black-otter-guide-service

Winter Reflections From the Backcountry and Looking Ahead to 2026

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:58:23 GMT

Winter Reflections From the Backcountry and Looking Ahead to 2026

As winter settles into Montana’s mountains, the pace slows and the backcountry grows quiet. This season offers time for reflection, planning, and remembering the moments that mattered most on the trail.

At Black Otter Guide Service, winter is when we look back on the past season with gratitude and begin shaping what comes next.

A Look Back at the 2025 Season

The 2025 season brought meaningful time spent in wild places with incredible people. From long days on horseback to evenings gathered around the dinner table, the best moments were defined by shared experience rather than distance traveled.

One highlight was an all women trip into Grizzly Creek that combined fishing, horseback riding, and painting. These trips are about more than the destination. They create space for creativity, connection, and fully stepping into the landscape.

Hunting season presented its own challenges this year. Warmer weather created unpredictable conditions, but the experience remained rewarding. We explored new country during a sheep hunt and embraced the realities that come with adapting to the land as it is, not as we expect it to be.

Welcoming a New Puppy to Camp

This season brought a few meaningful changes at camp, including the addition of our border collie pup, Rye. She joined Brandy on the trail and quickly settled into camp life. At the same time, Chena officially retired from camp duties and now keeps home base running smoothly.

What Makes a Backcountry Trip Meaningful

While landscapes matter, it is the people who define a season. In 2025, we welcomed familiar faces back to camp and met new friends who quickly became part of the Black Otter community.

The most memorable moments were often the simplest ones. Shared meals, quiet mornings in camp, and conversations that unfold naturally when distractions fade away.

This is the heart of what we offer. Authentic wilderness experiences built on trust, preparation, and respect for the land.

Planning for 2026 Montana Backcountry Trips

As we begin planning for the 2026 season, we are excited about what lies ahead. Winter is when many of our clients start dreaming about time in the Montana backcountry, whether that means a guided hunt, a summer pack trip, or a custom wilderness experience.

Early planning allows us to create trips that are well matched to each group, their goals, and the conditions of the season. It also ensures space is available for those who value a smaller, more personalized outfitting experience.

If you are beginning to think about a future trip, we would love to connect and talk through what the next season could look like for you.

A Note of Thanks

We are deeply grateful to every client who joined us on the trail this past season. Your trust, curiosity, and willingness to step into the backcountry are what make this work meaningful.

A special thank you as well to our client Sawyer for the beautiful painting featured here. It captures the spirit of camp and the quiet beauty of the places we are fortunate to call our office.

Winter may be a time of rest, but the trail is always waiting.

First Summer Trip into Grizzly Creek

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 15:20:44 GMT

Our first trip into Grizzly Creek was all women this year and was full of laughter, fun and adventure. The weather was beautiful with sun and just a few rain showers.

First you have to pack up the mules….

Traveling through the burned area listening to the chirps of the Yellow-bellied Marmots

Climbing up to ~10,000 ft Wallace Pass with a fantastic view and wildflowers galore.

Gary was the photographer for this picture.

The days in camp were filled with exploring the area, hiking, looking for Pika, taking naps, painting, picking strawberries, nights by the campfire, going for rides and trying out riding a mule!

Snuggling puppies…

And then it is time to leave and ride out towards Wallace Pass again.

Camp is set and ready for summer fun!

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:47:28 GMT

We went in and setup camp this weekend for our trips this summer. There was still a little snow in the mountains and on the trail. We saw lots of birds but no mountain goats!

The wildflowers are amazing this time of year and the skies were blue and beautiful!

We setup the tents and started to gather firewood.

Camp is at the edge of Grizzly Creek and the end of a large green meadow where we often see moose and deer. In fact, the camp doe appeared and said, “hello.”

Camp is ready and waiting for our summer trips! If you are thinking of a backcountry adventure for next summer, reach out to us to set a date and send a deposit to hold your spot for a wilderness experience you won't forget.

Join us on a travel trip for the adventure of a lifetime!

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:14:08 GMT

Join us on a travel trip for the adventure of a lifetime!

August 1 – 10, 2025

Ten-day, nine-night trip from Yellowstone National Park into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. This trip lets you experience the best of the backcountry of Montana in one trip.

Starting at Slough Creek Trailhead going to a backcountry camp beyond the YNP line then traveling over Lookout Mountain to our Buffalo Fork Camp continuing through Telephone Basin to our semi-permanent camp in Grizzly Creek and finishing at the Passage Creek Trailhead off Mill Creek Road. Totaling over 60 miles, your horse, guides, pack mules, meals and tents are all included in this trip of a lifetime.

View on Google Earth

From Slough Creek Trailhead, you travel through the meadows on an old carriage road with beautiful views. This leg of the trip is where you see the most other people since it is in YNP. You will likely see anglers and bison along the way.

You arrive at our camp located on the banks of Slough Creek where you can set out your sleeping bag in our wall tents with mattresses. Home cooked meals are served in the cook tent for breakfast and dinner. You spend three nights in this camp and can go fishing or tour the country of trappers and early settlers by horseback. Pack your lunch and just lounge next to the river.

On day four, you pack up camp and travel to the Buffalo Fork camp. You will likely go over Lookout Mountain with views for miles around. You then drop into our Buffalo Fork Creek camp.

At this camp, you can spend two days exploring the river, fishing the lake, eating popcorn or exploring the backcountry by horseback.

On Day 7, you pack up camp and spend the day riding into our semi-permanent camp through Telegraph Basin and can possibly see mountain goats, deer, elk and moose. After crossing Hellroaring Creek, you arrive at our camp located on the banks of Grizzly Creek where you can set out your sleeping bag in our wall tents with cots and mattresses. Home cooked meals are served in the cook tent for breakfast and dinner.

On your last day, you pack up and ride back out over beautiful Wallace Pass and arrive at the trailhead around 5 pm.

Learn more on the Summer Camps page.

Contact us if you would like to join this or other trips we have available: text or call us at 406-224-0035 or email nika@blackotterguideservice.com

Join us for a one-of-a-kind backcountry experience!

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:28:53 GMT

Join us for a one-of-a-kind backcountry experience!

July 24 – 27, 2025

Four-day, three-night trip into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. You spend the first day riding into our semi-permanent camp over Wallace Pass with mountain views and the possibility of seeing mountain goats, deer, elk and moose.

You arrive at our camp located on the banks of Grizzly Creek where you can set out your sleeping bag in our wall tents with cots and mattresses. Home cooked meals are served in the cook tent for breakfast and dinner.

The next 2 days, you have the option of going fishing, hiking or horseback riding to explore the Hellroaring Valley. You can pack a long your lunch to eat by the lake or streams as you fish or along a scenic horse ride. On your last day, you pack up and ride back out over beautiful Wallace Pass and arrive back at the trailhead around 5 pm.

Learn more by clicking on the Summer Camps page!

Contact us if you would like to join this or other trips we have available:

Message us or Call 406-224-0035 or email nika@blackotterguideservice.com

More pictures below: