Mount Aeneas

BOU AVENUE
Mount Aeneas

Kicking off our summer road trip, Zosia Zgolak and I ascended Mount Aeneas in Jewel Basin near Kalispell, Montana on 6 August 2022. Although largely overshadowed by nearby Glacier National Park and Great Bear Wilderness Area, Jewel Basin is a gem--so to speak--of a hiking area with numerous lakes and hiker-friendly ridges. Mount Aeneas is the second highest peak in the basin (Big Hawk Mountain at the south end of the basin is about four metres higher), and a well-maintained trail runs right over its summit. Easy access makes Mount Aeneas an exceedingly popular hiking objective.

From Highway 83, turn north onto Echo Lake Road 4.5 kilometres east of the junction with Highway 35. Drive 3.5 kilometres and turn right onto Foothill Road. Drive 1.7 kilometres and turn right onto Jewel Basin Road (2WD gravel with occasional rough spots). Drive 10.0 kilometres to road's end at the "Camp Misery" trailhead with vault toilet.

Beginning at a gate on the south side of the trailhead parking lot, Zosia and I hiked Trail #717 which winds its way up onto a ridge before turning southeast toward Mount Aeneas. About 2.5 kilometres from the trailhead, we reached a signed 4-way junction. Keeping straight, we continued on a narrower track which eventually leads to a nondescript white building sitting atop a ridge crest. Turning right, we followed a good trail on the ridge crest all the way to the top of Mount Aeneas without difficulty.

After being thoroughly entertained by the resident mountain goats on the summit, Zosia and I backtracked to the white building, but instead of retracing our steps along Trail #717, we continued northwest on the ridge crest until we reached an obvious gap. The steep drop into the gap was a bit tricky to descend, but we made it down unscathed. We intersected Trail #7 here and turned westward to descend a series of switchbacks leading to signed junctions with Trail #68 and subsequently Trail #8 which ultimately ends up back at the trailhead. Completing a loop along these trails was easy enough, but the overall descent from the gap felt a bit long-winded.

	Zosia begins hiking on a wide and well-maintained trail.
	There are already nice views to the southwest of Flathead Lake and numerous smaller lakes.
	An enigmatic building sits on the ridge crest northwest of Mount Aeneas.
	The trail continues southeast toward to the top of Mount Aeneas.
	Zosia spots a goat near where the trail enters the trees.
	Sonny and Zosia stand near the summit of Mount Aeneas (2289 metres).
	Here is another view of Flathead Lake from the summit of Mount Aeneas.
	The enigmatic building is visible on the ridge to the northwest.
	Some prominent mountains are visible to the northeast including a few in Glacier National Park.
	Birch Lake steals the show just south of the summit.
	One of the resident goats on Mount Aeneas casually strolls by.
	The goats here show little fear of humans or dogs.

Even goats like Instagram!

This goat seems to be posing on purpose for all the summit tourists.

	Zosia makes her way back along the ridge.
	Instead of backtracking on the initial trail, Zosia continues along the ridge crest past the building.
	These are the Picnic Lakes as seen from the ridge crest.
	From the ridge crest, much of Black Lake is obscured by trees in the basin.
	Zosia drops steeply into a gap in the ridge in order to intersect the trail visible below.
	Here is a look back up the ridge from the gap.
	Total Distance: 11.1 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 5 hours 28 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain: 676 metres GPX Data