Rotary Canyon Loop

The Rotary Canyon route begins and ends near a pullout south of Bearpaw Lake, at a primitive trailhead off a county road in southeastern Hill County. From the start, the route heads south across open rangeland before dropping into Rotary Canyon, a shallow, winding drainage cut through bentonite clay and sagebrush flats. The faint path follows the canyon bottom westward, loosely paralleling Rotary Creek and crossing seasonal springs that may flow early in the year. Roughly halfway through the route, the trail climbs out of the canyon onto open ridgelines with expansive views over the surrounding prairie breaks. Continue north and east across gently rolling terrain until reaching an unmarked Y-intersection; veer right here to descend back toward the trailhead. Rotary Canyon requires light route-finding, especially where tread disappears into grassy slopes or clay pans. Expect exposure to sun and wind, with little shade or shelter along the way. Water sources are unreliable and require filtration. Rattlesnakes and ticks are common in warm months, and local hunting activity may increase in fall. Heavy clay soils can quickly become impassable after rain. This quiet route offers solitude, wildlife sightings, and a striking sense of Montana’s wide-open country.