poles as well, as it was some steep and rugged terrain

Huckleberries in the Sluice Box

The cliff face trail I was on didn’t look like it went anywhere close to the river. So, I started looking for my own place to bushwhack down. It took awhile due to the fact that the state park is centered around 100 ft. cliffs, but I eventually found a spot easy enough to sneak down to the river. After finally getting down there, I fished Belt Creek for a couple of hours. It was such a neat fishing hole however, I felt like doing more wandering than fishing. About the time I stumbled onto some wild huckleberries, bad weather moved in and I decided to get the heck out of there before it got worse. I was in such a hurry I misplaced my fly box. So, if you happen to bump into on your trip there, it’s all yours!

It was quite the drive and ended up being a long day, but it was well worth it. I got to test out some awesome new gear and brought home some huckleberries! If you ever get a chance, I would definitely recommend taking a trip there. Just be sure to check the weather beforehand…

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Explore Rentals is the original outdoor gear rental agency in greater Yellowstone region. Our goal has always been to provide the best possible rental gear for outdoor adventures. With well over 200 different types of outdoor rentals for outdoor adventures, we certainly have an something that will make your Montana experience more fun, safe, and comfortable. 

Our location next to the Bozeman Airport, with after-hours pick-up and drop-offs possible, allows for tremendous convenience with no waiting in line, and no hassle of dealing with shipping- ever.