OUTDOORS: Parker Canyon Creek: A hiker's paradise

Hiking and biking in the Bear Paw Mountains is a popular past time. But, many people don't know that, there's much more to hiking the Bear Paws than what's inside Beaver Creek Park.

Now though, Rocky Boy's Mike Geboe is changing all that.

Geboe has started offering guided hikes and biking, as well as other outdoor activities as part of Parker Canyon Creek on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation adjacent to Beaver Creek Park.

"I have spent a lot of my career working in the wellness field with the Chippewa Cree Tribe," Geboe said. "And I love to get out and hike and ride mountain bikes, and I thought, this is a great way to combine the two.

"We also have a really cool place out here in the Bear Paw Mountains," he continued. "It's a beautiful place, and a lot of it people don't see enough of. So I felt this was a way to get the community involved with wellness. Hiking, outdoor recreation, it goes hand-in-hand with being healthier and that's something we want our community members to be."

Geboe also said that, he sees more tourism opportunity, for Rocky Boy and Beaver Creek Park because of so much abundant recreation, both on the reservation, and inside the park.

"I think what Havre Trails has done is awesome," Geboe said. "I've spent some time with those folks and they have done some really cool things. And you have a lot of great places to recreate right inside Beaver Creek Park, but then, when you add in our guided hikes, I think it's a way to really promote the entire area. It's a great way to get more of our community members out and involved, as well as visitors who want to experience so much of what this land has to offer."

And Parker Canyon guided hikes offers plenty for avid hikers, or for folks who just want to see parts of the Bear Paw Mountains they haven't seen before.

This summer, Geboe is offering four guided hikes:

Hike No. 1 - Bowery Peak ($40) Location: 32 miles south of Havre; Length: 1.68 miles from trailhead; Difficulty Rating: Intermediate; Best For: A picturesque trail with views; Dogs: Leashed; Elevation Increase: 270 feet.

Hike No. 2 - Centennial Peak ($40). Location: 28 miles south of Havre; Length: 2.25 miles from trailhead; Difficulty Rating: Intermediate; Best For: A casual trail; Dogs: Leash; Elevation Increase: 1,360 feet.

Hike No. 3 - Haystack Mountain ($40). Location: 32 miles south of Havre; Length: 4,472 feet from trailhead; Difficulty Rating: Intensive; Best For: A challenge for you: Dogs: Leashed; Elevation Increase: 720 feet

Hike No. 4 - Mount Otis (Beaver Creek Park) ($40) Location: 22 miles south of Havre; Length: 5,245 feet from trailhead; Difficulty Rating: Intensive; Length: 4,472 feet from trailhead; Best For: Beaver Creek vistas; Dogs: Leashed; Elevation Increase: 880 feet.

Each hike is its own adventure according to Geboe, who includes lunch with the hiking fee. But, he also says, the four hikes are only the beginning because the Bear Paw Mountains have so much terrain and beauty.

"There's so many trails out here," Geboe said. "There's so much more people can do. The Bear Paw Nature Trail, we could take that all the way up to the ski hill, and that area has even more to offer, too. There's all kinds of old roads out here that are used for biking and hiking, as well. So, there's just so much to see and do."

And it's not just hiking and wellness that Geboe said he could expand on in the future.

"I would ultimately also like to offer some historical tours," Geboe said. "There's so much history and culture here on our reservation. There's a lot of areas people don't know much about and haven't seen before. So I would like to make that a part of this experience as well. That would be something where we could get more members of our community involved, as well as people who would like to come learn more about our history."

Indeed, the Bear Paw Mountains, Beaver Creek Park and Rocky Boy are areas full of history. They are also areas chock-full of beauty, and Geboe is taking advantage of a terrain that is ripe for the kind of outdoor recreation people enjoy so much, especially in the times when being outside is a good way to remain active during the coronavirus pandemic.

"Hiking is very healthy for all of us," Geboe said. "And it's a good way to stay active but still social distance. Again, it all goes back to wellness. That's something I've been involved with for a long time, and it's always been something I've been promoting in our community.

"We have this amazing landscape out here," he continued. "And I just thought, this is a great way to enjoy it, and promote wellness."

Note: Parker Canyon Creek is owned & operated by Mike Geboe, Chippewa Cree Tribal Member. Fees: Chippewa Cree Tribe Pah-nah-to Recreation Permit, daily $10, 3-day $25, season $50, $5 one-time admin fee; and Beaver Creek Park Permit, daily $10, season $55. Guided mountain biking - Bring your own bike - and kayaking at East Fork Reservoir. Call Parker Canyon Creek @ 301-2299 or email [email protected] for more details.