BOU AVENUE
Ant Hill
Wrapping up the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend on 9 October 2023, Zosia Zgolak and I hiked up officially-named Ant Hill located on the east side of Lake Koocanusa in Montana's Kootenai National Forest.  I could not find any information online about this objective, but from perusing satellite maps, I felt that Ant Hill would be a suitably short objective with easy access that still had the promise of some far-reaching views.  I also noticed a mysterious road running up the west side of Ant Hill, but I felt that the broad southwest ridge would make for a more gentle and aesthetic ascent route.

Starting from a pullout (48.509106, -115.263227) on the side of Highway 37 along Lake Koocanusa, Zosia and I walked south along the shoulder of the pavement for about 250 metres in order to circumvent a tapering cliff band.  We then headed up a lightly forested slope, effectively gaining the southwest ridge of Ant Hill.  Travel was easy, and we had no issues with route-finding.  Surprisingly, we came across several deserted encampments of RVs, makeshift homes and construction equipment about two-thirds of the way up.  While most of Ant Hill sits within Kootenai National Forest, my phone's mapping application labels the section of land where the encampments were located as "Nature reserve" which I presumed to mean public land.  We were both baffled that development would be allowed here, but with no one around to provide an explanation, we simply passed through and finished our ascent of Ant Hill.

The top of Ant Hill is flat, and far-reaching views are somewhat obscured by trees.  After tagging the nebulous high point, Zosia and I retreated to a lower but more open section of the southwest ridge to stop for a break.  When we resumed hiking, we returned to the encampments and descended an access road, the very same one I had noticed on satellite maps on the west side of Ant Hill.  The road conveniently led us without fuss down to the highway, and at the entrance, we found a locked gate and a "no trespassing" sign.  I would later learn from the Montana land ownership website that there is indeed a small parcel of private land here, but aside from the one near the highway, we did not see any other "no trespassing" signs anywhere else on Ant Hill.  From where we emerged onto the highway, we had an easy 1.3-kilometre walk back to the pullout to complete our loop.
No scrambling or free-climbing necessary! Zosia circumvents a cliff band along the side of the highway at the start.
And I haven't even broken a sweat yet!

Climbing a short distance up Ant Hill's southwest ridge already grants some views of Lake Koocanusa.
Could be a nice ski in winter if there was enough snow... The southwest ridge is generally broad and sparsely forested.
And these RVs had Alberta license plates too!

Zosia comes across some surprising RVs partway up Ant Hill.
Hard to tell exactly where the actual summit was since it was so flat here! Sonny and Zosia stand on the high point of Ant Hill (1176 metres).
Just above the encampments near the National Forest boundary. After retreating from the high point, Zosia finds a scenic spot for a break.

Can you spot Snowshoe Peak?

Zosia takes a last look across Lake Koocanusa before resuming her descent.

 

Would be easy to drive too if the road was open... The access road for the encampments is easy to hike out.
Well, we didn't see any signs on our way up the ridge. The access road is blocked by a locked gate near the highway.  Nearby (not visible in photo) is a "no trespassing" sign.
And the highway wasn't that busy either which was a nice bonus. Larches are abundant along the highway as Zosia walks back to the starting point.
It's probably best to steer clear of the encampments... Total Distance:  7.7 kilometres
Round-Trip Time:  3 hours 27 minutes
Cumulative Elevation Gain:  365 metres

GPX Data