Divide
Big Hole River Access | A Community Profile of Divide, Montana
At the junction of I-15 and MT43, Divide MT and below 9,436’ Mt. Fleecer that carries the Continental Divide sits Divide. And the community claims the Big Hole River as part of its environs as just to the south this great fishery slices through Maiden Rock Canyon.
About 17 million years ago the Big Hole River began cutting through the Pioneer Mountains forming the canyon in the process. As the river pops out of the canyon it enters the Divide Valley, an extensional graben filled with sediments. A graben is merely a depressed valley flanked by faults. Activity from nearby faults causes sediments in between to sink lower than the surrounding crust and form a valley, or “graben.” Observing sediments in the Pioneer Mountains (to the west) and Highland Mountains (to the east) will reveal the same layers of sediment as the Divide Valley, just at higher elevations.
In this geologic intersection Divide sits at an elevation of 5,389 feet. Established as a station stop on the Utah and Northern Railway in 1873, its name derives from its proximity to the Continental Divide. In the days of the railroad, Divide was a distribution center used by ranchers as a stock shipping point. Today, it is a hub for anglers, recreators, rock-climbers, and amateur naturalists.
The Humbug Spires Wilderness Area a short distance to the east of Divide are a series of granite “fins” formed by acidic rainwater falling into the original rock and creating widely spaced spires over time. Some outcroppings rise 300-600 feet off the ground making the area especially popular for rock-climbing. Many take the trail up Moose Creek to reach various climbing routes with the most popular being the Wedge. At the trailhead there are facilities for day packers, backpackers, and primitive camping.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any lodging offerings in Divide. The nearest places are in Wise River 17 miles upriver and Melrose 15 miles downriver.
Outdoor recreators coming to Divide can camp along the Big Hole River at the Divide Bridge campground. This recreation area has 24 camping sites and river access complete with a boat ramp. Rafting is best done from May 15-July 30. Angling is accessible by raft in the spring and by wading in the summer months. Stop by Great Divide Outfitters in Dillon for stream reports, tackle and general expertise on fishing the Big Hole. They also offer guided trips for any level of angler.
Several guest ranches also call the Divide valley home. Offering guided rafting, fishing and hunting, Silver Bow Club is a luxury guest ranch with options for couples to family reunions. A few miles down river is the Big Hole Canyon Ranch. This two-bedroom historic cabin offers prime fishing access and 75 acres of seclusion, right against the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.
